photography
In preparation for writing this reflection, I took some time to reflect on what this course has meant to me as an instructor. In short and technically, the course was truly not much different than most other courses. That simply being: complete assignments to earn credit.
Since each of my students was asked to cover the same event, I requested one thing from each of them from the start of the semester… to just share their story.
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Checkered Past ©2015 Gary Garbett
Creating a powerful and impactful story or image no longer requires that the photojournalist carry a bag of expensive cameras, lenses, and tripods. Capturing and sharing creative, personal, and engaging stories has changed with the technology of today’s smartphones and handheld devices.
This semester I'm teaching a New Media Photojournalism course at VCU. All student work for the course will be created using mobile media exclusively for capturing and post-processing. Registration for the course is open through August 24, 2015.
By challenging ourselves to step outside of our comfort zone, each of us will uncover new artistic approaches. By layering them, and molding them, we'll make them your own. The result will assist in developing your own unique and personal style.
Being creative requires practice, practice, and even more practice. The return will inspire us all.
Remembering 9/11
Sticks and Stones
I sipped coffee by the lake this morning just to process this day infamously and always to be known as 9/11. Sitting in the Blue Ridge sunshine, I remembered watching the events of that morning. It remains a day of horrors as the world changed and unfolded minute by minute. Despite the ugliness of the day, the heroes were the winners - the coworkers, the bystanders, the emergency response personnel, the nurses, the single parents, the teachers, the rich, the poor, the hurting, and the average Joes each brought their heart, their love and compassion to New York, rural America, and to cities all across the globe.
Gentle ripples reflected the new day's light at the exact time on my watch when history changed humanity twelve years earlier.
Remembering 9/11
I took several photographs commemorating that moment while sitting on the dock. Though the scenes through my viewfinder are certainly a world away from the urban waves of concrete, steel, and mass humanity, the images of calm clearly define that peace and remembrance always win.
What a lovely morning on so many levels. I anxiously look forward to what the rest of the day gifts me. Love and goodness and memories abound.
While testing my new old school Gossen Luna Pro light meter for the first time yesterday, I was greeted by two highlights.
First were the rich and deliciously true light readings for my camera's exposure settings. The second came with one of the test shots, unveiling a haunting resemblance of my father through my reflection.