It's been a few days now so my initial frustration has subsided but I was laid off at my paper this week. I don't hold any ill will or whatever to anyone at the paper, but I have been watching newspapers circle the drain and I want to vent about it in broad terms.
Anyone even remotely close to newspapers is familiar with the looming beast of layoffs.
I've been through layoffs at papers before, seen people that work hard get cut for no other reason than to get the budget in line. Others stay for reasons that no one else in the newsroom can figure out.
Others have said for years now that newspapers are dying. It doesn't take a genius to see that. I got into newspapers at a bad time; I almost typed "the worst time," but honestly that is every day. Every day accountants that make decisions to keep the ridiculous profit margins that newspapers held in their prime, but what they are really doing is just squeezing the life out of them. That reduces the quality which reduces the readership which reduces the advertisers.
It's like the number crunchers and people in charge are standing there watching the water boil over on the stove, notice all the paint peeling on the wall and see their curtains are missing; they try to deal with the individual problems instead of realizing that their fucking house is on fire. But they are just letting it burn and handing the still smoking vestiges to their employees expecting them to carry on like the roof isn't coming down sooner or later.
The death of newspapers is an inside job.
Of course journalists will make due; people shift responsibilities and take on far more duties to keep the paper going. Partly, yes, because they survived and are glad to still have a job...but more aptly because they love the work. Journalism isn't something you do for money, it's a passion, it's a calling. All these hedge fund guys and accountants know they can just ring the living hell out of the staff because journalists can and will take it.
Oh, they will complain, sure. The three things most journalists do best is their jobs, drink and complain. But they will usually take any and all injustice handed down from the corporate level and still do their jobs.
I don't know if there has been a journalist strike in America in recent history and I can't really see it happening.
It is the same principle as police, firefighters and doctors/nurses; the public would suffer. Obviously not in the same way. If your paper doesn't show up your day won't be ruined like if your house burnt to the ground, but over time an uninformed populace will suffer.
It might seem like that is pretty lofty ideal of the role of a newspaper, but that is the beating heart of dedicated journalism. You crank out your work day after day until something amazing comes in front of you and then you hopefully get to tell a story that changes something.
Well, despite this recent soul crushing experience I still want journalism in my life. I have been working on a plan to make something of my own in the realm of journalism for the last year or so. I'm was hoping to push it out into the world near the end of the year to see if there was any interest and hopefully start to find backers and partners.
I don't want to launch it too early out of panic because I'm unemployed, so I'm going to keep working on it and hopefully I'll have something to share in the near future.
About Evon
- Ryan Evon
- I am a photographer, a sometimes writer, a gamer, a driver and more. I graduated from Central Michigan University with a double major in Journalism(Photo) and English(Creative Writing). Any Photos are copyright Ryan Evon, The Facts or the Morning Sun 2010/2011/2012. All words by, representing and claimed by Ryan Evon & only him, unless in quotation marks & specified otherwise.
Showing posts with label Press Photographers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Press Photographers. Show all posts
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
A Swinging good time
Had a nice change of pace from my recent mood of edging on being burnt out with my job that still has my journalistic juices flowing after a fun weekend.
At the end of last week an a capella group, the Swingle Singers, visited the local college for a performance while they tour Texas. The group did a workshop for local schools and singers the day before their performance. It took forever to start because schools that were supposed to show up didn't, which was a shame for them, because everyone else had a blast.
They made the audience warm up by jumping around and being crazy, played fun singing games and then listened to local groups sing and gave them critiques, then performed themselves.
I was shooting video through the whole thing, trying to balance video and still photo. Sadly they both suffered a little, but it all turned out decent. It was really fun to shoot, I had the songs stuck in my head and when I went home at the end of the day and I started throwing the video pieces together.
Quickly I realized I should have done an interview with the singers. There wasn't really time to do it at the event though. So I vented my disappointment on various venues of the www. One of the singers from the group saw it and said they would be up for an interview.
So the next day after I finished work and hurried over to the venue they were performing at, not sure when they were supposed to be done or if they were even still around.
But the god of journalism, I call him Journalisto, was smiling down on me, because I got there just as they were walking out of the building to load their gear.
