Godox V860IIN 2.4G TTL Lion Battery Camera Flash Speedlite for Nikon + Godox X1NT Flash Trigger
One of the biggest mistakes new photographers make when trying to do photography as a profession is not investing enough in a light kit that lets them take photos with the light source off of their camera.
The super simple kit I have above is so inexpensive to take off-camera flash photos.
Here is what I recommend for just about everyone, and they make this kit for Nikon, Canon, Sony, and Fuji. There are many other solutions but invest in an off-camera light source.
$225.00 – Godox VING V860II TTL Li-Ion Flash with X1T TTL Trigger Kit $57.15 – Manfrotto 5001B Nano Black Light Stand – 6.2′ $17.90 – Godox S-Type Speedlite Bracket for Bowens $20.50 – Westcott Optical White Satin Diffusion Umbrella (45″) $320.55 Total
This alone will make your photos stand out. This photo below is without a flash.
[Nikon D5, 85.0 mm f/1.8, ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/100]
Now, look at everything the same, but an off-camera flash can do at 45º from the camera.
[Nikon D5, 85.0 mm f/1.8, ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/125 – Godox V860IIN 2.4G TTL L + Godox X1NT Flash Trigger]
The only difference between the photos, for the most part, is the off-camera flash.
Which one of the photos will people pay you to take more often than the other? The one with the flash, because they can get the other photo with their camera on their phone.
Patrick Davison, professor at UNC School of Media/Journalism, talks with students about their projects during a visual storytelling workshop in the Balkans. [Fuji X-E2, XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS, ISO 5000, ƒ/5, 1/100]
Matthew 18:3 ESV And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Little children have a special humbleness and are easily taught. Most adults are not this way. A little child is enthusiastic and eager to learn and has a forgiving love. He has simple trust.
My mentor Don Rutledge says, “Photography … forces us to see, to look beyond what the average person observes, to search where some people never think to look. It even draws us back to the curiosity we experienced in our childhood.
“Children are filled with excitement about their surrounding world: Why is the sky blue? Why are one flower red and another yellow? How do the stars stay up in the sky? Why is the snow cold?
“As the years go by that curious child matures into a normal adult with the attitude of ‘who cares anymore about those childish questions and answers?’ The ‘seeing beyond what the average person sees’ fills us constantly with excitement and allows us to keep the dreams of our youth.”
Bridge in Mitrovica [Fuji X-E2, XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS, ISO 400, ƒ/2.8, 1/320]
I am just a child who has never grown up. I still keep asking these ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions. Occasionally, I find an answer. — Stephen Hawking
Little Cowboy enjoys the Celebrate Freedom Rodeo at Wills Park in Alpharetta, GA. [Nikon D5, Sigma 35mm ƒ/1.4, ISO 640, ƒ/1.8, 1/160]
“When you stop learning, stop listening, stop looking and asking questions, always new questions, then it is time to die.” — Lillian Smith
If you have a staff job in the communications field, the odds of being let go are higher than ever for good reasons.
One of the highest costs for an employer is healthcare. Freelancers come without that cost to the employer. When it comes to cost savings, many companies see this as a good reason to outsource their communications to freelancers and agencies.
When a company hires a creative person, they are stuck with that person’s creativity. As the company grows and needs to change, it is much more challenging to do that with creatives who cannot produce different kinds of work beyond their style.
“Say goodbye to full-time jobs with benefits”
“In the Future, Employees Won’t Exist” was the headline of the Tech Crunch story.
Microsoft has nearly two-thirds as many contractors as full-time employees. Even the most straightforward business structures, sole proprietorships, have increased their use of contract workers roughly two-fold since 2003.
“40% of America’s workforce will be freelancers by 2020,” said Quartz. [Update 7-27-22 about 35%]
“Stanley, if you put in as much work as you have been doing at Georgia Tech into your freelance, you will be successful,” said a friend in 2002 when I started freelancing full-time.
That was the most profound statement at the time and made me think of treating my freelancing like a full-time job.
