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