TGIF

Day Five. It's friday.

I've managed to make it to the end of the first week of my internship.

I had one photo shoot today. The story was about a photo exhibit that was recently put up at the Holocaust Museum Houston. The photos were of Albanian Muslims who had helped save Jews during the Holocaust.

It was an interesting story and the exhibit had beautiful photographs. I was there from 9:45 a.m. until about 1:45 p.m. waiting for people to walk through it and try to get a decent photo out if it. I used the reflections from the photos to see the photos hanging on the other side of the wall and to get people's reflections inside the photographs that were displayed. It was difficult.

I met some interesting people there though. I met a 15 year old girl who was absolutely fascinated by the Holocaust and couldn't believe how some people in this world had acted. There was a retired man who had just finished a class on history and started to choke up when he was talking about people's lack of compassion for others.

Then, I met a Holocaust survivor who told me he came from Portland when he was 17 years old. The man is now 80 and is one of the founders of the Holocaust Museum Houston. I can only imagine the story he has to tell. He was on his way to a speech so I didn't get a lot of time with him, but got his number and I'm hoping to pursue a story on him before I leave Houston.

I took the photos back to my editor. He selected 5. The one he liked best was one that was framed well, showed the exhibit and had an artistic touch to it as well - two people mirroring each other. He pointed out that he could tell I was thinking and told me to be patient when I'm shooting and wait for the shot. He also advised to take several frames as people move in and out of them because you never know which one will line up perfectly.

It was a little bit more of a successful shoot and he chose 5 photos for me to turn in. A good note to end on on a Friday.

I was finally introduced to Michael Paulsen today. I asked him to please give me a one on one on portraits. He said he would, but explained that it's easy and you just build your image from the back forward. I'm going to try that with the girls this weekend and see what I can pull off.

He also showed me how I can archive the Houston Chronicle system and look at everyone's work...something I will be taking advantage of very soon. He offered to take me on a shoot with him tonight but by the time I got his message I was already back home in Kingwood. I will be taking him up on the offer sometime next week though, for sure. I am also hoping to tag along with Mr. Johnny Hanson on a video run.

I got tips from Karen Warren on how to deal with men who harass you while you're trying to do your job. I think I will be taking her advice by buying a ring and sticking it on my left hand finger to portray myself as "taken." We'll see if that works at all. Otherwise I have to just stand my ground and put up with it.

I listened and watched as Nick de la Torre edited his stills and video for an assignment he shot today. I talked to him briefly on when do you shoot video and when do you do stills. It's really a toss up that I think I will be learning soon.

On my way home, I called my very first mentor ever...who I also refer to as my brother Ben. I talked to him about what I've been up to and got emotional support from him. He knows how to deal with me...and he's a very key reason to why I am at where I'm at. It was great to hear his voice and his insight.

On that note, it was a pretty good Friday. I was glad to get home to see the girls and eat dinner with Megan. This weekend should be fun, yet relaxing. I'm looking forward to having my feet up, going to Baby's R Us, doing a little shopping, playing games, and on top of it all I will make sure to practice taking portraits of the three little cuties who helped bring me here in the first place.

A look at yesterday, today

Yesterday was a busy, overwhelming, exhausting and extremely HELPFUL day! I learned a ton.

I started out the day by walking 5 blocks in downtown Houston to take photos of Lt. General Harry Raduege. Portraits, Portraits, Portraits. It's a weakness...but I'm learning.

After taking photos of him I headed back to the Chronicle to get my new badge.

In the afternoon I headed to the Galleria...a huge mall in downtown Houston. I was there to shoot a feature of these trampoline/bungee things that kids jump on for a feature.

I was ready to rock, I had two photo assignments to turn in and as soon as I got back and did a rough edit, I took them to my editor. His first words were, "These are terrible." Which immediately followed with...I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, I'm just giving you a critique.