I got some interview stuff with two of the singers, the sound level was a little low but it was way better than the nothing I had previously.
So I left there on a journalistic high and it has been carrying me until now. I spent a large chunk of my day off on Sunday putting the video together. I have most of my recent "highlight" videos boiled down to an hour or so production time.
But because I cared about this video (and am using a crappy free video editor) I spent hours nitpicking the placement and overlaps and transitions. Now I feel like I know these people, I've developed crushes on the girls and fascinations with all of their talents. I've watched a few of their videos online, one where they do a flash mob style singing on a subway in London was awesome.
So I present to you, my Swingle Singers video. Enjoy, I did. :D
At the end of last week an a capella group, the Swingle Singers, visited the local college for a performance while they tour Texas. The group did a workshop for local schools and singers the day before their performance. It took forever to start because schools that were supposed to show up didn't, which was a shame for them, because everyone else had a blast.
They made the audience warm up by jumping around and being crazy, played fun singing games and then listened to local groups sing and gave them critiques, then performed themselves.
I was shooting video through the whole thing, trying to balance video and still photo. Sadly they both suffered a little, but it all turned out decent. It was really fun to shoot, I had the songs stuck in my head and when I went home at the end of the day and I started throwing the video pieces together.
Quickly I realized I should have done an interview with the singers. There wasn't really time to do it at the event though. So I vented my disappointment on various venues of the www. One of the singers from the group saw it and said they would be up for an interview.
So the next day after I finished work and hurried over to the venue they were performing at, not sure when they were supposed to be done or if they were even still around.
But the god of journalism, I call him Journalisto, was smiling down on me, because I got there just as they were walking out of the building to load their gear.
I got some interview stuff with two of the singers, the sound level was a little low but it was way better than the nothing I had previously.
So I left there on a journalistic high and it has been carrying me until now. I spent a large chunk of my day off on Sunday putting the video together. I have most of my recent "highlight" videos boiled down to an hour or so production time.
But because I cared about this video (and am using a crappy free video editor) I spent hours nitpicking the placement and overlaps and transitions. Now I feel like I know these people, I've developed crushes on the girls and fascinations with all of their talents. I've watched a few of their videos online, one where they do a flash mob style singing on a subway in London was awesome.
So I present to you, my Swingle Singers video. Enjoy, I did. :D
Thursday, March 22, 2012
...And now for something completely different
In the last week I have created six videos for the newspaper.
I was doing videos fairly regularly during football season but, due to both my work computer and my home computer being slow, making the videos became very annoying. My home computer was slightly faster, so I did most of them here...until it blew up.
Some stuff fried inside my computer, luckily I didn't lose any stuff on my hard drives, but I'm trying to be a bit more focused on archiving.
But I had to fix my computer. Luckily there was a credit deal at newegg.com, so now my computer fasterific! That's right, I'm making up words.
What I really want to do is make a true journalistic video about something that matters. I was hoping to get some help as far as subject matter, but it's looking like I'm just going to have to go it alone.
Anyway, instead of a pile of photos I thought I'd change it up and post some videos. Enjoy.
Since I started posting videos I was looking at The Facts Video channel on youtube. I realized they aren't really credited except for at the end, not saying you shouldn't watch Holly's, but you are reading my blog...so just in case you are partial to my work, here are a few of my better ones.
This was the one I had the most fun shooting so far with actual voice interview describing the event to go along with the video and photos. And there is...ya know, ZOMBIES!
I was doing videos fairly regularly during football season but, due to both my work computer and my home computer being slow, making the videos became very annoying. My home computer was slightly faster, so I did most of them here...until it blew up.
Some stuff fried inside my computer, luckily I didn't lose any stuff on my hard drives, but I'm trying to be a bit more focused on archiving.
But I had to fix my computer. Luckily there was a credit deal at newegg.com, so now my computer fasterific! That's right, I'm making up words.
What I really want to do is make a true journalistic video about something that matters. I was hoping to get some help as far as subject matter, but it's looking like I'm just going to have to go it alone.
Anyway, instead of a pile of photos I thought I'd change it up and post some videos. Enjoy.
