Thursday, September 2, 2010

Say its not over!

My internship has come to a close. The overall experience was fantastic, I am super appreciative of Tony and his cooperation and knowledge. I have learned so much. I feel its only the tip of the iceberg for the life experience I need to gain. In the last days of my internship I covered cancer walkers, a pastor who got the surprise of a life time and football. Oh lovely football, I didn't know what to expect of this as I despised the high school football players when I was of age. But it was fun. I also enjoy a challenge and I have never covered football to this extent. These weren't games either just practices. Dealing with the coaches and getting the names again was really hard because it is easy to lose track of those. Tony's wisdom was infallible when it came to this part. I feel I could have done better. Been a little more intrusive for the names. The delicate balance between intrusive and being a wallflower in order to get a truly natural moment is incredibly hard to do even in sports. But especially in high school sports. You get these kids full of themselves on the high school sports hero high and just plain dumb ass stunts some of them pull. Also you get these coaches who are either awesome guys or real pricks. Just a taste of really the people. Anyhow it was fun and worthwhile.

Now I am on to furthering my skills in my chosen career. First things first is knowledge, after that is equipment. I know this profession is expensive but all the while worth it. This brings to mind the quandary the modern photojournalists and journalists, for that matter, of monetizing their work. In this internet age monetizing your photos is the big problem. Everyone is trying to come up with something. To those who survive the riches will come. Its sad to hear things like Black Star selling a good portion of their archive. The golden age of photojournalism will come again I can promise that. Enough of that though.

I have learned so much from my experiences with The Olympian. I can't thank everyone their enough. Hopefully, I did well, well enough for them to come to me if they need some extra help. I look forward to the future and to working hard to make my dreams a reality.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

July 29th - 31st

Busy, busy, the last few days. But not a bad kind of busy, was definitely fun and relaxing.

Thursday I shot an army family looking to purchase a new home. The story was about how the economy has been affecting so many people but the people in business i.e. the government and army is chugging along. The soldier age 24 and his wife 23 have one kid and one on the way and they are looking at finding a permanent home. So while others are struggling soldiers are pursuing a life. While I do like this because these people deserve it, I am a little angry or even in angst if I can apply that term to this situation. I chose my life and I am fine with that but this may hit closer to home with others.

Friday, I got to ride on the Sandman tug boat for a little historical tour. That was a lot of fun and very relaxing. The shooting went fine I felt there was something I missed in the shots but I don't know its a small boat so I got what I could. It was nice talking to the people and the reporter on site there, the reporter was definitely a good guy, good writer to. Those photos made the Sunday front page, which was very exciting.

Saturday was an interesting day, kind of stressful, especially the first event Tony and I covered that day. I was shooting stills and Tony was shooting video of Wienerfest. I was stressed because the lighting sucked I don't think a flash would've helped but I pry should have used one. Never the less the shots I feel came out well. The place where it was held was stuffy, smelly and overall noisy; didn't bug me but I've been feeling ill so it didn't help. The worst part was my camera that I own failing me and not working so I have to send it in to get fixed now. Good thing I have a 2 year warranty on it.

After wienerfest I loaded up the photos I took, edited them and sent to the layout editors. Then I relaxed a little bit and afterwards headed to Bon Odori, the most rushed event of the day. I made the mistake of taking too many shots of the Taiko Drummers and not the dancers but I only had 20 minutes to shoot the dancers and that really didn't give much but enough. After that I loaded, edited and sent the ones I liked best, only a few I pry should have sent more. After all that I headed off to Tacoma for concert. On the way there I get a phone call and apparently they can't find my photos. So I was freaking as I was already in Tacoma but I sat on the phone for a second and the layout editor found them after he pushed the REFRESH BUTTON!!! I mean come on seriously, you would think they would do that on a regular basis. I was furious because I had called Tony to let him know because my phone was dying and I called him too late and felt really bad to bug him like that. Don't know what was a I was thinking. Ugh it was infuriating. They didn't even use any of the photos pry because I should have sent more, its what ever I guess they ended up using 2 of the wiener dog shots.

Heres a shot I slapped together from the senior games same as the other post but better looking.

Monday, July 26, 2010

July 22nd - 24th 2010


LEFT is a little girl giving one of the princess' at the queens coronation of lakefair her support; every time I'm down I think of this kid. Wish I would've had the time to talk to her.