Ken Touchton and me
One of the best mentors I have ever had in my life is Ken Touchton. When I started freelancing full-time, Ken called weekly to check on me.
Ken told me how when he started; he would get up, get dressed in a shirt and tie, and then go to the next room and start his day, even if he had no assignments to go anywhere.
If you find yourself laid off and having to look at freelancing, let me give you just a few tips that are very general but worked for me.
Photographer, are you Liked or Loved – You need table food and soul food. The best way to get both is the personal project that shows your business solution through a photo project, for example, that shows how you solved this problem for someone.
How much can you make as a photographer? – You need a good understanding of the cost of doing business. One key element is to know your family budget. If you don’t know what your bills are, how much you bring in, and the difference, you will probably fail in business.
Create a calendar with actions for you to do. Here are some things that should be on your list:
People to contact by phone [weekly] – These are your clients and prospects.
Targeted marketing campaign – this is where you write a letter that targets people in your database in a particular industry.
Education Market
Editorial Market
Sports
Medical
Blog – this is where you share something that continues to build your reputation as an expert. I recommend three times a week.
E-Newsletter – I send one out monthly to my clients. This is just a way to reconnect with your audience. Remember to consider why they want to get this, not that you want them to hire you.
Snail mail – you can send handwritten thank you cards to all your recently hired clients. Do this after each job. Maybe create a postcard or some other mailing. Remember, they have to physically touch this before it goes in the mail, whereas emails will get automatically deleted and never seen.
Networking events – You need to be out and meeting new people. I call this fishing with a big net.
Workshops – You need to continue to grow in knowledge, so plan to attend meetings throughout the year to help you expand your skills.
Friday, August 17, 2018, was my first-day teaching Intro to Photojournalism at The Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.
The night before, Dorie, my wife, thought as much as we always take pictures of the kids on their first day, she wanted to do the same with me this year. #ThingEmptyNestersDo
For us, this turned out to be our viral photo. We have never had 383 likes on an image.
[Fuji X-E3, 18-55mm, ISO 200, ƒ/5, 1/110]
The end goal of this class is for the students to learn how to communicate visually, control a camera, compose an image and capture a moment that others will understand. That last part? That’s the hard part!
One of the critical parts of the class is teaching ethics and specifically the ethics of photojournalism. We use the NPPA Code of Ethics.
What is remarkable about teaching at UGA is that the National Press Photographers Association headquarters is at the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Mark Johnson and Andrea Briscoe are in Mark’s office enjoying some time together. [Fuji X-E3, 18-55mm, ISO 1600, ƒ/5, 1/10]
On December 19, 2014, it was announced that NPPA relocated its headquarters to UGA. Mark Johnson was the initiative’s leader in bringing the NPPA to UGA. Mark sold the idea to both the Grady School and NPPA. It was his enthusiasm that created a partnership that was a win-win opportunity.
Mark is the one who asked me to teach at UGA.
So on Friday, I had two JOUR 3330: Introduction to Photojournalism classes to teach, back to back. The class size is limited to 20, and I had 17 in one class and 18 in the other.
Being nervous that first day, I packed too much into that first class. I think in the following courses, I will be more relaxed, and the pacing of the content will be better for the students and me.
I am having lots of fun looking for content to share in the class.
This is one of the videos I came across that does a great job of teaching depth-of-field by explaining how it works.
This week we will be getting a little history of photojournalism. Here is a video about Eugene Smith I will be showing, and then we will discuss it in the class.
I love preparing for class and looking forward to helping another crop of students become passionate about visual storytelling.
Still Too Busy [Nikon D5, Sigma 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 100, ƒ/4, 1/500]
Still Too Busy
This photo illustrates my inner frustrations when I am asked to do just one more thing, or someone wants to add something to my load. The cops do not see the big sign saying “Still Too Busy” but are there to arrest me for not complying.
Usually, a request has two answers–1) Yes and 2) No. Sometimes, you can even supply more information to the person asking to see if they will withdraw their bid.
