joan_s.

<p>Street photography is a very difficult genre. I find two things generally "make or break" the picture - the use of colour, and the subject's facial expression.<br>

It takes an experience street photographer to get the subjects to trust him enough to take close-ups, and there are a few people around here who do it very well. I don't really enjoy approaching strangers on the street, so I don't do it much.<br>

If the person's activity is the subject of the photo, then I think those pictures displaying an activity that says something about society are more powerful than those of people doing something weird fort the sake of it.<br>

Colours are what bring beauty and fun to this world, so I think it's shame not to use it in photography, at least most of the time. I also find that in photojournalism/documentary, black and white is used to dramatize situations to a point that distorts reality.<br>

I approached photography through "street", and I've progressively moved away from it. I admit I find it gets boring after a while... and few people can pull it off. But I enjoy looking at other people's work for inspiration, and there are some great things out there.</p>

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<p>Hugh, Journalism schools in France (the credible ones) are entered following very tough competitions. They are not accessible just by signing up, far from it.<br>

To secure an internship of any kind, one must legally be a student (I'm in my final year of law, and it's my second degree. I'm doing it online from Ukraine with a French uni in case you're confused) Journalism degrees do not exist in France, and law, literature, sociology.... those are recognised study patterns if you want to be a journalist of any kind. The journalism schools are done after the degree, as a postgraduate qualification; they are often very expensive, are always entered following a tough selection process, and it's the students that finish those that are competing for the internships.<br>

You may say I bipassed that "crucial" stage - but I went and acquired valuable life experience elsewhere, by working with a humanitarian organisation in Ukraine. There I got many opportunities as a photographer that I wouldn't have had I stayed in France - and gained more awareness of the importance of "fairness and accuracy" when reporting that I ever would have sitting in college. I didn't have the budget to return to college after those two years, and I felt confident I'd acquired enough varied experience to face an internship. I applied to a contest. I got the internship and a scholarship that enabled me to buy a DSLR camera.<br>

In your book, that was a wrong move. Sorry (I certainly don't regret it though!) A trained journalist friend came over to spend a month with me in Ukraine to do some freelancing and I learnt from her during that time in terms of formatting and tricks of the trade. She's still there to guide me when I have any specific questions, and books thankfully do exist also.<br>

The languages are useful even for local papers, I guess so maybe more when one is not based in an English-speaking country. A non-English speaking journalist anywhere in the world is at a disadvantage because of internet ressources, so me speaking it is considered an advantage.<br>

When having an EU passport, one can seek work opportunities anywhere within it's boundaries as long as one speaks the language. So that's when the extra ones come in useful for me.</p>

<p>I see that you're not going to be convinced, but I definitely don't regret having gone down the non-traditionnal route. I may never be working as more than a local reporter - or I may get more varied opportunities through my contacts on the NGO circuit. Who knows? But I did get my foot into the door through entering a contest. Let's leave it there.</p>

<p>Hugh - All you say is true but I think you're missing my point. I'm suggesting the competitions as a means to access good training. Nowadays, even training opportunities like internships and journalism schools are highly competitive, and it's difficult to access even that without something original on your CV.<br /> The contest secured me an internship - and that's a way of getting good training. I definitely never meant to imply training was to be bipassed. I also believe that all the studying I've done in "unrelated" fields is now helping me with the photography, and I'm also jumping at all the opportunities I can get to gain experience, shooting everything from street demonstrations to inter-church football matches.<br /> Contests hadn't been mentionned by anyone else - so I thought I would since it's helped me and there's nothing to loose! Obviously, one shouldn't be contained solely on them. I just said they "are a good way to make contacts and get noticed".<br /> Languages has been mentionned as a bonus by all the professionals I've been put in contact with - so I thought I'd throw that in there as well.<br>

I really seem to have hit a raw nerve, I'm sorry. I am re-reading my initial post, but nowhere did I mention that training was optional or that contests enabled one to jump right from nothing-ness to the top of the business.<br>

I've been asked to submit pictures for someone else to make a presentation of them twice, but maybe work is just split up differently in France? Sorry if I've caused offense.</p>

<p>WOW. That is an amazing essay. The photographer must have incredible diplomacy and people skills to access all those places, and has an amazing eye to boot.</p>

<p>Hugh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to sound like I was dismissing your advice. From reading this thread, it seems that things might also widely differ depending on what country you're based in :) I'm not based in the States (half french, half british living in Ukraine), so the market I'm aiming for is rather different, and my experience also.<br>

