Close to 100 percent of my work at The Roanoke Times is shot using available light, meaning that I'm not adding any artificial light to the situation. However, I realized that by only using one approach that I'm putting limits on my photography. So, I decided to cover the Bailey's 300 earlier this month using direct flash. Here's a couple frames for all the race fans gearing up for this weekend's action at the Martinsville Speedway.
Fellow Roanoke Times photographer Jared Soares and I had some free time this past Saturday morning, and decided to photograph the 2009 Marine Mud Run, held at Green Hill Park in Salem. The annual run is a 5k footrace with the last 100 yards bringing competitors through a deep mud pit. We know that mud plus anything has a potential for great photos. We both approached this with the same intensity that we would if we were on a regular assignment for the newspaper. While editing, we showed each other our takes and noticed a few similarities in style and substance.
This is a good chance to talk about what a staff photojournalist at The Roanoke Times looks for when covering a daily assignment.
For all of the following images, Jared's photos are on the left and my photos are on the right. You can click on them to view the photos in a larger size.
When we have an assignment for sports, we need a shot of the winner. This is the first place finisher crossing the last obstacle on his way to victory. Both of us were trying to isolate the moment. When the runner ducks under the last barrier, it gives the reader a storytelling image with very little distraction. It's a pretty easy shot to get, but it is nice to have this shot in the bag. Then the work on filling out the story visually begins from this point.
Next, we started to look for emotion, which there was plenty of at the finish line. Jared called this event a "portfolio in the can." There were lots of happy, emotional people who were not very aware of the camera. This makes for exceptional unguarded moments the viewer can really connect with. The race is not a hardcore running event. The happiness comes for most people from finishing the race. We think that most photojournalists would say that these types of human interaction imagery are more important than the action/finish picture. We like to connect with our subjects.
Jared and I ran into each other occasionally during the shoot, and these pictures are a result of being in the same vicinity. The person on the grass in Jared's shot (left) is the same person in my picture. One scene, but two different ways of interpreting it. Jared's shot is a layered, complex picture of the exhaustion at the finish line, and my picture is an unusual take on the same theme, shot from directly over the runner. I tend to take this type of photo frequently, and in this case it made for a nice storytelling image.
Tight face shots are a great way to illustrate that mud was the dominate theme for the day. We both decided to shoot this with our long lens, a 70-200mm 2.8. This long lens allows you to zoom in on the faces of the subject and shoot wide open. The background blurs, and the viewer is forced to look at the subject without distraction. When working with a photo package in mind, these photos are a simple and effective counterpoint to a more complex, layered photo.
This group of photos is an example of what photographers call "filling the frame." In both of these pictures, there is practically nowhere for your eye to go; the layering from back to front, side to side makes for a beautiful image.
This next pairing demonstrates how a vantage point can change the feel of a picture. Jared's picture (left) is effective because it puts you right in the middle of the shower. You can feel the mud being washed off the runners. I took a higher vantage point, and this created a moodier picture with the sunlight filtering though the water spray. Also, these picture serve as an "overall," which in photo terms is a photo that shows not just a participant or two, but gives a larger view of the scene.
Finally, we look for an ending shot to round out our storytelling. These shots are generally detail shots which don't have a subject predominately featured, but hint at a human element. In both of these shots the viewer is able to tell that it was a muddy, dirty, messy day.
There is no one proven method to covering and assignment. However, there are some similarities that photojournalists look for in terms of event coverage. Moment, light and composition are common themes in visual storytelling that any photographer can incorporate into their own work from a wedding to a child's soccer game.
- Kyle and Jared
Teamwork played a vital role in Virginia Tech's home victory last Saturday over Nebraska. Each player worked together in the waning moments to ensure a win. However, the Hokies and the Huskers were not the only teams competing on Worsham Field in Lane Stadium over the weekend. The Roanoke Times photography department had three photographers (Kyle Green, Matt Gentry and myself, Jared Soares) working together to ensure optimal coverage of the game between the two nationally-ranked squads.
MATT GENTRY/ The Roanoke Times Tyrod Taylor, 5, throws a touchdown pass to Dyrell Roberts with 21 seconds left, past Pierre Allen of Nebraska at the end of the Virginia Tech - Nebraska football game in Blacksburg, Va.
After three and a half quarters, the game appeared as if it were going to yield a pedestrian photo report, but the last 90 seconds proved this photographer's hypothesis incorrect. Virginia Tech drove down the field and, with 21 seconds left, took the lead from Nebraska with a touchdown pass from Tyrod Taylor to Dyrell Roberts.