There are some legitimate responses that would cause most people to take back their request. Today is your wedding anniversary, and you have plans and should tell them. Maybe you have nonrefundable tickets to an event you have planned for a long time.
I will never forget when I was shocked when the person I was saying no to wanted complete access to my calendar to call everyone to reschedule so I could do their project.
At that particular time, I was reporting to 5 different directors. I needed a hand for a long time to overcome this difficulty.
[Nikon D4, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 200, ƒ/9, 1/125]
I wish I had known then what I know now. What helped me was to see this from the requester’s perspective. When I said no, I wasn’t helping the client at all. If they still needed it done, they would find someone who could make it happen, and often then, I would no longer be used for future projects.
When I was in a staff job, I often said no because I didn’t have time with all the other things on my plate. As a freelancer, I was saying no because they asked for more without offering more pay.
Had I learned this tip earlier in my career, I would have become a more valuable team member when someone would ask me to do something; I would now be saying how I want to help them. I would be saying YES–IF.
Yes, I can make that happen for you if you tell me which of these other projects I can delay or not do to be able to take on this extra work.
As a freelancer, I am saying YES–IF you decide what on the list we were shooting comes off because I don’t have time to do all you have, or I might be saying yes if you agree to the extra XYZ cost.
Since learning this technique, my new goal is to say yes as much as possible and to be sure the client is saying no, not me.
As a freelancer, the client asks me to do something, and my response is I would love to help you. The additional cost to make this happen is XYZ. Just sign right here to the changes on the contract, and I will make it happen.
The client will then respond tremendous or no, we cannot afford to do that. If they have to do this, then you are not the reason it gets done; they don’t have the resources to make it happen, or maybe the request is no longer necessary.
As a staff person, I am not asking for more money. I am taking the burden of what is on my plate and the difficulties of making it happen back onto their plate.
My boss asked me to take photos of their event; I would have said no in the past, but I am already booked. I now say I am already covering another event at the same time. I am more than willing to have this event covered. Which event do you want me to cover, and would you like me to get another photographer to cover the event I cannot hide?
Saying No makes you a problem! Saying Yes Makes you a problem solver!!!
When you say no, the person requesting help must find someone else. Had you said yes, their problem would have been solved.
Today, when I get a request for something and I am already booked, I always offer to find someone for them. One of the best ways to keep those clients returning is to handle the booking of the photographer and have the photographer work as a subcontractor for you. This way, they show up to shoot the project, and you handle the billing. This way, they continue to come back to you.
Knolan Benfield is in Hawaii with me, helping teach posing to photography students with Youth With a Mission. (Photo by: Dennis Fahringer)
This is my uncle Knolan Benfield who was the first to give me a camera and teach me photography.
Knolan talked with me over his counter in his studio in Hickory, North Carolina, in 1979 about how to use this range finder camera he gave me. It took 35mm film and didn’t have a meter.
Aires IIIC That was given to me
No meter meant you had no way to measure the light and see what a perfect exposure was. He gave me a roll of film and then pulled out the paper that came with the film.
Kodak Data Sheet
I learned about the Sunny ƒ/16 rule. This is where in direct sunlight, the Aperture is ƒ/16, and the shutter speed is equivalent to the ISO. So if you had ISO 64, your shutter speed would be the closest to that; for my camera, that was 1/60. Using the chart with the film, I learned how to properly expose Sunlight, Cloudy days, Shade, and backlit photos.
This is how I took photos when I first started. I dropped that camera while ice-skating when my dad bought me my first DSLR Pentax K1000 camera. I could change lenses, and it had a built-in meter.
Now in the days of film, you buy a film that would work indoors or outdoors. You didn’t change your ISO from frame to frame as you can today with digital.
I remember Knolan taking time to explain how Aperture and Shutter-speed worked.
One of the most important things he taught me was how the Kodak Brownie box camera worked and how my camera was different.