Since I started posting videos I was looking at The Facts Video channel on youtube. I realized they aren't really credited except for at the end, not saying you shouldn't watch Holly's, but you are reading my blog...so just in case you are partial to my work, here are a few of my better ones.
This was the one I had the most fun shooting so far with actual voice interview describing the event to go along with the video and photos. And there is...ya know, ZOMBIES!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Can't think of a clever title
See, I'm back in less then two months. Hurray for me.
Since I've been gone from the blog I've been playing some games, using a few of them to actually connect with my friends who are far, far away. (Everyone move down here, it's warm!)
But I have actually spent the last few weeks with my mind obsessed with a possible business idea. I honestly felt like a genius, because I'd never heard about anything like it before, I even searched the internet and found nothing similar. So I spent the better part of a day frantically scrawling down details and plans, imagining what could happen if it took off.
The next day, first thing in the morning, I did another search and found a very similar idea. It broke my heart. But it looks like it's not exactly working for them...so I've adjusted my idea and we'll see if I ever actually get to the point where I seriously consider talking about it with people.
Anyway, on to some photos.
Swimming is fun to shoot, but I've said that before.
The one below I've been thinking about for awhile; getting someone completely underwater from over them. It didn't work exactly like I wanted, but I think it's a good first attempt. The water distorted her face, but I like the way it curved her and the lines.
I believe I've mentioned it previously, but my favorite sport to shoot is boxing. Probably because it's just fun to watch from right next to the ring, but also because I don't cover it often.
The story is about the guy on the right, Terrance Woods. He will be boxing on ESPN2 or 3 on Friday, I believe. He seemed pretty damn good. They were having him box for eight rounds, with different guys every couple rounds, so they stayed fresh and he had to deal with it. In his sixth or seventh round they put in a really big dude and after Woods got a few good shots the guy just kept running away; actually almost turning around to move faster a few times. I wish I had those channels.
A cool shot that didn't run because it was a junior varsity kid (boo!). Very intense.
This little girl was the first place female finisher in a local 10k and her dad still gave her a hard time about being slow. Sports parents are jerks.
She was playing a game where you keep a feather floating by blowing before it gets too far down.
Didn't run. Double boo.
That's it for now. I was going to post a shot I took so I could tell the story of how I almost got run over by a car.
But that's the story, I was shooting tailgating and was crouching in a driveway packed full of cars and the guy didn't see me and started to drive his Escalade into my back.
No harm though.
Since I've been gone from the blog I've been playing some games, using a few of them to actually connect with my friends who are far, far away. (Everyone move down here, it's warm!)
But I have actually spent the last few weeks with my mind obsessed with a possible business idea. I honestly felt like a genius, because I'd never heard about anything like it before, I even searched the internet and found nothing similar. So I spent the better part of a day frantically scrawling down details and plans, imagining what could happen if it took off.
The next day, first thing in the morning, I did another search and found a very similar idea. It broke my heart. But it looks like it's not exactly working for them...so I've adjusted my idea and we'll see if I ever actually get to the point where I seriously consider talking about it with people.
Anyway, on to some photos.
Swimming is fun to shoot, but I've said that before.
The one below I've been thinking about for awhile; getting someone completely underwater from over them. It didn't work exactly like I wanted, but I think it's a good first attempt. The water distorted her face, but I like the way it curved her and the lines.
I believe I've mentioned it previously, but my favorite sport to shoot is boxing. Probably because it's just fun to watch from right next to the ring, but also because I don't cover it often.
The story is about the guy on the right, Terrance Woods. He will be boxing on ESPN2 or 3 on Friday, I believe. He seemed pretty damn good. They were having him box for eight rounds, with different guys every couple rounds, so they stayed fresh and he had to deal with it. In his sixth or seventh round they put in a really big dude and after Woods got a few good shots the guy just kept running away; actually almost turning around to move faster a few times. I wish I had those channels.
A cool shot that didn't run because it was a junior varsity kid (boo!). Very intense.
This little girl was the first place female finisher in a local 10k and her dad still gave her a hard time about being slow. Sports parents are jerks.
She was playing a game where you keep a feather floating by blowing before it gets too far down.
