Video reviews April 14, 2009

{ April 15, 2009 @ 3:23 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Video one- Wood Bison Disease Testing I don’t like the fact that 57 seconds into the video the audio has nothing to do with what the viewer is seeing on the screen. I also don’t like how the footage is random footage. It is almost as if the footage is a continuous shot of what the camera guy got and most of it doesn’t have anything to do with what the narrator has to say. It’s almost as if they didn’t receive a lot of footage so whatever footage they did get they just used for the story. As a journalist I wouldn’t think this is acceptable.

Video two- Good Luck I like the transitions between the black and white and the color images. I feel that it not only gives emphasis to the pictures but it also makes the viewer pay more attention. I especially liked when Sgt. Jon Fleenor was telling the story about his bear, IUD. The color went to black and white when the bear was shown right when Fleenor said that his bear turned all black. The other thing I enjoyed about the video is that the stories were all related however, they were all different stories so as a viewer I didn’t get bored with the concept of the video. Something I didn’t like about the video was when Sgt. Cole Weih was introduced and he said, “This was given to me by my grandmother…” and the picture displayed was a picture of Sgt. Weih holding his hands to his face. I understand you want the viewer to stay intrigued but at the same time the audio should match the image you are showing. This good luck charm video is a great way to view soldiers at a time where military stories are so often done that they are becoming repetitive. This is a great video that would never get old because the lucky charms would never be the same.

Video 3 – The Boy in the Moon I really liked how the narrator, Ian was talking about eight years and the images that they showed were of Walker, his son over the past years. It was a great way to show the growth in the child. I liked how Ian was talking about joy and the picture that was displayed was of a person with that exact expression. The editing on this film is simply remarkable because a lot of the emotions that Ian is talking about are displayed. The only real problem I had with this video was that there were no captions or explanations of who was being shown. I’m pretty sure it was Ian’s wife, Walker’s mother. Also I think if there would have been audio examples of how Ian and Walker talk to each other it would have given more meaning to that part of the story.

I think my favorite video story over all was probably the second video Good Luck. I work on base and I feel very compelled to do a story like his except maybe from a child’s perspective. Have the child explain what they keep a a security blanket while their father/ mother is away.

About my picture story…

{ April 1, 2009 @ 12:57 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Over all I took over 30 pictures however, the angles I am not too happy about. It seems to me that I took pictures from the same angle. If I could go back and redo this assignment I’d probably try to get some pictures in different areas and not just in the dressing room. The lighting was another issue; it wasn’t the best lighting since it was in a dressing room. Even with the flash it washed out my subject I wasn’t able to get the lighting I wanted considering I was at a bar. If I could redo this portion I would try to follow Havier’s whole day from start to finish so I would have different settings on my camera to go with the ever-changing environment background.

What was interesting was that while Havier was getting ready he was drinking a beer. Based on my journalistic instinct I didn’t pursue these pictures because of the ethics that were at stake. I didn’t want to promote smoking a drinking, but the shots I had taken were amazing. I did enjoy my subject but I feel that if I were to have followed him all day long on Friday I would have better photos of Havier in his normal average everyday life.

Shooting a drag queen wasn’t the easiest thing to do because you aren’t sure exactly what angle you want your story to go. I chose the route of how Havier became Mariquita. I wanted my viewers to see how different the two were and you can see it as plan as day when you look at the pictures. Next time I think I will allow myself to take more pictures of Havier and friends using different angles to show the dramatic changes he went through during the show. Also Mad Myrna’s was very considerate but I feel that if I were able to get photos behind the curtains during the drag show my pictures would be more versatile. The only problem is that due to the business of the show going behind the curtain would just put me in the way of others. I did like most of the pictures I took and I enjoyed interviewing Havier and Mariquita. The personality was amazing and it made my life as a journalist easier.

The Final Edition

{ March 24, 2009 @ 10:54 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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The final edition of the Seattle PI

The final edition of the Seattle PI

With head lines like “Newspapers fold as readers defect and economy sours” one wouldn’t view the changing from print to online as a good thing. I am half and half on this situation. First off I don’t see how the Seattle Post- Intelligencer would want to lose 117,600 readers. I personally don’t think that moving from print to online only is a good move. I understand that on average more Americans are on the web but what about those 117,600 readers that didn’t go online? Why force them to? Why didn’t the Seattle PI do what the Anchorage Daily News did and just shrink it down.  Forcing your readership to be Internet ready is a big step. Granted most Americans already are friendly with the use of a mouse, but how often will they truly get on the website if their hard copy is pulled? It is just confusing because obviously a big part of the readership preferred the print to the online. I understand the financial obligation was not met for the paper but was there enough time for someone to purchase the paper?

My only other argument is the origin of the newspaper. The print copy gives it a sense of history and I feel that once that is taken away journalism begins to lack the history it once had. The authenticity of the paper will be removed once the printing process is stopped. I believe in tradition and I feel that the newspaper will begin to lack this traditional feel once the printing aspect of it is ceased.

On the other hand the Seattle Post- Intelligencer is taking on a new step in what could be the next generation upgrade for newspapers. According to Frank Bethen the Seattle Times publisher, he thinks that the Seattle PI “will be able to serve the community with journalism of distinction for many generations to come whether in print, online, or in new platforms not yet imagined.” I think this is a true statement. Maybe with this drastic change Seattle will be saving trees and giving other online newspapers something to think about. What makes this situation interesting is that if the Seattle P-I website does expand and receive more hits then any other local web site it will become the goal to aspire to. Making future newspapers hope to amount to what Seattle Post- Intelligencer did. That is only if this non print paper makes in online.

