Ben Gray, Visual Manager at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, was our keynote speaker. [Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/6.4, 1/110]

While I have tried for many years to get a large group of photographers together for mainly social time to get to know each other, it has been a struggle. Finally, however, this weekend, we had thirty-two people show up for our meeting of Christian in Photojournalism Atlanta/Southeast at our home in Roswell, GA.

I talked to my friend Ken Touchton, who said he wasn’t surprised because we had created a mini-conference.

Berrie Smith, a camera repairman, who works with Nikon and Canon regularly, was there cleaning people’s camera sensors and doing minor repairs. [Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 2500, ƒ/8, 1/125 with a fill-flash set at -1 EV]

We had a keynote speaker, a devotional, camera repairs, and complimentary lunch provided by Chick-fil-A.

Dorie Griggs led our devotional time [Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ƒ/9, ISO 12800, 1/100]

Dorie Griggs reminded each of us while our jobs may isolate us from one another that, we do need to come together and rely on each other for support.

1 Peter 4:10
New International Version (NIV)
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

The Bible verse she used to remind us that we should use our gifts to reconnect with one another was 1 Peter 4:10.

Craig Carden and John Bazee discover they have a great deal in common. Both have worked for radio stations and love music and photography. [Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ƒ/9, ISO 12800, 1/50]

What was different from most photography communities is we encouraged spouses and significant others to come to the meeting. The reason is they are part of our support system. Those who support photographers also have a lot in common; they found out.

Also, spouses enjoyed meeting their spouse’s colleagues and getting another perspective on someone else doing photography.

Peggy Frazeur and Carrie Carden spend some time getting to know each other for the first time at this meeting.  [Nikon D4, 85mm, ƒ/3.5, ISO 8000, 1/200]

Since I am a photographer more than a writer, I am hoping that these photographs are helping you see the emotional connections and the enjoyment people showed in being in this environment. Most everyone commented how this was a blessing for them.

Coming together and talking to others, and doing photography can dramatically affect our emotional condition. Then, of course, people brought their latest cameras to show each other. We all have to be a gearhead to be a successful photographer, and finding something that is helping us do a better job is so exciting we enjoy sharing it with someone. But, of course, the big hit with most folks was pulling out their mirrorless cameras and showing all these cameras will do that fit in a pocket.

[Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.5, 1/50]

In December, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution laid off all of its ten photographers. They then gave each of them the first shot at one of their seven new multimedia specialist positions. As a result, they no longer have just a photographer position on their staff. Ben is also no longer just at the desk; he is covering breaking news daily. In this role, he is often the only AJC journalist on news scenes and is relied on to provide still photos, video, audio, and reporting with accuracy and immediacy. In addition, he frequently contributes video to WSB-TV and audio to WSB Radio during his work.

We asked him to walk through a typical assignment and how he gathers all this for all those outlets.

Ben’s Breaking News Workflow:

• Get photos first: He arrived at the airplane crash and knew from experience that he would be moved back by the police as they established the boundaries. “I can get quotes later, but I cannot get the photos later.” So he has an Eye-fi card in the camera. He tags a photo, and the camera automatically sends the picture using his hotspot to the newspaper/radio/TV station, where they can pull those while he continues to work.
• Shoot Video on iPhone: He shoots 10-second clips that they post to the websites, which WSB-TV can also use. He doesn’t have to send the video if they arrive with a crew.
• Reporting Role: He gathers audio with his iPhone, and then he sends these interviews by email to the assignment desk, where they have a writer turn this into copy for the web.
• Touches base with the assignment desk: They may call and ask for more.
• Formal editing: He will do minor editing of images and captioning to add to the galleries online. He will also check the photos pulled from his pictures that were automatically transmitted. For example, he has pulled photos off the web that accidentally showed a dead person in an image.

Gibbs Frazuer is one of the people who shared their work. We have always given 2 – 5 minutes for anyone to share their work. The short presentation is an excellent way for all of us to see what each other is doing and also a perfect time to practice showing our work. [Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/8, 1/35]

[Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/8, 1/25]

We will all find a subject and put together a package which we will share at our next meeting. We are hoping to find a space to hold an event where we can invite the subjects and the community to see the stories and maybe for us to leave an exhibit of some prints from those stories.

We are enjoying our Chick-fil-A sandwiches and getting to know one another. [Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ƒ/9, ISO 12800, 1/200]

When we all arrived, everyone was meeting new people for the first time. In one way or another, we asked each other, “So what’s your story?” We all want to connect. We not only want to communicate by getting to know someone’s story, but we also want to share our story.

Dorie Griggs and Laura Espeut wanted a photo together. That is what friends do when they get together–smile. [Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ƒ/9, ISO 12800, 1/80]

Do you have a community? Look for a community to join and if there is not one you can find, then start one yourself.

Remember this is what God intended, as we see in 1 Peter 4:10 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Once you understand God’s grace, you cannot help but want to pay it forward through service to others.

So, when are you getting together with some photographers?