Access is everything

Posted by on Feb 17, 2011 | Comments Off

As photojournalists, part of our job is to provide a window to other worlds, to take readers and viewers to places they can’t go.

To achieve that, we’ve got to have access to our subjects. The more access we have, the better the photos. If we’re kept at a distance,  readers and viewers will also be kept at a distance. If we, as photojournalists, are allowed to share in a subject’s life we can better communicate the subject’s story.

I recently finished a short photo project on Chris Castillo, a local high school wrestler. He’s a three-time state champion going for his fourth state wrestling title. That feat has been accomplished by only seven wrestlers in the history of the state tournament and none in the Yakima Valley.

His story is here.

Chris and his family gave me complete access.

Zillah High School wrestler Chris Castillo prays in his bedroom early on the day of the district wrestling tournament. He prays for his health, his family and to wrestle his best that day, says Castillo. He usually prays on those Saturday mornings when he has a match later that day. "Rocky" is one of his favorite movies, he says. (GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic)

Without that access and acceptance of me, I would never have been able to show readers this young man’s faith as well as his room and wall posters. And the photo story would have been much poorer for it.

At the same time, we, as photographers, must respect our subjects and not abuse the privelege of access. I shot only a couple of frames of Chris’ prayer before stepping back out of his room to allow him to complete his prayer alone and in peace.

I’m always so grateful when subjects allow us into their lives, however briefly, to tell a story.

To Chris Castillo and his family – brothers Mike and Juan and parents Bartolo and Gloria – thanks so much for your kindness.

One last photo. Sometimes you just  have to get close to your subject, especially when it’s a small bathroom. Thank good ness for a full-frame Canon 5D and a 16 mm lens.

Zillah High School wrestler Chris Castillo shaves early on the morning of the district wrestling tournament Feb. 5, 2011. Wrestlers must have smooth faces so there's no facial hair to abrade opponents. Castillo is a three-time state wrestling champion and is going for a fourth championship. (GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic)

–Gordon King