Mark E. Johnson – Page 166 – Visual Journalism

July 18, 2011

Behind the Rube

Last week, we showed you that amazing Rube Goldbergian device created by the folks at 2D Photography. They’ve posted a semi behind-the-scenes look at how it was done now. I’m thinking next summer, in my lab, when no one else is around …

Tech Talk/Thoughts & Theory

July 18, 2011

Over at the Gear Geek …

This week, I’m talking about a cheap LED light for shooting video at the NPPA’s Gear Geek blog, swing on by.

Tech Talk

July 17, 2011

Canon Ambassadors: Advice for Young Photographers

On the European Canon Professional Services web site there are five short interviews with photojournalists offering advice to young shooters. Worth a few minutes of your time. From the interview with Gary Knight, one of the founders of the VII agency: This has always been a confusing industry to enter. It’s always been a difficult business to survive in. It’s...

Advice & Learning/Business & Industry/Craft/Photojournalism

July 16, 2011

The Odd Lives We Lead

My students hear my stories (sometimes multiple times) and, occasionally, I see a little doubt in their eyes. But they’re true – weird things happen if you shoot long enough. For your morning reading, I direct you to the Chicago Tribune’s Alex Garcia and his 9 Odd, Scary and Quirky Moments as a Photojournalist post. Stick around, the weird will...

At Work/Business & Industry/Craft/Photojournalism

July 15, 2011

The Limits of Cell Phone Cameras

Over on The Unofficial Apple Web Log, they linked to a video of a guy who dropped his iPhone 4 into his guitar then shot video looking out through the opening at the strings. It looks very weird, and kind of cool, all because of the way some small-sensor cameras scan the chip as opposed to snapping an image in...

Good Work/Tech Talk/Video

July 15, 2011

Sports as a Spatial Exercise

Over at the British Journal of Photography, Diane Smyth has a series of six profiles on some pretty non-traditional sports photographers. These are not peak-action, super telephoto shooters. There are people who use space and place in their images, who give as much of a sense of what as where in their images. I keep looking at that Lorenz Holder...

Good Work/Photojournalism

July 15, 2011

The Allure of Mechanical Precision

One of the great losses we’ve encountered with the advent of digital imaging is the loss of the mechanicalness of cameras. Sure, there’s still a fluidity you see in the better cameras that is wholly absent in lesser models, but I don’t feel the came physical connection with any of my current cameras that I did with some of my...

Tech Talk/Thoughts & Theory

July 14, 2011

Why We Can’t Trust Handout Photos

There has been a quiet battle going on in Washington, one that has been playing out in newspapers, magazines and television. One that no one in the general public is even aware of. It is the clamping down of visual access to the president. President Obama has an excellent photographer in Pete Souza, a man with a long journalism history....

Ethics & Legal

July 14, 2011

Shooting Stills and Video

New York Times staff photographer Doug Mills built himself a rig that allows him to shoot stills and video at the same time. I do have to wonder how long the hot shoe will last on the bottom camera …

Tech Talk

July 13, 2011

Tips for JPEG Shooters

I’m not one of you, but I know there are a lot of you out there – those who go for speed and small file size by shooting JPEGs instead of RAW files. (And, hey, why do we always capitalize raw?) Over on Shutterfinger, Gordon Lewis lays out some very useful tips if you’re going to be shooting JPEGs. Most...

Tech Talk

Author: Mark E. Johnson

Behind the Rube

Over at the Gear Geek …

Canon Ambassadors: Advice for Young Photographers

The Odd Lives We Lead

The Limits of Cell Phone Cameras

Sports as a Spatial Exercise

The Allure of Mechanical Precision

Why We Can’t Trust Handout Photos

Shooting Stills and Video

Tips for JPEG Shooters