Didn't run. Double boo.
That's it for now. I was going to post a shot I took so I could tell the story of how I almost got run over by a car.
But that's the story, I was shooting tailgating and was crouching in a driveway packed full of cars and the guy didn't see me and started to drive his Escalade into my back.
No harm though.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Rumors of my death have been exaggerated
Yes, I am in fact still alive.
I've been a swirling mix of busy, bored to death not busy, completely engulfed by some video games and tired. Most of these situations have also had a nice coating of pain from a re-occurring back pain that makes me so angry that I attach the hate to what I am currently doing.
It has some complicated thoughts and evaluations of my lot in life. But in moments of pain or the sweet joy of...not pain I still take photos.
I have quite the backlog to post, but luckily I have just put together my end-of-year contest submissions. I have total control over my National Press Photographers submission, but the ones through the paper were chosen from my initial selection by people I will admit I don't entirely trust as far as photo critiquing goes.
I love having eyes other than my own to look at my stuff, so I can get a unattached opinion, but if it is someone that has told me to stop doing my job creatively...well, come on.
Anyway, things are progressing.
I will admit in the months since my last post my passion for journalism is waning, which breaks my fucking heart. But I'm not sure how much validity to give to my thoughts right now, because I seem to have lapsed into one of my angry Ryan phases. It's been a long time since I've been in one and I have to say I used to kind of enjoy the distance it provided me from real self evaluation. But this one is different and I don't like it. So I've turned back to one of my old favorite venting techniques (besides video games), writing. Which is partially why I am clicking the keys right now.
Even if I hold back some of what I want to say, the process of just writing what is currently running through my head is like opening a gate to release the flood waters. Because at any moment something stark and truthful might just appear on the screen. Usually I will backspace over it, because this is a public forum and I don't want the entire world (Hi, world!) to know everything I think. But it works like those letters you write and then never send. Venting.
Okay, so here are some of what I think are my best work from the year that I haven't already posted. As I'm loading the photos on I may describe what I did or the story behind the image, if it is interesting.
I'll start with what I think is my favorite shot from the year.
Shot an event for a bunch of Marines returning from Afghanistan, but got there an hour and a half before they actually showed up. So I had some time to wander around and find interesting photos. I like almost everything about this photo.
Firefighter training. I felt brave standing right under this mock roof that they were swinging an axe into.
This is was a freaking awesome event. This local taekwondo studio hosted a squad from Korea that did some straight-up Matrix kung-fu shit. Jumping off a couple dudes to kick a board held on the top dude on a pyramid of STANDING people! I got some sweet stuff I was out loud saying "holy shit" about every other setup that they did. Then I got back to the office and my memory card corrupted and I lost every picture except this one and another. It was LAME!
He was trying to choke the chicken...too easy
He turned 11 on 11/11/11
Ending with my favorite sports shot of the year. Trying to do this same effect with a different runningback but the shot never worked with that kid.
Well, that's it for now.
I've had some decent stuff in January, including driving to Houston just to shoot tailgating at the Texans playoff game. It was kind of tease, but then I almost got run over by a car...so there was that.
I'll get to that stuff soon...hopefully. Or maybe in six months. :D
I've been a swirling mix of busy, bored to death not busy, completely engulfed by some video games and tired. Most of these situations have also had a nice coating of pain from a re-occurring back pain that makes me so angry that I attach the hate to what I am currently doing.
It has some complicated thoughts and evaluations of my lot in life. But in moments of pain or the sweet joy of...not pain I still take photos.
I have quite the backlog to post, but luckily I have just put together my end-of-year contest submissions. I have total control over my National Press Photographers submission, but the ones through the paper were chosen from my initial selection by people I will admit I don't entirely trust as far as photo critiquing goes.
I love having eyes other than my own to look at my stuff, so I can get a unattached opinion, but if it is someone that has told me to stop doing my job creatively...well, come on.
Anyway, things are progressing.
I will admit in the months since my last post my passion for journalism is waning, which breaks my fucking heart. But I'm not sure how much validity to give to my thoughts right now, because I seem to have lapsed into one of my angry Ryan phases. It's been a long time since I've been in one and I have to say I used to kind of enjoy the distance it provided me from real self evaluation. But this one is different and I don't like it. So I've turned back to one of my old favorite venting techniques (besides video games), writing. Which is partially why I am clicking the keys right now.
