Visual Journalism – Page 209 – Notes from aside the camera

December 30, 2010

Mama, They’ve Taken My Kodachrome Away

Today’s the day. For generations of photographers, some time this afternoon, there may be a little hollowness in our hearts–Dwayne’s Photo will process the last rolls of Kodachrome today, a film Kodak discontinued last year. In production since 1935, I don’t think anyone knows how many historical and family moments have been recorded on it. I have an idea for...

Advice & Learning/Craft/Tech Talk

December 30, 2010

Photojournalism at the Crossroad

That’s a headline that has been written almost annually since about 1988, in case you’re curious. But this time it references a collection of photos on Time magazine’s web site that look at different ways photographers documented our world in 2010. Moving from Steve McCurry’s work with the last roll of Kodachrome produced through iPhone photos, Polaroids and multiple exposures....

Good Work/Photojournalism

December 28, 2010

Discovering Vivian Maier

On the National Press Photographers Association’s listserv, Lynn Maniscalco sent along a link to a segment done by Chicago Tonight on Vivian Maier, an unknown street photographer who worked as a nanny in Chicago for more than 50 years. A local man bought her negatives at a storage locker auction and … well … watch the video below for more...

Good Work/Photojournalism

December 28, 2010

Getting the Cold Shoulder During the Blizzard

UPDATE: There are some unanswered questions about this incident, it may not be a clear-cut harassing of a photographer. New York Daily News contributor Steven Sunshine was stopped by JetBlue security while photographing a flight status board at John F. Kennedy Airport. The employees claimed he needed to request permission three days in advance … which would be before the...

Business & Industry/Ethics & Legal

December 27, 2010

The Things We Do for Pictures

Every photojournalist has a bunch of stories to tell. You can’t work in this business for more than a week or two before you start collecting them. Of course, some stories are better than others … and there are Joe McNally’s, which are, mostly, insane … and usually about getting your camera (or your light) in just the right place.

At Work/Business & Industry/Good Work/Video

December 23, 2010

One More for the Holiday Wish List

Photo District News’ email blast had a link to an “Objects of Desire: F-Stop Watch.” So I had to click on through … wantWANTwant. Definitely do not need. Just want. Totally useless, I know. Just want. No one would get it. Just want it. Probably break in a week or two. Still want it.

Tech Talk

December 22, 2010

Summer Internships at The White House

I’ve posted this before, but the next set of deadlines is coming up on January 9 for summer internships at The White House. Not clear if there are photo opportunities, but the application does ask about video editing skills. Of course, it also asks what your favorite song and sports team are … which seems, um, odd.

Advice & Learning/Business & Industry

December 22, 2010

Shoot or Help?

When we talk about ethics in my courses, it’s a question that always comes up–if you’re first on a scene, do you help out or shoot? Where’s your responsibility? As always, I frustrate my students with my most common answer. It depends. For John David Mercer, a Press-Register photographer, the decision was easy–help. And he did. After seeing flames coming...

Business & Industry/Ethics & Legal

December 22, 2010

Looking Back, Again

Librado Romero at the New York Times has been producing a wonderful series of stories looking back at the great photojournalists who have worked for the Gray Lady. The latest focuses on Ernie Sisto who spent five decades at the Times. According to Romero, he was a great storyteller and a pretty good photographer. “I was doing a handstand on...

Craft/Journalism

December 21, 2010

First App as a Text Book

For my spring Introduction to Photojournalism courses, I’ve decided to move away from the book I’ve been using, in some iteration, for the past 11 semesters and go to Joe McNally’s LIFE Guide to Digital Photography. After reading the book last month, it was a pretty easy choice. His enthusiasm and technical expertise come shining through–it may be the only...

Advice & Learning