Brownie Aperture Chart
The original Brownie camera had one aperture of ƒ/11 and one shutter speed of 1/35-1/50 seconds.
Knolan pointed out that only using the sunny ƒ/16 rule outside meant I could have saved a lot of money and bought the Kodak Brownie camera rather than the Pentax K1000.
Besides controlling the exposure, Aperture and Shutter-Speed give you creativity.
Today I am channeling all those comments that Knolan taught me. If you only shoot at one aperture all the time, you are missing out on so much creativity that your camera can do.
Assignment to do
Depth of Field & Lens Selection 4 images with the same composition, altering the aperture and focal length 1. Widest focal length, widest aperture (~ f/3.5) 2. Widest focal length, aperture between f/11-f/22 3. Longest focal length, widest aperture (~ f/4.5-5.6) 4. Longest focal length, aperture between f/11-f/22
Nelson, Taylor, and Chelle on the first day of school, 6:50 a.m. August 14, 2006. [Nikon D2X, AF Zoom 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6D, ISO 400, ƒ/7.1, 1/40]
The first days of school are happening this month all over our country. Our family always took a photo of the kids on their first day. We were all excited every year for that first.
Watching your child grow in stature through the years was just one way of seeing positive changes for them and you.
Nelson graduates from Roswell High School on May 25, 2007. [Nikon D2X, Sigma AF Zoom 120-300mm f/2.8D, ISO 100, ƒ/2.8, 1/125]
When Nelson, our oldest, graduated from high school, he was now in charge of that next school choice and what he would take. Up through high school, most of us have fewer choices about what we will take. We had some say in which science course or English course we would take, but we still had few options compared to the next step–college.
Matriculation Day 2017 The Citadel. [Nikon D5, 85.0 mm f/1.8, ISO 100, ƒ/2.8, 1/500]
When it comes to the first days at college, the experience varies a great deal; we came to learn when our oldest Nelson decided to enroll at The Citadel. My wife helps other parents each year by assisting them in navigating military college life and how best to support their students without being a helicopter parent.
She was moving Chelle into her dorm room for the start of her first year at Columbus State University. She arrived early to participate in Camp Prowl, a freshman experience and the program’s first year. [Fuji X-E2, XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS, ISO 3200, ƒ/5, 1/100]
When the youngest, Chelle, went to college, the experience was so different.
Both of them embraced college and all that entails. They did a great job picking majors that suited each of them perfectly.
Youth With A Mission Photo School 1 [Fuji X-E3, XF10-24mmF4 R OIS, ISO 200, ƒ/6.4, 1/300]
Others choose alternative education like YWAM’s University of Nations in Kona, Hawaii. These students take one course at a time for 3 to 6 months. This is a group photo of the class I taught this past February.
Most colleges and universities have some “general education” requirements forcing students to take at least a few math and science courses. Still, many non-science majors will take the bare minimum and work hard to put those off as long as possible. Disgruntled spring-term seniors who don’t want to be in the course but can’t graduate without it are a regular and unpleasant feature of “Gen Ed” courses.
I had a one-course requirement for statistics that frustrated me to no end. I took the class three times. The professor’s English was complicated to understand my first time taking it. While later, when I retook it, I realized this wasn’t the only reason I struggled with that course.
“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.”
― Albert Einstein
I then retook the class at Brookdale Community College while home from East Carolina University during the summer. I still struggled. I finally passed the course during summer school at East Carolina. My motivation that last time was I needed to graduate.
In college, everyone is looking to take an easy or fun class that counts toward their degree. In these classes, students’ interest in the subject is often better than their interest in a “required” category, but from my experience, this is not all that much better than where their passion lies.
Togo, West Africa [Nikon D5, Sigma 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 5600, ƒ/4, 1/100]
As an adjunct professor through the years at different colleges, I felt like this mom with a child on the back. I was carrying these students way too much. There was little self-motivation on their part.
I stopped teaching at a college in their communications program a few years ago. I had taught there for many years, but the problem was quite simple–the students didn’t care to master the subject.
