i think this kid was seriously depressed. but,,, there was a bird with him on the grass. so i took a photo and then told him to get some help.

Happy to "Bee" Covered in Pollen

Happy to "Bee" covered in pollen.

© Rennie Murrell 2010

Lunchtime AGAIN!?!

Apparently I like to shoot photos of people having lunch with the birds. This bird just hopped right up on to the chair where she was eating like it was invited. I couldn't help myself. :)

Ethics study guide

News photo folks,

Seems like quite a lot of you studied the Ethics chapter. I am keeping my promise to send you this study guide. It is not going to be 100% as what is in the quiz. However, I can promise you that everything in the quiz are either coming from the chapter or from the discussion we have in class. The quiz will be in multiple choices format.

Ethics study guide

1. According to the author, what are the frameworks for making ethical decision?

2. What happened to the photo showing the volcano dust that eventually being recalled by Reuters photo agency in April, 2010?

3. What is the code of ethics listed by National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)?

4. What did photographer Boris Yaro said to another photographer who tried to stop him while he was taking photos of Robert Kennedy dying on the ground after being assassinated?

5. Why shouldn’t we pay subjects for letting us to take their photos?

6. What should you do while taking up photo assignment of a funeral?

7. Renowned photographer Eddie Adams took a photo that publicly considered as changing public opinion about the Vietnam War, what was that photo about?

8. When Life magazine photographer Flip Schulke was shooting a civil right march led by Martin Luther King in Alabama and saw some black kids was being shoved to the ground by police, he stopped shooting but dragging the kids away. What did Dr. King told him at that moment?

9. The author mentioned several times about “breakfast test” in describing ethical standards in publishing photos. What is the term means?

10. In a 1975 photo of woman and a child falling off a collapsing fire escape, despite a strong disapproval of publishing the photo from the readers, some major benefit was acquired by publishing the photo. What was the benefit?

11. What did the Website of Best of Photojournalism contest do to an award-winning photo showing a half-naked woman being sexually assaulted by a crowd at Mardi Gras in order to protect the identity of the victim?

12. What did National Geographic magazine do to a 1982 cover photo of the pyramids of Giza?

13. Charlotte Observer photographer Patrick Schneider’s manipulated photo of two grieving firefighters eventually earned him a 3-day suspension and also being stripped off of an award he had already won with that photo. What did he do to that photo?

14. Why shouldn’t photojournalists take photos of people or events in the news that the photographer has close relationship to them personally?

The Birds

Gee, I wish I was a bird. They don't have to take finals.

Lunchtime

A woman enjoys her lunch Friday as two birds fight over what might be their lunch.

Ethics in photojournalism

News photo folks,

I believe I have mentioned to you more than one occasions that you will be required to read through the Ethics chapter for class discussion. We will be discussing that next time we meet. I surely hope that you are reading it or have already read it. The plan is that we will discuss it on Monday and while it is still fresh in our minds, we have the quiz on Wed.

Also, please be reminded that you will have to present your portfolio with Soundslides on Wed.

If the discussion on Monday proves we have a prepared class, I will considered posting a quiz tips before Wed. for everyone, just like the law quiz which most of you get a good grade.

In the meantime, we have a burning hot incident on photojournalism ethics happened to a renowned photo news agency last week - Reuters. One of its photos about the volcano at Iceland was digitally manipulated. They have to request a "total recall" on that photo.

Check it out:
http://www.petapixel.com/2010/04/21/reuters-retracts-icelandic-volcano-photo/

© Reuters (this is for educational purpose, don't sue me)

In the meantime, enjoy the last slow weekend of the semester.

Dr. Lo

"Bird on a Wire"

Bird on a wire. Image captured outside the Early College High School.

© Rennie Murrell 2010

Video on a great photojournalism teacher

If this series of videos did not strike your heart, you must not have spent enough time thinking about photojournalism.

Dave LaBelle trenched a path with his several decades of hard work for young photojournalism students to follow. He explains why the world needs us and what we can do to achieve that. Of course, what he did does not cover all areas of photojournalism, but I think it was a major part of why photojournalism is needed in our society.

I strongly encourage you spend some time watching and thinking about what he said during your vacation time.

If you want to go to the original video site to see the whole series of videos in a better quality, the URL is:

http://vimeo.com/7866068

Dr. Lo

Dave LaBelle | The Lesson from Francis Gardler on Vimeo.

