Out of the types of photography I like best, I’ve never been much for sports photography because I feel that often, the images used by news outlets are too mundane. A player dribbling a basketball and going up for a shot, or a golfer looking for that perfect stroke are images that could come from anywhere. This is why I was very surprised when my favorite photographs came from the sports feature category.
Particularly, I was impressed with the atypical look photographer Benjaman Sklar took at Lyndon Box. Technically, the photograph is perfect. While perhaps there’s no conventional use of the rule of thirds, Sklar does a great job of filling the frame and making the empty space look like it’s supposed to be there, rather than as a complete waste. The beads of sweat on Box’s head are perfectly crystallized and frozen, making the image far more intriguing than seeing sweat run down an athlete’s head. It looks great in black and white, as opposed to color, and I think it gives the picture a far more serious tone, that complements the tension given by the tightness of the frame, as well as the furrowing of Box’s brow.
Looking at this photograph from the point of view of a photography consumer, however, I just really like it. There’s something about the way Box looks straight ahead that I think I can identify with. He’s completely fixed, and even though you can’t see what he’s staring at, you know he’s got a goal, and he’s got direction.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Sports Photography
I really enjoyed looking at all of the sports photos. There were different things I liked about all of them, but the reason I liked all of them was because of the emotions they displayed. The passion behind sports is what drives athletes and fans alike, and thus as a journalist it is important to show that emotion in your work.
The one major judgement I disagreed with in sports was the first place award to Donald Miralle and his luging photo. While it is a very visually attractive photo, and certainly the most artsy of the photos in its category, I prefer the photo of the runner falling in the puddle, and the high school students clearing the track of snow to begin practice. To me those photos show the emotion behind what is driving the athletes. How far they are going to chase their dreams. The luging photo is certainly more attractice, but I don't get the same feeling looking at it. I don't see the same vivid story the others are able to paint without words.
I loved the sports action category, the emotions on all the soccer players faces are awesome. One of the girls braids is flying forward showing the force and speed of the game. And the poses of the athletes shows the stakes they were going for during this game. You can see the inter-county rivalry.
Once again, Donald Miralle had a beautiful photo that got 3rd place in the sports action category of Aaron Peirsol swimming underwater. It is so visually pleasing but looks more like a feature photo to me. I love the trail of bubbles coming from his mouth, contrasted with the angle of his body.
I LOVED the photo in sports features that got an award of excellence by Benjamin Sklar called "Beads of Sweat." I love everything about this photo. You can't tell why he's sweating unless you read the caption, but I love the sweat on the bald head. I love the cropping job. his eyes and the sweat are the main components of the photo and I think it's everything you need to see. The emotion and concentration in the subjects eyes is great. The cropping shows the detail of the sweat perfectly. A wider shot which would have showed he was a triathalete would have lost the effect of the beads of sweat on his head. The sunglasses are a nice touch too. They give just the right extra detail to add something that I can't put my finger on in the photo. But it takes it from more than just the bald head, sweat and eyes. They also give the look of an athlete because they are Oakleys, and it gives you a sense that he is doing something.
The one major judgement I disagreed with in sports was the first place award to Donald Miralle and his luging photo. While it is a very visually attractive photo, and certainly the most artsy of the photos in its category, I prefer the photo of the runner falling in the puddle, and the high school students clearing the track of snow to begin practice. To me those photos show the emotion behind what is driving the athletes. How far they are going to chase their dreams. The luging photo is certainly more attractice, but I don't get the same feeling looking at it. I don't see the same vivid story the others are able to paint without words.
I loved the sports action category, the emotions on all the soccer players faces are awesome. One of the girls braids is flying forward showing the force and speed of the game. And the poses of the athletes shows the stakes they were going for during this game. You can see the inter-county rivalry.
Once again, Donald Miralle had a beautiful photo that got 3rd place in the sports action category of Aaron Peirsol swimming underwater. It is so visually pleasing but looks more like a feature photo to me. I love the trail of bubbles coming from his mouth, contrasted with the angle of his body.
I LOVED the photo in sports features that got an award of excellence by Benjamin Sklar called "Beads of Sweat." I love everything about this photo. You can't tell why he's sweating unless you read the caption, but I love the sweat on the bald head. I love the cropping job. his eyes and the sweat are the main components of the photo and I think it's everything you need to see. The emotion and concentration in the subjects eyes is great. The cropping shows the detail of the sweat perfectly. A wider shot which would have showed he was a triathalete would have lost the effect of the beads of sweat on his head. The sunglasses are a nice touch too. They give just the right extra detail to add something that I can't put my finger on in the photo. But it takes it from more than just the bald head, sweat and eyes. They also give the look of an athlete because they are Oakleys, and it gives you a sense that he is doing something.