Although sometimes the truth hurts, it's much better than a dead silence and no explanation of why a photograph works or doesn't work. You can take a critique in one of two ways. You can get upset and dwell on it. OR you can sit there and really listen to what he's saying, what his reasoning is for why he likes or hates something. Because I made the choice to be here as an intern...I give myself one choice: That is to listen and learn.

On my portraits he explained lighting...how it works and how it doesn't. And how important it is to try not to be the sun. Lighting can make or break your photo. In many of mine, it broke it. But I will learn.

Then he mentioned positioning...Backgrounds need to be clean. Make layers. Keep it simple. If there is activity in the background there needs to be a reason for it.

He gave me some extremely useful advice and then sent me to Brett Coomer who was working down in the photo room on his photos. He gave me the same advice: layer your background, keep it clean, keep it simple, show the person's personality through the image. A lot of Coomer's photos are nice and tight - close up shots of these people. Coomer told me I should also talk to Michael Paulsen.

One of my photos was chosen to be cutlined and entered into the system. Mr. Gonzales said it worked and he liked it. I could take a deep breath. But I have a goal. I hope that my next portrait shoot is a bit more successful. It didn't run in the paper today. Maybe it will tomorrow, maybe it won't. But that doesn't matter. I took a photo that could have ran.

When we got to the feature photos, I watched as he went through all of them...one by one. He selected two and then gave me two options. A: We can run this one. B: You can go back and reshoot it.

He gave me ideas of using the windows to graphically tell the story through the photo. He talked about lighting and using it to richen the photograph. Get high, get low, get right up underneathe these kids and shoot the heck out of it. Get the expression of the person on the trampoline. He talked to me about seeing things different than others do - and why photographers are photographers. He said you want to point out things to people that they don't necessarily see themselves.

Tell a story by shooting the feature like it's an event...get the overview, get some tight shots, get some details, get the kids high-fiving their parents when they get off, get them walking away....get it all.

I think sometimes when you go shoot something like a feature, you are out searching for that one image...but you shouldn't change the way you do things you should always shoot for the story because that's what journalists do.

In the end, we both decided it would be best if I went back and reshot the image. So we'll see how it goes next week.

Others who helped me yesterday:

• Nick de la Torre looked through my take and talked to me about the portraits. He also showed me the photos he had shot that day and why he was choosing the ones he was choosing.
• Melissa Phillip kindly asked if I had everything I needed and if I got my internet working alright.
• Obviously Mr. Gonzales was extremely helpful and insightful in editing through my photos.
• Again, Brett Coomer talked to me about portraits - showed me some of his.
• Michael Paulsen's photos were pointed out to me to illustrate what Steve was talking about.

Everyone at the Chronicle so far has been a HUGE help in my learning experience here thus far. I feel like I have a million ideas, tips and loads of advice to bring back to the DI when I return in the fall.

Brain Overload? Never...Day 3

Camera in hand...tomorrow I will be shooting photos for The Houston Chronicle. I will begin the morning with a portrait of the Lieutenant General. After that, I get my badge. When I'm done with that I will be shooting a feature at the Galleria Mall. Details to come tomorrow on the first REAL big day.

But first, here's how today went.
When I arrived at the Houston Chronicle this morning, I was directed to the studio. I've never seen so much studio equipment - even when I was an assistant to a studio photographer. Soft boxes, hair lights, paper rolls, C lights, "cookie sheets", make-shift walls, etc., etc., etc. You name it - they have it. And as photojournalist James Nielsen explained to me, if you don't have it - you make it. He showed me a ton of ropes to studio photography - including ways to light people, how to set it up, different ways to make a not so interesting photo - more interesting, how to bring out certain features in a person, etc. There was a lot of rolling going on in my brain as he nurtured it with all kinds of studio ideas for people, food and interior. Now, I'm excited to try some new techniques when I get back to Iowa.

But while I'm still in Houston, I'm going to concentrate on the assignments, making event shoots go smoothly and learning from all of these amazing people I've already met.

After the studio lesson, James and I headed to the Houston American Red Cross warehouse where we met the new CEO and photographed him while he gave us a tour. He was showing the stocks of supplies for when/if the next disaster hits. I shot photos - James shot photos, and then we headed out.

