Monday, June 27, 2011
Back by popular demand...
A post dedicated entirely to the awesome (and slightly egotistical :P Just kiddin') Drill Sergeants of Charlie Company. I adore them all and their smart mouths already.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
"HYDRATE FREDDY, CADET!"
“Hey PAO you look like shit…”
See, I knew I’d drop the ball on blogging eventually. This week, to say the least, was crazy busy. I spent two full days back to back at the indoor pool desperately trying to snap the perfect shot for the two stories I was covering in there. I even pulled another photog in for assistance and it became a little competition, which he won.
I ordered a new lens, to have it in my possession for the full first day of Charlie’s arrival (didn’t use it) and had to return it do to needing the funds for my 200 zoom’s replacement as it has decided it can no longer reach past 70. (For those of you who don’t speak Camera, this is vair bad.) I managed to find a sweet deal on an upgrade from the original 55-200 4-5.6 to a 70-300 4-5.6 for only about $60 more than simply replacing the previous one would have been, so I have something to be happy about today.
As for the past couple of days, I’ve spent it circling rooms seeking out new angles and different bored faces as the Charlie Copperheads went through lines upon lines upon lines of loooooong boring in-processing. The most emotion I saw was on the faces of the Drill Sergeants, who get free rein during the first three days to be as mean as they please. I’ve made fast friends with most of the Cadre. A few shuffle over to me as soon as I arrive at an event, asking if I have anything good of them yet. There are two who glare poison-tipped daggers at me every time I walk past, but that’s just part of the job.
I’m afraid this blog isn’t even close to reflecting how excited I am to finally have my company here, but I’m so exhausted, and today was just a horribly dull, disastrous, stretch of a Sunday. I’m longing to get to sleep, and wake up nice and early for the Educator’s visit (bleck) and finally my Cadets’ first day in the field.
"Hydrate Freddy!" I won't ruin the story, as it will be posted on the LTC website next week, but I got a couple shots of a Cadet whose little brother sabotaged his rucksack. You guys will have to pay attention and read the story, and I'll try to remember to give you the gory details once it's published.
See, I knew I’d drop the ball on blogging eventually. This week, to say the least, was crazy busy. I spent two full days back to back at the indoor pool desperately trying to snap the perfect shot for the two stories I was covering in there. I even pulled another photog in for assistance and it became a little competition, which he won.
I ordered a new lens, to have it in my possession for the full first day of Charlie’s arrival (didn’t use it) and had to return it do to needing the funds for my 200 zoom’s replacement as it has decided it can no longer reach past 70. (For those of you who don’t speak Camera, this is vair bad.) I managed to find a sweet deal on an upgrade from the original 55-200 4-5.6 to a 70-300 4-5.6 for only about $60 more than simply replacing the previous one would have been, so I have something to be happy about today.
As for the past couple of days, I’ve spent it circling rooms seeking out new angles and different bored faces as the Charlie Copperheads went through lines upon lines upon lines of loooooong boring in-processing. The most emotion I saw was on the faces of the Drill Sergeants, who get free rein during the first three days to be as mean as they please. I’ve made fast friends with most of the Cadre. A few shuffle over to me as soon as I arrive at an event, asking if I have anything good of them yet. There are two who glare poison-tipped daggers at me every time I walk past, but that’s just part of the job.
I’m afraid this blog isn’t even close to reflecting how excited I am to finally have my company here, but I’m so exhausted, and today was just a horribly dull, disastrous, stretch of a Sunday. I’m longing to get to sleep, and wake up nice and early for the Educator’s visit (bleck) and finally my Cadets’ first day in the field.
