Pretty in Pink: EAW XXI

PWS (Post Workshop Syndrome)

2008-10-15T08:04:00.000-07:00

Greetings my Hot Pink Stars!

I hope everyone is home safely and going through the decompression process. It was an amazing weekend....and you should all be very proud of the work you produced. The Hot Pink show was head and shoulders above everyone elses production.....a product of genuine collaboration, hard work and dedication by everyone on the team.

I am very proud of all of you. In my 18 consecutive years of doing this, we have not had a more talented group of shooters....and hands down....this was the best show ever!!!

In retrospect, my only regret was that I did not have enough time to sit with you individually to go over your work but at least you were able to see your selects with Keith and Bill....and perhaps the surprise of seeing what was used in the show at the same time as everyone else... made it as exciting to see as it was to put together.

Editing for a multi-media production (which is exactly what our show was) is very different than editing for a magazine or newspaper....we have to think about things like sequencing, transition slides, story telling, title slides, where we place the video and audio....and the all important choice of music, which can make or break a show on its own. The music was killer! Right genre for each of the sections we showed. During the "classic portraits" section in B&W....I glanced out into the room and there were people actually crying! And I say that because it's a good thing, not bad....as I said during my chat..."For a picture to be 'effective,' it has to be 'affective'."

Since I didn't have that "up close and personal" time with each of you, I am extending an open invitation to all of you to stop by the SI office any time your travels take you through New York. I miss you guys already. Please stay in touch.

Hot Pink Rules!!!

Jim

Time Warp

2008-10-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

I've just agreed for an additional six months at my internship at the Dubois County Herald in Jasper, Indiana, a paper that doesn't yet have a website but has a devoted subscriber base. I will have been in Indiana for 13 months by the time the internship is over, a tenure I had no idea would be so long. On the downside, it's in a tiny town. On the plus side, the majority of the photographers' time is spent working on long stories that are published in what they call the Saturday Feature. I'm living in a time warp where photos run huge and help determine the content of the paper every single day. I have no clue what I'll do after this. I'm worried that I'll be ill-prepared for reality.

Before getting on the plane yesterday, I captioned two stories that will run while I'm away. I shot a five-part series of stories that dealt with election issues- the Iraq war, healthcare, the economy, energy, and the last will be immigration. Everything is in the can but the immigration story, about a family with a father and provider, Marco, who was jailed for false papers and is about to be deported. His two kids, both U.S. citizens, and his wife are waiting for him to be deported so they can follow him to Mexico-- but it's a hard time for everyone. Perhaps that goes without saying. It feels unreal to have all this time to work on stories. I'm scared about the future. Until then, I'll keep shooting.

Jesse tries on his father's hat. His father, Marco, is in jail awaiting deportation. His mother Norma says that ever since visiting his dad in jail on Saturday, Jesse has hardly eaten anything. "It was harder this Saturday," said Norma, "because now they say he won't be out until January."

Feelin' the Funk

2008-10-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

After eight months of two consecutive internships at the Deseret Morning News and the Rocky Mountain News, I'm finally back in Gainesville, Florida finishing school, which with only two science credits left isn't too daunting of a task. It feels good to take a break from the 50-60 hour work weeks skipping from one assignment to the next. I'm finally able to process some of the work I've done and try to make some since of my journey out west.

At the same time, spending hours updating my Web page, making prints and trying to build what I have up in an attempt to make myself somewhat satisfied with my progress drains on me after a while. So, after bouncing from one extreme to the other I've realized that all I really want to do is make pictures that mean something to me and communicate something that I think is meaningful to the people. It seemed to me at one point that there are some hurdles in the way of doing this, but I think I'm slowly realizing that there don't have to be. I'm hoping to make the workshop a point for me to focus again on working on a project where I can explore something that interests me. The funk is getting too funky and I need out.

