From Vimeo: Kiel Johnson's Cardboard Twin Lens Reflex Camera Time Lapse

Found this cool time lapse video of Kiel Johnson assembling a twin-lens reflex from cardboard:

Kiel Johnson's Cardboard Twin Lens Reflex Camera Time Lapse from Theo Jemison on Vimeo.

AP Photo of Mortally Wounded Marine Stirs Controversy

The New York Times' excellent photojournalism blog, LENS, addresses the controversy behind the decision by The Associated Press to release a photo by embedded photographer Julie Jacobson showing Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard shortly after he was mortally wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade during an ambush while on patrol near the village of Dahaneh in Afghanistan. MORE>>

Over the years I've seen some pretty grisly images delivered over the AP wire. I've made my share of grisly photos that never made print as well. Part of the editing process is the decision to publish or not. Sounds like the AP gave this one considerable thought. While I feel for the family of Lance Cpl. Bernard, I also support the AP's decision to distribute the photo. It's up to individual news outlets who subscribe to the AP service to make decisions over what to publish and what not to publish based on the sensitivities of their viewers or readership.

Image: Julie Jacobson/The Associated Press

From NY Times: Is Photojournalism Dead?

From Sandy Huffaker:

PARIS — When photojournalists and their admirers gather in southern France at the end of August for Visa pour l’Image, the annual celebration of their craft, many practitioners may well be wondering how much longer they can scrape by.

Newspapers and magazines are cutting back sharply on picture budgets or going out of business altogether, and television stations have cut back on news coverage in favor of less-costly fare. Pictures and video snapped by amateurs on cellphones are posted to Web sites minutes after events have occurred. Photographers trying to make a living from shooting the news call it a crisis. MORE>>

I was fortunate to have made a living from photojournalism for much of the last 30 years. All I ever wanted to be was a meat-and-potatoes newspaper photographer, shooting a steady diet of local news, sports and features, with the occasional out-of-town assignment thrown in. I was never much for long, drawn-out projects, I was interested in the immediacy of my craft and reported whatever would be on the front of the paper the next day. It was a unique way to serve my community. It's sad to see the way things have gone and the changes in the way we absorb information. Too many of us get our news from social networking sites instead of legitimate sources.

Old School Lighting: Use What You Have

I received an assignment from The Daily Bulletin to take a picture of a group of senior citizens watching the Los Angeles Lakers together on television during Game 4 of the NBA Finals last week. I knew available light wasn't going to cut it, and so opted to use some bounced flash. I used my old (25+ years) Norman 200B on a light stand beside the TV.

There's a reflection in the glass behind the nearest subject of the flash bouncing off the ceiling but personally I don't find it bothersome, in fact I think it creates some separation between the dark hair of the nearest woman and the artwork behind her. I also made a secondary photo by bouncing my flash off the corner of the hallway outside where the residents have decorated the entries to their apartments with Lakers articles and photos from the paper.

Didn't use $300 worth of Pocket Wizards either, just 25 feet or so of coiled sync cord. I'm not worried about damaging the flash circuit in the camera, apparently these newer digital SLRs like the Nikon D300 can take the voltage of these old units. I'm very pleased with the results and of course it nevers hurts to have great subject matter! These girls were alive! MORE>>