First time shooting soccer..

I used to play soccer, actually I played most of my life until college, but it's one of the few sports I never photographed. Today I gave it a whirl

Overview of trip to D.C.

So, after arriving back at school after a great week in D.C. I've had some time to think about the trip. Overall, I thought it was extremely beneficial. We met lots of people who were fortunately able to take time aside from their busy day to talk to us a little bit about what we are getting ourselves into.

I think this trip helped me personally, realize the importance of working hard, and not putting things off. I understand that if I am serious about being a photojournalist and am aspiring for a successful career in the field, I need to work hard all the time. I need to be shooting more, and having focus when I'm doing so. I need to do research before I just throw out a story idea.

The trip also gave me a more positive outlook on myself and what I want to be. As some people know, I can be pretty negative. It's not that I am trying to be, it's just that most of the time, I am so worried about things in the future that I can't even move on to the present. It doesn't make sense, but it's just how I deal with things. Hopefully, with a little confidence and the realization that I won't get anywhere with that attitude, I can throw that aside and focus on right now. Focus on what's important to me, photojournalism. I want to be able to tell a story, and I want to do it well. I want to be able to go to events, and make great singles. I can do this, I just need to stop thinking on how I can do it, and just get it done.

I felt that almost everyone we talked to in D.C. was hopeful for our futures. I felt that they wanted to tell us the right things and not the things we wanted to hear, but the truth. I realize getting a ob in this field won't be easy, but it sure isn't impossible.

D.C. Day 5

Friday September 23, 2011

So today was the last day of our trip. We started out at NPR, then headed to Reuters, and last was the Washington Post where we met with RIT alumni, Megan Rossman.

At NPR, we attended their morning meeting where they basically went around a conference room table and each editor(or a person from each section of the website) told everyone their ideas for the day/weekend(since it was Friday). There was someone from art, music, the homepage, the UN, and some multimedia interns.

After the meeting, Emily Bogle(RIT 2011 graduate) walked us to her desk, told us a little bit about her position at NPR and how she got there. Keith Jenkins then told us who everyone else in the multimedia department was, and they each said how they got there as well. There were two multimedia interns, and Emily who is a temp, which is the next step up after interning. There were two multimedia producers as well. And there were two photographers, one of which we got to meet, David Gilkey.

Gilkey talked to us about his position at NPR as a photojournalist and why he ended up there.

NPR

“It’s a real opportunity to create visual tradition at a radio organization,” said Keith Jenkins.

The biggest challenge is radio people dealing with visuals. Multimedia work is probably the most abundant.

Potential intern:

What it takes to be an editor

Good background, well-rounded, journalism

Good head on your shoulders

People who are a little different as far as interests and backgrounds

Genuine interest and understanding of NPR

The State Impact Project’s goal is to keep people in engages in government.

Freelancers

95% of reporters is radio staff

use wires

what makes really good audio? VERY IMPORTANT

David Gilkey

-need to work well with reporter ex. Capturing sound, can’t photograph while they are recording audio. Need to stay out of each others way

-where can you apply video? Always need to be thinking about that as well as sound

-you have to know it all! Stills, audio, video/finalcut

-understand radio

-be organized, prepared, always have your camera!

-Can you go to something boring like a council meeting and make a good picture?

-know exactly what your picture is going to look like

-know exposures-know your composition-know the photo before you take it!

Reuters

In comparison to other wires, Reuters is the most neutral towards everyone, everywhere. They are always telling stories in the most factual and unbiased way that they can.

“It’s about ethics and professionalism,” said Reuters Chief Photographer Terry Bochatey.

Communication is key, which is something we have heard at almost every place we have visited. You need to be able to communicate not only with subjects and stories you are working on, but also your editors.

Video is the future, we have been hearing it everywhere we go, as well as back at school. You won’t get a job without it seems to be the common phrase. I’m okay with this though because I think it’s a great thing to know and understand video. I recently took a video workshop where I learned the basics and it’s brought me a long way.

It’s much easier for skilled photographers to transition to videographers than it is vice versa.

The key is to get yourself noticed. Get your name out there, your work, be noticed, especially by the right people. It takes patience, but you can’t be afraid to promote yourself. It’s okay to fail, as long as you realize why/what led you there.

The Washington Post

The Post was pretty cool. The newsroom was a lot nicer looking than others we had seen, it was circular, open and inviting and the people were friendly.