You tell me!

© Rennie Murrell 2010

Rooftop Boxing Fans

Four rooftop workers have the best seats in the house!

© Rennie Murrell 2010

The last theme for posting

This is going to be the last theme for posting on this blog to be counting toward your bonus grade. And it is going to be due on next Wed. before class meet.

As before, this is also a "keep-your-eyes-open" training to test your readiness. Some smart rats would know where and how to increase the chances of getting this kind of photo. Thinking, anticipation, readiness, observation are important factors to a successful photojournalist.

The theme for this week is "human and bird." You need to find a scene and be able to capture it with your camera showing both the human and bird in one single shot. Of course, both human and bird are going to be the dominant elements of your photo.

Happy shooting.

Dr. Lo

A construction worker defies death to remodel the chemistry and geology building.

Tips in quiz of law in photojournalism

As I promised, here are the study directions.

The following are possible questions in law of photojournalism (find answers in the chapter and read the notes you took in class). The quiz will be in the form of multiple choices.

Which of the following location requires permission before photo taking?

Photojournalists has the right to take photos in public areas is base on what legal document?

What situation requires the approval of both the administrator and the recognizable people in the photo before photo taking?

Who can give you a legal right to enter an aftermath of a fire scene of a privately owned house?

In what situation requires you bylaw to turn over your camera equipment?

What was the latest final ruling from the court on photographer Ron Galella from taking picture of Kennedy Onassis?

What are the common situations when photos published becomes libel?

What is “improper photography law”? In what situation would someone consider breaking the law?

In discussing people’s privacy right. Kobre’s book mentioned Ms. Graham appeared in a county fair and had her photo being taken at a public place and published. She sued the newspaper and won. What was the case about?

“Work-for-hire” agreement means the copyright of a photo is own by who? And how do you define “work-for-hire”?

Precisely when is the earliest moment a photo is copyrighted and what do you need to do to claim copyright to your photo?

Some restrictions apply to photojournalists in taking photos of the person in their home even though without going into a person’s property. What are they?

When taking photos of an accident scene, what kind of legal concerns you need to be aware?

What is media “ride along” with the police? Is it legal? How did Supreme Court rule this kind of situation?

Are all true and real photos safe to print? In what situation a photo becomes “putting someone in a false light” and “embarrassing the subject” being photographed?

Off The Ground

Other jobs sites are higher but this construction does not have a safety line of any kind.

Off The Ground

Construction worker may be thinking, what am I doing up here or where are the elevators?

Victory...off the ground!

A construction worker raises his hands in a victory pose April 14 on the roof of building #25.

©Rennie Murrell 2010

Playing Pool

Education sophomore Mario Cortes plays pool before class Monday.

Science sophomore Robert Reyes breaks the balls during a game of 8-ball April 12 inside Loftin.

© Rennie Murrell 2010

This week's theme

Alison working off the ground.

News photo folks,

So far, no one has yet post any photo for last week's theme. I guess that topic might be not interesting enough, or not challenging enough.

True, as our skill get better and better as the semester winding down, topics should be getting more and more challenging. Dr. Lo definitely don't want to be the one to insult your intelligence.

So, here we go, this week's blog theme is going to be a bit more specific, a bit more challenging and requires a better scavenger's nose and eagle's eyes.

"Person(s) at work off the ground" is going to be this week's topic.

"Off the ground" means the person's body is not touching the floor or dirt that ordinary people staying. It can be person on a ladder, a chair, a roof top, a crane, the back of a truck or on a cart. A person walking on the fourth floor of the library does not work because his body is considered as touching the floor."At work" means performing a service which expected to get pay or a service that is not personal.

Are you ready to take up this challenge? I am eager to see who is the first one to get this photo.

A construction worker working off the ground.

Phone

bonus time again!

It is just getting more and more exciting when I see your weekly creative photos posted on our class blog. The challenge is going to keep coming and your bonus points are adding. This week's topic is even more fun:

"Ball, player, in action"

You will need to find someone playing with some kind of rounded-ball-shape game (I'll take football too).
The ball has to be moving in the air, not rolling on a surface.
The ball has to be within five feet away from the player AND captured in the photo.
Of course, we need to see the head and body of the player.
Photo has to be taken in ACCD campuses, and just for this time, we also accept photos from San Pedro Park.