"Hydrate Freddy!" I won't ruin the story, as it will be posted on the LTC website next week, but I got a couple shots of a Cadet whose little brother sabotaged his rucksack. You guys will have to pay attention and read the story, and I'll try to remember to give you the gory details once it's published.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Days 13-14: "True or False: Are you presently wrapped in a tamale?" - Caitlin -
Day 13-14: “True or False: Are you presently wrapped in a tamale?” - Caitlin
Friday was in-processing for Bravo Company, covered by writer Tom, photog Dorothy, and vid Desirae. The latter of the two were bombarded upon exiting the bus with the cadets Friday morning on their roadtrip back from the airport by overzealous Drill Sergeants, screaming in their faces to do something or other cadet-y. They said they were so scared they didn’t know what to do, and it makes me wonder how I would react in the same situation. I wonder if I’ll find out…
Not a lot to chat about today, fun little cookout with the PAOs on Saturday evening, after a full day of procrastinating doing my free lance work via cleaning and gymming - a productive day nonetheless. We wondered around wal-mart before reporting to the man-made lake overpopulated with geese and underpopulated with grills for dinner. LT Nicholson, whom we are not supposed to call “LT” but we do anyway, kept teasingly muttering to his fellow LT about how unorganized civilians are. “They don’t plan, they just execute.” I thought about telling him how many miles of military guys I know who can’t plan worth a piss, but instead I decided to seek out charcoal (which I failed to find). We joked around, hanging out while we waited for the LTs to cook our food (they think they outrank us - oh silly boys). Afterward, we took two hours to venture the forty minute drive to Louisville, wandering about aimlessly (there’s that execution thing again), looking for places that would allow 18+ in while the rest of us could still drink. We finally settled on an abandoned Italian bistro, where Nicholson convinced the staff to play Master P and we pushed the tables aside to frolic around to “Two Step” - both the “hip hop” version and the country. It was a fun night, and I’m looking forward to going back with them again.
Here’s a few extra shots that didn’t make publication from TDC and the DS story. Actually, I’m throwing in a few that got in too. Why? Because I can, dammit.
Friday was in-processing for Bravo Company, covered by writer Tom, photog Dorothy, and vid Desirae. The latter of the two were bombarded upon exiting the bus with the cadets Friday morning on their roadtrip back from the airport by overzealous Drill Sergeants, screaming in their faces to do something or other cadet-y. They said they were so scared they didn’t know what to do, and it makes me wonder how I would react in the same situation. I wonder if I’ll find out…
Not a lot to chat about today, fun little cookout with the PAOs on Saturday evening, after a full day of procrastinating doing my free lance work via cleaning and gymming - a productive day nonetheless. We wondered around wal-mart before reporting to the man-made lake overpopulated with geese and underpopulated with grills for dinner. LT Nicholson, whom we are not supposed to call “LT” but we do anyway, kept teasingly muttering to his fellow LT about how unorganized civilians are. “They don’t plan, they just execute.” I thought about telling him how many miles of military guys I know who can’t plan worth a piss, but instead I decided to seek out charcoal (which I failed to find). We joked around, hanging out while we waited for the LTs to cook our food (they think they outrank us - oh silly boys). Afterward, we took two hours to venture the forty minute drive to Louisville, wandering about aimlessly (there’s that execution thing again), looking for places that would allow 18+ in while the rest of us could still drink. We finally settled on an abandoned Italian bistro, where Nicholson convinced the staff to play Master P and we pushed the tables aside to frolic around to “Two Step” - both the “hip hop” version and the country. It was a fun night, and I’m looking forward to going back with them again.
Here’s a few extra shots that didn’t make publication from TDC and the DS story. Actually, I’m throwing in a few that got in too. Why? Because I can, dammit.
Day 12: "But I WANT to look mean and scary!" - DS Salinas -
Day 12: “I WANT to look mean and scary!” - DS Salinas
*My unit - Charlie Company - arrives in one week!*
I wish I could find a source online that doesn’t drain the quality of my pictures. They look excellent on my screen, better on Steve’s, and then on Flickr and Facebook it looks like shit… Anywho. I got a lot of great shots at TDC today, our second day in the field. Alpha Cadre (the company’s leaders, who are all officially army soldiers) have learned to recognize most of the PAO’s, particularly the writers and photographers. They pick and tease us constantly, poking fun that PAOs never do anything, they have the best job, the easiest job, etc. I can’t imagine how Bobby’s days have been going, but I’ve barely gotten a second to breathe. Today is the third day in a row I thought I might get off work early and now I’m squeezing in a quick type/dinner break before another assignment. The hours stretch out across the whole day. Steve was right - some days I work 9-5, others I’m up at 4 and working until 2100 - 9pm. I must admit though, sometimes, I make the work for myself.