Back at the Chronicle I was able to talk with Nick and Julio again. I met Karen Warren, spoke with Brett Coomer and then was able to work with Johnny Hanson briefly.

Johnny, I hear, is an expert at video and has creative ideas to really produce a product. I told him today that I'm very interested in learning more about video and I'd love to go with him on his next shoot. He agreed and said he'd let me know. He was also nice enough to offer up his time - helping me connect to the internet, download an ftp site and above all - asked to see some of my work. We looked at one of my recent pieces and he gave me advice.

I had a nice conversation with Mr. Steve Gonzales again today. This time it was on the transition between being a photographer and becoming a photo editor. It was quite insightful and he was telling me how much he loved the job he is in now. Really though, any person who sees this man at work would be able to tell the passion he has for what he does. It's quite inspiring.

Today I received lesson four in safety - Although I would never think twice about this anywhere in Iowa, here is my safety check list that I've learned since I arrived:

• GPS out of sight a block before parking.
• Charger for GPS out of sight also...and don't even keep the suction cup on the window.
• Don't have any ID's in sight inside your car at any time
• Don't change or cash lying around
• Nothing at all that looks valuable in your front or backseat...in fact don't even have anything in your backseat.
• Have all of your camera gear sitting in the backseat waiting for you to take it out. Do not take stuff out of the trunk when you are going to shoot because people will watch until you leave and get into your car to get what you left behind.

It's kind of intense but I heard a number of stories about break-ins, stolen equipment and the rest of the crimes that coincide with living in a metropolitan city.

Exhausted tonight, but things are going well.

In my spare time here in Houston...

Day Two: New Adventures

Day two at the Chronicle started off well. I found a parking spot immediately, and was to work 20 minutes early. Once again I was greeted by Director of Photography, Mr. Steve Gonzales, a man I've become very fond of - and it didn't take long. He's very passionate about what he does, who he works with, and genuinely cares about his staffers and what is produced in the paper.

After filling 0ut an abundant amount of paper work, I walked four blocks to take a drug test - my first ever. Brief recap: Take everything out of your pockets, fill this up, do not flush, do not wash your hands, set it on the table when you're done. I'm glad I had nothing else to worry about besides my own hygiene, but I was luckily greeted with hand sanitizer when I walked out.

After that, I realized I didn't have my social security card down here, so they sent me to the Social Security Administration office. This was like growing up in five minutes. Go call a cab, here is a voucher, have them take you to 3100 Smith Street, fill out an application for a replacement social security card, call a cab when you're done and come back. While at the security office - I learned no cell phones, guns or cameras are allowed in federal buildings (according to the security card, who continually yelled every time a phone rang). There were nearly 50 people waiting to have their number called and I sat patiently for 45 minutes until mine was called. Call a cab. Check. It's suprisingly extremely easy to get a replacement social security card.

I then headed back to the Chronicle to meet up with Mr. Gonzales again. He showed me the "8 mile tunnel" - an underground walkway of restaurants, fast food, Deli's, stores, beauty salons - you name it, they got it...for 8 miles. I was amazed - and felt like I was walking through an air port or something.

Then he took me up to the 60th floor of a building near the Chronicle to show me an incredible view of Houston. It was amazing and it looks like an incredible place to go to think.

I was then waiting for photojournalist Johnny Hansen, to shadow him at a press conference and shadow a videographer as well. Welcome to news - there was a breaking story: 6 ambulances reported to a multi-car crash near the freeway and as photojournalist Julio Cortez walked into the newsroom, he was sent out to shoot it. I had just met him nearly seconds before, and he looked at me and said, "Want to come with?" I was ready - but knew Steve had wanted me at this press conference. I looked at him; he looked at me and said - go ahead and go.

As luck will have it, the crash wasn't fatal so the paper wasn't covering it and by the time we reached it the final car was being towed away. No photo there. We drove around the rest of the afternoon looking for a feature. No success.

