Christian pole dancing class creating controversy

I know that as photojournalism students, we are supposed to be developing our still photography skills but we must also consider honing multimedia skills and knowing where one triumphs over the other.
I would like to poll the talent in our class and ask, how many of you think this story would have been better covered with still photography instead of video and why/why not? Should it had been covered at all?

Here is the link to the video.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8026078
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Christian pole dancing class creating controversy
Tuesday, March 22, 2011


Sonia Azad

OLD TOWN SPRING, TX (KTRK) -- Women in the Houston area are pole dancing once a month ... for Jesus. Yes, the dance moves once reserved for strip clubs are being embraced by devout, church-going women.
In the quaint turn-of-the-century community called Old Town Spring, where Victorian style shops line the streets, one business stands out -- pole fitness for Jesus. There's no preaching, just teaching.
Set to Christian music, church-going women spin and slither around poles. But the instructor and the students say it's not about sex.
"This is my second class," student Tiffany Booth said.
For them, this is about getting closer to God.
"God gives us these bodies and they are suppose to be our temples and we are suppose to take care of them and that's what we are doing," instructor Crystal Dean said
Booth was raised in church. Now, the pole is her temple.
"I do feel a spiritual connection whenever you have the music on and it's singing about lifting you up and being closer to God. You do feel that," she said.
Getting classes off the ground hasn't been easy for Dean.
"Some guy came up with his Bible and we were in class and he thumped on the door and was waving his Bible," Dean said. "People who want to sit there and judge it, you know, like well that is sacrilegious or you know. That doesn't make you a good Christian when you judge other people."

There are those who just can't get past the stigma.
"In Gods eyes, it wouldn't be attractive," said nineteen-year-old Eric Purgason.
Purgason's family runs Lord and Nature, a Christian gift shop neighboring the Christian pole ancers.
"We have to watch those boundaries that we cross over and not allow the enemy to take it in another direction," said Dee Bovati with Lord and Nature.
We found women who said the classes clear their moral compass.
"If someone wants to swing on a pole on Sundays then that's their preference," class supporter Penny Primeaux said.
And there are those who straddle the subject.
"Are you doing it in front of men? Are you doing it as for sex in exchange for money? What are you doing it for?" said Allison Hogan, who's skeptical of the classes.
But for these women, there is room for both the Bible and a little body roll in the town that touts its old fashioned ways.
"They're going to church and worshiping God and it was just a way for them to continue that," Dean said.
Best Shape of your Life holds Pole Fitness for Jesus classes on the second Sunday of each month, for ladies who take in their church pamphlets. The classes are free. The instructor's reason? She doesn't want to make a profit on God's day.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)


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James Nachtwey's photos from the earthquake in Japan

Pretty powerful images by Nachtwey of the devastation in Japan.

http://lightbox.time.com/2011/03/17/devastation-james-nachtweys-pictures-from-japan/#1

A couple shots inspired by Chip Litherland

So, as some of you know, I went to New York this last week with The Sentinel for the College Media convention. I've really taken a liking to Chip Litherland's work lately. I've always appreciated contrasty b&w stuff and thought that may be my style, but lately I've kind of been digging Chip's style of finding situations where color really pops out in the image. So, here's a couple of shots I took where the colors really popped against the background. The first one I took at the John Lennon memorial in strawberry Fields. The second one is of Noura sitting out in front of our hotel. I did edit both of these first in lightroom and then in Photoshop. I also tried to slightly underexpose each as chip said he often does. What do y'all think? Too vibrant or no?

















(Exif: 200mm, 1/160, f/3.2, ISO 400)


























Exif: (50mm, 1/60, f/2.0, ISO 100)

EVENT

The crowd cheers as blues-rock guitarist Robin Trower and his band return on stage to play an encore for a packed house at the Knitting Factory in Spokane, March 10. The show was part of the band's four-month U.S. tour they embarked on at the end of January.
(Exif: 70mm, 1/30, f2.8, ISO 2500)

Event

The million mile stare

Behind the glass.

Nice little moment.

It was hot in there.

Sometimes the "Hail Mary" actually works!

Lets change the world.

.

.

-The open mic night at Java on Sherman always has a great turn out. Dozens of local performers come from around the county to share their musical talents with this happening little coffee shop crowd.

Event Assignment

Event Assignment

You will be responsible for creating a photo of a scheduled event. The event you choose can be a sporting event, social gathering that is open to the public, ceremony, concert, protest, etc. The main purpose behind this assignment is for you to capture an event that gives some insight into what it was like to be there. Highlight those adjectives and adverbs. Mix in a little oddity, humor or excitement that unfolds in front of your lens.

This assignment should test how well and quickly you react to situations. It's difficult not being a spectator and transitioning into documentary photographer. A helpful tip is this, if you are at an event and you think to yourself, "This is crazy how packed this place is and how wild these concertgoers are," then that is your clue to hone in on "crazy, wild and packed" to work into your photo.

Make sure you have a back-up event if something happens to your primary event.

The baseline requirements for this assignment are the usual: properly composed, a good exposure, sharp focus, correct color balance and a complete caption. The rest of your grade depends on the items we talk about in class: 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 the person at work assignment in class on Feb. 16.

The due date for this assignment is March 16.

Below are some examples of event photography.

Ceremony

The one private type of event you can cover are ceremonies. Try to capture the emotions of the ceremony. These can be weddings, parties (it better be a good party and no kid's birthdays), powwows, etc.

