True Bruins: Part II

My alarm went off at 6am this Sunday. Even on a typical school day I’m not up before 10am, so being up at 6am was an event. But I’m so glad I got my butt out of bed that day! Philipinos for Community Health (PCH) at UCLA asked me to be their photographer at their health fair. There were blood pressure screens, cholesterol tests, mammograms, pap tests eye exams, and dental care. I was so honored to be able to document this event. PHC is doing such good work and I think it’s amazing that college students would take do put together an event like this!

At UCLA we are encouraged to be, what is called a “true Bruin.” After this weekend, I can’t think of a better example of true Bruins. These students gave up hours of free time to organize this event! They are rolling up their sleeves and trying to help people.

 I

Becca Barrett Photography

Group shot of the medical students who ran all the test.

Becca Barrett Photography

And here is their really great banner!!!

Becca Barrett Photography

The health fair was in the heart of Filipinotown, in L.A.

Becca Barrett Photography

Blood pressure tests!

Becca Barrett Photography

Becca Barrett Photography

Becca Barrett Photography

Becca Barrett Photography

So these are teeth that dentists used to show people how to properly brush their teeth. I sat in on this class too (I eat so many sweets I need it). I even got a free tooth brush!

Becca Barrett Photography

Eclectic L.A. Adventures

After a year and a quarter of UCLA, Chloe and I decided to make a “L.A. bucket list.”  This is a list of all the things we want to do in L.A. before we graduate.  A more detailed post about the bucket list will be coming soon.

This weekend we went to Abbot Kinney.  It’s a cute artsy street in the Venice area.  It’s fun to get out of Westwood for a little while and see new parts of the city.  Abbot Kinney has a very artsy/bohemian vibe too it.  There are a lot of Buddhist yoga shops, fair trade coffee stores, and home-made jewelry boutiques.

Their was this one store though that looked like of something out of Harry Potter.  It was an amazing shop with headless mannequins in the window, strange clocks on the wall, stacks of tea cups, and vases full of sea shells.  I spent a good 30 mins in their shoots because it was just so eclectic, crazy and interesting!

This was a shopping cart outside the store with gardening pots in it…

Headless mannequins in the front window of the shop.  It kind of has an eerie feel to it as a black and white photo.

Chandelier from the perspective of standing directly underneath it and shooting up.

Tea anyone?

I love taking detail shots because often times details are lost in “big picture.”  Also details can often stand alone and give a different message than the big picture.  The sand dollars could be on beach or in a crazy store…you don’t know.  But as far as big pictures go, below is a full photo of the store.  This way you get the full effect of the store.

A Picture is HOPE -Help Portrait

Help Portrait is a remarkable idea! It has photographers go into their communities and take photos for people who might not have ever had an opportunity to get their photo taken before.  Basically, have photographers give back to the community with their photography!

I found out about Help Portrait last year after their first event and I was totally bummed that I missed it.  I’ve been looking forward to this years Help Portrait event ever since!  I’ve followed Help Portrait LA on twitter and I can’t wait for Dec. 4th to get here so I can be a part of this!

The Getty Trip!!!

This week’s floor event was a trip to the Getty.  Though it was only the four of us, it was a blast! It’s always nice to see art work that I studied in art history.   The Getty is currently holding an exhibit called “Irving Penn:  Small Trades.”  It’s a really fascinating show of photography.  Penn seems to have asked workers in the 1950’s to come into his studio dressed up for work and he then took their picture.  He did this is France, England and America.  The polyglot of trade is interesting.  Many of the trades shown no longer exist. How many people know what an “Ice Man” is? or a “Rag and Bone Man?”

Though you go the Getty to enjoy art, there are many other things to do.  The grounds are beautiful!  So we did a lot of playing around and exploring.

Peek-a-Boo

I went out on campus recently to take pictures of squirrels…which is a new photo project I’ve been working on, mostly because I like saying “I’m shooting squirrels”. -I swear I’m not as creepy of a person as I just made myself sound. hehe.

However while I was out I bumped into this girl by the Bruin Bear. She immediately struck me. She was so adorable and had such a unquantifiable personality. However I have a rule not to randomly take pictures of children without there parents consent. I don’t like the idea of me creepily holding up my camera and taking pictures of little kids. It’s just a little to stalker like for me.

However this little girl walked right up to me and the bear and started playing Peek-a-Boo with me. I looked over to the mom and held up my camera. She nodded and I took a few pics and played with this little girl.

I’m so glad I got to take her picture. She has such personality.

Meet UCLA- The Campus!

Me and My Camera