Illinois State is tomorrow and I'm stuck in Macomb "volunteering for the Senior Olympics. They already say they're swamped with volunteers but I got to stay for classes. This really blows. Illinois State is probably the closest meet but I'll be at conference (5 hour drive to Kansas City).
Nightlife in Macomb was fun. About half of the pics were in the afternoon since my subject started around 4. I ended up turning most of the pics I edited black and white but left this one becasue of the beer. Just didn't look right in b&w. Got home around midnight and realized most of the pics were from the afternoon so drove out to the square and shot around. Got a bunch of drunk people wanting pics and then just general things like cops, hot dog and pizza guys and so on. Got back home around 3:30am. It was my first time trying to get a photo essay together and I definitely need a lot more work.
This guy came to Western yesterday. I guess he was controversal becasue there was a lot of security and bags searched before entering.
Got there at 8:50 for the start of Javelin but covered the Hammer instead. The meet finally ended at about 6 with Discus but overall, I would say I had a pretty good day of shooting. My photo editor was supposed to be there but he had other assignments. I mostly messed around since I had no experience shooting an outddor meet with a DSLR except Thursday and Friday. I wouldn't really call most of the stuff I did creative but I'm happy with how some of it turned out.
The meet was moved to Sunday and the weather was great. Nice and sunny too which made for crisp pics. Anyways, I edited pics till 11 and I really should get some sleep. Hope I get to more outddor meets.
PS- also submitted my pics to Hope from MID CON(our schools conference to try and get to shoot the conference meet but since its so late, I doubt it.
I hate school.
We had the first 2 days of the Lee Calhoun Invitational. Shooting with a DSLR is SO much easier. If I had more than a kit lens, might be able to get less DOF and better pictures but I'll work with what I can get. The meet was supposed to be today but got moved to Sunday because of weather. I need to get the 2GB card sometime tonight or else its going to be rough shooting tommorow with the 512. Hope its not too cloudy!
Just got in from shooting Karlos Kemp. He's a junior transfer on the team and probably the top hurdler. I was actually supposed to do it yesterday but completely forgot after I got that call about that last assignment. Worked out okay since practice was at 3:30 Had him do a bunch of runs over the hurdle but that wasn't working so just used a stretch. Only had the 70-300 so couldn't get that low angle over the hurdle but whatever.
Got a biomechanics test to study for plus photo meeting at 6 and SGA at 7. 4 assignments today! yeesh. I love it though.
Got this call from one of the writers about this political dicussion in Morgan Hall yesterday. I had no idea what it was about but by the time I got there, it had already started. I got a bunch of general saftey shots from up close and different angles and such and then just shot peoples heads becasue I got bored and wanted some more interesting pictures than them just sitting up there talking.
I believe these were the Republican and Democratic Representatives for this Macomb district. There were only a few maybe 10-15 people in the room.
Stopped off at practice becasue it ends up there wasn't any softball game. Plus that other one was cancled. I decided to focus on the pole vaulters and try some new angles. It ended up pretty good. I burned the background in 2 of them and just left it in the rest. Lighting was ok.
Got a call from my photo editor telling me there was a gathering for the announcement of the Student Governement elections so went and shot that.
Heading home for the weekend, looking forward to it.
.It's Tuesday which means...... SGA! Another exciting meeting as usual. I had to shoot with the 70-300mm lens because the 28-70mm lens is broken. The lens still works, it just came off the track so I can't adjust the zoom. Just locked at 35mm now.
I went to CameraLand in the Square and they estimated the original cost of the lens to be $2500!! Had my photo editor look it up and says it was about $1300 or something. That's more than twice I ever paid for a camera! Used to not really like that lens but I got used to it and got some good pictures out of it. Just hope it get's fixed soon.
Other than that, got my papers filled out with the Macomb Eagle. They pay $5 per picture. It's only half of what the Courier pays but I'll try it out. Made $10 from that last assignment at West Prairie.
I had a GREAT night of shooting. My photo editor called me after I got home from Subway with Dave and told me there was a large crowd of people over at the Dairy Queen (which happens to be about 2 blocks away from my house).
When I first got there, thought it was just going to be another assignment. I mean, I've always wanted to shoot the place becasue I liked the lighting but never gave myself a good enough reason to get out there.
When I got there, I was kind of just standing around, not doing much. Decided to call my mom and talk to her for a little, something I'm supposed to do on Sundays.
I ended up seeing a few people I knew and chatted with them. Some of these other guys saw what I was doing and wanted to try to get they're pictures in the paper so I shot a bunch of them. Overall, the people over there were pretty cool. Had a great time. Also, I made sure I explained that these pictures may or MAY NOT be in the paper. I'm sure a lot of people expect to be in the paper after I take thier picture but I guess theres not always room.
Another reason I'm happy is becasue I'm learning more about photoshop. Most of these pictures, I just increased the white on the levels and slightly darkened the blacks and they looked completely different. It's the slightly high contrast look I was looking for but couldn't find. I just uploaded these pics tonight so I'm not really sure if they are any good but I like them.
Well it's 1am. I should get to bed.
Had to go over to West Prairie High School, about 15-20 minutes away from campus and take some team pics of the boys and girls track teams for the Macomb Eagle. I had never taken a large group picture so I had no idea how it was going to turn out.
I guess it was ok but I forgot to drop my ISO. I mean, who takes a portrait at ISO 1600 in bright sunlight?!? I was already at home when I noticed how grainy the pictures were. Tried to save them in photoshop. Other than that, the girls kind of just got in 2 lines. I think the girl on the top right should have moved over so I could get the face. I also should have told them what to do with thier hands and have them sit up straight instead of slouching. From what I remember from my track team pics, the photographer always had us facing slightly to the left or right.
The lighting was horrible too. I was thinking about using flash but opted out. The background is okay. Nothing too busy. I was also thinking about having them do something creative rather than the same old bleacher shot. If I had more time, and maybe more experience, I would.
As for the Eagle, I emailed them the pictures and talked to thier sports guy who told me to call the publishers to figure out how much I get paid. Probably should have done that first. I just hope they don't think I'm doing charity work. If they paid me in gas money and food, I guess I'd be okay though.
Live and Learn...
I had no idea what to do on this. Theres going to be a new building here and the paper needed a picture. I tried a few angles but all the pictures looked pretty boring. Then I tried to use the DOF to do something. Not really much there either.
btw, the baseball game was cancelled today. I was dissapointed. There was no rain so I guess it was just too windy. Might have my first shot at shooting Tennis this Saturday.
I finally got around to calling the editor of the Macomb Eagle. I talked to her at a Police discussion that I was covering and asked if her paper needed any photographers. I don't want to hog all the assignments for the Courier and I'm always looking for work anytime, anywhere.
I was planning on calling yesterday but didn't get home till 9pm after uploading all the baseball pictures in the library. I just left a message but hopefully get a call back sometime during the week. It's just spot photos and little things here and there but hey, its work and I can use it.
I looked into Columbia College in Chicago because I've seen the school on some photojournalist's sites. Plus it would be a whole lot cheaper than going to Brooks in California. As much as I want it, it's just not going to happen.
Somewhere in all this photo mumbo jumbo, I shouldn't forget I'm going to school to be a personal trainer. hmph....
Finally got the 300mm lens. It was pretty nice. One thing I need to work on is focus. When they were running the bases, I focused a second behind them. Thats a problem I had when I first started shooting track. With track, its a lot easier but in baseball, everythings sporratic. Theres another game today so I'll work on it then. Should just take some practice. I'll get it. Hope the sun stays out today!