What a sports filled week it was. Mostly baseball and a little bit of track and field. Thursday I shot a 12 year old kid who's brother died in a terrible car accident and it discouraged him from playing baseball. The kid then decided that he wanted to play in memory of his brother. The whole team had his initials on the side of their helmets, the kid carried a picture of his brother to every game and he seemed to just be a good kid and was also really good at baseball. The goal for this shoot was to get a portrait of him playing baseball and having a good time with his team after this tragic incident. It was a little weird as well that my girlfriends cousin was the driver of the automobile that was in the wreck. Anyhow that was fun and inspiring as well.

Friday I shot a local 13 year old baseball championship. Which was fun, still interesting to see what the editors pick out of the photos I send because I like to not just get the sports but the crowd enjoying it. There wasn't too much special going on there just a few enthusiastic parents.

Saturday was the best of them all. I shot the senior games at tumwater high school. These were some inspiring ladies and gentlemen. All 50 to 100+ doing amazing sports at their age like pole vaulting, long jump, high jump, 10k run, 100 meter dash. It was cool, lots of really good faces.

Lately I've been looking at contests and stuff to enter in hopes to gain more recognition as a student of photojournalism. Its a little disconcerting to see these guys from around the country at these schools of photojournalism doing this; where I am pry the only student of photojournalism in this town let alone state I feel like I'm going to get out gamed and shot down because I'm at a different college, that really has no affiliation in journalism. I'm doing it all myself really. I just hope it won't hamper me in the future. My mom says its all about the internships and who you work with so I suppose I'm doing that right seeing as I'm working for one of the best. It'd be nice to win a contest and gain some recognition and prestige for what I want to do with myself. Especially some recognition for Evergreen that would be really cool.

After this is over its back to trying to find a job, ugh the thought of it is disconcerting and depressing alone. Not looking forward to it. Can't I just freelance now!???!?! Not like I have the equipment for it but damn it I have the drive. I just don't want to be pushing carts or being a cashier like some corporate pawn. Maybe if I get work study I can get a fun job at evergreen maybe in the photo department. That'd be incredible. Going to try to find that out tomorrow.

All in all doing photography and journalism is all I think about its become number one above all else. I want to travel. I want to learn about different cultures. I want to see world events happen. I want to get to know everyone and be known. Most of all I want to be good. Nothing can stop me now. I'm too determined, too stubborn and too emboldened to let anything or anyone stop me.

Here is a sequence photo from the senior games.
Look at it big its great!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

15 - 17 of July

What a fantastic weekend. New learning experiences indeed.

Thursday I shot the coronation of the Lakefair queen which was quite intense because it was brief and their was not much time for me to make the deadline. In short I was 13 minutes late, the lesson there was that I must call the photo editor and ask for a bit more time. The reason I was late was because I could not send remotely from my car with a tether to my phone that was a fail, so I had to rush to the Olympian to send from there. It was adrenaline pumping because I am a perfectionist and anal retentive about time. Anyhow lesson truly learned from that situation.

A little explanation on Lakefair. Obviously it is a fair, a fair that centers around the Capital Lake in Olympia. Every summer we have the fair and its pretty dreadful and basically a giant school dance for the teenagers and the young at heart. Lame to say the least. Never the less I pushed forward to take photos for the crowning and for a local feature for Friday and Saturday's paper.

On Saturday I was to shoot the Seattle to Portland Bike ride. This in itself was not interesting. My goal here was to learn to hunt down stories and stories in photos with a reporter. I think I did pretty well. When the reporter got there I immediately informed her of a guy in a strange vehicle called a velomobiel (thats how it was spelled on his car). A bullet shaped aerodynamic bicycle with 3 wheels, two in front, one in back. It was a sleek little contraption. Also we found some people with polka dots on haz mat suits and a women wearing a tiara to represent a women she rides with who could not ride whom had breast cancer. It was a lot of fun. I think I could take to reporting as well. I'd like to do that just so I can be more use to an editor and make more money, of course. All I need to do is work on my writing, as you can pry tell is not fantastic.

Anyhow, I think the editors liked my photos or at least I hope they did or else I would've pry heard about it at some point.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

July 10th and 11th

Wow what a weekend. I could've not gone from two different photography extremes, on two different days, than I did this weekend. Saturday was a relaxed day of shooting at Huntamer Park, in Lacey, for the first 2010 community market. It was fun, I got some great shots, that looked great in the Sunday paper. I made sure I got all the names and where they were from, it was pretty easy.

