Photojournalism

PCPhoto

anyone out there have any experience (good experiences, bad experiences) .... anyone interested in getting into it ? learning how to get into it !

Freelance photographers and amateurs .... I'm looking at you !!

(there could be an opportunity for work* in the coming weeks/months)

* = not a crappy unpaid internship, not an opportunity to expand your portfolio, not a chance to gain some experience .... actual PAID work.

This is not a jobs offered/looking for a job - this is a request for people's experiences of photojournalism ....for example, several people have commented on the lack of "cop on" from security members who were at the Bavaria F1 event last week.

Personally I've had plenty of good and bad experiences (from Gardai/security telling you where to get the best shot to Gardai/security standing in your way and insisting that you move)

I've been taking photos where the PR people (promoters) have been told by management companies that photographers have to take photos of a music artist from the sound-desk (when its impossible to get a press image from there without a 500m or 600mm lens)

I have had good and bad experiences ...whats yours ?

smash

PCPhoto wrote: »

for example, several people have commented on the lack of "cop on" from security members who were at the Bavaria F1 event last week.

The Bavaria security staff didn't have a clue what each pass or wristband actually meant. It was a joke.

Paddy@CIRL

I think I've only had the one bad experience with security, and that was at Bavaria last week. I've always found 99% of the time that most have a bit of common sense and appreciate you being frank with them. At the end of the day, we're both there to do a job.

To be fair to the organizers at BCRD, they sent me an apology yesterday for the behavior of the security staff and invited me to make any suggestions to improve future events. You can't really ask for more than that after the fact.

Fujiguy

I would love to get into Photojournalism.

I did lots of media courses years ago
and really liked them, but went computer engineer as a job in the end, now im really into photography, would love to know where or what you need these days to even apply for part time photo-anything work.

lisatiffany

I've had a go at Photojournalism and honestly my experiences are mixed. On the plus side I've gotten some great access for events here and abroad but I've also had some bad experiences. The bad usually falls on poor organizational management at events i.e. security personal not knowing what they are supposed to be doing. The police too I've found can be a little problematic, its worse abroad of course but here I've been told by Garda to wipe my cards and to leave the area. This was with press ID and I was allowed to be there, in the end threats of me calling my solicitor made them back off. When you do have a negative experience I think its down to the security or police personal sent out to work the same event.

I always go out my way to chat with security at various events, that way we have a little common ground. At Bavaria I was taking pictures of a lot of the guys beside various cars both on my own gear and on their camera phones, its not the usual protocol but it helps break the ice. When I work music gigs I don't find those problems arise because I know enough people in the music industry to make it go smoothly. Maybe it just happens when the events are very large and require so many security companies on site. I suppose another bonus is my family are into private security and risk prevention and assessment management so I'm quite good at getting along with whatever security staff are employed. I've had a lot more bad experiences abroad, Moscow for example when the police decided to teargas us and start battering people. In those respects Ireland is quite tame when it comes to bad photojournalism experiences, being good with people helps.

In terms of Bavaria I heard from a lot of people who attended either to see the event or photograph the event and its all been very mixed. I've seen people go red in the face about how ripped off they felt for paying so much for tickets and not getting the value. I've heard some photographers were sent to the wrong areas and then not allowed back to the area they were supposed to be in. At the same time some people loved the event and had no problems, I was shocked to hear some people like Ronan were dragged back behind barriers. It will always be the case that someone will have a great one and others won't but I'll agree that Bavaria went wrong for so many people because the proper staff were not informed about how to deal with the press and similar agencies. I'd not let it stain the experience of shooting an event, there will always be good and bad experiences and this thread could be a great tool to either avoid or deal with those experiences should they pop up in the future.

xshayx

Many a bad experience with aggressive, big ego Gardai - mainly on marches/protests - but none of which ever got out of hand or were even looking like they were going to, so their attitude was very unnecessary and uncalled for. Plenty of friendly & chatty Gardai too tho!

Tend to shoot pubs for music so no one cares if you stay longer than 3 songs, use flash, or stand on the side of the stage!

Have had bad experiences of other photographers - a very small number of them dont seem to like new faces at events taking photos!

Not Photojournalism related but funny! Was leaning down on pillar to take long exposure....
Guard 1 (after pulling skid on his mountain bike!): What are you doing there, what drug are you taking
Me: Wha
Guard 2: Don't be daft, he's taking a photo

AnimalRights

double post!

AnimalRights

Same as Shay really, I tend to skip the bigger venues as I am anti bouncer and so cover mostly Pub gigs.

I haven't had much problems doing protest marches I have to say but then again I'm pretty savvy been from the inner city myself.

The most trouble I ever had was in a large pub in London and I took a candid of a girl straddling her skinhead boyfriend in a corner.....I was spotted and he was in my face for 10 minutes.....I just deleted the photo in front of him and stood my ground.

In the Academy I was thrown out of the pit after 3 songs but just kept snapping away from different spots until i had my last and final warning but I already had what I wanted...



taken from the balcony.

colblimp

I've been lucky in that I've never had any problems taking pics at events/marches/demonstrations etc. Getting the work published is another thing, but I keep plugging away and I've had a few pics appear in the papers. Would love to do it full time, dream job.