The question- Find the WHYY Fresh Air broadcast from Thursday, 2/26, listen to “Law Professor Weighs In On ‘Hope’ Squabble” and post your opinion on whether Shepard Fairey’s use of Mannie Garcia’s Obama image falls under fair use or not. Provide context and support for your arguments.

{ March 6, 2009 @ 12:34 am } · { Uncategorized }
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The controversial image

The controversial image

At first my instinct reaction was what the hell are we talking about? I wasn’t sure what the Obama image was. So I looked it up and found it, I remember seeing it but I had no idea that there was a controversial side to this image. I listened to the broadcast and got a better idea of the situation at hand. First off having experienced some of my own photos being published and not receiving credit for them I was against Shepard Fairey, only because of the credit aspect. However there is more to this story. According to the fair use law there are three things to consider; the purpose and character of the use, the nature of copy written work, amount and substantiality of the portions used, and the effect of the market.

Fairey explains how each one does or doesn’t relate to the issue at hand. One of the major issues is the nature of the image. The image that Mannie Garcia took was of President Obama at a Darfur panel. Fairey used the image and completely altered the photo artistically. In my current photography class we were showed what we can use as journalist to edit a photo, which was how dark/ light we wanted our colors and cropping. We were told those were the only two major changes we as photojournalist could make. Based on this Fairey took the photo and admitted to changing the angle of Obama’s and added certain colors to the background. His view on it was an artistic view the purpose behind the photo was for Obama’s presidency.

Fairey never said he didn’t want to give Garcia credit. He doesn’t mind giving him credit but the argument got out of control with the Associated Press wanted damages for the photo. They judge his artistic character putting into question his past work all because of the lack of credit for the photo. In Fairey’s case he never wanted to hide the identity of the photographer that took the image he used. He claimed in the beginning he just didn’t put a lot of effort into finding out who took it. He did however, credit the Associated Press he just didn’t think he needed to search and sought out the photographer just because he was going to tweak the photo. In the end I don’t think Fairey should be held accountable for his actions. He should not be held to the journalistic standards because he work his an artist work not a journalist.

Click to hear Fairey’s side of the story.

National Geographic’s photographer Steve Winter

{ February 19, 2009 @ 10:22 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Steve Winter (Courtesy of Winter's offical website)

Steve Winter (Courtesy of Winter's offical website)

Photographer Steve Winter has been a contract photographer for National Geographic since 1995 but began shooting for them back in 1991. In the article Myanmar’s River of Spirits by Kira Salak, Winters photos truly captivate the people of Myanmar. The article is about the source of the Irrawaddy River and how important it is to the Myanmar people. Winter’s six photos within the article show how interactive the river is to the people that surround it.

Than Swe Thant washing away a hard days work in the Irrawaddy River.

Than Swe Thant washing away a hard days work in the Irrawaddy River.

Winter’s photography depicts the people of Myanmar very well. His photos differ in size and in subject as well as point of view. Each photo does appeal to the same concept of the use of the Irrawaddy River but the way Winter’s goes about telling the story of the river is unique. Winter’s tells the story with the first picture being of Than Swe Thant bathing in the river. He captures everything of this man’s bath from him pouring the water on himself to his bath essentials at his feet. Winter’s allows a landscape style picture to show the endless Irrawaddy River in all its glory. Without this wide angle photo I do not think the river would look as important as it actually is to the people of Myanmar.

A Maynmar working on catching fish inorder to maintain the profit that comes in from one of Myanmar's main sources of income.

A Maynmar working on catching fish inorder to maintain the profit that comes in from one of Myanmar's main sources of income.

With the depleting sources surrounding Maynmar the Irrawaddy River gives it’s people hope even though it is the  poorest country in Asia. Winter’s pictures bring this statement to life with his photos. The first couple of pictures that Winter’s has show the life of the river and it’s people. The photos show Maynmar’s people fishing, boating,  and cargo boats receiving necessities on a daily basis. Many of the photos  are two-page spreads showing just how much work is put into the river every day.

Monks circling their prayers together unifying them. (Courtesy of Winter's Offical website)

Monks circling their prayers together unifying them. (Courtesy of Winter's Offical website)

Other photos are of the actual people of Maynmar living their life traditionally with spirit dances and rituals that grant them luck. Some of Winter’s photos of the people are average size photos but they are action shots. They depict the “day in the life of.” These photos are interesting because most of the photos that he took express some ritual the Maynmars have. These beliefs were well represented within Winter’s photos.

Survial of the fittest and luckiest. Here a local is holding up a luck catch- a catfish that few are able to stumble upon. (Courtesy of Winter's Offical website)

Survial of the fittest and luckiest. Here a local is holding up a luck catch- a catfish that few are able to stumble upon. (Courtesy of Winter's Offical website)

The pictures Steve Winter’s took told a story in itself. They allowed the reader to see the world through the people of Myanmar. The pictures were able to express so much essence of the story. Pictures say a thousand words, for Winter’s they proved why National Geographic is not ready to let him go just yet. Check out what National Geographic has to say about their own contract reporter of 18 years.