Two Projects

2008-10-08T10:18:00.001-07:00

Recently I have been spending a lot of my time working on two projects which are quite different from one another. The more recent is more of a job than a project but it has been enjoyable nonetheless. A few months ago I was asked by a friend if I would be interested in working with her as an instructor and choreographer for a cologuard at a local high school here. I did cologuard in both high school and college and also was a part of a drum and bugle corps for a little while. So, even though it had been over two years since I was actively involved with a colorguard, I jumped at the chance to do something

different for a change. I also would be taking over as the only instructor once school started since my friend was traveling to Germany to study abroad. It is very enjoyable to make up flag work and then see it come to life on a field.

So, we are now a few weeks into the semester and although we have had minor set backs such as injuries and of course Hurricane Gustav, I am very proud of the girls progress, though they still have a long way to go. So, instead of shooting prep football on Friday nights, I am now in the stands with the colorguard and band during most of the game with the exception of before halftime when I take them down to the field level to warm up.

In the picture above the girls were warming up for their first performance for parents. I bring my camera to the games to get pictures of the girls but I don't get much of a chance to shoot since I am usually answering last minute questions, reminding the girls of things to do (like count!), and helping calm their nerves before performances.

In this photo the girls were warming up in the hallway before the band marched to the stadium. They were goofing off of course. They do a little bit of dance in their performances so they were poking fun at a dance sequence I have them do in rehearsal.

The other project I have been working on is a portrait series of the newly formed roller derby league here in Baton Rouge. They call themselves the Red Stick Roller Derby. I have done portraits in the past but never a series like this. It was originally for a photo class I was taking in the art department at LSU. I ended up doing action shots and video as w

ell in hopes of putting a little video together that kind of introduced the team. Anyway, I had a lot of fun with the portraits and I was at so many of their practices that they came up with a derby name for me "Shutter Up". For the portraits I decided to do both head shots which I combined into one image and then a full body portrait of each person in their roller derby attire but either in their work setting or at where they work.

Above is several head shots I did of the women. It is kind of a team personality portrait. And the photos below are two of my favorite photos from the group of portraits. In the first, her derby name is "Abita Hoedown" and she is a bartender/waitress at the restaurant in the photo which is a more formal Italian restaurant. The second photo is of "Zoom Tang" and she is a horticulturist.

If anyone want to see all the roller derby portraits go to:

www.clogiudicephotos.com/rsrdseries/index.html

- Crystal LoGiudice

amelia's thoughts....

2008-10-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

A week ago I left my job at a newspaper in Arkansas. It was an extremely difficult decision to leave newspapers, but I couldn't be more excited about my new adventure! I leave with some ideas in my head for projects and unfinished business.

I'd like to share a couple of stories and photos I took in the past few months that are closest to my heart...

This is Aretta and Harry Melvin. They are separated at different nursing homes after being married for 62 years. Harry has Parkinson's disease and Aretta suffers from dementia. After her dementia escalated she had to relocate to a nursing home that offers lock down. "It's easier to die than it is to get old," said Harry Melvin.

This photo is from a short story I worked on about a hip hop dance club at a junior high school. "The thing that I think they took away is to really own the moment, in the place and time," said Jeanette Arnhart. "If you've worked hard...just by owning your moment, you'll make people understand."

Finally, here are some children with autism. With no single known cause or cure, autism is the fastest growing developmental disability. At the age of 10, the future of these children will be decided. They will either send them on to school with all the other children, or send them to a special school based on their current skill level.

I'll leave the Hot Pink People with this...

"A new journey to be started.
A new promise to be fulfilled.
A new page to be written.
Go forth unto this waiting world with pen in hand all you young scribes, the open book awaits.
Be creative.
Be adventurous.
Be original.
And above all else, be young.
For youth is your greatest weapon, your greatest tool.
Use it wisely."
------Wonder Woman #62

a story

2008-10-08T00:10:00.000-07:00

Here is my context. It may or may not be important this weekend. I think what is important is recognizing the power that images play in our lives - both creating and sharing.
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"A man's work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened." -Albert Camus

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I grew up in Atlanta and did a good job at being a kid.