Happy shooting. Due next Monday (4/12) at 10 a.m.

Dr. Lo

Two girls

Two girls talking and texting around 1:30 p.m. March 31 outside Moody.

© Rennie Murrell 2010

Phone

as i was leaving campus today, this guy came marching out of Loftin, looked like he was in a hurry to get somewhere.

Moble Phone

Joseph Garza, freshman, Broadcasting major, is having a serious personal conversation. Hope all turns out well for him. He is excited in getting into broadcasting.

just took this a couple days ago and thought ya'll might want to see it.

Someone on the phone with some kind of emotion

She's on the phone with a smile.

Just to remind you that it might not be easy to get a perfect shot in a week's time, but it is not impossible to get an acceptable shot. I spend 10 mins. sitting in front of Moody and I did encounter several opportunities. I don't have my SLR with me but the message is there.

This blog assignment is to train you be always aware of your environment and have your camera ready when something happen. Of course, a planning of where and when to get the kind of photos is part of the game.

Dr. Lo

Lisa Krantz's recent awards

Our coming speaker Lisa Krantz had just won the Star Photographer of the Year at the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors convention.

Check it out.








http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/E-N_staffer_wins_star_photography_award.html

Slideshows of her photos

She also won the 2009 NPPA Region 8 Photographer of the Year award.

Region 8 incluldes States of Mexico, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas. She is the best photographer amongst these 5 States.

Dr. Lo

The fire in my life.

My journal entry~

If you don't know by now there was a apartment fire next door to me. The guy that it was okay to stick his cigarettes between the siding. And the inter walls lit up like a Roman candle. Most of the damage was to the kitchen in between the ceiling broads, dining room, some water damage but the worst of all smoke damage. I was lucky that I forgot my camera in the car.....so I start taking photos and there I am standing there needing somebody to document this event. But why me? All I wanted was to hit, push and kick the living cramp out of the neighbor that caused this mess. After sitting in a empty apartment with my boys plus my parents I realized I was thankful because we were safe. I sat on the floor looking at my photos and cried because I was not in one of those photos nobody froze the image of sadness on my face that night. This morning I got the chance to walk through apart of the apartment, throw stuff away and get the basics....shampoo, towels, pillow, books and toys to keep busy while the apartments get their act together. The complex did lots of work to fix and repair the damage today which it great. However there's no electricity so we have to stay in the empty apartment maybe one more night and most if not all the food is bad. So los of take out : ( We did throw some stuff away but we won't know how much until we can walk through the whole apartment after all repairs are done.I hope to move back in the next few days after the inspectors gives us the okay. But here are my photos of today......

Finishing up repairs on the exter walls by the door.The vinyl floors have a layer of smoke debry that my shoe prints.

Our new door after the fireman broke down the old one.

Repairing the ceiling and the window that the fireman broke. Still no power but we got most of the damaged stuff out now we are waiting to clean up the smoke damage and air out the apartment. And waiting for the "okay" from inspector to say it's "live able."

The lesson is if you smoke please be considerate of others and put your butts in the trash can and make sure they are out.

outside reading

ATVB sophomore Steven Santana studies for a morning test in the mall.

Nursing sophomore Chris Rubalcava writes down some lyrics around 8 a.m. March 29.

© Rennie Murrell 2010

Reading

I took this picture East of Loftin while these two girls were studying for an Art test. Things got a bit interesting when the girl on the left pulled out a pen and started copying things off of the paper onto the bottom of her shoe.

Some more practice panning shots!

© Rennie Murrell 2010

Who is this photographer?

News photo 1 folks,

Please find time to find out who is this.















We are lucky to have her in town.

Dr. Lo

Reading

Theme for next week's blog posting

I thought you guys are getting better and better with your technique, therefore, I am going to make this a bit more challenging for the next week's photo.

The theme is: "Someone talking on the phone with emotional expression." Of course, the more emotional the better. Smile, surprise, angry, freak out are some examples. Expressions like ordering a pizza is not going to work. And please make it documentary, we don't set up photos except posed portrait. The same as before, photo ought to be taken on ACCD campuses.

See who is going to be the first one to come up with the shot.

The deadline is: April 5 (Mon.) at 10 a.m.