The story I was covering today, for example, didn’t require my writer, Sara, and I to stick around for the entire event. Grab some quotes, get an idea of what it is, snap a couple shots, leave, deadline finished by lunch. Instead, we both elected to stay and watch the Cadets heave and ho their way through the obstacle course, directing and appointing and delegating - and epicly failing - at every portion of the course. We enjoyed it, seeing the Cadets struggle and fall off the balancing beams, barking inappropriate instructions to one another. (The article, by the way, should be running at the website tonight - check it out http://leadertrainingcourse.com/)
This afternoon and evening, as well, I probably could have kicked back and relaxed. Alas, I elected to accompany a Drill Sergeant that is helping Sara and I with a story to his evening formation to chow. And was invited back to witness (and shoot) smoking his Cadets in the barracks tonight before downtime. This kind of access and coverage would NOT be extended to civilians anywhere else. I guess it’s because this isn’t real OCS or BCT (Officer Candidacy School, or Basic Combat Training - both the first training steps toward being an officer or enlisted in the Army), but who cares? I get to be in the barracks while Drill Sergeants scream their heads off at crying cadets. That’s a good day.
*My unit - Charlie Company - arrives in one week!*
I wish I could find a source online that doesn’t drain the quality of my pictures. They look excellent on my screen, better on Steve’s, and then on Flickr and Facebook it looks like shit… Anywho. I got a lot of great shots at TDC today, our second day in the field. Alpha Cadre (the company’s leaders, who are all officially army soldiers) have learned to recognize most of the PAO’s, particularly the writers and photographers. They pick and tease us constantly, poking fun that PAOs never do anything, they have the best job, the easiest job, etc. I can’t imagine how Bobby’s days have been going, but I’ve barely gotten a second to breathe. Today is the third day in a row I thought I might get off work early and now I’m squeezing in a quick type/dinner break before another assignment. The hours stretch out across the whole day. Steve was right - some days I work 9-5, others I’m up at 4 and working until 2100 - 9pm. I must admit though, sometimes, I make the work for myself.
The story I was covering today, for example, didn’t require my writer, Sara, and I to stick around for the entire event. Grab some quotes, get an idea of what it is, snap a couple shots, leave, deadline finished by lunch. Instead, we both elected to stay and watch the Cadets heave and ho their way through the obstacle course, directing and appointing and delegating - and epicly failing - at every portion of the course. We enjoyed it, seeing the Cadets struggle and fall off the balancing beams, barking inappropriate instructions to one another. (The article, by the way, should be running at the website tonight - check it out http://leadertrainingcourse.com/)
This afternoon and evening, as well, I probably could have kicked back and relaxed. Alas, I elected to accompany a Drill Sergeant that is helping Sara and I with a story to his evening formation to chow. And was invited back to witness (and shoot) smoking his Cadets in the barracks tonight before downtime. This kind of access and coverage would NOT be extended to civilians anywhere else. I guess it’s because this isn’t real OCS or BCT (Officer Candidacy School, or Basic Combat Training - both the first training steps toward being an officer or enlisted in the Army), but who cares? I get to be in the barracks while Drill Sergeants scream their heads off at crying cadets. That’s a good day.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Day 8-9: Let Them Eat Cake!
Back to the grind of going to bed at 11 and waking up at 3am. Though I did sleep in one day this week - all the way to 6:45! It’s strange, but I’m still not that tired. My brain is functioning a stop or two below normal, but my body isn’t going to be admitted for scientific research on the topic of the undead anytime soon. Well. Maybe once my unit arrives, but it’ll be worth it then.
Is this a photography class?
This week has been a bit of a blur so far, with only one of the photog interns on the highway of stress, covering the sole unit currently operating at LTC. The rest of us float around with cameras in hand, overlapping and pinching each other’s elbows in the tiny corners of cake-cutting rooms packed with Alpha Company Cadets like sardines. Granted, all four of us were on various assignments, tagged by three writers and a videographer (he was bored). Eight of the eleven PAO interns, all celebrating the 236th birthday of the Army with a slew of glaring Drill Sergeants and grinning Cadre, all stylishly sporting the various hues of nylon-blended t-shirts graciously gifted by the PAO office, the photogs clunking around in our squeaky stiff combat boots, two Nikons and two Canons casually swinging at our respective sides, the writers hunkered over their notepads, scribbling down quotes here and there. We’re all dying for the pace to pick up in the sense of action shots and quippy beats, and continuously being reminded that we should enjoy this time while it lasts.