Sunday, was the day of intensity and new experiences. I shot the NHRA Northwest championship drag races in Kent. This was insane, the noise, the vibrations, the speed, it was absolutely crazy. On top of that one of the drivers died and I had shots of his race, which automatically became incredibly important to the newspaper folks. The idea of course other people had shots but mine were the only newspaper shots because the Seattle times didn't have a shot of him, also I am free work, because I am an intern and the other photographers know the value of such a shot or at least thats what I gathered from the other people there. Anyhow I basically observed the other photographers, talked to them and just watched what how they shot but it really wasn't necessary I had been thinking about how to shoot the races for the past night I feel I can be pretty intuitive about any situation I'm put in for composition.

It was a dramatic day, besides Mark Niver dying, there was tense feelings between the car types, also confusion with the starting lights, or the christmas tree as they call it, overall though I probably don't know the half of what went on outside of all the noise and speed.

(EDIT) HERES MY PHOTO ON NBC SPORTS WEBSITE the associated press is using my photo wow NBC

THE SEATTLE TIMES

Herald Net

Kentucky.com

USA TODAY

goupstate.com

I'm not trying to brag I'm just excited

Overall I'm saddened by this mans death its a little bitter sweet to have my first photo nationally published, and its not even a spectacular photo, under these circumstances. RIP Mark Niver he died doing what he loved.

and here is the tribunes article on the whole thing
TNT

Thursday, July 8, 2010

July 8, 2010

Today was a hot day, so naturally it is news. But my first assignment for the day was a call from the photo editor in Tacoma, to go shoot teens at a reading event at the Tumwater library. That was a giant bust. No one showed up so I took pictures of kids reading and other miscellaneous things.

After I left, my next assignment was to get shots of people cooling off in the hot sunny weather. So I headed to to get shots of people playing in the Deschutes river by suggestion of my editor. It was succesful but getting all the names straight was hard, which is my newest lesson, write something identifiable about these people. The problem with that is all guys wearing shorts so they all pretty much look alike. I figured it out. The next frustration was my computer epic failing with multiple blue screens, so I ended up using my touchy laptop. I was furious! But I got the photos in though not as early as I'd like. I want a mac lap top, bad, I'm sick of pc's seriously. Hopefully I can invest in one at some point. Photography is really my life now that's all I want to do so it would be rather important over getting a PC to acquire new equipment. New lenses and a second camera is also on the list. Still a good day but a frightening and stressful with the failures. But my photo and my name is now on the front page and that is what matters to me.

Monday, July 5, 2010

July 3rd and 4th, 2010

This weekends lesson was names and always asking for them from everyone you take photographs of. Also meeting the deadline and how crucial it is. For every minute you are late on a deadline the press is pushed 5 minutes forward. A busy weekend it was as I pushed forward on an assignment to shoot people in the park. My biggest challenge behind this for me was talking to random people and getting names and so on, small groups are easy but parties are a problem. I am going to push through this shy issue and do the job.

Onwards and upwards as they say. The photos from the parks came out well behind every corner was a surprise, people and events that I didn't expect to be there yielded good photo opportunities. Today especially in a last minute clinch for a feature photo for tomorrows paper in the local section I found a rally going on down at the capitol, even though I shouldn't have been I was surprised. It was small but good enough. This is where the lesson came into play. I went and shot this event briefly then left for The Olympian. Learning that even in an event as such I should get names and info on the even and as always try to get some literature on what was going on. Anyhow lesson learned and lucky I was able to go back and get names and info after getting none in the first place, there won't be a next time for that to happen.

Friday, July 2, 2010

July 2nd, 2010


Today was a fantastic day! Even though the weather was touch and go, I came out with some great photographs of a fox on the beach. It was pretty strange actually, this little guy got so close to me and didn't frighten easily and was only startled by sudden movements like a camera switch.

I learned a bit on the business of freelancing today. How to gauge the value of the work you do by the your living costs and work expenses. Like travel, hours spent, equipment, assistants, lighting and all the needs of a professional shoot. It is amusing to me at how people underestimate the value of a photographers time, from the stories I was told and the things that I have read.

Tomorrow I take on another assignment, for a story this time on the parks around Olympia and the people using them. Hopefully everyone goes to priest point or Kenneydell Park tomorrow because that is where I will be.

The experiences I've gotten from this internship are priceless and I am really enjoying everything I've been doing and learning, it brings life a lot more into focus for me. Here is a shot that I took today of the fox and a link to a couple of favorite shots one of which will be in Saturdays paper.