Classroom

There are always classroom events going on. You can get access to these by contacting any local school and explain to them what your assignment is and then asking permission to come in a capture events that may be going on in the class. These could be field trips, classroom visits or presentations. It may take a few calls, but it's an option. Just assure the secretary or principal that you'll check for publication authorization with the front office before leaving.

Sports

Go for the celebrations and fan shots that give the viewer an idea of what it was like to experience the drama of the game. If you absolutely have to rely on a player shot, get a shot that exemplifies the game, play or effort.

Event

Many people gather at The Silverlake Mall in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday, and are acquainted with Sobe, one of the three featured dogs available for adoption at this event. The Kootenai Humane Society does these outreach events at least twice/month, and has over 60 dogs in need of a home at their central location, 11600 N. Ramsey Rd., where they are open 7 days/week from 12-6.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Hundreds of viewers line up March 12^th in downtown Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to watch the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. There were green horses, old cars and lots of candy throwing. Coeur d’Alene’s Fire Department’s “Pipes and Drum” led the parade with bag pipes blazing and drums thumping.

EventLast Saturday I attended the St. Patrick's day parade in downtown Spokane, WA. There was tons of fun for every one this year which included party's and tons of people who just want to have a great time. In the photo above are some locals from Spokane partying, dancing, waving and showing of there Irish spirit. Of all the people these locals seemed to have the most ecstatic time of all. If you missed this amazing event, lets hope you don't next year because it's a blast.

Two Legends & Their Thoughts on Photojournalism

Here's a 15-minute video with David Burnett and Kenneth Jarecke discussing the past and future of photojournalism.

While I'll agree with a lot of what they say, there's a big section that sounds like two old guys complaining. They bring up the idea that back in the day, you couldn't enjoy a beer until your film was with the courier and on its way to the editor. The same holds true today except the technology has allowed us to use the internet as our courier. But of course they just had to get the film on the plane where now we have to download, edit, tone, caption and send the images.
Not every young news photographer is a chimping, lazy shooter. But there are quite a few who are just in this because of the attraction to the job and the thought that they will travel the world in the hot spots getting pictures. That's a great notion. But if you can't get a picture in your hometown that's just as telling and captivating, then you shouldn't think you can do it in Libya, Somalia, Afghanistan or any of the other crazy places that photojournalists go to every day.
The two definitely have some great insight into what it was like 30 years ago in this industry as well as some great tips and notions into what it takes to be a better photojournalist.

Watch, learn and share your thoughts.

Talking Photojournalism with Burnett & Jarecke

Event #2

Here's a dance class that I took photos of last night. I am very indecisive as to which one would be a good one. 

I like the fun smiles of these people. 

This one is just funny because it looks like he is scared to get hit by her. 

This has good motion.....i guess....

I like this because they are really having fun and made a few bobbles in the steps but i don't like the arm coming out of her shoulder. 

These two show the instructor calling out the steps as he teaches/dancing. 

What do you think? Does it even qualify as an event photo???

More shots from the Robin Trower concert

I'm on a pretty solid wifi connection so I'm going to post a few more shots from the show the other night. I'm going to try and shoot an event or two here in NY tonight or tomorrow as well.






















































This one's of the actual headliner — Robin Trower. I have several shots very similar to this one, but I like this one because the amps are in it. Unfortunately the sillhouettes of the people are too blurred/abstract to tell what they are.

Wednesday Assignment- Guidance Please

I am having a lot of problems getting the "right shot." If I concentrate on the audience, the reactions seem somewhat sedate. (Maybe our water supply has excessive levels of lithium)
If I concentrate on the actual event participants, I may capture emotion, but I end-up cropping limbs hands or freezing odd moments.

On Saturday I covered 2 events. The all Star game at NIC, and a Belly Dance Show at a Chinese restaurant in Spokane. The second event was my favorite, however, the lighting was a challenge for me and trying to find different angles that included the audience very difficult--Belly dancers like to move around specially in a very small stage. I am not much of a basketball fan, but I LOVE BELLY DANCERS!!!

The first one is of a Northern team fan checking her phone while she was creating a "I love Northern Idahoans." The South Team practices in the background.

The second shot is of a 4 year old that was rooting for her aunt, except her number is upside down and her aunts number was #5.

This shot I like, but having a overly stimulated fan projecting out of a players pelvis is somewhat odd.

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Saturday Event #2 Belly Dancers at a Chinese Restaurant- Stage size - Two full table areas--Small

Egyptian Cabaret dancer

Tribal Fusion Belly Dancer

KEEPER.

A dancer from Portland Oregon by the stage name on Shining performs a folkloric Egyptian Baladi inspired belly dance number on Saturday Mach 12 at a Chinese restaurant Located in Hillyard, WA. This community event showcases dancers of all levels and is organized by members of the belly dance troupe known as Baharat. Namva an active member of Baharat owns the Chinese Restaurant.

Event #1

These are probably my best shots from the game on Sat. I had some other good ones but they were FUZZY!!! ahhh..... 

Probably my favorite just because it has the audience in it and has some action and emotion on the players faces. 

Not sure about this one...what do you think? 

I like this one because I have some reaction in the background with that guy watching the game and it shows the focus on the coaches and the players faces. 

Event Assignment: Kootenai Humane Society Adoption

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the take. (Finally they are not underexposed! :) ) Let me know what you guys think!
I particularly like the one with the baby and also the last shot...