Person at Work - Attempt #1

Environment

Elizabeth Lampert of Coeur d’Alene, 21, is a waver at Liberty Tax Service at US

Highway 95 and Appleway.  She describes herself as high energy and enjoys her

four hour shifts alongside the highway drawing attention to the business and the

services it offers.

Medium

An avid hip hop fan, Elizabeth Lampert, 21, listens to Justin Timberlake

as she dances along US Highway 95 in a Statue of Liberty outfit on Saturday.

She does this three mornings a week, works at Kmart and studies

psychology at North Idaho College.

Detail Option 1

The caption for this photo is still in the works

Detail Option 2

Wavers like Elizabeth Lampert, 21, working for Liberty Tax Service, have worn a

muddy trail along US Highway 95 near Appleway dancing and waving to motorists

as they drive by.  Born in Plummer and now living in Coeur d’Alene, Lampert feels

the need to burn off extra energy dancing, working two jobs and going to college.

I need your input:

I think I over estimated the excitement of a roadside waver.  There are few options for variety besides varying camera angles of the same activity.  I thought I could get some shots of the gal getting into her outfit but that took two seconds in a closet.  So as it stands, I did the best I could.

The top environment photos seems just slightly soft so I may have to go back and try that one again.

The medium shot shows a problem I had all morning long: the shadow across her face from the baseball cap.  In the end I just went with it and did the best I could.

For the detail shot, I really had not idea what to try.  This really leads me to believe I should try something different entirely for my subject.  I tried getting pieces of her hat but that just looked strange.  So I thought since she dances for 4 hours straight in the mud I would focus on her feet for a bit.  I am not really sure if that adds an interesting detail or just looks like dirty shoes.  I think the latter.  As for the close up of her face, it really just shows her face with the crown.  I like the photo but am not sure it fits the bill.

I think my environmental shot is ok and I like my medium shot.  But my options for a detail shot are limited and I could use some other opinions to help figure out which to pick.

Thanks for your help!

Assigment Help

Good morning everyone!

I would appreciate any guidance and feedback you can provide regarding the pictures I took for the "person at work" assignment. I find my self challenged trying to match the linguistic definition of the overall environment vs its visual representation.


As I shared ad naseum, this shoot was rather challenging and transformative at the same time. The lighting source was fluorescent lights, and my knowledge of the tattoo culture non-existent. I really had to bump my ISO to a minimum of 2000 and as hard as I tried to include the PJ artistic elements, I had a difficult time managing basic elements such as my exposure. I am going back tomorrow to spend more quality time with my favorite tattoo artist--only one I know--and I want to make sure I do a better job on the second shoot.




Overall Shots

Medium Shots

Detail Shot

Discussion photos relating to assignment

I came across this magazine article online about the 20 most dangerous jobs in America. It's really cool and there's some good ideas there. These two were my favorite photos from the slideshow.

What I like about the first one is they dynamic feel it has. I think the clouds, mixed with the waves and the raincoats all add dynamics to the picture. Also, I think the photographer's tilt with the camera works awesome in this one. The way the guy on the right is positioned it gives you the impression that the boat is rocking way back and forth and again adds dynamics and a feeling of danger and uneasiness in the photo. I remember learning in Phil's class how diagonals add dynamics, and I think this photo is proof of that. Normally it bugs me if the horizon in a picture like this isn't perfectly straight, but I think it works in this case.

The second picture appealed to me most because of its composition, perspective and the contrast between the red and the white. I think it's a good example of using color to make a photo more interesting and appealing.