Personally, if I’m going to mosey around like a target of Woody Harrelson’s, waking at o’ dark thirty, my downtime piled with freelance work, I’d rather be spending my long hours shlepping around in mud, climbing through rope ladders, getting a good angle in the sparkling sun of a crying cadet rather than impatiently scanning the crowds for a name tag that doesn’t exist with my belligerently underexposed 200, stuffed in the corner of the barrack’s company room, waiting for the CO to finish his inspiring pep talk so I can get a mug shot of a smiley cadet. I still love it - this is exactly where I want to be, surrounded by uniforms and the bright, shining, angry faces of Drill Sergeants who hate us on sight. I can’t say I much enjoy the tinkling bells of my alarm at 3am, or the rope burn the shoelaces of the combat boots leave on my fingers as I lace up every morning, but I do enjoy listening to a DS hardass explain the meaning of leadership, influence, fatherhood, and fondly recount a story of how they delicately shove a cadet or private’s face into a situation to teach them a hard-earned lesson, with a tone of godly authority, and the tug of an affectionate smile at the corner of their mouths.
I can’t wait to meet and get to know my own cadets, to become a subconscious part of the unit, sweeping along the outer links of a formation like a second thought. With my bank account a little loftier, and a new lens on the way, I’m looking forward to early pre-dawn mornings with them, seeing them grow physically and mentally tough, into soldiers of the US Army, independent, focused, passionate citizens of adulthood. And on graduation day, when their families embrace this new stranger, blown away by the pride and strength in their loved one - that’s my favorite part
Is this a photography class?
This week has been a bit of a blur so far, with only one of the photog interns on the highway of stress, covering the sole unit currently operating at LTC. The rest of us float around with cameras in hand, overlapping and pinching each other’s elbows in the tiny corners of cake-cutting rooms packed with Alpha Company Cadets like sardines. Granted, all four of us were on various assignments, tagged by three writers and a videographer (he was bored). Eight of the eleven PAO interns, all celebrating the 236th birthday of the Army with a slew of glaring Drill Sergeants and grinning Cadre, all stylishly sporting the various hues of nylon-blended t-shirts graciously gifted by the PAO office, the photogs clunking around in our squeaky stiff combat boots, two Nikons and two Canons casually swinging at our respective sides, the writers hunkered over their notepads, scribbling down quotes here and there. We’re all dying for the pace to pick up in the sense of action shots and quippy beats, and continuously being reminded that we should enjoy this time while it lasts.
Personally, if I’m going to mosey around like a target of Woody Harrelson’s, waking at o’ dark thirty, my downtime piled with freelance work, I’d rather be spending my long hours shlepping around in mud, climbing through rope ladders, getting a good angle in the sparkling sun of a crying cadet rather than impatiently scanning the crowds for a name tag that doesn’t exist with my belligerently underexposed 200, stuffed in the corner of the barrack’s company room, waiting for the CO to finish his inspiring pep talk so I can get a mug shot of a smiley cadet. I still love it - this is exactly where I want to be, surrounded by uniforms and the bright, shining, angry faces of Drill Sergeants who hate us on sight. I can’t say I much enjoy the tinkling bells of my alarm at 3am, or the rope burn the shoelaces of the combat boots leave on my fingers as I lace up every morning, but I do enjoy listening to a DS hardass explain the meaning of leadership, influence, fatherhood, and fondly recount a story of how they delicately shove a cadet or private’s face into a situation to teach them a hard-earned lesson, with a tone of godly authority, and the tug of an affectionate smile at the corner of their mouths.
I can’t wait to meet and get to know my own cadets, to become a subconscious part of the unit, sweeping along the outer links of a formation like a second thought. With my bank account a little loftier, and a new lens on the way, I’m looking forward to early pre-dawn mornings with them, seeing them grow physically and mentally tough, into soldiers of the US Army, independent, focused, passionate citizens of adulthood. And on graduation day, when their families embrace this new stranger, blown away by the pride and strength in their loved one - that’s my favorite part
 |
| Waiting to go to the barracks for an assignment, playing with the AF-settings. |
Monday, June 13, 2011
Weekend 1: There's a tree in my face!