Obviously, work experience is crucial, and the contests only a means of obtaining the it! It's just a way for people who, like me, did not do a photography degree, to still have a shot at entering the business. And thanks to the contest, I do know own more than a bridge camera! (but I'm still not convinced my DSLR is helping me with photojournalistic work, I'm sometimes tempted to revert to my old Kodak 650...another story).<br>

I wasn't suggesting competitions as a way to meteorically rise to the top, far from it! For me it's just been a door opened so I can get some experience doing all the things you precisely mention (working in a newspaper and covering breaking news). And nowadays, so many people are applying for work experience that one needs help to get even that!<br>

I've never been confronted, as of yet, with the demand to produce a multimedia presentation. I have been asked to write, and although I have nothing against the idea of multemedia presentations, I just thought I'd point out it's not everyone's experience, and that if you have other strengths they can be used as well.</p>

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<p>Competitions are a good way to make contacts and get noticed, and languages are a big bonus.<br>

I don't think you necessarily need to be a videographer as well if you can also write - but you definitely need to be competent in more than one area. Being a photojournalist is being a social critic, and I believe it's important to have a good understanding of geopolitics and sociological issues.<br>

I'm aiming to be a photojournalist myself and have secured some work experience by entering a competition. The feedback I got was that what made me stand out was the ability to tell a story with a sequence of pictures, the variety in my interests and competences and the number of languages I can speak/understand.<br>

What turned out not to be important: my absence of equipment (only a bridge camera).<br>

I found out many that of the competitors had tried to be overly clever and presented very artistic essays, and it ended up being held against them.</p>

<p>I had a lot of trouble with this issue this week-end. It was the first time I was shooting a wedding, and any of the guests were being very pushy - even wanting me to take pictures for them with their cameras!<br>

The main issue was that the subjects were getting distracted, not knowing what direction to look in. Since they all knew me, the other photographers gladly ignored my instructions to wait or go first, and just continued shooting throughout ordering the bride and groom to look at them! Since they were important family members, it was tough to strike the balance between firmness and not creating a diplomatic incident.<br>

The worst problem was when it came to the group shot outside the town hall - I instructed people to stand and the bottom of the stairs and I would shoot them from the top but older family members insisted it be done the other way round - so every single person in the shot is squinting from looking into the sun, and has massive shadows on their face.<br>

I didn't mind them "stealing my ideas" but it is a problem when you can't get the bride and groom to look in your direction. Another time I'll know to emphasize that in the meeting I have with them before the wedding!</p>

<p>Well I have noticed that older men tend not to worry when I'm taking of pic of them - and they even ask quite often. I reckon they wouldn't ask if I was also a man :)<br>

I think it can help to an extent in certain circumstances - but the difference isn't significant.</p>

<p>Steve.... Interesting comment about not wearing white yourself. I was wearing white this week-end and the groom was consistently squinting when looking at me. I hadn't thought of that.... Will know next time.</p>

<p>I'm back from the infamous <a href="00TCB8">gig with inappropriate equipment</a> . Here is a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3023269&l=4552addc8a&id=685837039">sample</a> . Couldn't get the groom to open his eyes properly, bu what about this one?<br /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3023269&l=4552addc8a&id=685837039"><img src="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2935/185/115/685837039/n685837039_3023269_4674232.jpg" alt="" width="412" height="604" /> </a></p>

<p>:) Bob I'm with you on the flash. I trust my battery to get me through more than 200 shots because the other day I shot a rehearsal and music school concert, all with flash because of bad light in the hall, and the battery was not done after nearly 400 shots. The battery is recent so the battery is still strong, I'd just never pushed it to full capacity yet.<br>

Unfortunately, you may be able to pick up a cheap flash in LA but I assure you that you find many in Rivne market.... ;) I've travelled to Loutsk and Lviv, but since I don't have a western budget myself, I was not able to affort the very, very overpriced Lviv shop that had a few things.<br>

I'm certainly not expecting my pictures to be of the quality someone can produce with all the appropriate gear - but the point of them asking me is that I can probably do a better job for free than anyone else they know. None of our other mutual friends even had a wedding photographer and just relied on pictures from guests, so it's not like their expectations are high. I just want to do my best.</p>

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<p>It all depends on how you chose to portray it. I live in Ukraine and really enjoy documenting everyday life there - from a wester perspective, it often equates to documenting poverty. However, if that was the only point of the picture, it would be pointless. This is one of my favorite pics, and I hope it tells more of a story than simply speaking of poverty, for instance.<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/6475279-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="510" /><br>

