Food for the table and food for the soul

This is especially for you seniors, but it’s never too early to be thinking about these things for you juniors, too. Consider these things as you head out into the world!

I ran across this interview in burn. magazine a few years back, and I believe it’s still relevant as many of you are getting ready to embark on lives and careers.

The interview is a conversation between two of the best photographers in the business: David Alan Harvey and Joe McNally. The two reminisce a bit, so you can get an idea of what the journalism biz was like “back in the day.” Some of the conversation is photo-geek talk, but a lot of it is applicable to just about every occupation in the communications field.

Much of what they say still holds true and you would be wise to listen. These guys have made it. Take a few minutes to learn how and why:

Conversation with Joe McNally

Here are some of the highlighted themes, with a few thoughts of my own:

You gotta pay your dues. Quick fame and fortune come to very, very few, no matter how talented. Professionals like Harvey and McNally have reached a point in their careers where they don’t have to beg for work –  people come to them for their services because they have worked hard to build reputations. They still have to do some marketing to get work, but they are highly sought out for their unique styles and professionalism. But it takes years to establish that kind of reputation in almost any field of work.

Even with a Masters degree, McNally started out being a newsroom copy boy, and then moved “up” to developing film and making prints for other photographers. He did that for three years and got fired! But he didn’t give up. Don’t look at doing grunt work and paying your dues as humiliating. It’s a necessary process for building both knowledge and character.

Be ready for surprising opportunities. After a couple of years making ends meet with freelance work, McNally’s next full time job was as a still photographer – for ABC television! It was an unexpected opportunity for a still photographer and McNally used the experience to learn lighting skills that he is now sought out for as a still photographer.

For years, many economic experts were discouraging college students from majoring in Liberal Arts fields. If you want a job, STEM was the only way to go. No more! The tech industry is realizing that folks who can write code, or manage budgets, or know manufacturing processes aren’t very good at designing app user interfaces. Or writing instruction manuals. Or doing PR or marketing. Technology companies are looking for creative thinkers and competent communicators who can connect with customers. You actually might have a leg-up on those with STEM degrees. Don’t believe me? Read this:

As Tech Companies Hire More Liberal Arts Majors, More Students Are Choosing STEM Degrees

The opportunities for traditional news media staff jobs are constantly shrinking. But new opportunities are opening up all the time. These days, you can work as a photojournalist for a radio network. Or as a video producer for a newspaper. Or you can write news stories for non-profit organizations who want to get the word out about their projects and campaigns. In today’s multimedia world, your opportunity can come from almost anywhere, so be thorough and creative in your job searches.

Learn from the best. McNally drops some serious names in this interview: Gordon Parks, Eddie Adams, Carl Mydans, Alfred Eisenstadt. He got to meet and learn from some of the giants in his business and looked at them as mentors.

Don’t wait for job interviews. Seek out people whose work you admire. Introduce them to yourselves and show them examples of your work. Pick their brains. Understand their motivations. Emulate their professionalism. Finding mentors can be one of the most important things anyone can do for their careers.

Be broad-based and develop lots of skills. You have to. It’s a multimedia world. It’s your future. You might be better at some things – or one thing – than at others, but you still need a broad range of skills and knowledge in today’s world. Communication is more important than ever, and you need to learn how to use every communication tool at your disposal. Take advantage of every opportunity to learn something new.

Learn to use today’s tools better than the average person. These days, everybody has a camera and can shoot video and stills. But not everyone has a gift for timing and can capture an image – moving or still – at just the right moment in the midst of chaos. And not everyone knows how to compose images or use light in a creative way.  Says McNally:

“Look, light has every quality you associate with the written word or the verbal expression of speech. It can be angry, it can be soft, it can be harsh, slanting. I mean all those things…it has emotion and quality and character. And you have to look for it”.

Regardless of what communication medium you choose, telling stories – stories that matter and resonate with the public – comes from the mind and the heart, not from technology.

Do what you love. And the rest will follow. Yes, you gotta put food on the table and pay your bills, but success usually comes to those who have something unique to share with the world. As McNally says:

“You’ve got to do it, swallow hard, go make yourself some money, keep yourself alive, so then you can feed your soul.”

So go forth, you seniors, and figure out what unique talents and perspectives you have, and share them with the world. Be well and don’t forget to feed your souls.

And, as always, feel free to contact me about anything. Always.

Covering the news: materials from class on 4/1

I will post the particulars of your “Events” assignment shortly, but for now, please review the content of yesterday’s presentation before you head out to cover an event.

We’ve spent our time developing fundamental basics and practicing them up to this point, but now we’re getting into the nitty-gritty of photojournalism and daily visual news coverage.

First, here is the handout that accompanies yesterday’s presentation. Please take a few moments to read it.  This handout probably articulates some of these concepts a little more thoroughly. It might be helpful to read through the handout to put yourself in the right frame of mind before you shoot your Events assignment:

Covering the news: How to approach news assignments visually

And here is the PDF version of the class presentation (with presenter’s notes, as usual), in case you want to review it. If you were not in class Monday or had to leave early, make sure you view the full presentation so you can see examples of the concepts we explored and better understand the assignment!

Presentation: Covering the News

So, review the lesson, then go forth and cover a news event!

Again, assignment particulars to come …

Review of class on 3/25

There is no handout for our last lesson. Start using the “mantra” every time you pick up your camera now!