Steve (the boss): Heather, do you need any days free?
Me: Nope, I'm good, sir.
Steve: Well, that makes things easy... I'd go ahead and take as much time off as you can now. You're going to need it later.
*****
Friday was my first assignment. Steve asked for 10-15 images from both me and my co-intern, Dorothy to cover the Change of Responsibility/ Retirement Ceremony for the Cadet Command head-honchos. The vivacious and beloved Command Sergeant Major Green stepped aside and retired his Army career to make way for the new equally personable Sergeant Major Thompson in the sticky-hot newly furnished auditorium on base. A video commemorating the life and career of CSM Green was played for his family and friends, while he watched, fighting tears.
When I walked into the PAO office to upload, tone, and turn in my photos for the deadline covering the event, SGM had already rushed up the office to begin his duties. He caught me outside the building, yelling "PAO! PAO! PAO!" I had been flipping through the settings on my camera, frustrated with some of the exposure-struggles I'd had during the event, and was startled by SGM Thompson's call. I looked around me, trying to find who he was yelling for, and had a bit of a "dar-huc" moment when I realized he was addressing me. He asked me to take a quick shot of him in front of the shiny new nameplate on the sign out front, so, still stuck on the White Balance settings I'd in the fluorescent lighting from the auditorium, I caught the grinning SGM in an anything but Kodak, off-color shot. Bada-boom, Bada-bing, I'm suddenly friends with the Command of 1st Battalion. This morning, as I marched, bored, from the office, he caught me on the stairs, asked how my day was going and if Steve was keeping me busy enough.
Well, if nothing else, at least I can say that, for some strange reason, high-ranking soldiers like me. Cue bad jokes with Adjutant General Livingston back home.
Anywho, here's a few of the shots I took. When they uploaded to Flickr, they look really washed out, so I'm working on finding the right balance to eliminate that.
The weekend began shortly after I dropped my harddrive onto Steve's desk for feedback and upload. "That's good," he said, and I was released for my first weekend in Kentucky. The interns and I mosied - yes mosied - our way over to the base bowling alley for some intern-bonding. I didn't lose. I tied for last place. So HA! The next morning I teamed up with fellow interns Becka (PR and Social Media) and Noelle (writer) for a day discovering Louisville. We spent a few hours wandering (quite literally - we were SO lost) around Churchill Downs looking for a cafe that ended up being abandoned, over-priced, and completely not worth it. Noelle and Becka had a Mint Julep (with an entire sprig of mint sticking out of the cup) and we instead dined at the equally over-priced dining area outside of general admission. Churchill Downs - for those who don't know, much like myself - is the location for the Kentucky Derby - the biggest horse race of the year, every May. After a couple races, I then discovered the wonderful world of Meijer (pronounced "my-er"). It's like Wal-mart, but - get this - it's BETTER. The set-up is pretty much the same, but the place is bigger, with a hell of a lot more variety. Noelle got some kind of strange spiky fruit I'm sure Wal-mart wouldn't carry in a million years, and they had four kinds of patterned duct tape (including zebra-stripe). As well as a myriad of happy rainbow-y colors otherwise. I couldn't tell you how many people I know that would get the giggly-shits from that isle alone (I might have reason to re-think my social unit from that statement...) Top that off with a delicious shephard's pie dinner in the glass-topped outdoor minimall in downtown Louisville (random Lonestar concert included free of charge), and I'm thinking "Well. Kentucky isn't so bad...."
Me: Nope, I'm good, sir.
Steve: Well, that makes things easy... I'd go ahead and take as much time off as you can now. You're going to need it later.
*****
Friday was my first assignment. Steve asked for 10-15 images from both me and my co-intern, Dorothy to cover the Change of Responsibility/ Retirement Ceremony for the Cadet Command head-honchos. The vivacious and beloved Command Sergeant Major Green stepped aside and retired his Army career to make way for the new equally personable Sergeant Major Thompson in the sticky-hot newly furnished auditorium on base. A video commemorating the life and career of CSM Green was played for his family and friends, while he watched, fighting tears.