However, I continued to teach photography workshops. There was a big difference between the two classes. In the workshops, every student I had wanted to learn the material.
Stanley is teaching at the University of Nations in Kona, Hawaii. photo by Robin Nelson [Nikon D810, 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8, ISO 3200, ƒ/7.1, 1/60]
I never had a student break down in the “college” courses in tears because they wanted to understand something so wrong and were upset they were not comprehending the content. During my first time teaching at the University of Nations in Hawaii, I again fell in love with teaching. I cannot thank Dennis Fahringer enough for inviting me to teach Lighting and Business Practices.
Everyone seems excited when I teach the studio lighting but is not as thrilled with the business practices. Through the years, I have been able to help more of those students jump-start their professional careers as photographers. It had less to do with the lighting and more about the business practices.
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
― Benjamin Franklin
Now more than 12 years later, I hear that the reputation of the class teaching business practices has many eager to learn this topic. Still, many in the class are not as enthusiastic about it as I wish they would be about it.
StorytellersAbroad.com in San Benito, Nicaragua. [Nikon D5, Sigma 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 1600, ƒ/4, 1/100]
The best students are the ones who are what I call “knowledge‐seeking.” These are those that are emotionally engaged in doing expert work.
This photo of the two young ladies is so excited to learn that they shared during their shooting in the Nicaragua workshop I did in the summer of 2016.
Since 2008 I have been going to The Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, to guest lecture on business practices for Mark Johnson. These were so different from the students I had taught at other colleges.
When Mark called me last fall asking if I would teach two sections of Intro to Photojournalism this coming year, I said yes. Since saying yes, I dug deeper into the program.
I asked if the class students were constantly engaged in the content. You see, that was what turned me off before. An instructor can only do so much to get a student excited. The student must also make an effort, or there will be no success.
Mark told me that there are two classes that they need Intro to Photojournalism to take later before they graduate. In those later courses, they must do photojournalism with videography, writing, layout, and design, as well as posting projects on social media and blogs. If they don’t come out of the Intro class knowing photojournalism well enough to do it professionally, they will not be able to do those classes well.
This is to Kongs Shamaki. [Nikon D750, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 12800, ƒ/4.5, 1/40]
Some of the students I have taught life worldwide are pretty successful today. Kongs has a successful photography business in Nigeria, West Africa. He was excited to take photography classes and kept in touch, letting me know all he was doing.
Tom Kilpatrick during the Storytellers Abroad Workshop in Bucharest, Romania. [Nikon D750, 85.0 mm f/1.8, ISO 450, ƒ/1.8, 1/100]
Tom Kilpatrick is an excellent example of you never too old to learn. Tom had trained thousands of college students to help young photographers when he was a newspaper photographer. He taught a few of my closest friends who went to National Geographic.
Going from film to digital was very difficult for Tom. He told me a few times he almost gave up photography because of how complex the new technology was for him to understand.
After finally making the switch, he decided to go to the Storytellers Abroad Workshop at 72 to learn how to do video editing and storytelling in this new medium.
How we value the future affects our desire to learn.
Ever since Dennis Fahringer asked me to teach, I have been working with students who had a passion for using photography as a profession. Extraordinarily few have ever been gifted and just got the content quickly. Most have a moment where you can see a real struggle with the content on their faces.
There is a fundamental difference between these students who come up against a wall they push through. When I went to pass statistics, I wasn’t interested in ever using it again. These students are moving through all the struggles of mastering the content because they want to use photography in the future.
“It is not that I’m so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.”
― Albert Einstein
I have autism, and I think Aspergers Syndrome best describes my situation. One of the traits is an obsession with specific, often unusual, topics for those with autism. It was all about G.I. Joe when I was young. Thankfully, I grew out of that obsession.
I would, over the years, find different topics from playing trumpet, chess, toy models, and today, photography.
I was blessed with Autism. This helped me push through difficulties because my wiring wouldn’t let it go.