Photos of the year offered inspiration
Viewing the photos of the year before I went out on my photo assignment gave me some interesting ideas for what to shoot. I was so impressed with the angles and insight that the photographers used. The winners realized that it was necessary to get really close and capture the emotions of the subjects. I particularly noticed this in the first place for newspaper with “Uninsured” with the woman on the bed and the other woman over her. The focus is in their embrace as well as the old woman’s emotions. I really enjoyed “New Pope Announced” that highlighted the body language of the nuns as well as their excited faces.
I noticed the similarities of the magazine and newspaper style. For example, the magazine used more colors and more creative angles and techniques, but they had the same basic ideas of composition. The rule of thirds was particularly prominent, and I noticed unique angles. Also, the most important thing that I took away was their ability to get close to the subject that they are shooting. This enabled the photographers to capture some of the most important aspects for the subject and to make the photo pop. They had good examples of portrait, establishing and detail shots. This really brought in the viewer to read the caption and understand what was going on in the photo. Overall, I thought the images were very inspirational, and they influenced me to learn more about the stories.
I noticed the similarities of the magazine and newspaper style. For example, the magazine used more colors and more creative angles and techniques, but they had the same basic ideas of composition. The rule of thirds was particularly prominent, and I noticed unique angles. Also, the most important thing that I took away was their ability to get close to the subject that they are shooting. This enabled the photographers to capture some of the most important aspects for the subject and to make the photo pop. They had good examples of portrait, establishing and detail shots. This really brought in the viewer to read the caption and understand what was going on in the photo. Overall, I thought the images were very inspirational, and they influenced me to learn more about the stories.
Booming in Bangalore
I really enjoyed watch Mercury News' multimedia piece on Bangalore being the new Silicon Valley. I like how these used different narrators. Also, they combination of text and photos was very smooth and pleasant to watch. I felt like they put together a product that made people want to watch it. At some points they even had two photos (or videos) on the screen for an added effect--often rich vs. poor. This was just an interesting read. I vaguely knew about the topic but this media really fills me in on the subject.
Also, another Mercury new piece about the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens was fantastic and very interactive. The interactive map with easy to read locations and the videos with narration really puts the reader in the park, the surrounding area, and how the park came to be. With videos on an aerial flyover, flood control, the actual park/garden, etc. the reader can see, hear and understand anything they want about the new park, it's effects, and it's creation.
Finally, USA Today's 'Participants in the Past' was a great multimedia story. It really makes you feel like you are back in the Civil War time period where you can read about a soldier's daily life and what they had to wear. With 'voices' of soldiers and lieutenants you get a real feel for the time period and thoughts of these people. USA Today turns back the clock using multimedia to help readers understand a significant point in US history. I'm sure most historians are excited about this work and hope that more like it will come.
Also, another Mercury new piece about the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens was fantastic and very interactive. The interactive map with easy to read locations and the videos with narration really puts the reader in the park, the surrounding area, and how the park came to be. With videos on an aerial flyover, flood control, the actual park/garden, etc. the reader can see, hear and understand anything they want about the new park, it's effects, and it's creation.
Finally, USA Today's 'Participants in the Past' was a great multimedia story. It really makes you feel like you are back in the Civil War time period where you can read about a soldier's daily life and what they had to wear. With 'voices' of soldiers and lieutenants you get a real feel for the time period and thoughts of these people. USA Today turns back the clock using multimedia to help readers understand a significant point in US history. I'm sure most historians are excited about this work and hope that more like it will come.
Showing the love to "AO's Gift"
I really liked “AO’s Gift,” Benjamin Sklar’s award-winning photo of Marcell Hamilton dunking a basketball at the And 1 Open Run in Jacksonville. There is a breathtaking feeling in viewing the picture as Sklar has frozen Hamilton right at the apex of his ascension to the basket. He has done all the hard work in getting above the rim; all that is left is to slam the ball home with exuberance.
Further, Sklar does a great job of keeping his scene simple. There is nothing but player, ball, basket and, of course, the shoes hung by And 1 Star Aaron “AO” Owens. The cloudy white backdrop provides a feel as though there is nothing else of consequence in existence at the moment beyond Hamilton’s rise to the heavens with orange sphere in hand. The shoes provide the only evidence of other life on Earth as well as appearing to stand as a trophy of sorts. As a lover of the game of basketball, it is easy for me to identify with the fact that at this moment for Hamilton, there is nothing else that matters besides finishing this dunk and getting to the glory that comes with it.
The only problem I have with Sklar’s photo is that it would have been nice to have have a little more of Hamilton in the shot. His face is slightly cut off and the rest of his body is completely invisible to the viewer. However, I understand the need to get the photo at the right moment and the desire to get as much of the backboard and basket as possible, and I don’t want to be overly nitpicky. Ultimately, it is a potent photo and I have a hard time complaining too much.