Even if I hold back some of what I want to say, the process of just writing what is currently running through my head is like opening a gate to release the flood waters. Because at any moment something stark and truthful might just appear on the screen. Usually I will backspace over it, because this is a public forum and I don't want the entire world (Hi, world!) to know everything I think. But it works like those letters you write and then never send. Venting.
Okay, so here are some of what I think are my best work from the year that I haven't already posted. As I'm loading the photos on I may describe what I did or the story behind the image, if it is interesting.
I'll start with what I think is my favorite shot from the year.
Shot an event for a bunch of Marines returning from Afghanistan, but got there an hour and a half before they actually showed up. So I had some time to wander around and find interesting photos. I like almost everything about this photo.
Firefighter training. I felt brave standing right under this mock roof that they were swinging an axe into.
This is was a freaking awesome event. This local taekwondo studio hosted a squad from Korea that did some straight-up Matrix kung-fu shit. Jumping off a couple dudes to kick a board held on the top dude on a pyramid of STANDING people! I got some sweet stuff I was out loud saying "holy shit" about every other setup that they did. Then I got back to the office and my memory card corrupted and I lost every picture except this one and another. It was LAME!
He was trying to choke the chicken...too easy
He turned 11 on 11/11/11
Ending with my favorite sports shot of the year. Trying to do this same effect with a different runningback but the shot never worked with that kid.
Well, that's it for now.
I've had some decent stuff in January, including driving to Houston just to shoot tailgating at the Texans playoff game. It was kind of tease, but then I almost got run over by a car...so there was that.
I'll get to that stuff soon...hopefully. Or maybe in six months. :D
Monday, May 30, 2011
Go ahead, judge me!
Got to go to Houston on Saturday for work.
I tried to get in town earlier than I needed to be, and as I was starting to explore a bit I realize I had to leave. Oh well.
I'm trying to make more of an effort to enter work in monthly clip contests. I re-joined the National Press Photographer's Association. Also the Associated Press for my region sent an email letting members know that they are going to start a monthly contest, and if you send your stuff in to share on the wire they will add the photos in the contest. Which is cool, because I wanted to start sending my stuff out on the wire anyway. Two birds.
BUT! Stuff has to be published to be eligible for the NPPA contest. Luckily I've kind of got around the problem of cool shots not getting in the paper. Everything is uploaded to the print gallery for sale, but that doesn't count as "published" for contests. So I've started uploading them to the stories on the website.
Last post I put up my photoshop shot of the softball catchers. The next day I went in and re-did the lettering part on the jersey. I thought that really tied it all together.
And...it didn't run! Imagine that
On Saturday I shot the game this was meant to preview and showed one of the catchers and my phone disappeared for awhile into a crowd of excited high school girls. I thought I'd get it back and it would have been made over with curlers and lipstick, but it was fine.
In between games I had to drive about a half hour or so. The first didn't end until the second one started, so I was trying to hurry and I was also in a part of Houston I was not familiar with at all.
Yep. Got pulled over. Figured it would be for speeding, but as I was pulling off the expressway so the officer didn't have to stand on the tiny shoulder I realized he was coming up on me before I even got up to speed. What the hell?
Apparently there was a red light I didn't see and blew right through it. I really wanted to go back and see where it was, because I totally saw the yellow one I blew through, but it was yellow. But then I had to figure out which bit of curvy road crammed between overpasses, so it is possible there was a light there, but if there was I have no idea why it was there.
But I could tell the officer was pleased with my demeanor, behavior and genuine displeasure from having run a red light. After taking my license and insurance (and pronouncing my name right, which I told him I was impressed by) he just handed them right back and told me to have a nice day.
I was totally ready to eat a careless driving ticket, because I felt sick to my stomach after he told me my mistake, but he was a decent man and I behaved as I have been taught. Thanks, Papa Dush. :D
My Xbox finally died. :( I beat the story in LA Noire first though, so it wasn't as frustrating as it could have been.