When I walked into the PAO office to upload, tone, and turn in my photos for the deadline covering the event, SGM had already rushed up the office to begin his duties. He caught me outside the building, yelling "PAO! PAO! PAO!" I had been flipping through the settings on my camera, frustrated with some of the exposure-struggles I'd had during the event, and was startled by SGM Thompson's call. I looked around me, trying to find who he was yelling for, and had a bit of a "dar-huc" moment when I realized he was addressing me. He asked me to take a quick shot of him in front of the shiny new nameplate on the sign out front, so, still stuck on the White Balance settings I'd in the fluorescent lighting from the auditorium, I caught the grinning SGM in an anything but Kodak, off-color shot. Bada-boom, Bada-bing, I'm suddenly friends with the Command of 1st Battalion. This morning, as I marched, bored, from the office, he caught me on the stairs, asked how my day was going and if Steve was keeping me busy enough.
Well, if nothing else, at least I can say that, for some strange reason, high-ranking soldiers like me. Cue bad jokes with Adjutant General Livingston back home.
Anywho, here's a few of the shots I took. When they uploaded to Flickr, they look really washed out, so I'm working on finding the right balance to eliminate that.
The weekend began shortly after I dropped my harddrive onto Steve's desk for feedback and upload. "That's good," he said, and I was released for my first weekend in Kentucky. The interns and I mosied - yes mosied - our way over to the base bowling alley for some intern-bonding. I didn't lose. I tied for last place. So HA! The next morning I teamed up with fellow interns Becka (PR and Social Media) and Noelle (writer) for a day discovering Louisville. We spent a few hours wandering (quite literally - we were SO lost) around Churchill Downs looking for a cafe that ended up being abandoned, over-priced, and completely not worth it. Noelle and Becka had a Mint Julep (with an entire sprig of mint sticking out of the cup) and we instead dined at the equally over-priced dining area outside of general admission. Churchill Downs - for those who don't know, much like myself - is the location for the Kentucky Derby - the biggest horse race of the year, every May. After a couple races, I then discovered the wonderful world of Meijer (pronounced "my-er"). It's like Wal-mart, but - get this - it's BETTER. The set-up is pretty much the same, but the place is bigger, with a hell of a lot more variety. Noelle got some kind of strange spiky fruit I'm sure Wal-mart wouldn't carry in a million years, and they had four kinds of patterned duct tape (including zebra-stripe). As well as a myriad of happy rainbow-y colors otherwise. I couldn't tell you how many people I know that would get the giggly-shits from that isle alone (I might have reason to re-think my social unit from that statement...) Top that off with a delicious shephard's pie dinner in the glass-topped outdoor minimall in downtown Louisville (random Lonestar concert included free of charge), and I'm thinking "Well. Kentucky isn't so bad...."
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Day 4: Combat Boots? Hooah.
No matter how early I go to bed, I’m still tired by 11AM the next morning. And as the days go by chatting with my fellow interns, I discover I have more and more to toss and turn about.
I’m a young photographer, and not just in the sense of “Hey there youngin’ turn down your music!” but also in the sense that I’ve only been shooting for about two years. I came in clueless, and I’ve slowly been taking a little here and there to build my knowledge. I have one SLR- a starter Nikon, three lenses, one strobe flash, and one filter. Now, I’ll grant that I have more experience in Military Media than anyone else here. Today the newsroom was populated by a couple writers a little nervous about interviewing a cadre whose fiance was killed in Iraq last year. I probably would have strangled someone for the chance at that story. So I guess perhaps that’s why I’m on staff here. I speak civilian, primarily, but I can, sometimes, translate the military jargon into the stupid simple. But I am getting more and more nervous about my skills behind the camera.
At USC, VisCom is kind of an umbrella of sorts. A company would hire me if they want someone on hand as a jack of all trades. I can do graphic design, animation, layout design, video editing, multimedia projects, photography, informational graphics, and I can even do a little reporting and copy-writing. Western Kentucky University, however, offers every photography class imaginable to their photog students. Lighting, multimedia, photo story (which, evidently, is different from photo essays), and god knows what else. One of their classmates has graduated to become the photo editor at the New York Daily News. They speak in K-balance versus white balance, 30D vs D500, Manual vs Program, those two strobes vs these three pocket flashes. I don’t have all of this crap. I’m not even sure what a pocket flash IS. I've taken three photography classes, grand total. Most of what I know has been self-taught.