Here is the full presentation if you want to review the lesson and the assignment with examples:

Presentation: Composition/Timing

Captions Matter

First, here is an online link to the requirements for AP Style captions.

AP Style Captions

You can always find this on the class website. If you feel like you need to download this and print it out, here is the PDF version:

AP Style Captions.PDF

Make sure you always gather the required information while you are shooting your future assignments. That means, on occasion, you might have to stop shooting pictures to run someone down and get their information. At the very, very least, IDs for the people in your photographs are required! You might want to have the handout beside you or on your screen the first few times you write AP Style captions. Remember that an AP Style caption embedded in the “description” field of your image is required for every image you turn in for the rest of the semester.

Over on Mark Johnson’s Visual Journalism blog, he explains the importance of captions: Captions Matter

Without captions, it’s just photography, not photojournalism.

The linked article specifically addresses making photographs of people who are grieving, which is one of the hardest tasks for a photojournalist. But the sentiments expressed really apply to any situation. Never assume people won’t talk to you, even in the most traumatic circumstances.

Mark chose one quote to feature. I choose another, by Kenny Irby, who founded the photojournalism program at the Poynter Institute:

“Irby says there are two benefits when photographers introduce themselves and interact with their subjects. One is that they can obtain accurate caption information — which ultimately adds more meaning, value and credibility to the photo for the reader. The other is that it can make the experience of being photographed more rewarding for the subject — even in a moment of extreme grief.”

When you express interest in another person, he or she is less likely to feel violated or spied-upon. We are not voyeurs or paparazzi.

There are many reasons that complete captions accompanying your photographs are a basic professional standard. It’s not an arbitrary formality.

One of the greatest qualities of photography is the ability to help viewers connect with the subjects depicted in photographs. And if that is your goal, it’s difficult to achieve if you – the photographer – do not connect with your subjects. And simply talking to them and recording their information is one of the easiest ways to do this.

Be a journalist, no matter what medium you choose to communicate with!

Follow-up on Classes 1 and 2

Here are some handouts to reinforce what we’ve discussed in the first two classes. You should download these and read through them. It’s up to you whether or not you want to print them out. These will be your study materials for exams and, hopefully, the handouts will lead to better discussions during class time in the future as we build a base of knowledge.

From class #1: Why are photographs the front porch of the news? How do we cut through the noise of all the photographs we are exposed to every day and create meaningful photographs in the context of news? What distinguishes professionals from amateurs? Also, read the discussions about the strengths and weakness of photographs as a medium for communication. We didn’t specifically discuss this in class yet, but we will as we focus more on making decisions about subject matter.

Photographs: The front porch of the news

In class two, we examined the language of photography, it’s power to communicate, and began to create a new vocabulary for discussing photographs with Joe Elbert’s Hierarchy. Here is some follow up. First, here is a link to the actual memo that Joe Elbert shared at a photo editing workshop to help introduce his hierarchy for photo discussions. It’s well worth the time to read what one of the most successful photo editors in the biz has to say:

Joe Elbert’s Memo

Next is an expanded discussion of the Hierarchy.

Joe Elbert’s Hierarchy

Your mid-term exam and final exam will include this material, but don’t wait to cram. Read through them now! I want you to begin incorporating these concepts into your thought process. When you’re shooting assignments. When your editing assignments. When you’re discussing photos.

Additionally, if you want to review or share some the videos from the past couple of classes, here they are:

 

 

 

As alway, contact me if you have any questions.

Dave LaBelle: On Storytelling

We watched this video in class, but I wanted to post it in case you wanted to watch it again.

Again, listen carefully as Dave explains how he discovers what he needs to shoot in order to tell someone’s story. Essentially, by talking to your subjects and getting to know them, they will lead you to where the pictures are. And understand the importance of projection. The best journalists, regardless of the medium they work in, learn how to put themselves in another’s shoes in order to tell their stories. And learn the importance of trust. You will never scratch below the surface and be able to move your audience without the trust of your subjects.

 

I’m including a BONUS video! In the first video, Dave tells us about working with a student during a workshop on a story about a woman caring for her 97-year-old father. In this video, we get to hear an actual conversation between Dave and the student, specifically talking about how to approach the story, the student’s concerns, and Dave’s advice. It’s like being in the huddle with a master coach, and it offers some keen insight into the thought process and problem solving while shooting picture stories. It’s a little longer, but I highly recommend you find a little time to view it. Great advice on shooting and what to look for. Great advice on editing. Just great advice …

 

Make an investment in your subject. Every picture (in a story) is like a word in a sentence. And never forget this: The secret to great storytelling is to get out of the way!

Video: Learning about the process …

Photojournalism isn’t about mindlessly snapping pictures and haphazardly throwing together a group of them for display. There is a process – a distinct and professional approach – and this course is chiefly about learning about and understanding that process.

If you want to see photojournalism practiced at it’s very best, it still doesn’t get any better than National Geographic.  Watch this video if you want to see how the process ideally works: The Sense Of Sight.

The video is 20 years old. The tools have changed, but the process is the same. Photographers, editors, and designers all play a part in producing meaningful content. We will touch on the teamwork aspect during the course, but pay particularly close attention to what the photographer, Joe McNally, has to say about his approach to shooting a story. And watch how he goes about doing his job.

McNally has an excellent blog and posted some thoughts about the video, which documented his first assignment with The Geographic. Check it out here: Starting Off, Looking Back