Luckily, this month I am kicking ass at reprints. So I think I might be able to pick one up. I was going to just buy a used one from a pawn shop, but they are all the old ones like I have for about the same price as the new redesigned one. So if I take this months reprint money and do at all well in the next couple months, I should be able to swing it without upsetting my bill paying regiment.
On another money spending front I have been upset over the last couple months because I am flying up for a wedding in July and within a month's span of looking for plane tickets the prices DOUBLED! Frustration and desperation were all over in my head. I'm not going to miss it, but I really didn't want to put more crap on my credit card.
But luckily, I looked last week and prices have come back down. Probably because all those planes having cracks in them. I don't care if I have to hang on to the wing the whole way, just get me there.
I'm thinking of a plan for my next trip up, which will be in October for another wedding. If I can finally get a motorcycle endorsement I'd like to fly up and ride my bike back. It will be a hell of a ride and will likely cut my time in Michigan quite a bit short.
But I'm still thinking about it.
I tried to get in town earlier than I needed to be, and as I was starting to explore a bit I realize I had to leave. Oh well.
I'm trying to make more of an effort to enter work in monthly clip contests. I re-joined the National Press Photographer's Association. Also the Associated Press for my region sent an email letting members know that they are going to start a monthly contest, and if you send your stuff in to share on the wire they will add the photos in the contest. Which is cool, because I wanted to start sending my stuff out on the wire anyway. Two birds.
BUT! Stuff has to be published to be eligible for the NPPA contest. Luckily I've kind of got around the problem of cool shots not getting in the paper. Everything is uploaded to the print gallery for sale, but that doesn't count as "published" for contests. So I've started uploading them to the stories on the website.
Last post I put up my photoshop shot of the softball catchers. The next day I went in and re-did the lettering part on the jersey. I thought that really tied it all together.
And...it didn't run! Imagine that
On Saturday I shot the game this was meant to preview and showed one of the catchers and my phone disappeared for awhile into a crowd of excited high school girls. I thought I'd get it back and it would have been made over with curlers and lipstick, but it was fine.
In between games I had to drive about a half hour or so. The first didn't end until the second one started, so I was trying to hurry and I was also in a part of Houston I was not familiar with at all.
Yep. Got pulled over. Figured it would be for speeding, but as I was pulling off the expressway so the officer didn't have to stand on the tiny shoulder I realized he was coming up on me before I even got up to speed. What the hell?
Apparently there was a red light I didn't see and blew right through it. I really wanted to go back and see where it was, because I totally saw the yellow one I blew through, but it was yellow. But then I had to figure out which bit of curvy road crammed between overpasses, so it is possible there was a light there, but if there was I have no idea why it was there.
But I could tell the officer was pleased with my demeanor, behavior and genuine displeasure from having run a red light. After taking my license and insurance (and pronouncing my name right, which I told him I was impressed by) he just handed them right back and told me to have a nice day.
I was totally ready to eat a careless driving ticket, because I felt sick to my stomach after he told me my mistake, but he was a decent man and I behaved as I have been taught. Thanks, Papa Dush. :D
My Xbox finally died. :( I beat the story in LA Noire first though, so it wasn't as frustrating as it could have been.
Luckily, this month I am kicking ass at reprints. So I think I might be able to pick one up. I was going to just buy a used one from a pawn shop, but they are all the old ones like I have for about the same price as the new redesigned one. So if I take this months reprint money and do at all well in the next couple months, I should be able to swing it without upsetting my bill paying regiment.
On another money spending front I have been upset over the last couple months because I am flying up for a wedding in July and within a month's span of looking for plane tickets the prices DOUBLED! Frustration and desperation were all over in my head. I'm not going to miss it, but I really didn't want to put more crap on my credit card.
But luckily, I looked last week and prices have come back down. Probably because all those planes having cracks in them. I don't care if I have to hang on to the wing the whole way, just get me there.
I'm thinking of a plan for my next trip up, which will be in October for another wedding. If I can finally get a motorcycle endorsement I'd like to fly up and ride my bike back. It will be a hell of a ride and will likely cut my time in Michigan quite a bit short.
But I'm still thinking about it.
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