Dr. Lo

This week's Ranger

Hi news photo folks,

Have you check out the Ranger yet? If not, you should go to Ranger online (theranger.org) or get the print version at SAC.

I would like to comment on two photos this week.

The first one is the cover photo taken by Alison.

Alison Wadley/The Ranger






















This is a photo truly deserves the name "photo" in our professional photography world.
The timing was just right which frozen the beauty of a split moment that only a still photography can reveal. The perspective was just right with the subject high above the ground and showing a delightful dancing gesture. The girls watching and mimicking at the background clearly illustrated how a contributing background can help a photo to tell a story. It is a close to perfect photo except that I would hope that the original photo was not so loosely taken that require quite a substantial crop to achieve this composition, which caused a lost of image quality.

The second photo I would like to praise is Tyler's photo.

Tyler K. Cleveland/The Ranger






















I remembered in various moments in class, if you were not sleeping, I did mentioned about "creativity" in photojournalism. This is exactly what I am talking about. Creativity does exist in photojournalism, not once in a while, on the contrary, should be in every assignment we took. I remembered when I was a beginning newspaper photographer in Little Rock, I reminded myself everyday that I would try at least one creative way of shooting in each of my assignment (of course, after I secure my publishable "cliche" photos). This is even more important when one is shooting for a photo group or picture story.

Tyler's photo showed the relationship of the play director and the actor. The hand gesture was great and informational. It might be a bit going toward abstract but when the photo presented together with other photos of the same event on the same page, it would work and not just that, it gave a collective impression of what happened there. It was not told in a straight forward way, but it is another way of telling. The only thing I would hope to see was the actor's gesture to be more like acting instead of just standing there. But I guess the subject of this photo is the director, the actor is just an contributing element.

As a beginning photojournalist, I suggest you all to work toward this kind of photo. Your goal is to get it by purpose, not by luck. When you are sure that you can come back with this kind of photos in most of the assignments you took, you are ready to be called "professional."

Good job. Alison and Tyler. And of course, there are other pretty good photos in our Ranger taken by you all. I just don't have time to mention everyone of them. I am seeing maturity in photojournalism in some of you.

Keep up the good work.

Dr. Lo

These images were captured around 6:25 p.m. I used 1/200 sec. with f/5.6 ISO at 100 with various focal length settings.

© Rennie Murrell 2010

A CHILDS IMAGINATION

My niece, Elizabeth, is lost in deep thought while viewing fish at the Texas State Aquarium. What are you thinking about? The pretty fish? I'd like to swim like them. Only she knows. She enjoyed it and talked about it for weeks to her parents.

.

Early evening bluebonnets

© Rennie Murrell 2010

Reading.

Student reading right outside of Gonzalez Hall. The sun provided warmth in the early morning chill.

Reading

SAC Student prefers to endure the chill of the morning in a secluded table to study.

Risky business

Brandy discovered a huge machinery waving its huge crane in front of the chemistry & geology building Thursday noon. It was a machine that pumped concrete to the base of the building. She was trying to get a good shot of the machine and eventually she went up to the top of Loftin (the journalism building side). In order to get a better shot, she stepped closer and closer to the edge of the roof. Dr. Lo was worried about her safety. It is better wait until you become a war photographer to risk your life, not on an assignment like this.

To see how the huge crane look like, go check out the "people" slideshow on the Ranger online.

Dr. Lo

Outdoor reading

Have camera in hand, a desire in mind, your expected photo opportunity will appear in your eyes pretty soon. Of course, if you wait until the last hour to find your photo, a lot of excuses will find you.

Dr. Lo

"The Tree of Life"

© Rennie Murrell 2010

About connection

Not until I am sick I can feel this Web Log (Blog) connection is so helpful in connecting people mentally. I can't come to school on Monday but I was still able to connect to some of you by going to the blog to view your photos and leave comments.

Photography is a life style. You don't want to live a day without photography. If you know what I mean.

Dr. Lo

Dr. Lo's suggestion

My suggestion:

If you want your photo to be better, two things can help:

1. Start looking for photo opportunities earlier, not to wait until the morning the assignment is due.
2. Go try something new, new environment, new event, new people. Go out of your comfort zone.

It is very easy to distinguish what is a well planned photo; and what is a picked-up-on-the-way photo.

Dr. Lo

reading

reading in loftin