#1, Fisherman

Image: Nick Hall / Aurora Photos

Fatalities: 129 per 100,000 workers
Reported Injuries: 61 per 100,000 workers
Salary: $27,950


















Recent tragedy: In January 2009, lifelong fisherman Bill Meldrum departed from the New Jersey coast to fish for flounder and yellowtail on the 65-foot Lydia J. Meldrum's legs got caught in one of the boat's pulleys and he died after going into shock from blood loss. At the time of his death he was 53 years old and had been married just five months to Isabel Meldrum, who told the Asbury Park Press that he was known for his devotion to other fisherman. "I can remember him coming home from work one night and saying, 'Let's go to Wal-Mart and get boots,'" she said. "He bought three pairs. He gave them to workers he had seen that morning that were tying plastic bags around their feet to keep dry."

#19, Animal slaughterers

Image: Getty Images

Fatalities: 2 per 100,000 workers
Reported Injuries: 1 per 100,000 workers
Salary: $27,200
















Recent tragedy: While worker deaths at animal slaughterhouses are comparatively low, reported injuries can be severe and may go unreported, according to activists. At least 24 workers at Minnesota, Indiana, and Nebraska slaughterhouses developed complex neurological problems from inhaling bits of pig brain, researchers found in 2008. One slaughterhouse employee told Human Rights Watch, "I think I have an allergic reaction to hogs. But I'm afraid to say anything about this because I'm afraid they will fire me."

Here's the web address: http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/1500/1/?redirectURL=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-04-08/the-20-most-dangerous-jobs/

These pictures also brought up a question to me that I'll ask Jerome if he doesn't respond to it on here. Can we have more than one person in the overall shot? For instance, the butcher shop overall photo has several people in it but I feel like it's crucial to cover the overall picture of what the workplace is about. Even the first photo seems like it needed both of the guys in it to capture the overall job.

Danielle

These are two pictures I took for the portrait assignment. I wanted to capture part of the loneliness or sadness dealing with effects of alcohol. I think that I really might not like the second photo? I cant figure out if they way her face is turned so much is a bad thing or if it works. Yeah, no i don't like the second one=] I liked the first photo more because of what she is doing, the sunken look of her face, the crap on the table and the rays of light in the right corner. However, I'm also not so sure on the yellow/orange tint of the photos-think it would have looked better if I didn't do that. The first one might be ok but the second is just too much. What do you guys think?

Hello?

Since our last class six days ago there has been one comment and no posts by others at all. 

This is no fun without you.

:-(

Discussion Photos

This photo won Ed 3rd prize in the National Press Photographers

Association's Best of Photojournalism awards in 2009.

"Ta-Bo, a 45-year-old engineer, reads anime in the company of his anatomically

 correct love dolls, which he uses for companionship and sex, in his apartment in Tokyo.

According to him, real women are too much trouble because they are expensive, high

maintenance, and often unfaithful." (Source: bob.nppa.org)

This photo made available by World Press Photo in Amsterdam, Netherlands,

Friday, Feb, 12, 2010, shows the first prize in the Contemporary Issues Stories

category of the 2010 World Press Photo contest. The photo, by American

photographer Eugene Richards, Reportage by Getty Images for The Sunday

Times Magazine/Paris Match, is named "War Is Personal, USA."

Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Richards, Reportage by Getty Images for The Sunday

 Times Magazine/Paris Match

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-202_162-10002434-7.html#ixzz1E32epArW

Why I picked these photos:

I picked these photos for one simple reason this week.  Due to our current assignment, I have been thinking about access to the details and moments in people's lives and how we, as photographers, get permission from the subjects to be a part of their intimate moments and document them.  The caption for the first photo is also a great example of the who, what, where and why components we talked about two weeks ago.

Both of these photos are award winning and have several interesting aspects to them that help tell a story.  But the simple fact that a photographer was able to take the photo without paparazzi techniques amazes me and has me thinking about my approach to communicating with others in light of what we have discussed in class.

Habitat for Humanity

WD and I were also roped into covering this fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity on Saturday.  It was very tricky also and, most frustrating of all, we were given very specific instructions to take photos that were posed and included various important people, board members and staff members.  Shoot this table, shoot that group, get him, get her.  We had very little chance and time to attempt anything photojournalistic as a result.  It was exhausting.  We were also asked not to take photos during dinner.  But again, we did the best we could and we hope they like the results.