I found out that I couldn't be a kid forever though it hasn't sunk in yet.

I studied landscape architecture. This opened the world of the great outdoors to me at the ripe age of 22 and convinced me that it would be better to explore and inhabit the great outdoors rather than study landscape architecture in a classroom.

During this jump I started shooting and I've continually pushed myself to further my commitment and relationship with photography. I haven't grown weary of this education yet.

HEY THERE EVERYBODY!!

2008-10-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

I have finished the EAW paper and can finally come back to reality. Okay ya’ll, I have to start by apologizing for not being more sociable. Keith is right about not making up excuses, so I won’t bore you with any. Oh, I almost forgot, my name is Stacy Pearsall (www.F8PJ.com) and I am your I.T. gal for the Workshop! My little pal in the picture is Porter Lliam and he is my right-hand-dawg. Not unlike my husband, Andy Dunaway, he keeps me laughing. By the way, Andy is also on the Black Team at EAW. But, his team won’t compare to ours. If I know Bill, Jimmy and Keith, they have something pretty spectacular planned for us!

This picture was taken by a student photographer at the Charleston Center for Photography, (www.centerforphotography.com) where I work as the Director. I thought it was funny and would share it with you. You can pretty much expect me to be the “GOOFY” person on the fabulous Hot Pink Team. Would you agree Bill?!?!?!?

Excess Bloggage

2008-09-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

I got into this line of work because it keeps me on my toes. Pretty much everything will bore me stupid after a while, so to be in a line of work where the stimulus changes up from day to day is perfect for me.
I'm freelance, so I don't get the four assignments to chase around town every day like I used to when I worked at a newspaper. Some of you know the drill: water main breaks, local chick wins national pie-baking contest, k-9 funeral and a nice shiny sportrait at the end of the day to top it all off. I was overstimulated back then, but somehow underwhelmed.
I have a lot of downtime now but I spend much of it doing paperwork like filing invoices, keeping spreadsheets up to date and scanning receipts. When I'm not shooting or doing that, I'm planning my next project.
I live pretty close to a big expo center where they have some interesting shows. I check out the calendar every so often to see if there's anything worthwhile and a couple of months ago I noticed the center would be hosting the National Capitol Cat Show. Well hot damn. I marked my calendar and eagerly awaited the date.
I was not disappointed, as cat people are... very special people. Let's just say they photograph well.
My point is, most of the things I shoot on my own time are things that I find interesting. They amuse me or intrigue me- and they serve to keep the flame burning. I'd quit photography in a heartbeat if I only got to shoot weddings and senate hearings. It's a good thing there's no shortage of subject matter.

Workshop Goals

2008-09-28T16:53:00.000-07:00

First of all, I am hoping to really learn a lot and absorb ideas from all the talented photographers who will be at the workshop. I want to be able to learn and find new ways of shooting assignments and new ideas of how to approach assignments. I am hoping that I will also be able to learn more about using audio, video and still photos to tell a single story. I have been experimenting with video and have done a little audio, so I am hoping I can further my learning in that area.

Crystal LoGiudice

A nice surprise in Berlin

2008-09-28T14:17:00.000-07:00

We were looking for coffee. We found Leonard Freed and Sebastio Salgado--or at least a brilliant exhibition of their work.

CO-Berlin had a wonderful show hanging, and we spent a few hours there.

I have been familiar with, and enjoyed Freed's work for years.

He was with Magnum, among others--and let me go free association here for a minute and suggest that any of you who have not read Magnum--Fifty years on the Front Line by Russell Miller--should.

Freed was the epitome of the documentary photographer.

The term documentary photographer remains useful to describe, in a quick way, the difference between those who set up things to be photographed from those who try to seize some aspect of reality.

Photojournalism today demands not only immediacy in the capturing of events but immediacy in the showing of them as well. That forces motion where stillness may be the best course.