Some things we were told we must do to get out in the real world as photojournalists;

Work on portfolio, non stop

Take advantage of shooting fun things, college students get some of the best access, use it!

Edit all the junk out of your portfolio, you're only as good as your worse image

Constantly be taking photos and working, it is the only way to get better

and lastly, BRING YOUR CAMERA EVERYWHERE YOU GO, you never know when something will happen right in front of you

D.C. Day 4

Thursday September 22, 2011

We spent most of today at the Newseum both exploring the museum and attending the 27th Isaiah Thomas Awards Ceremony. The RIT CIAS School of Print Media presented seven RIT alumni, including our very own(most favorite professor in the world), William Snyder the awards in publishing. The other alumni included Stan Grossfeld, Ken Geiger, Dan Loh, Paul Benoit, Robert Bukaty, and Anthony Sua. All seven of these alumni did some incredible work and it was exciting to see them be awarded for their great work.

I think the most exciting part of the ceremony was seeing the winners photos on a screen as they were being awarded. These photos are well-known, photos you react to, and most importantly, photos you always remember. You don't really think about who took them, you just know that they are there. To see put a face with the photo was nice, to know who took those photos you always see and remember, and we were fortunate enough to speak with several of these people.

I guess I didn't expect people/photojournalists who took and can still take photos like the ones shown to talk to someone like me. But I was wrong. These guys actually wanted to talk to us. They wanted to hear what we are doing and what we want to do. We are the future of photojournalism, and they are the ones inspiring and guiding us.

After the awards we had an awesome lunch and headed out to explore the Newseum. The place is huge, and I got to see some of the world's greatest news history. There was a 9/11 exhibit which was put together in an amazing way. There was a wall full of every 9/12/01 front page from all over the world. In the center of the exhibit was a piece off the top of the world trade center with worldwide stories surrounding it. There was also a room where you could watch a video on the event. The video was of several journalists, photojournalists, radio and tv broadcasters telling their stories of 9/11. They were all doing different things that day and expressed all sorts of emotion, but there was something they all had in common apart from being caught in one of the world's most tragic events. On September 11, 2001, all of those news media staff were something other than reporters and photographers and broadcasters, they were human beings. They, just like any other person that day in any of the places attacked, were humans and they were running for their lives. They still went on with their work though. They got the job done in the best way they could, it was a story that had to be told, and it was, and will forever be remembered.

"Journalism is the first rough draft of history."-Philip Graham,publisher, The Washington Post

Unfortunately, the Newseum is huge and I was not able to see everything before it closed for the day. From what I did see though, it's a pretty cool place with some seriously historic news and photographs. I would definitely recommend it, even if you're not so into the journalism thing, it's something that would be good for just about anyone to see.

Prisca and Joe bonding on the roof.

D.C. Day 3

Alexis flirting with Rob at the reception. Just kidding. He's not her type.


This is Wilma, she is on staff at National Geographic. She's rubbery.

Wednesday September 21, 2011

So we are about half way through the trip, and so far I am enjoying,
learning, experiencing, and bonding with classmates so much more than
I did in NYC. I think this trip has helped us all not only in getting
some insight into some of these big news/media organizations, but it
has also allowed us to get to know one another a little bit better.

National Geographic-Ken Geiger
Our first stop was National Geographic. And....by that, I mean our
first stop was just about every aspiring photographer and
photojournalist's dream job headquarters.We met with Ken Geiger, an
RIT alumni and the Deputy Director of Photography. Geiger explained
the difficulties of getting your foot in the door because of how
competitive our field it. National Geographic usually hires
established photographers, people that have been in the business, who
know what they are doing, and who do it very well.

AP Washington-David Ake
We met with Assistant Chief of the AP Washington Bureau, David Ake as
well as AP photographers, Charlie Dharapak, and Jacquelyn Martin. At
the AP, we learned the importance of video, and how it's changing the
way photojournalists will tell stories. We also learned how very
important it is to carry a camera everywhere you go. You never know
what's going to happen. It will be the day that you forget it or leave
it behind that something will happen, something that would have made
an incredible photograph, one that could possibly set you apart from
others. Having the camera with you all the time isn't the only
important part of this pj thing. You have to know how to use it as
well!

Here's a few of David Ake's tips on getting employed;
-Hustle, hustle really hard
-skill isn't everything
-have good journalistic values
-be curious, always
-know what is going on around you
-understand the news of the day
-"You really have to want to do this. It's 50% of the reason I will
hire you, the other 50% is skill."
-get in the door by running cards for me, emailing me, sending me photos
-have good work ethic
-hustle!
-be assertive and dedicated
-stick to it
-always keep your lens up
-be focused

That may sound like a lot of tips and hard work, but I think with time
and effort, it's definitely doable.

