At left: Teresa Gallegos and other high school journalism teachers applaud after a moving presentation by "Arizona Republic" photojournalist Pat Shannahan.
Sometimes, it’s an accident – right place, right time. But most of the time, good photos are the result of good rapport with the subject, according to Phoenix’s “Arizona Republic” photojournalist, Pat Shannahan.
Shannahan shared some of his professional portfolio and spoke about digital photography at the Reynolds Institute early today. While he had prepared a list of 20 tips for taking better photos, the most poignant lesson learned was the importance of the photographer/subject relationship.
Institute director, Steve Elliott, likens the relationship to a slow seduction. Start out with some basic shots, then, subtly manipulate the perspective, lighting, and subject for the best photographic effect. Callahan, for instance, had created a groovy photograph of a music store owner peering through the center of a CD by first asking him to hold up the CD, then asking him to hold it in front of his face, and last, asking him to stand under a colorful, dangling disco light.
Enlivening a dull subject is only one of a photographer’s challenges. Photojournalism requires the same attention to ethical decisions as written journalism. Shannahan said that he once took what he thought was an innocent picture of a couple cuddling on a park bench, only to be urged by the panicked male subject, “Oh my God! You can’t use that picture. This isn’t my wife!”
Callahan believes that “if you’re gonna make nice pictures…you have to be compassionate.” It was his ability to tell a visual story compassionately that put him at the helm of documenting the story of Veronica Celis, a woman who consciously made the fatal decision to forgo cancer treatment in order to carry and deliver a healthy baby girl in September 2006. Callahan said that upon the baby’s delivery, “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, including mine.”
Kye Haina
Kamehameha Schools Maui
Pukalani, Hawaii
Shannahan shared some of his professional portfolio and spoke about digital photography at the Reynolds Institute early today. While he had prepared a list of 20 tips for taking better photos, the most poignant lesson learned was the importance of the photographer/subject relationship.
Institute director, Steve Elliott, likens the relationship to a slow seduction. Start out with some basic shots, then, subtly manipulate the perspective, lighting, and subject for the best photographic effect. Callahan, for instance, had created a groovy photograph of a music store owner peering through the center of a CD by first asking him to hold up the CD, then asking him to hold it in front of his face, and last, asking him to stand under a colorful, dangling disco light.
Enlivening a dull subject is only one of a photographer’s challenges. Photojournalism requires the same attention to ethical decisions as written journalism. Shannahan said that he once took what he thought was an innocent picture of a couple cuddling on a park bench, only to be urged by the panicked male subject, “Oh my God! You can’t use that picture. This isn’t my wife!”
Callahan believes that “if you’re gonna make nice pictures…you have to be compassionate.” It was his ability to tell a visual story compassionately that put him at the helm of documenting the story of Veronica Celis, a woman who consciously made the fatal decision to forgo cancer treatment in order to carry and deliver a healthy baby girl in September 2006. Callahan said that upon the baby’s delivery, “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, including mine.”
Kye Haina
Kamehameha Schools Maui
Pukalani, Hawaii
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I too was moved by Mr. Shannahan's presentation. The best part for me was feeling the emotion behind the photographs. The thought occurred to me that this is what I need to be doing with my students. Teach them to look for the emotion, or the bizarre in the picture!
ReplyDeleteThe tips given were terrific and all made sense. I loved his comment about looking for the moments and then just wait because if it happened once, more than likely, it will happen again. Here lies the challenge! How do we teach teenagers who are living in a world of spontaneity to just sit back and wait for the perfect light, or the right expression before they click that shutter?
Denice Westover
Snowflake High School
Snowflake, Arizona
I also took a lot from Shannahan's presentation, and especially enjoyed his photos and seemingly relaxed, creative way of achieving them.
ReplyDeleteStudents might especially be inspired by his work on the Veronica Celis story. The story itself is of course incredibly moving, but I wonder if they could take the same approach - following a story for several months, with a three-part feature story printed throughout the year. Our newspaper has not done something like this in the past two years, and I'd like to try.
I wonder what sorts of issues could be covered in this way? Perhaps it will be a case of observing and asking questions while on the beat.
Andrea Krueger
Centennial High School
Circle Pines, Minnesota