Thoughts & Theory – Page 5 – Visual Journalism

January 6, 2018

Getting the Big Picture, Leaving a Legacy

A wonderful piece by a gentleman whose work I admire and whose character I deeply respect – Billy Howard writes about making a group photo at a summer camp and becoming part of the camp’s legacy. Too often we drop into people’s lives, quickly assess what makes them who they are and then dash off. If the photo succeeds, if...

At Work/Craft/Photojournalism/Thoughts & Theory

December 8, 2017

Personal Boundaries

The Deer Center for Journalism and Trauma interviewed nine female journalists about the issues they have faced in the field and how to deal with them. This should be required viewing for everyone who is a member of the media or who interacts with the media. So, essentially, everyone on the planet. (Thanks to alum and friend of the program...

At Work/Business & Industry/Photojournalism/Thoughts & Theory

November 18, 2017

Look Versus Feel

The New York Times’ Todd Heisler writes about covering tragic events like the church shooting in Texas. Because of this, it is important to make images that go beyond grief and crime scenes. Step back. Give a sense of place. Show not just what a scene looks like but, more important, what it feels like. That last part – about...

Advice & Learning/At Work/Craft/Good Work/Journalism/Photojournalism/Thoughts & Theory

September 5, 2017

Knowing Your Sources Matters

Every journalism course will teach you the same thing – know who your source is and why they are talking to you. In today’s wired world, that same lesson needs to apply to photo editors as Jan A. Nicolas reports at PetaPixel, a fake war photographer (using stolen and modified images) manages to get work published all over the world....

Ethics & Legal/Photojournalism/Thoughts & Theory

September 1, 2017

Pieces of Advice

Independent photojournalist Yunghi Kim, who has put a lot of effort into help educate others on good business and copyright practices, has assembled a nice collection of comments from ten women photojournalists. I love this from Jane Evelyn Atwood: I don’t like to be called a “female photographer”. We don’t refer to Salgado or Cartier-Bresson as “male photographers”. I feel...

At Work/Business & Industry/Journalism/Photojournalism/Thoughts & Theory

July 21, 2017

The Unthreatened Give

Buried in this nice piece by Eric Minton on photographer Stephen Green is this brilliant quote about mentoring: The most talented are the most giving; they are unthreatened, and they want you to get it right. It’s true. As an educator, I bring photojournalists and editors in to my classroom and workshop spaces all the time. How I choose them...

Advice & Learning/Business & Industry/Good Work/Photojournalism/Thoughts & Theory

July 6, 2017

Nerd Alert: Filter Testing

So how much light does your filter transmit? How much should it? What about the people who say they don’t use filters because it degrades the image? Many answers in Roger Cicala’s giant test of lens filters. And, of course, many more questions …

Advice & Learning/Photojournalism/Tech Talk/Thoughts & Theory

May 25, 2017

The Scent of Nostalgia

I’ll admit to suffering from nostalgia. I like old cars – on the weekend, when I don’t need to be anywhere. I like old cameras – for the mechanical precision and the engineering sensibilities. I like old houses – for they have stood the test of time and adapted. And I still read print, on the weekends, when I have...

Business & Industry/Journalism/Multimedia/Photojournalism/Thoughts & Theory

April 4, 2017

Train Track Tragedies

Watch this. NOW. And stop taking stupid photos on train tracks. Only thing I disagree with is his statement about “trains plowing through without warning.” The train belongs there, the photographers and models are the ones there without warning.

Advice & Learning/Business & Industry/Photojournalism/Thoughts & Theory

March 11, 2017

Women in Photojournalism

This is an important read from Anastasia Taylor-Lind – it’s a question I wrestle with often. My program is 85% women, yet the industry is almost the opposite of that. Finding ways to support everyone, to ensure that everyone’s voice has a chance to be seen … that’s what I spend a lot of time trying to figure out.