I found a lot to love in his images. They drew me in. Showed me things I needed and wanted to see. Beautifully composed, technically perfect, and containing breathtaking moments. Right there, then and now. Wow.

From the first Freed knew what he wanted to do, and his vision remained true for his entire career.

Talking about his first work he said:

" What I know now of making pictures I knew then. I do not think of making progress. It is the relationship of one photograph to another for my complete life. From the first to the last picture I will ever make."

This was a marathon, not a sprint. A life, not a job.

Acute vision, discipline and determination are required in equal measure to make images like he did.

His thoughts, his pictures. Few are so gifted. Something to reach for.

I have a new respect for an old favorite.

www.magnumphotos.com/leonardfreed

Laura, again. Notice she isn't carrying anything.

Bill

goal!

2008-09-28T14:05:00.001-07:00

My primary goal is to immerse my self in the WORKING METHODS of photojournalism. I know it's a short stint, but I'm interested in getting a good grasp on story finding, access, on the ground research etc.

I'm interested in seeing how these play out in the final images and story as well. I've tended to work solo and intuitively in the past, so bringing to light the way I create photographs and getting a sense of how others create photographs will be very helpful.

And I really look forward to meeting a bunch of people who are obsessed about photos and storytelling.
-Blake

Goals

2008-09-28T13:36:00.000-07:00

My goal with this workshop is to soak in as much as I can from both the stellar staff but also the impressive pool of students. The talent coming through EA this year looks to be pretty good and having looked at a lot of their work, I've already been inspired to try new ideas and different approaches. I can only imagine what it'll be like come October.

I'm interested in rounding out some rough edges, getting a feel for some new perspectives and walk away with enough swirling around in my head to last me a few months. Someone once said "be water" and in many respects, this is my goal: flow through new ideas and let everything soak in.

Thinking about technical and the good light

2008-09-28T02:26:00.000-07:00

I spent the better part of last week in Cologne at Photokina with the guys from Bogen. Will and Mark will be helping you extensively at the workshop, along with Kriss who will be at the farm but not as much just with us. Really, really encourage you to ask them about lights, supports, and photography. Kriss has a degree in photography from RIT and is incredibly knowledgeable. No one knows more about the Elinchromes than Mark. Will is the Man--I

do love to bust on him because he is Canadian, and really he can't help that. He will go so far over and above for you, appreciate it and share his knowledge and enthusiasm. These guys aren't here to sell you product they are here to pay back to the industry and enjoy photojournalism.

Anyway, saw lots of new toys. Acquired some of them. Played with a lot more.

Came away with the same thing each time. If you use the technology to do things you couldn't do before, it's valuable. If you use it to simply make your life easier then you are lazy and don't deserve to have it.

Tech talk makes Laura's head hurt. She just wants to make images that sing, and push the boundaries. Can't say that I blame her in either case. But somebody has to know how to make the cameras work.........

Bill

Hot Pink Goals

2008-09-27T15:14:00.000-07:00

My main objective at the workshop is to expand my vision.

I'd like to further develop my narrative and editing skills while soaking up all the inspiration possible to be able to venture out to a new chapter in my career.

Bring on the knowledge!
amelia

Goals and Favorites

2008-09-27T04:56:00.000-07:00

I'm just going to get both of these done at the same time. First the older one. It's a hard question. There are many photographers i think are amazing for different reasons. Just like everyone else said. I definitely have to agree with W. Eugene Smith. Definitely one of my all time favorite photographers from when I first saw "Lambarene, French Equitorial Africa." But nowadays I'm looking at portrait photographers work, i guess because that is the type of work i do more now. so as far as favorites I'm going to throw out two, one i think could possibly be my overall favorite photographer, and that's Irving Penn, and the other is Frank Ockenfels III. Penn's images are timeless to me, and his light is simple and beautiful. Ockenfels' light is just different and very much has his own way of taking photographs.