But there was success. I learned a ton from Mr. Cortez, who was pleasantly willing to answer any and all questions I asked as well as offer his own pieces of advice from time to time.

Highlights of what I learned today:

• When looking for a feature - keep in mind the visual places you see from day to day. Then, drive/walk by them when you're in need and see if there's something going on. Look for interesting things: people walking down the street carrying a jumbled up umbrella to try and relieve the 100 degree heat (as we saw today), an interesting set up in a yard - and wait for people to be involved in it, etc. BUT don't force it if it's not there.
• Photo Mechanic apparently has an incredible feature where you can not only type in the date, place, and other repetitive information in a special code for captions so you only have to write it once - but they also have a feature where you can download the rosters of teams, type in a code, and get their name, position and team in seconds without having to look it up. Amazing.
• I was encouraged to attend conventions and workshops, become involved in journalism organizations, network like crazy and basically work to live.
• Using various lighting techniques will help make a portrait - for people who struggle with portraits.
• Shooting photographs is all about the reaction.
• Down here in the big leagues - photos are sent after every inning during a baseball game.
• On invasion of others' lives I was told this: You know when you aren't wanted, but usually you are at a place where you are because you've been invited. Don't abuse the power to be where you're at. You have to make sure that you give your subject space. Back off and quit clicking. Even if the moment seems timeless - take a step back.

It was a good day. I learned a lot. I met more incredible people who have the passion it takes to be a photojournalist. And to top it all off, I came home to four smiling girls and a lot of hugs! Even though the security alarm went off, not only waking the baby, but sending the police on their way - at the end of the day, I love where I'm at.

Day one in the Real World

As I approached my first day as a photojournalism intern at a metropolitan newspaper, The Houston Chronicle, I racked my brain with questions because I know that I will only be shadowing for a few days. After that the hand-holding ends -I'll be out on my own.

Day One Synapsis:

Although the day wasn't off to the greatest start as I pulled into downtown Houston - blind of where I was going to park, it turned around quite quickly. Despite driving around in circles for literally 45 minutes, I was at the newsroom just in time for my very first meeting. Houston Chronicle Photo Director Steve Gonzales walked me through the newsroom and introduced me to several editors and photographers. I sat in on the editors' meeting, saw the process of how photos are assigned, and learned that there are three sets of elevators throughout the building - 3 in the front, 2 on the side, 1 in the back.

I took in as much information as possible - both listening and writing things down. I learned which photographers to talk to about multimedia - speed versus creative, how to run remotes, working with people, photographing sports, and the list goes on.

I spent the rest of the day shadowing Nick de la Torre, a well respected photojournalist who has been at the Chronicle over three years. He's been in the business for around 17 though and has experience all over the country. We started our day with lunch across the street from the beach in Galveston, TX - 45 minutes away from Houston.

After lunch, it was time to photograph a press conference about two awards that were given to Coast Guards and their families who helped save the lives of many people when a ship was capsized in June of 2008.

After taking photos of the award ceremony, de la Torre shot video of interviews. We loaded up the gear, headed to a Starbucks and started plugging away. He edited his take, wrote captions for five photos, uploaded the video, edited the video, imported the still photos and had everything ready for production in 50 minutes. I was impressed. However, he had hoped to be done in 35. Click here to see how it turned out.

Specific advice given to me:

Every photographer has his or her own niche. Ask them what they're good at and listen to what they have to say.

• Never show a photo editor something he has previously told you he did not like.
• Keep your portfolio fresh.
• Ask for everyone's name. Ask them for spelling. Double check it.
• Be flexible.
• Shoot for the cover. Everytime. Even if it's a meeting.
• Set a deadline for yourself and try to meet it.
• Multimedia has lots of do's and lots of don'ts - but it's all on a case by case basis. Figure it out and use it.
• Don't ever complain about an assignment.
• Always come back with something. Don't make excuses.
• Figure things out on your own.
• Ask questions - but try and find the answers too.