The rest of the time at the AP was spent speaking with the
photographers and having our portfolios viewed. It was extremely
helpful to have our work viewed by people who are in the field.

Internships are important, especially before taking a job. They help
an aspiring photojournalist to grow and develop not only as a person,
but their photographic work as well.

Internship tips
-keep applying
-must be dedicated
-persevere
-hometown internships are good
-plan ahead

Photos
I thought I heard this enough during a video workshop I took, but I
guess it goes for photos too. I need to shoot wide, medium, and tight.
All the time. I will work on that.

AARP

AARP is not just an old people magazine, like I kind of thought it was. It's pretty cool actually. They do all sorts of stories and multimedia pieces. Although their demographics is the 50+ age group, the stories are meant for anyone to read.

Their slogan(for their lifestyle magazine) is "feel great, save money, and have fun."

The best advice here;

-develop working relationships with your editors

-look at work of other photographers

-and most importantly, have inspiration

DC Day 2

William Snyder speaking with his favorite students in all of RIT history.

Tuesday September 20, 2011

Today we went to USA Today, Education Week, and Getty. Everyone at each of those places was extremely informative and hopeful for our futures. It's definitely a nice change of pace from what we heard in New York City. I'm not sure if it's the D.C. area or what, but people here just seem a little more positive and helpful.

At USA Today we learned a lot about what it takes to get into the business and how to go about doing that.

Being a photojournalist is about problem-solving. You always have to have balance, and have your priorities right. You can't be a jerk in this business, because it's a business that revolves around reputation.

As far as photos go, it's not important to shoot photos at NFL games or other big events. It doesn't make a photo good. Great moments can be captured at little league games. It shows that you can get out in the community and find stuff.

Portfolio-

don't pad your portfolio with big event coverage photos

have variety, strong images

NO meaningless photo(access doesn't necessarily make a photo)

take everything you hear with a grain of salt, but if you start hearing the same things, think about it, consider

*content*composition*lighting

details!

Getting noticed-

Working hard

Paying attention to detail

Experience/internships/freelance/

Video/multimedia

Being able to write/captions-ITPC

Making connections/contacts

Staying in contact

Never giving up

Being a good person, someone that people will remember in a positive way

I particularly enjoyed Education Week, where we met Charlie Borst. He explained some of what we already heard, but also gave us a new outlook on a different type of photojournalism. Education Week is different in that deadlines aren't as demanding, and there's more time to work on stories. We were able to have our work looked at by Borst, which was awesome because he actually took the time to go through everything and give great feedback.

Getty was good too. We met some great photographers and saw some of their work. Unfortunately, I missed most of it because parking in D.C. sucks.

D.C. Day 1-McClatchy Tribune

Monday September 19, 2011-Today we only had one appointment, and that was with Linda Epstein at the McClatchy Tribune News Service. It is the second largest U.S. wire service, second to AP. Epstein explained how the wire works and where the photographers come from. Other than MCT newspaper staffers, the photographers are all free lancers. They are located all over the U.S. as well as in other countries around the world. Freelancers get themselves into the database by having a good online portfolio/website. If Epstein is happy with the work she see's, she'll give you a shot. If you do well on assignment, you're in the database, and if you screw up, that's it, you're out.

Although it seems a bit harsh, this gives me much more hope for a potential career in the wire service. Epstein mentioned that it doesn't matter what age you are or if you are fresh out of college, if you can shoot, you're hired. It doesn't necessarily come down to just your shooting skills, it's also incredibly important to get all the facts-who, what, when, where, why, and how. Who shot the photography? When was it shot? And captions need to be thorough. Much better to have too much information, than not enough. A quick weak cutline won't work. Part of our job as photographers is to make the editor's job as simple as we can.

Linda Epstein started out as a photographer at her high school newspaper. She then moved onto college at Syracuse University where she continued her passion of art and photography. Epstein had experience in different internships and has ended up as a senior photo editor for a huge news wire. Even though she's now an editor, she expresses great passion for photography and photographers. She will do anything she can to promote a photo that she thinks deserves it. She understands what photographers go through, and is on a mission to do anything she can to help good photographers get their photos publicized.

ALEXIS IS SO COOL