But now, I'll try to tie this in with the first part of the post, and that is what to accomplish while at the workshop. Simply, to break out of the way I'm taking photographs now and try a different approach, and then not do away with the current way I photograph, but to use it to break away from the current limitations I put on myself. I hope that by trying something radically different and being surrounded by a different group of people, it will change the way I currently approach doing portraits of people. The point I am trying to reach is growth. One way or the other. I think this workshop will be the perfect platform for that. And I'm really looking forward to this weekend.

Goals

2008-09-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

What I look to get out of the workshop is some inspiration at a time when I feel I am shooting the same things day in and day out and seeing the same sites. I am really looking forward to being around such a talented group of photographers and editors and hope to learn from each person there.

I am in need of some positive thinking about the state of the industry, at a time when all I am hearing is doom and gloom.

Where I am currently, there is no one to look over my work and give me feedback so I am looking to get as much out of that as I can, and of course have fun and make new friends.

-Chris

Pink

2008-09-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

The main thing I see myself doing at EAW is connecting with all the photogs/professionals, sharing ideas and thoughts and sucking some inspiration out of everyone. Each time I go to a workshop or conference I leave inspired to keep telling stories and pushing my abilities.

I'm also looking forward to shooting for myself and looking more at the periphery, which I sometimes don't concentrate on enough. I love small town life and the welcoming people that follow.

Also, I'd like to have some fun.

Goals

2008-09-24T09:06:00.000-07:00

While life in small town Indiana is a thing of wonder sometimes, I can't wait to get out.

I want a break from cute kids and farm animals. (Not that I don't love both) I've finally started on some long-term stories here, and I want to exercise those muscles. I want to take pictures that aren't so literal. I want to be around people doing completely different things. I don't need every picture to be a feature. I want to stay up late and wake up early.

Hopes, Aspirations, Dreams

2008-09-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

My main goal for the workshop is learning how to wear pink. I haven't touched the color in the 5 years I've been a redhead. The colors clash.

I'd also like to learn how to be a high-functioning sleep-deprived photographer and not fall asleep at the wheel. I did that once and woke up in the wrong lane with oncoming traffic swerving around me.

Ideally, I'd like to recharge my proverbial photo batteries and come away with some fresh inspiration to do better work, and lots of it. I want to hone my narrative skills more than anything.

Most importantly, I want to avoid getting drunk and making an ass out of myself. I'd also like to just avoid making an ass out of myself altogether. I'm pretty sure that involves less mouth and more ears. I'm going to need a lot of gaff tape to pull this off.

KINDA RAMBLING

2008-09-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

As you guys get to know me a little better you will see that I go off on long winded tangents. Have no worries. At the end of it all there is a point. I am just trying to stay connected with you guys and give you some insight in to my personality and such. To that end. I expect no less from the rest of you.

A little over a year ago I started covering the presidential campaigns. I am currently taking a break as it costs a shit load of money and no one wants to put a stringer on it until the final push in the last two weeks. Budgets being what they are everyone is tightening their belt even on a story as important as this one.

This works to my advantage for two reasons. First I get to have all the time I need to produce for our team, research new assignments that I have not had a chance to in past years, and get reacquainted with the folks in Sullivan County. Secondly I get to keep my sanity. After 20 months and what is most likely thousands of stump speeches I am tired and really bored. At 5 to 6 stops a day hearing the same stories, lines, and jokes over and over, I found myself delivering the punch line to Obama's jokes before he did.

Even still I find campaign stuff everywhere I can't seem to escape it. I see Obama and McCain everywhere; in shop windows, newspapers, flyers, spray painted on the scaffolding next door to my apartment. God I hate viral advertising.

If ever there was a time for a break this is it. It is my last chance. Two days after the workshop I am back out on the road until election night.

I will spend the next week nailing down the remaining assignments, meeting people in with people in town, and touching base with the vendors that will loan us equipment. It's a lot of long hours on the phone and in the car. All of this and it's three weeks before any of you will take a frame for this workshop.