KYLE GREEN | The Roanoke Times Virginia Tech football player, Dyrell Roberts (right, #11), catches the winning touchdown with 21 seconds left on the clock in the fouth quarter against Nebraska football player, Prince Amukamara (left, #21), during the game at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia on Saturday. Virginia Tech defeated Nebraska 16-15.
Just as the Virginia Tech offense worked together to capture a win, in the fourth quarter against Nebraska, The Roanoke Times photo staff cooperated to document the effort by Tyrod and company. Kyle Green was positioned in the south endzone awaiting a big play. Matt Gentry was closer to the line of scrimmage on the VT bench side, focused on Tyrod Taylor. And I was on the opposite side of the field looking for fan reactions. All three of us documented pivotal moments in the game, allowing readers to get the best game-day coverage.
JARED SOARES/The Roanoke Times Virginia Tech fans celebrate in front of a dejected Nebraska fan (center) after a fourth quarter touchdown by Dyrell Roberts during Saturday afternoon's game between Virginia Tech and Nebraska at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech defeated Nebraska 16-15 in Blacksburg.
To see a complete gallery of last Saturday's game click here.
"How exactly did you get hit by a paintball gun at work?" a nurse asked me as I made my way through the Occupational Medicine hallway.
"Well, I am a photographer for The Roanoke Times," I said.
One of the greatest things, and sometimes painful things, about being a photojournalist is that we are in the middle of the action. I am lucky to be able to say that I have been up in a hot air balloon and a helicopter while simply doing my job. More painful experiences would include getting kicked in the head while photographing a bowler ( a story for another time) and being hit six times by paintballs. Four on the right shoulder, one on the left forearm and finally one in the head.
As I stood in the middle of a holler in Troutville and watched men hide behind bunkers and aim for one another I knew there was potential of being hit, but a picture taken safely from up on the hillside just wouldn't do.
Around 3:30 in the afternoon as I watched Jeremiah Keeler climb the side of a hill and position himself to shoot I felt a stinging sensation on my right side, and in my head. I looked down to see orange paint and heard Keeler yell, "Hey man, she's just trying to take pictures!"
I continued to photograph the rest of the game....while hiding behind a bunker.
I decided to go to the doctor when my headache didn't go away the next afternoon, but realized that my pain would be worth the story in the end.
As the doctor looked into my ear and literally told me my brains were not leaking out he excitedly asked me where people were playing paintball. Apparently, his sons are huge fans of the game and haven't had anywhere to play. I told him I couldn't remember the phone number off the top of my head at that moment, but that he could keep a lookout for the story in the Roanoke Times Extra section.
On a beautiful summer day, in a darkened middle school gym in the small town of Dublin, Virginia, the 2009 Coventry Commonwealth Games Virginia state amateur arm wrestling championship came down to two men, the only two men who showed up for the tournament. Lienen Huang , a 47-year-old software engineer from Roanoke, Virginia squared off against 55-year-old Rick McChesney, a retired corrections officer from Staunton, Virginia. Huang, who is originally from China, said this was the first time he had entered an arm wrestling tournament. “My kids usually take part in chess tournaments in the summer, but they are visiting China now. I was bored, and thought that I would give it a shot”. McChesney was also competing for the first time, and was faithfully taking arm wrestling advice from referee, Randall Fletcher, who at one time held the Virginia state professional arm wrestling championship in his weight class for 17 consecutive years. “Get in tight. Grip it hard. Pull Back. Use your weight against your opponent”, barked Fletcher, a chiseled ex-Army Vietnam Veteran.
“Arm wrestling used to be big”, said Tommy Saunders, tournament director and President of the United States Arm Wrestling Association. “Back in the 70’s and 80’s, everyone arm wrestled in bars and taverns, local and state tournaments. It was really big. Tournaments would draw 150 plus people. Now, I am just trying to keep it alive. Last year we had about 15 people compete. I don’t know what happened this year, the turnout is really low. This year, we just have these two. The show must go on”
So, on a nearly empty stage in front of a completely empty gym, the two neophytes fought an epic battle for the championship. After several hard grunts and eye popping facial expressions, Huang won a decisive battle for the right hand championship. The left hand championship was won by McChesney who stormed back with three consecutive victories after losing the first round of a best of five. After the competition the two men congratulated each other, shook hands and embraced. Walking offstage holding his arm, Huang said to McChesney “I heard something crack (in my arm)” during the last round. “Yeah”, said McChesney. “I heard it too. Sounded like Rice Crispies”.