I feel about three inches tall right now. I feel like I don't know squat about cameras.
I do know that standing directly behind a drill sergeant is how you get the best access to a good shot on a recruit. I also know that military, on the job, want to be treated somewhere between a regular person and a highly-efficient machine. I know to expect to be hated, and to respect the officers and NCOs despite being treated like shit. Don’t act like a civilian and ask dumb questions, but don’t act like you’re high and mighty military either. You will stick out like a sore thumb, people will stare at you, and no one is really going to want to help you that much. These things I know. I’ve learned how to work with them and how to bond with military to gain their very slow and hesitant respect. And I have no idea if any of that will help when it comes time to publish galleries.
BUT I have been issued my combat boots and I’ve got socks to the knees on my Wal-mart list. I’m here to network, expand my portfolio, and spend some time with the type of people I love - focused, passionate, loyal. I'm here to learn about photography, my limits, and as much about the military life that I can. And learn I shall. Though I can’t say that I’m going to invest time in absorbing how to sit there and take thirty shots setting the perfect K balance. I’ve never had the patience for it, and I doubt I ever will. This is why I only plan on photographing until I decide to settle down, then I’ll go back into graphic design. I am not a studio photographer, nor a fashion photographer, nor am I a commercial photographer. I’m a journalist, dammit.
I’m a young photographer, and not just in the sense of “Hey there youngin’ turn down your music!” but also in the sense that I’ve only been shooting for about two years. I came in clueless, and I’ve slowly been taking a little here and there to build my knowledge. I have one SLR- a starter Nikon, three lenses, one strobe flash, and one filter. Now, I’ll grant that I have more experience in Military Media than anyone else here. Today the newsroom was populated by a couple writers a little nervous about interviewing a cadre whose fiance was killed in Iraq last year. I probably would have strangled someone for the chance at that story. So I guess perhaps that’s why I’m on staff here. I speak civilian, primarily, but I can, sometimes, translate the military jargon into the stupid simple. But I am getting more and more nervous about my skills behind the camera.
At USC, VisCom is kind of an umbrella of sorts. A company would hire me if they want someone on hand as a jack of all trades. I can do graphic design, animation, layout design, video editing, multimedia projects, photography, informational graphics, and I can even do a little reporting and copy-writing. Western Kentucky University, however, offers every photography class imaginable to their photog students. Lighting, multimedia, photo story (which, evidently, is different from photo essays), and god knows what else. One of their classmates has graduated to become the photo editor at the New York Daily News. They speak in K-balance versus white balance, 30D vs D500, Manual vs Program, those two strobes vs these three pocket flashes. I don’t have all of this crap. I’m not even sure what a pocket flash IS. I've taken three photography classes, grand total. Most of what I know has been self-taught.
I feel about three inches tall right now. I feel like I don't know squat about cameras.
I do know that standing directly behind a drill sergeant is how you get the best access to a good shot on a recruit. I also know that military, on the job, want to be treated somewhere between a regular person and a highly-efficient machine. I know to expect to be hated, and to respect the officers and NCOs despite being treated like shit. Don’t act like a civilian and ask dumb questions, but don’t act like you’re high and mighty military either. You will stick out like a sore thumb, people will stare at you, and no one is really going to want to help you that much. These things I know. I’ve learned how to work with them and how to bond with military to gain their very slow and hesitant respect. And I have no idea if any of that will help when it comes time to publish galleries.
BUT I have been issued my combat boots and I’ve got socks to the knees on my Wal-mart list. I’m here to network, expand my portfolio, and spend some time with the type of people I love - focused, passionate, loyal. I'm here to learn about photography, my limits, and as much about the military life that I can. And learn I shall. Though I can’t say that I’m going to invest time in absorbing how to sit there and take thirty shots setting the perfect K balance. I’ve never had the patience for it, and I doubt I ever will. This is why I only plan on photographing until I decide to settle down, then I’ll go back into graphic design. I am not a studio photographer, nor a fashion photographer, nor am I a commercial photographer. I’m a journalist, dammit.
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