For my non-linear story, I want my trunk to be an introductory to my beat, which discusses about different photographers in Maryland and their insights on becoming photographers and photojournalists. For my two new short stories, I hope to get in contact with Monica Loppossay, who teaches the photojournalism classes here at Towson University. Also, I hope to get in touch with Richard Perrine, a retired high school math teacher who has been taking pictures for a long time. His photographs are breathtaking. He does photography as a hobby. He travels extensively and has some beautiful images from all around the country. It would be interesting to hear from him on what makes a good image and what are some of the techniques and skills a photographer needs to acquire to make good images. I have talked to him before and some of his insights and tips on getting good images have been really helpful in my own work.
I also hope to add an image slideshow of some of my own work taken in Garrett County where I am originally from.
For a FAQ page, I hope to have tips for photographers taken from all the interviews and reporting I have done for this class.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Photographer Profile
For my personality profile, I plan to talk to Bernie Henaghan of Frostburg, MD. He has been in the photography business for fourteen years. I interviewed him for my feature story. It was obvious that he loves his job as a photographer. Even though it is his passion, he is full of practical advice for beggining photographers and is always able to answer questions that they might have. What is most interesting about him is his desire to create perfect images. He is sincere with his critiques about his and other's images. He told me that he is a perfectionist when it comes to photography, and has in the past been honest about the many things I need to improve on with my images.
What I also enjoyed listening to was his honesty when it comes to turning his photography into a full-time business. For instance, he admits that sometimes he was located in a more populated area. He told me that it's good that I was in the Baltimore area, as it is easier if you have a talent for photography to be located in an area such as this.
Above all, his sincerity about photography is what is most impressive. This is why his story would make a good story for photographers to hear. He makes it clear that it takes more than talent to make it as a photographer. And even though he is honest about this, he remains positive about his career, and it is obvious he has a passion for what he does.
What I also enjoyed listening to was his honesty when it comes to turning his photography into a full-time business. For instance, he admits that sometimes he was located in a more populated area. He told me that it's good that I was in the Baltimore area, as it is easier if you have a talent for photography to be located in an area such as this.
Above all, his sincerity about photography is what is most impressive. This is why his story would make a good story for photographers to hear. He makes it clear that it takes more than talent to make it as a photographer. And even though he is honest about this, he remains positive about his career, and it is obvious he has a passion for what he does.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Photography: Let the picture tell the story of the people!
Blueeyes Magazine, an online photography magazine, tells storys. Rather than ranting on about the latest Canon SLR or praising the latest digital storage technology, this fully online magazine focuses on what is the most important in photography: the images themselves. The contributors aren't journalists, they are photojournalists, and they let their images tell the story for them.
One photo essay that is, on a personal note, meaningful is "Titusville Steel" by Chris Crisman. There are 14 images of retired steel miners still living in the small town in Pennsylvania. Each photo gives a caption of who they are and how many years they worked for the mines.
Each of Crisman's images offers the viewer an insights to that person. What is amazing is that the images show the individuality of each man. Yet colllectively, they show the similarities and bonds each former steel worker has with each other. The collection of images, without sacrificing the unique quality of each individual subject, shows the shared customs, beliefs, and style of life the people living in Titusville, PA.
This story captures the essence images in telling people's stories. This photo essay proves that great stories need not come from the rich, the famous, the influential, or those damn politicians. Stories of working-class Americans are those that we can relate to. Coming from a family of farmers and miners, I know I can.
The story told in this is of a rugged, strong, and upright steel town. Unfortunately, these stories do not get told enough in the mainstream media, and it's good to see that the simple life is still strong in America. Coming from a small town surrounded by farms with coal mines not far away, this photo essay meant something to me, something that is hard to put in words. I am glad that the pictures are allowed to tell the story when words fall short.