Again, due to lighting, most of these photos were shot between f/2.8-3.2, at ISO6400 with very slow shutter speeds so there is some motion blur and a lot of graininess.

To see more, visit:  http://abraunlichaoteandh4h.blogspot.com/

Click on photo to enlarge

Rees Bybee and Margie Browning inspect auction items on Saturday at a fundraiser

for Habitat for Humanity at the Coeur d'Alene Inn on Appleway.  They were among the

many generous attendees at the event that raises money to build homes for the needy.

While attending the Habitat for Humanity event on Saturday evening, Melinda Wall

 inspects a wall of donated firearms.  All items were auctioned off to raise money

to build homes for struggling families in our area.

Jim and Nancy Clampet - No caption here. 

How many times can I say the same thing over and over again?

Rick Sparing of Integrity Benefit Auctions jokes with Cindy Jordan and Bart Kleng

during a game of Heads or Tails in the Coeur d'Alene Inn on Saturday.  The event,

 hosted as a fundraiser by Habitat for Humanity, provided a great time for those

attending while helping those in need.  The money raised will be used to build houses

in our area for the under privileged.

KLXY's Robyn Nance shows a painting to the attendees of Saturday's Habitat For

Humanities fundraiser at the Coeur d'Alene Inn on Appleway.  The painting and other items

were donated to the event to be auctioned off to raise money for the organization that builds

homes for the needy.

Barbra Tennery raises her hand to place a winning bit on Saturday at the Habitat for

Humanity fundraiser at the Coeur d'Alene Inn.  Item donated were auctioned off to

help raise funds to build homes for those that could not otherwise afford one in our area.

Now I really hate captions!

Art on the Edge

Many of you know WD Wegner from other photograpghy classes.  The two of us volunteered to shoot photos at Riverstone on Saturday morning for the people from Sorenson Elementary School that put on the event.  There was lots of chaos, very poor light and many other challenges.  We were there for three and a half hours and did the best we could.  I hope you enjoy the results.

I took about 200 photos and am trying to figure out which one is my single best shot but I stuggle with picking "the one".  This is as far down as I could edit without further input.  I am working hard on this and would appriciate your thoughts.

Yes, the photos are grainy.  Most were shot at between 5000-6400 ISO.

To see more, visit:  http://abraunlichaoteandh4h.blogspot.com/

Click on photo to enlarge

  

  

  

  

  

  

Portrait by Noura A.A.

Bouldering

These two photos were two of my final ones. What are your thoughts on them? 

Russell Helgeson III, 24, enjoys a sunny afternoon of bouldering at Tubbs Hill on Wednesday February 9th. He has been an avid rock climber since 2008 and when he can't get outside he climbs at the Salvation Army Kroc Center.  

Independent Lab Time for Feb. 9th Class

    Sorry I won't in class this week, but I had a family emergency that required me to fly to California for the week. But being the tyrant that I am, I have something for you to do for class.

    It's time for peer editing in the Mac lab.

    I want you to team up in pairs (not the people you sit next to in class) and look over each others whole take for the portrait assignment and see which one is the best that you can find.

    Skim through them to see which one(s) captures your eye and make note of them. Then go through each one and look for those visual elements we discussed in class (moment, emotion, mood, perspective, surprise, quality of light, etc.) and make notes on the portraits and the elements they contain. Make notes (kudos and criticism) on the focus, exposure, composition, framing and the edit from the outside edges of the frame inward.

    Now see if the picture that you picked as the top image matches what the photographer chose for their final edit and discuss the image. If it doesn't, discuss the differences and add that to your comments.

    Send me an email (jerome@jeromepollos.com) with your comments before leaving the lab for the evening.

    Then I want you to read Chapter 18 about Turning Pro and then we'll discuss this and the "Assignments" chapter in class next week. And start thinking about your "Person at Work" assignment due Feb. 23.

