Denver Post photograher wins NPPA BOP award

A gunman slipped into a midnight premiere of the new Batman movie through an emergency exit, tossed two hissing gas canisters and then methodically, calmly walked up the aisle firing, killing 12 people and wounding 70. It was among the worst mass shootings in American history. Tom Sullivan, center, embraces family members outside Gateway High School where he has been franticly searching for his son, Alex Sullivan, who saw "The Dark Knight Rises," in the movie theater where a gunman opened fire Friday, July 20, 2012, in Aurora, CO. Photograph by RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

RJ Sangosti of The Denver Post was named the National Press Photographers Association's Best of Photojournalism 2013 Photojournalist of the Year in the larger market. Sangosti is most known for his photo from the Aurora theatre shooting over the summer.

When Sangosti got the call to learn that he'd won the title, Sangosti said, "It's been a hard year. But this is very flattering and humbling. I look at Tyler [Hicks] and Damon [Winters] work every day. Both of them are amazing."

Sangosti credits the advances the Denver Post has made on their website in terms of photography. "Photography has become really important to the Web site," Sangosti said, "in these days when the print product takes a bow to the Web, and on the Web photographs are really important, maybe it makes the newsroom approach things a little differently now than maybe they did before."

World Press Photo of the Year faked

It was just announced today that the 2013 World Press Photo of the Year is a fake. The World Press Photo has been around for over 50 years and is one the most distinguished photo competitions every year. The World Press Photo has not yet reprimanded the photographer, Paul Hansen, from his award. According to Extreme Tech, however, believes that he will lose his award this week.

The photo is of Palestinians carrying two casualties after an Israeli attack in Gaza City in November 2012. The reason that the photo was not caught earlier was because there were other similar photos by other photographers from the same event. The actual photo is not a fake however. Dr. Neal Krawetz analyzed the photo and found that the shadows of the top left corner were manipulated. The photo was shot at 10:40 a.m. in the winter and the sun would have been lower, creating a more noticeable shadow.




Finally the article brings up an interesting point of whether the photo is fake or just overly enhanced? What is unacceptable when it comes to editing? Can a photographer rotate a photo, burn and dodge, remove dust from the sensor?

The Chuck Norris of Military Photography

A feature article was recently published in Peta Pixel on Jeremy Lock, who is called the Chuck Norris of Military Photography. Lock recently won the distinguished Military Photographer of the Year for the seventh time. No other military photographer has come even close.

What makes Lock unique is that he is equally comfortable using his gun and his camera. He can be shooting a conflict and have no hesitation grabbing his gun and jumping in to help his fellow soldiers. Lock is extremely well trained and can shoot from land, air, and under the sea. He has shot in over 40 countries and 6 continents.  He has even earned himself a Bronze Star, which is awarded for acts of heroism in a combat zone.

Preparing your portfolio

The New York Times photo blog, Lens, recently published a video, seen here, of Santiago Lyon of the Associated Press giving a talk on Preparing Your Portfolio at the New York Portfolio Review. The talk was sponsored by the New York Times and was hosted by CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

Lyon stressed that students need to recognize that your portfolio is your calling card.

He highlighted the four main points he is looking for in a portfolio:

1. Strong News photos, 12-25, maybe 30.  They don't have to from big stories. No matter what you have to prove you can document a fast-moving situation under deadline and keep your cool.

2. Sports. In the US 75% of an AP photographers time is spent shooting sports. There needs to be a solid mix of action, fans, and atmosphere.

3. Standalone feature photos. Try to be original and show your creativity. The goal is to show the ordinary in an unordinary way.

4. Long term feature story. 12-20 photos. This shows the photographer can establish a relationship and tell a story. Find your beginning and end to the story first and them everything else will come together.

You need enough photos to show them what you're capable of doing. You shouldn't have too many for an editor to get bored but not too few to make them think you don't have enough.

Personally the note I found most helpful was to photograph passionately but edit dispassionately. Separate yourself from what you went through to make that photo. You can bring in other people if necessary so you don't become emotionally attached to your photos.

And finally you need to always be on assignment. Even for yourself. Shoot something your interested and keep yourself "visually fit:" You need to be as comfortable using your camera as a musician is using their instrument and constantly producing content.

Peacefully photographing police

Photojournalist Mannie Garcia is currently involved in a federal civil rights lawsuit in which he was arrested in 2011 unlawfully for taking photos of a police encounter and his camera and images were seized.

 "The Justice Department told the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in its filing today that it upholds an individuals' 1st, 4th, and 14th Amendment rights to peacefully photograph police as they are performing their official duties in a public place, and that their rights have been violated when police seize such recordings without a warrant or due process. "

Read the article, via the National Press Photographers Association here:
https://nppa.org/node/42647

The original Justice Deparment's Statement of Interests can be found here:
https://nppa.org/sites/default/files/Garcia_DOJ_SOI_03-04-13.pdf

Robbed: Photojournalists cannot do their job without gear

Peter DaSilva for The New York Times

Laura Oda, the chief photographer for The Oakland Tribune, has been robbed of her photographer equipment while on assignment twice since last August in Oakland.

It's a scary thought. Robbed at gunpoint by someone hoping to make quick cash stealing the thousands of dollars of camera equipment you have while on the job. In Oakland, Calif. the number of journalists being robbed has increased and every major news station has had at least one camera story.

The article was reported two days ago from The New York Times. I originally found this on the front page of NPPA. I learned of this story while at work today and everyone seemed concerned about the issue. I can't even imagine having to call my boss and tell him the horrific news.