This will be the seventh time I have produced and it's still one of the best things I will do all year. After four days of little sleep from doing the workshop I tend to be more relaxed and motivated than when I started. So with that in mind I hope to get back to the campaign with fresh eyes and inspiration. With any luck the Senator will have new jokes too.

Carhenge

2008-09-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

Getting Laura some culture at Carhenge.

This is just funny.

Bill

The Sandhills

2008-09-22T12:19:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture of Bill on a highway outside of his hometown in western Nebraska. During the shoot in Arthur we commuted 135 miles each way for 4 days to sleep at his mom's house.

Laura Heald

Kings of Arthur

2008-09-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

Laura and I just spent 4 days in Arthur, NE, producing a multimedia piece for SIKIDS.com (www.sikids.com/video/sixman). SI ran it as a Leading Off and SIKIDS is following with a photo act in that magazine.

This is probably similar to the format we will use at the Farm. We change it up every time but this will give you an idea of the possibilities.

Arthur is a terrific place. 145 people in the town, 34 kids in the High School, grades 9-12.

We had a great time. Here are some production stills from the shoot.

Bill

Favorites, Penn Relays select

2008-09-21T23:32:00.000-07:00

Caption: Jamaican athletes running during High School Boys 4x400 relay competition.

I don't have a lot of personal favorites in my work, so it was real tough to pick just one photograph to show here. This picture is from an essay I did on the Penn Relays track and field competition. It's held annually at the University of Pennsylvania, drawing tens of thousands of spectators across the last weekend of April to watch teams from across the United States compete in some of the most physically taxing areas of athletics: track and field.

When I set out to do this essay, I really wanted to challenge myself: I'd done plenty of sports assignments for newspapers and but did not find the straight forward expectations to be fulfilling. And so, to pursue my own personal vision while telling a story I sought to exemplify the essence of the subject matter--in this case, pure athletic power--and went about reducing my gear to just two vital lens' and a single goal of moving out of my comfort zone.

So, in the spirit of the athlete's and their desire to push themselves to their own limits and beyond, I found my own inspiration.

This segues into the next topic: photographers.

I'm drawn to Luc Delahaye and his ability to use his photographs as pieces of a grand puzzle that he invites the viewer to construct in their own mind. It's hazy and possibly Impressionism, but in his work--notably Russia--I find something magical.

While a different style entirely, Trent Parke keeps me coming back for more. His personal experiences reflect in his work, something I find personally true. His casual regard to his tools and primary focus on strength of individual photographs seems both carefree and down to earth.

But hands down, I'm a big fan of Chris Anderson. I can't even begin to list the photographs I've seen and been rocked back on my heels. From Haiti to Bethlehem, Lebanon to Wall Street, his vision is the one I enjoy the most.

Copyright Christopher Anderson/Magnum

Playing Favorites

2008-09-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

It's hard for me to have a favorite photographer. I agree with Bill with how my taste varies with who's work I really like. I may have a different opinion next week for all I know.

Right now I am a big fan of David Burnett. I've had the pleasure of meeting David over the last year of campaign coverage. He's been a gent and his work is what inspired me to cover presidential politics in the first place. It's funny. It's intimate. I have never seen so many great pictures come out of what can be redundant and mundane pretty quickly. The fact that he has such a unique vision says a lot about him as an artist.

I also love the work of Tom Stoddart. His book iWitness was a gift from Bill a couple years ago and has been inspiring ever since. It's one of the books I open when I am about to go on the road and need an inspirational shot in the arm.

To round it out I have to agree with Amanda. Danny Wilcox Frazier is a hell of a photographer. His work is personal and intense. Driftless is his love letter to his home of Iowa. The best thing I can say about Danny is that I can call him a friend. When me and the rest of my little motley crew moved to Iowa he looked out for us like a big brother. He's true blue with a big heart and it shows in his work.

Keith