Try your best in all your classes this new school year to learn the content. You may not see it at the moment, but this will help you live a better tomorrow.
Garrett Hubbard speaking at the Southwestern Photojournalism Conference, asked everyone to examine our identity.
“The most powerful words ever said to you are your own,” said Garrett Hubbard. The self-talk we do can be the most damaging or uplifting. We are in charge of which that will be.
Good friend James Dockery [Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 400, ƒ/3.6, 1/100]
“Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground.” – Wilfred Peterson.
I have some of my best friends. James Dockery, who currently works as a top video editor for ESPN, is leading the way in incorporating innovative editing and communication techniques.
James Dockery enjoys taking photos and showing the boys in the Balkans their photos.
James has me laughing as much as anyone these days. I love his teaching style, and most of all, I love his positive attitude and joy in living.
Stanley and James are enjoying some Macchiatos. [Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 400, ƒ/2.8, 1/100]
We didn’t drink all these by ourselves. We had a few students in the workshop help us with all these macchiatos.
Morris Abernathy, my good friend for more than 30 years
When I first met Morris Abernathy, I knew I had found a good friend. No one has ever had me laughing as hard as Morris. He has helped me see the world in new ways.
Morris provided coverage for the Dallas Cowboys, the Tennessee Titans, the Texas Rangers, California wildfires, the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11, and five U.S. presidents.
Morris and I have had so many heart-to-heart conversations. He was a good friend who helped me during tough times with work and personal life. He is one of the best listeners I know.
Everyone needs a Morris in their life.
Robin Nelson
For many years my agency was Black Star. Howard Chapnick had told me about Robin Nelson, another Black Star photographer, in Atlanta when I first moved here in 1993, but it would be more than ten years later that we would meet.
Robin has a passion for social justice and human rights issues, which I also have a heart for doing. I quickly realized how outstanding Robin is at capturing people’s stories. Robin always says, “Everyone has a story if you dig deep enough.”
Dorie Griggs
Now my best friend of all is my lovely wife, Dorie Griggs. She has helped me grow in so many ways. Her heart for serving others is truly inspiring.
I have met more interesting people from all walks of life because Dorie has made it her purpose to be inclusive of people from so many different backgrounds.
Leary family Family Photo at Ocean Isle Beach, NC. [Nikon D5, Sigma 24-105mm, ISO 100, ƒ/8, 1/250 – (2) Alienbees B1600s triggered with Pocketwizard TT5 & TT1]
Now, my family has also been a great support system for me. My and Dorie’s family have been there for us throughout everything.
Griggs Christmas Family Photo [Nikon D5, Sigma 24-105mm ƒ/4, ISO 400, ƒ/8, 1/200 – (2) Godox V860IIN + Godox X1NT with MAGMOD MagSphere]
Now with all this support, you would think this is the key to success, but people with this type of support and more have been depressed and even suicidal.
Garrett Hubbard [left] at a previous SWPJC.
So every Friday on my Facebook feed, I see this:
Garrett continues to build up each other. He knows this can help each of us with our inner voice.
An old Cherokee told his grandson, “My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy, and truth.” The boy thought about it, and asked, “Grandfather, which wolf wins?” The old man quietly replied, “The one you feed.”
– Author Unknown
If your self-talk is negative, then it needs to change. One of the best ways to do that is to surround yourself with positive people. I have done this all my life.
Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who’ll argue with you. – John Wooden
Surround yourself with the right people, and realize your worth. Honestly, there are enough bad people out there in the world – you don’t need to be your own worst enemy. – Lucy Hale
“Be a star in someone’s dark sky.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo
While finding your support system, also remember to be the one who lifts others.