The photographer has a big responsibility with the angle he choses to cover events. I often visit orphanages, and it would be very easy to come back with a load of shocking pictures like this:<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/7373933-lg.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="640" /><br>

... yet I really try and resist the temptation to, because the actual reality of the situation is more accurately depicted with this:<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8270434-md.jpg" alt="" width="679" height="668" /></p>

<p>Thanks - no battery rack for me unfortunately. I've just arranged with my friend to lend her my tripod, and she will try and take pics of the whole congregation from the mezzanine at the back with her Lumix, while I do the details upfront. She will then lend her camera to me for the outside pics.<br>

I suspect I will probably be able to move around quite a lot, but I'm just trying prepare myself for the worst case scenario. Rushed around town today to all the shops that sell cameras in case any had canon batteries but unfortunately none do, although some sell the 40D! It's rather frustrating, I've been visiting all the camera shops I can find in the country but even in Kiev everything is grossly overpriced and unaffordable. I nearly got the Tamron 17-50 last time I was there but didn't have enough cash with me - now I really regret it. I havn't even been able to find a polarizing lens in 58mm lol! It doesn't help that Ukraine is a Nikon country, I didn't think when I got the camera...</p>

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<p>It's a shame Kodak has such a bad reputation. I had/have the Kodak Z650 and still use it as a back up. It's an excellent P&S that has served me very well in the photojournalist context, so I have a soft spot for them!</p>

<p>Thanks. I don't usually use the LCD but I will look into shortening/turning off the post show review, that's a really good idea.</p>

<p>Thanks for the answers :) Ok, I should have mentionned the couple will be facing each other, parallel to the congregation. So it's mainly an issue of what background I want for the photos - capturing the congregation's reactions but risking a busy background, or having the nice backdrop but less varied shots, I guess. You're probably right that it's better for me to be with the congretation, it'll be more discrete and I'll be less stuck in one place. I just wondered having recently attended a wedding where the photographer was behind the couple, and able to capture parent's reactions ect...<br>

Flash is definitely allowed, it's a very relaxed church where they probably wouldn't even mind if I was walking all around the officiants continuously. I'd prefer to do things as well as possible though.<br>

Ukrainian weddings are very, very rarely organised enough to have things like rehearsals lol ;) It certainly is not the case here.</p>

<p>Where do you prefer to be placed?<br>

I am shooting my first wedding as the main photographer (for free) on sunday. Before people pounce on me :) telling me I should attend photography school, purchase a flash, a back-up DSLR, 5 different lenses, work as an assistant for 5 years..... I am situated in Ukraine, and am doing this for a young couple with no budget, in an area where even the pros do not have much equipment (and those who do are simply unaffordable for the local population).<br>

I have little equipment myself, but my 450D (only kit lens as of now), tripod, Kodak Easyshare Z650 as a back-up, and possibly Panasonic Lumix TZ-3 borrowed from a friend, are up to date with local standards. I would have loved to rent a flash and better lens - but this option is not available here. I've done a lot of research and the couple are aware of what I can and can't provide them with.<br>

I am more of a social photojournalist, but enjoy shooting at friends weddings, however I've never been in a situation where I could chose my location in the church. My question is if given the choice, would you prefer to be behing the couple facing the congregation, or with the congregation facing the couple?<br>

I am familiar with the church, and while both options will probably be available, moving around will not. I will be able to use the on-camera flash thankfully, since the kit lens is bad in low light, and the church does have windows.<br>

I've also never used my (fairly new) battery for such a long period of time. Do you think it will last the day? (I will be at the brides house from 9am and shooting till the end of the party at around 10 pm)<br>

Would it be wiser to stick with the Lumix or Kodak for the outside shots and keep the Canon for the inside ones so I don't run out?<br>

Once again, buying another battery is simply not an option right now.</p>

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<p>1. If someone asks me to not use the picture, I don't - I definitely believe in respecting people's wishes.<br>

I don't feel guilty but sometimes awkward - in those cases I don't bother taking the pic and move on. When I shoot buskers or beggers I try and leave something for them. I also don't shoot people in a way I wouldn't want to be shot myself, I think that is a good guideline. I try and avoid catching people in embarassing situations.</p>

<p>2. It's rather a long an tedious process but I'll go against the grain here and say I quite like it ;) It's FUN. Like everything in life, photography gets boring when people take it too seriously IMO. This is not a properly done one - but you get the idea. I think it's cool because of the retro feel of the trolleybus and it's nice (natural) colour.</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/9065961-lg.jpg" alt="" /></p>

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