One photo essay that is, on a personal note, meaningful is "Titusville Steel" by Chris Crisman. There are 14 images of retired steel miners still living in the small town in Pennsylvania. Each photo gives a caption of who they are and how many years they worked for the mines.
Each of Crisman's images offers the viewer an insights to that person. What is amazing is that the images show the individuality of each man. Yet colllectively, they show the similarities and bonds each former steel worker has with each other. The collection of images, without sacrificing the unique quality of each individual subject, shows the shared customs, beliefs, and style of life the people living in Titusville, PA.
As a photojournalist, I would take the inspiration from this story and begin to focus on the people of my own home town. For instance, the farmers that have long been working in the fields in my home of Garrett County, would be a great subject for a photo essay such as this one.
This story captures the essence images in telling people's stories. This photo essay proves that great stories need not come from the rich, the famous, the influential, or those damn politicians. Stories of working-class Americans are those that we can relate to. Coming from a family of farmers and miners, I know I can.
The story told in this is of a rugged, strong, and upright steel town. Unfortunately, these stories do not get told enough in the mainstream media, and it's good to see that the simple life is still strong in America. Coming from a small town surrounded by farms with coal mines not far away, this photo essay meant something to me, something that is hard to put in words. I am glad that the pictures are allowed to tell the story when words fall short.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
And Now Your Feature Presentation...in a day or two...hopefully....if Dreamweaver works out...the story is done...
For my latest feature story, I had the opportunity to talk to three different photographers in the state of Maryland. The first interview I did was Karlo Gesner of Deep Creek Lake, MD. He actually has an engineering degree from Virginia Tech. It's was inspiring to listen to his story on how he became a photographer and to listen to how he took what he loved to do and turned it into a career and above all a passion.
The next photographer i sat down with is Patrick Smith, a 2009 graduate here at Towson University. What was most impressive about Smith was his confidence as a photographer. This was great for me to hear because on a personal note I sometimes lack confidence as a photographer. To listen to his story about how he has already set career goals for himself and achieved them was an inspiration as well.
Bernie Hennaghan has been a photographer in Frostburg, MD for 14 years now, and offered some advice from the perspective of somebody who has been in business for a while. His advice was practical, and stems from his own personal experiences as he has developed his own business.
All three of these photographers are amazing in their craft, and their websites and blogs are filled with evidence of this.
The final story, titled "Picturing a Passion - Independent Photographers Shoot On" is now completed and will be up for the reading hopefully tommorow. Dreamweaver was being its old self again last week but hopefully it will come around.
For photographers and readers in general, this story will offer a glimpse of how inspirational being able to talk to these three photographers really was.
The next photographer i sat down with is Patrick Smith, a 2009 graduate here at Towson University. What was most impressive about Smith was his confidence as a photographer. This was great for me to hear because on a personal note I sometimes lack confidence as a photographer. To listen to his story about how he has already set career goals for himself and achieved them was an inspiration as well.
Bernie Hennaghan has been a photographer in Frostburg, MD for 14 years now, and offered some advice from the perspective of somebody who has been in business for a while. His advice was practical, and stems from his own personal experiences as he has developed his own business.
All three of these photographers are amazing in their craft, and their websites and blogs are filled with evidence of this.
The final story, titled "Picturing a Passion - Independent Photographers Shoot On" is now completed and will be up for the reading hopefully tommorow. Dreamweaver was being its old self again last week but hopefully it will come around.
For photographers and readers in general, this story will offer a glimpse of how inspirational being able to talk to these three photographers really was.
What makes a great image?
This is one of the simplest questions I could come up with to ask photographers that elicits the most unique answers from them. Each photographer, with his or her own unique style and beliefs, will a unique response to what a great image is and what it means for the viewer. This advice can be a motivation for those who are out there trying to capture such images. Listen to this story: "What makes a great image?" to see how some photographers respond to this simple question that is the basis for their profession.