“Some say, “Once you learn to be happy, you won’t tolerate being around people who make you feel anything less.” My Christ says, “Your job is to get off your self-righteous butt and start reaching out to the difficult people because my ministry wasn’t about a bunch of nice people getting together once a week to sing hymns and get a feel-good message that you may or may not apply, depending on the depth of your anger for someone. It is about caring for and helping the broken-hearted, the difficult, the hurt, the misunderstood, the repulsive, the wicked, and the liars. It is about turning the other cheek when someone hurts you. It is about loving one another and making amends. It gives people as many chances as needed because God gives them endless chances. When you do this, then you will know me, and you will know true happiness and peace. Until then, you will never know who I am. You will always be just a fan or a Sunday-only warrior. You will continue to represent who you are to the world, but not me. I am the God that rescues.” ― Shannon L. Alder
Airborne School First Jump [Nikon D3S, 28-300mm ƒ/3.5-5.6, ISO 400, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000]
. . . I got my mind set on you
But it’s gonna take money
A whole lot of spending money
It’s gonna take plenty of money
To do it right, child
It’s gonna take time
A whole lot of precious time
It’s gonna take patience and time, um
To do it, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it
To do it right, child
– George Harrison
Airborne can be placed behind enemy lines and deployed almost anywhere with little warning. The formations are limited only by the number and size of their aircraft, so given enough capacity, a massive force can appear “out of nowhere” in minutes.
The ability to work with jackrabbit speed is typically recognized and rewarded in business. Companies like employees who can cruise through their to-do lists at Mach3 with their hair on fire. Because, after all, time is money.
But time is not money if that efficiency is not matched with effectiveness.
Airborne School First Jump [Nikon D3S, 28-300mm ƒ/3.5-5.6, ISO 400, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000]
When telling a person’s story, you must take time to get to know the person and time to explore their story so that you can tell “their” story. You see, if you move too fast, you often do so based on assumptions.
Parachute journalism is the practice of thrusting journalists into an area to report on a story in which the reporter has little knowledge or experience. The lack of knowledge and tight deadlines often result in inaccurate or distorted news reports, especially during breaking news.
The other term similar to parachute journalism is yellow journalism.
Yellow journalism and the yellow presses are American terms for journalism and associated newspapers that present little or no legitimate well-researched news while using eye-catching headlines for increased sales. Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering, or sensationalism. By extension, yellow journalism is used today as a pejorative to decry any journalism that treats news in an unprofessional or unethical fashion.
There is a difference between the two, but both are rooted in one common problem–not putting in the time necessary to do justice to a story.
Here are some of the key ingredients to great journalism
Journalistic Truth – is a process that begins with the professional discipline of assembling and verifying facts.
Your community – while advertisers underwrite most journalism, they are not the audience. You must be serving the citizens in your community. Your credibility is increased when you do a great job of putting them first.
Journalistic methods for verification – unlike social media, where people “trust” their friends’ thoughts and their gut, journalists cannot use these methods. They just used the skills of the profession where the consistent practice of testing information – a transparent approach to evidence – precisely so that personal and cultural biases would not undermine the accuracy of the work. The method is objective, not the journalist.
Journalistic independence – you must work hard not to be drawn into a crowd, organization, a person of power, or anything that can compromise your ability to be unbiased in your journalism. This also includes being careful that your newsroom doesn’t create its own elitist group.
Watchdog – informs the public about the goings-on in institutions and society, especially in circumstances where a significant portion of the people would demand changes in response. – Wikipedia
Fact-checking statements of public officials.
I am interviewing public figures and challenging them with problems or concerns.
Beat reporting to gather information from meetings that members of the public might not otherwise attend and to observe “on the ground” in broader society
Investigative journalism, which involves information-gathering on a single story for an extended period of time
There are even more elements to good journalism than these listed here. The point I want to make it get the story correct requires being thoughtful and taking the time to get it right.
What is sad today is that people trust their friends over journalistic institutions, which helped create the atmosphere for “Fake News” by Russia to impact the United States culture.
Journalists have desecrated the profession, just like many priests have done in the church lately. Sadly much of the public believes these ‘bad apples’ are criminals beyond rehabilitation.
Sadly many journalists today are fighting battles that they didn’t create. Just remember to be diligent in telling a truthful story. It just may time some time to do it right.
