Just one person can transform an average assignment and a really fun assignment that generates good photographs. I was reminded of that yesterday.
I groaned silently when I got the e-mail from the managing editor. We were to cover the a local school district’s annual educators’ excellence award press conference . This was to be the 22nd such presser and it seems like I covered half of them. Probably not that many, but it seems like it.
Unaware they’d gotten the award, recipients are lured to the press conference under false pretenses and once they arrive, they are told of the award. There are hugs, perhaps big smiles, a lot of handshakes but not much else.
Some years, we’ve skipped the press conference and relied on mug shots of the winners provided by the school district. But when the ME says do it, well, we do it.
Of course, all photojournalists should approach each assignment with enthusiasm and the idea that each assignment is a chance to make a fresh photograph, one that is better than the last photograph from that same assignment. This is theory – very good theory – but it’s sometimes hard to put that theory into practice.
So, with somewhat-equal parts of enthusiasm and lack of enthusiasm off I went to the press conference.
The first recipient:
Ismael Flores is hugged by his wife Sylvia Flores after he learned he was one of six recipients of the Yakima School District's annual Crystal Apple Awards on April 28, 2009. The award is given annually to educators to recognize outstanding work. Flores is the assistant principal at Washington Middle School.
A nice hug from his wife. Nice emotion, but not great.
The second recipient:
The second recipient, Ernesto Sanchez, learns of his award but doesn't show much reaction. The award co-chairman, Dave Dion, left, applauds Sanchez.
The greeters have nice expressions and show emotion but Sanchez gives us only a smile (but at least a big smile).
The third recipient:
Jerry Cole, center, is applauded by Dave Dion, left, and Pat McCarthy after Cole learned he was the winner of one of the Yakima School District's annual Crystal Apple Awards for outstanding teaching April 28, 2009. Cole is an English as a Second Language teacher at Davis High School while Dion and McCarthy are co-chairmen of the awards. Cole is one of six recipients of this year's award.
An image of the first two recipients, Sanchez and Flores, would work but I wanted more. Something with more emotion, more feeling.
Then came Christina Carlson. Her subdued entrance didn’t bode well for me.
Christina Carlson is first greeted when she enters the press conference. She doesn't yet know she is receiving an award for teaching excellence in the Yakima School District.
But things get better – in a big hurry.
Christina Carlson first learns she has received an award for teaching excellence in the Yakima School District. She was surprised with the award at a press conference.
This photo would work. But she just kept giving me more, better images.
Christina Carlson points to a member in the audience after she's surprised to learn she received the Crystal Apple Award for teaching excellnce in the Yakima School District.
Still more emotion:
Christina Carlson hugs her husband Dave Prentice.
And finally, the money photo. This is the photo which led our local section this morning.
"Wow! Ohmigosh!" exclaimed teacher Christina Carlson after learning from Dave Dion, right, she was receiving a Crystal Apple Award for outstanding teaching in the Yakima School District. Carlson was surprised with the award at a Tuesday, April 28, 2009 meeting. She is a fifth grade teacher at the Discovery Lab School. Dion is a co-chairman of the award committee.
It’s always great to people get excited about something and especially great to photograph that excitement.
My lesson for the day was a reminder; that we, as photographers, should always approach every assignment, even the seemingly routine ones, with enthusiasm and a commitment to produce the best photos possible. And who knows? Maybe there will be a Christina Carlson there to help you out.
–Gordon King
"Wow! Ohmigosh!" exclaimed teacher Christina Carlson after learning from Dave Dion, right, she was receiving a Crystal Apple Award for outstanding teaching in the Yakima School District. Carlson was surprised with the award at a Tuesday, April 28, 2009 meeting. She is a fifth grade teacher at the Discovery Lab School. Dion is a co-chairman of the award committee.
Picture This | seattletimes.com blog
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