    Your person at work assignment should be someone who has a job that offers a lot of visual elements with either the location, tools, activity, etc. Remember, don't set yourself up for failure by highlighting someone who sits in an office all day. Let me know if you have any questions or have an idea, but need some direction.

    I'll try to get critiques and grades for your portrait assignment out to you by the end of the weekend.

    Good job crew and thanks for working independently this week. I really appreciate it.

Portrait Assignment

A portrait goes beyond the mug shot and expands on more than just the "who" of an image. A portrait should give us an idea of some of the other "W's" that journalism presents. Portraits give us an idea of what a person does or represents. It should give us some insight into why they do what they do. If you're working on an environmental portrait, it should definitely give us some clue to where they are.

Get some insight into their career, hobby, or whatever attracted you to them for the portrait. The more information you can get, the easier it is to build a portrait and write your captions. Hopefully you do this before the shoot.

Captions should include the five W's in the first sentence. The second sentence should offer some insight into why we should be interested in this person. If you're feeling bold, go for a quote from the person in the third sentence about why they do what they do or some anecdote that gives the viewer some additional insight.

Make sure before you decide on who you would like to feature in a portrait, you're thinking of those adjectives and adverbs and building communication points from them. You want to have those come across in the image. Remember, if you're thinking of how you can shoot nouns and verbs, you're images are going to be boring and will look more like a snapshot than a well thought out journalistic image.

Don't forget to be a little creative to make it graphically appealing and look at the scene from 10 different perspectives if you're visually stuck.

And lastly, make sure your portrait subject is able to give you enough time to give you. Ten minutes won't be enough. For most of you, it will take you ten minutes just to calm your nerves and get your camera settings where they need to be. Show up early, scout out the location, check the light, double-check your equipment and then talk to your subject. Calm them down and calm yourself.

The baseline requirements for this assignment are the usual: properly composed, a good exposure, sharp focus, correct color balance. The rest of your grade depends on the items we talked about in class and earlier in this post:  communication points, accurate representation, well thought out idea or concept, creativity and those adjectives and adverbs that come across in the image.

Shoot with a purpose, always be editing and work that viewfinder from the outside in.

If you have any questions or need some guidance, feel free to contact me via email or cell. We'll be going over more information on portraits in class on Feb. 2.

The due date for this assignment is Feb. 9.

Below are examples of the three types of portraits:

Straightforward

The straightforward portrait focuses on facial features, tools or equipment that represents the persons trade or personality, and gives some insight to character or demeanor.

Environmental

The environmental portrait should enlighten the viewer by provided some information about the area or workplace the photo subject works or live in. 

Conceptual

The conceptual portrait is your opportunity to do something a little crazy, while still maintaining an accurate representation of the photo subject. Try some cool lighting ideas, work in their personalities even more if they are over the top.

Music Running Through Her Veins

Singer/songwriter Hanna Schwarz, 18, plays one of her songs at her home in Coeur d’Alene on Sunday afternoon. Her passion for music drives her to practice daily, and she loves performing her songs to the public. “My favorite thing about writing music,” Schwarz said, “is that I’m one step closer to changing the world.”

Portrait

Tyler Rowan, of Spirit Lake, Idaho, shows off his dirtbike that he's put over $1000 into on Monday, February 7th, 2011. Rowan prepares to take his dirt bike out for the first time in 2011.

Straightforward/Environmental Portrait

Bryan Arndt, 23, shoots pool at Paddy's with girlfriend on Feb. 9; a relaxed Wednesday afternoon for the two of them. Arndt started playing pool at age 21 due to extreme boredom. He is now one of the most skilled players in Coeur d'Alene, ID. He also plays on Lakers team #1 of the Kootenai County Pool League.

During this shoot I heard Arndt say that he, "...would never spend a thousand dollars on a pool stick... well, maybe."