BTW, PCPhoto, saw you on the national news yesterday looking very, erm, 'productive'...

mdebets

Never had any real problems in Ireland in regards to Gardai or security, other that I got my flash broken once due to the incompetent action by some Gards. Otherwise they are normally pretty nice.
The worst I normally get is being shouted at by people, who think I'm standing in their way or people who don't want to get their picture taken.

mehfesto

Photojournalism isn't always about access. That's just one element to it. Event photography and photojournalism are different.

I did a dissertation on photojournalism and I really enjoyed it. I shot bands on the dole who were also in bands. I went backstage with them three-four hours before the show and stayed late after. I met them at home, or at their part time jobs. It was great, because I didn't need any more access or organisation, other than getting on good terms with the band.

It was about telling a story with photographs without directly involving yourself in the story. It was for me, at least. I really enjoyed it and keep meaning to go back to it, especially now that so much has changed in the scene.

pearljamfan

yeh, tend to agree with mehfesto there, theres a big difference between event photography and photojournalism, i suppose you hear the word journalism and think newspaper, and getting printed.. ive done a fair few local events here and there, alot of pub gigs, never been hassled but theyve not been anything of major importance to the world, and the bigger things ive worked with the staff and they knew what i was there for.
Im a very unassuming and quiet kinda gal so people are always nice to me
id love to do more paid work but im not as flexible as some people would be
( have a kid, 40 mins from dublin) so i think i miss out on things.

dazftw

I've only ever photographed at 2 events that had security.

Once up in Dublin when the Queen came over and all those little protests broke out. I moved into the middle of the junction outside the big church and a guard called me over and pulled me out. I just walked around and came back out again though so it wasn't too bad.

I took some of my favourite pictures at that.

Then 2nd time it was just shooting a live gig where the security guards actually moved on a lad that kept asking me to take pictures of him.

As for photojournalism. Its my main goal now as regards a career. I know its hard and it doesn't always pay as good as other jobs. I enjoy it so I'm going to go for it.

thebaz

Photojouralism , is a about a story , hopefully something interesting, getting stories in no go parts , is the scary bit - where there is no security/police protection - you are on your own with camera - I've been to afew such places abroad - usually all ok, but after one dangerous encounter , slowly realised my life is simply not worth that one shot - drugs, guns and gang culture have sadly made life cheap to many parts - in comparison shooting gigs is a doddle, but the odd ignorant bouncer can make life unpleasant , but then again so can many in the music indusrty , where Ego is king

ronanc15

Photojournalism is something that interests me.

I haven't covered a huge variety of events, some parades and motorsport events, but most of them I have had zero hassle once I explain what Im after.

I had the same experience as Paddy@CIRL at Bavaria City Races, but that was most definitely the exception rather than the rule I feel (in my limited opinion).

I would be of the believe that we all have something to learn from negative experiences. Even if it's something as simple as recognising that some people will be ignorant and rude and the best thing to do is find a different angle or a more helpful staff member. Somethings can't be changed and if you let things like that knock you it will ruin your coverage of the event as your head won't be in it. My experience from the weekend anyway.

Would be interested in hearing what the work is. Obviously slightly restricted in that I have a full time job at the moment and I'm in the limerick/clare area.

PCPhoto

there seems to be a bit of confusion as to what event photography means .... for me event photography is when you are printing on site..... taking images of people and selling them on site.

Even while I type this now... I realise that its actually taking photos at an organised event (in which case is 70-80% of photojournlism images) - I've been at functions doing social images (which I really dislike) - but the client pays for the images to be sent to the papers so you must get names/details of the people in the pics for the caption and need to work quickly to get the images into the papers.

I've been at football games - from local to international level (working for newspapers), I've been at Dublin Airport in media scrums (20+photographers bunched together - no security) and everyone wanting/needing to get "the pic"... I've been at concert venues throughout the country.... met and photographed some of the biggest names in the business.

The good side of photojournalism is that it allows you get closer than the ordinary person - the bad side is that you are supposed to be a working professional so shouldn't really be looking to get your pic with the celebs - I haven't done it but I know plenty of professional photographers who have and still do - for their facebook !!

I've gotten phonecalls at 2-3am telling me that there's been a shooting and to go get pics asap, I've been on a date and gotten calls or even texts telling me there has been a shooting....I sometimes miss all those (I moved from dublin city center to Meath so dont get calls at night as the papers know I'm not available).

I've been threatened, have had all my camera gear stolen (no insurance) and have been physically hit more than a few times....I regularly get yelled at in the street .... the irony of convicted criminals calling you a scumbag !!

I love the chase and sometimes the success of catching someone who does not want to be photographed (a few years ago that was mainly people accused of being child porn merchants, paedo's and rapists), I've been in plenty of situations and been lucky not to have lost my life)

For me photojournalism is or at least it was ... not just a job.... but it was a devotion !! (now ..its simply a job as there are too many restrictions put on photographers)

The money is not there in the business anymore - but the excitement is still there !!

Splinters

If its of any help Im right in the centre of town, literally about 60 seconds from both O'Connell st and temple bar so if you're ever stuck for a short notice shot let me know. Drop me a pm and I'll send you my number.

Cheers,

Dave

DotOrg

PCPhoto wrote: »

anyone out there have any experience (good experiences, bad experiences) .... anyone interested in getting into it ? learning how to get into it !

a guy i know in london who has 'made it' as a photojournalist.
really good blog about what he does

http://www.leonneal.com/blog/

kensutz

Leon is a great lad and one of the nicest you could meet.