Further, Sklar does a great job of keeping his scene simple. There is nothing but player, ball, basket and, of course, the shoes hung by And 1 Star Aaron “AO” Owens. The cloudy white backdrop provides a feel as though there is nothing else of consequence in existence at the moment beyond Hamilton’s rise to the heavens with orange sphere in hand. The shoes provide the only evidence of other life on Earth as well as appearing to stand as a trophy of sorts. As a lover of the game of basketball, it is easy for me to identify with the fact that at this moment for Hamilton, there is nothing else that matters besides finishing this dunk and getting to the glory that comes with it.
The only problem I have with Sklar’s photo is that it would have been nice to have have a little more of Hamilton in the shot. His face is slightly cut off and the rest of his body is completely invisible to the viewer. However, I understand the need to get the photo at the right moment and the desire to get as much of the backboard and basket as possible, and I don’t want to be overly nitpicky. Ultimately, it is a potent photo and I have a hard time complaining too much.
Photography safari
I find it interesting that Picture Hunt advised photogs to be constantly prepared, to go in knowing your subject well and how to talk to them. Of course, it always helps to have an idea of what you're doing and what you're pursuing with a particular subject, especially considering the requirements of an accompanying article. Yet on the other front, the author wrote more than once about the element of spontaneity and surprise. The way he wrote about "cruising" and how it was an accepted part of a photographer's routine, it felt like he was saying luck in timing and location was going to be an unavoidable factor in the job. And with David Snider's gallery, many of the photos seem to be a case of the cameraman capturing a random interesting moment with hardly any preplanning. The compromise between the two approaches, of course, is to be prepared and know the subject ahead of time...but be prepared anyhow for anything at all, just in case it jumps in front of your camera lens.
From: Jashin Lin
From: Jashin Lin
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Feature Hunter & Street Photographer
Thanyarat DOKSONE
Personally, I agree with what David LaBelle said in the introduction of the Great Picture Hunt about students’ failure to enterprise. Even though Albert Einstein once said “imagination is more important than knowledge,” I remain convinced that to garner solid basic knowledge would definitely give you a vital stepping stone to great success. Thus, I am very contented with what LaBelle provided in his book, as it gave a thorough prime knowledge about feature photography that could be very useful to a student who is “unsure where to begin.” Frequently found in his writing are thought-provoking ideas from everyday life that photographers and journalism students might have overlooked, e.g. “Good photojournalists are not in love with photography, they are in love with people and with life”. I found the notion was inspiring as I could foresee how obsessive we, journalism students, would be when we get ourselves involved and overwhelmed with skilled shooting practices and a lot of photo techniques. Sometimes those things could set aside what we were supposed to be focusing on. His detailed elaboration on quality of feature hunters and feature photograph were both knowledgeable and easy to understand.
Meanwhile, David Snider chose to be a “street photographer”, waiting patiently to record the priceless moments happening around him. Well-equipped with “Hunter Qualities” skills, he portrayed the lives of passers-by through his exemplary photos. My favorite picture from the Street Pictures collection is the first one from the set taken at the Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Behind the scene, it shows the “moment” which could be a result of the photographer’s patience. Yet, it yielded a sense of simplicity, action and reaction. The impact from the picture could imprint in the viewers’ memories for a long time. Certainly, it is a classic work both photojournalists and ordinary photographers would like to take once in a lifetime.
Personally, I agree with what David LaBelle said in the introduction of the Great Picture Hunt about students’ failure to enterprise. Even though Albert Einstein once said “imagination is more important than knowledge,” I remain convinced that to garner solid basic knowledge would definitely give you a vital stepping stone to great success. Thus, I am very contented with what LaBelle provided in his book, as it gave a thorough prime knowledge about feature photography that could be very useful to a student who is “unsure where to begin.” Frequently found in his writing are thought-provoking ideas from everyday life that photographers and journalism students might have overlooked, e.g. “Good photojournalists are not in love with photography, they are in love with people and with life”. I found the notion was inspiring as I could foresee how obsessive we, journalism students, would be when we get ourselves involved and overwhelmed with skilled shooting practices and a lot of photo techniques. Sometimes those things could set aside what we were supposed to be focusing on. His detailed elaboration on quality of feature hunters and feature photograph were both knowledgeable and easy to understand.
Meanwhile, David Snider chose to be a “street photographer”, waiting patiently to record the priceless moments happening around him. Well-equipped with “Hunter Qualities” skills, he portrayed the lives of passers-by through his exemplary photos. My favorite picture from the Street Pictures collection is the first one from the set taken at the Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Behind the scene, it shows the “moment” which could be a result of the photographer’s patience. Yet, it yielded a sense of simplicity, action and reaction. The impact from the picture could imprint in the viewers’ memories for a long time. Certainly, it is a classic work both photojournalists and ordinary photographers would like to take once in a lifetime.
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