Good Editing Means a Good Story...At Least This Time
The story on cbsnews.com titled "A Deadly Forecast" is a report on the report about global warming that says that global warming, mostly because of us human beings, is causing large and swift climate changes. Rising temperatures (and they will contintue to rise according to this report) will cause rising water levels, devastating hurricanes, and tornadoes in the midwest. The story breaks the United States up into regions and goes in depth about the dangers in each region. However, there are of course various reactions to the report, from those who think that it gives us the harsh truth about global warning, to those who think that this report is not based on scientific fact.
Even though global warming is not the most refreshing subject in the news today, this story swiftly engages the viewer to watching, thanks in large to the great editing by the people at CBS. For one, natural sound helps the reporter's story more engaging. Through a wide spectrum of video, from a closeup of a brown field, to an iceberg crashing into the water, the viewer is kept watching. To add emphasis to the consequences of global warming, natural sound is used in the form of sirens wailing through downtown Chicago. To stress the point that humans are to cause for this, the story allows the viewer to hear the cars idling along a scorching and crowded highway.
The sounds and the video of the story tell the story of "global warming" just as much as the reporter does. This is what makes this story on a cliche subject such as global warming interesting and worth the two minutes and 20 seconds.
Even though global warming is not the most refreshing subject in the news today, this story swiftly engages the viewer to watching, thanks in large to the great editing by the people at CBS. For one, natural sound helps the reporter's story more engaging. Through a wide spectrum of video, from a closeup of a brown field, to an iceberg crashing into the water, the viewer is kept watching. To add emphasis to the consequences of global warming, natural sound is used in the form of sirens wailing through downtown Chicago. To stress the point that humans are to cause for this, the story allows the viewer to hear the cars idling along a scorching and crowded highway.
The sounds and the video of the story tell the story of "global warming" just as much as the reporter does. This is what makes this story on a cliche subject such as global warming interesting and worth the two minutes and 20 seconds.
Monday, June 8, 2009
An article on PopPhoto's website by Lindsay Sakraida, titled "Shooting Still Lifes: A Photographer on Set," documents the unique photography career of Kimberly French, who is responsible for shooting still lifes on the set of big-name films for promotional material such as movie posters and DVD covers.
French, who got her big break while shooting Brokeback Mountain, discusses in the article the unique relationship that photographers must develop with the actors and actresses in order to gain their trust. This leads to how she can get great shots. The article explains that after trust has been established with the actors, they can then begin to appreciate her as a fellow professional. The article says that "Aaron Eckhart, Brad Pitt, and the late Heath Ledger are known for their interest in photography (American Photo even featured Eckhart's photos in its March/April 2008 issue), and their admiration led to intimate photos with French - and bonds that a stills photographer doesn't always make."
French, who got her big break while shooting Brokeback Mountain, discusses in the article the unique relationship that photographers must develop with the actors and actresses in order to gain their trust. This leads to how she can get great shots. The article explains that after trust has been established with the actors, they can then begin to appreciate her as a fellow professional. The article says that "Aaron Eckhart, Brad Pitt, and the late Heath Ledger are known for their interest in photography (American Photo even featured Eckhart's photos in its March/April 2008 issue), and their admiration led to intimate photos with French - and bonds that a stills photographer doesn't always make."
What is intriguing about this article is that it gives an inside views of the late Heath Ledger from a photographers point of view. French is quoted in the article, saying "He would let me get so close to his eyeline. Getting in an actor's eyeline - between them and the camera or another actor, or whatever they think they are looking at - is a big deal. He also later allowed me to shoot him while he was concentrating on his lines."
Sakraida also talks to Aaron Eckhart, who gives his view on how his personal interest in art has led to his friendship with French that goes beyond the professional realm. The article says that "In fact, French often went on early morning photography and when possible she would explain her process and technique while working on the set."
The story concludes by saying that although French pursues fine art photography in her spare time, she is at this time content with doing stills for films and getting her work noticed through big-name movies.
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