Steps to Successful Photojournalism

by | Aug 10, 2011 | Stories & Expeditions | 8 comments

I was asked to take pictures for the children’s programs presentation slideshows at the Indianapolis ATI Conference again this year. Yippee! I was reminded again of the essential steps in shooting a successful photojournalism event:

  1. Get all the details from the one in charge.
  2. Set up a work station, complete with an “Inbox” and “Outbox” for full and empty memory cards.
  3. Rally the photographers, giving assignments and deadlines.
  4. Enjoy the thrill of taking pictures of the Conference happenings!
  5. Download and quickly edit everyone’s pictures.
  6. Present the pictures to the behind-the-scenes guy, who would appreciate receiving them sooner than later.

I don’t think I got the final pictures behind stage “sooner” but at least it was soon enough. Here are a few of my favorite captures from the Children’s Institute and ALERT Cadet programs:

1495_Canon EOS 40D, 55 mm, 1-60 sec at f - 4.0, ISO 400

1476_Canon EOS 40D, 21 mm, 1-60 sec at f - 4.0, ISO 400

1472_Canon EOS 40D, 70 mm, 1-60 sec at f - 4.0, ISO 400

1484_Canon EOS 40D, 55 mm, 1-60 sec at f - 4.0, ISO 400

1582_Canon EOS 40D, 200 mm, 1-250 sec at f - 4.0, ISO 200

1773_Canon EOS 40D, 85 mm, 1-200 sec at f - 5.6, ISO 200

1572_Canon EOS 40D, 200 mm, 1-320 sec at f - 4.0, ISO 200

1710_Canon EOS 40D, 121 mm, 1-320 sec at f - 5.6, ISO 200

And for those of you who scrolled to the bottom of the post, here’s a bonus picture. I guess it’s pretty random, but the shadow of the speaker during one of the sessions was just too intriguing for me not to notice from my seat on the front row. Can you guess who the speaker is?

1457_Canon EOS 40D, 55 mm, 1-25 sec at f - 2.8, ISO 800

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8 Comments

  1. Robert Staddon

    I’m pretty sure I know! But I won’t give it up. Is it the speaker who sang “The Son’s up. There’s no need to be down.” 🙂

    Reply
  2. James

    You got it!

    Reply
  3. Benjamin Cahill

    I’m loving the soft stripbox background light created by the paper’s reflection (or specular highlight, not sure which) in 1582. It’s awesome! 😛

    I wasn’t there, but I’ll guess anyway. Is it the speaker who likes cutting down trees?

    As a side-question, why do you include a bunch of EXIF info in the filename (i.e. camera, focal length, shutter, aperture, and ISO), at least on these photos? Is it really that important? 😀

    Reply
  4. Elizabeth Lindsay

    I wasn’t there either, but I think it is Mr. Tom Harmon! 🙂

    Reply
  5. James

    Hey Benjamin, the info given with each filename is intentional. When I look at pictures from other photographers, I enjoy looking at the exposure information to see what settings they used to create the picture. I find it expands my knowledge and creativity. Other photographers do this too, and in the past, one photographer actually asked why I didn’t include the exposure information with my previous pictures. I figured the filename was the easiest place to include it; and what else would you use the filename for anyway on a blog?

    So that’s a quick explanation!

    Reply
  6. Matthew H

    I agree, I think it is Mr. Harmon.

    By the way, thanks for including the image data, I often like to look at it 🙂

    Reply
  7. Kate Kemerly

    James,
    Is there any way you could I could get the picture you took of my CI team? if not, that’s okay :).
    Thank you!

    Reply
  8. Micah Williams

    I love the first picture! That’s my niece! Thanks for all your helpful tips, James.

    Reply

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