Some of the other photographs

July 1st, 2010

If there was one thing I learned today it was, when on an assignment such as getting shots of people out and about and its raining or just doesn't give results shoot away anyway. Onward and upward no less. On my quest for shots of anyone today by the water at the beach, really gave nothing but I was able to meet some nice people and took shots of them, their daughter walking by east bay, so that yielded some fun shots. The little girl was playing in the rocks and running around and being overall random and fun. The mother was really nice to. It always helps me, in any case, to talk to strangers and taking photos of them because I am a bit shy. In a work situation though I tend to push myself to meet needs and expectations and work past my shy demeanor.

Its time to get aggressive. Go search out some great photographic opportunities around town, listen to that police scanner and dig out some good work from this town.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

June 26th, 2010


Saturday was my first day out, shooting an event on my own. My biggest hurdle to jump was getting proper information to go along with the photos I had taken. In the end though it worked out and had enough information, although I had to search out some people to get their information.

My overall lesson from that day, though, was all about captions. Who, what, when, where and why; these words I would repeat to myself. To sum it though, names, ages, town that they live in, why they were there, and a little personal history. For example "How long have you been participating in cycling competitions?" Things like that.

My other main goal was to maintain a professional demeanor and polite manor when talking to people. Not that doing that was a problem for me but it was certainly something to keep in mind. I shot mostly all day and was having a real good time of it. But what made it even better was going over the photos with Tony. Getting a second opinion and tips from a seasoned professional really made a world of a difference to me. For example, keeping low and framing up everything just like when someones head is cut off in a photo don't cut off the bicycle of a racer or the legs of a footballer. Its really amazing to have someone be able to give you the proper feedback you need. Friends and family only go so far.

What also made a world of a difference was having a second camera with a professional quality telephoto lens. My current lens is basic and isn't the best, but works just as well for now. In the future I must invest in some professional quality wide angle lenses. The size of the glass and the length of the aperture really can make a difference in some situations. Also as a photojournalist it truly would be best if I purchased a camera with a better fps rate. Never the less I will persevere with the camera equipment I have and not let it affect my ability to gauge a situation and find and image to evoke emotion and tell a story.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

June 24th, 2010

Today was my first day as an intern at The Olympian on an assignment with my field supervisor Tony Overman, staff photographer. Our assignment was to go cover the birthday party of a woman, Marianne Andrews, who was turning 100 years old. The significance behind this event was she works out twice a week and she was celebrating this birthday by working out.

We arrived at Providence St. Peter hospital too meet with the hospitals P.I.O (public information officer). A P.I.O is the person in charge of handling the media for an organization. This person is the contact you talk with about the event before hand and the person who shows you where the event is happening. They also have the people whom we the media take photographs sign waivers to allow us to take there photo. Now this is not necessary for everyone to do in public you are allowed to take photos of whoever with or without permission. But since this is on private property, if we take a picture of someone and use it without proper permission since it was on private property legal action can be taken.

When we arrived Tony introduced himself and I to the subject of the story and the coordinator of the exercise program. Tony made a point of talking to the woman and the people around her and telling them to basically ignore our presence and go about there business as if we were not around. Furthermore it was important for him to talk to them about there day and Marianne's life in order for them to be comfortable with us.

As these elderly folks began to work out together we began to shoot. Tony was aware of there space but still was able to get close from a good distance. He also was aware of moments of emotions and when a certain smile or facial expression that illustrated the even happens. After a little workout the cake that was brought for Marianne was cut and 'Happy Birthday' was sung. Tony was clearly aware of where to shoot and when. More importantly how to shoot in order to frame up. Probably the greatest lesson for me was to be aware of the backdrop and where things are positioned. While this is a given in most situations I feel I've learned more from it being point out to me in my work and given the solution. Learning by doing is always the best.

After the cake was cut, Marianne sat down to eat and be interviewed by the reporter that had accompanied us. Afterwards Marianne went into the main exercise room where we photographer her doing her daily work out. Tony gave no quarter for this and shot her at every point while the reporter followed and we continued to talk. I was impressed at how comfortable Marianne was with us and Tony. The point being is that as a photojournalist you must be able to blend in and not stick out in order for the people to be comfortable and relaxed in their own environment so you can shoot them naturally.

Overall I feel this solidifies things I have read in books on photojournalism and really gives me more of memorable experience in the idea. I have learned so much from just a few hours of shooting and editing photos I'm so excited to continue working with The Olympian and Tony to further my work in journalism.