FotoRecord » 2010

month: February 2010

02.16.2010

I had a great time Sunday helping judge the South Carolina News Photographers Association Pictures of the Year (SCNPA) contest at The State newspaper in Columbia, SC.

Fellow judges Stacy Pearsall, Michael Holahan and I reviewed some fantastic photojournalism. Congratulations to Photographer of the Year Gerry Melendez of The State and to all of the winners.

Having entered hundreds of photography contests over the years, I knew how important they can be to the photographers and we worked hard to come to a consensus on what we thought was the most outstanding work. The single category competition is open judging so photographers and students can listen to the critiques and use them to improve their work.

It was great catching up with some old friends and meeting some new ones.

Stacy and her husband, Andy Dunaway, have done some amazing work as military photographers. Stacy, who is one of only two women to win the National Press Photographer Association’s Military Photographer of the Year competition, is now the owner/director of the Charleston Center for Photography. The center is a great resource for professionals and photo hobbyists and is offering some terrific workshops.

Michael is a talented photographer working on the staff of The Augusta Chronicle. His resume includes many awards including an honorable mention as photographer of the year in smaller markets in the NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism contest.

Congratulations also to my friend Travis Bell for winning first place in the Sports Action category. Like me, Travis started in newspapers before leaving to do wedding photojournalism. He still does a great deal of sports photography for the University of South Carolina and Clemson University. Myrtle Beach photographer Randall Hill, who did an amazing job helping me at a wedding on the Grand Strand, took home numerous awards for his fine work.

Thanks to the folks from SCNPA for inviting me. Look here to see all the winners.

Some of the winners in the SCNPA contest

I look over some of the entries with fellow judge Michal Holahan. Photo by Stacy Pearsall

I look over some of the entries with fellow judge Michael Holahan. Photo by Stacy Pearsall

SCNPA vice president Rich Glickstein, left, looks on as judges Stacy Pearsall, Michael Holahan and me select the Best of Show. Photo by Andy Dunaway.

02.10.2010

I had the great pleasure of helping document Liz and Michael’s wedding Saturday with three other photographers.

Liz is a talented young photographer who works with two of my friends. She photographs and shoots Super 8 movies with Richard Israel and works as studio manager for Kristin Vining. So we teamed up to collaborate on coverage and also got help from another friend, Rodney Slate, a Greensboro area photographer who runs Autumn Song Photography. Richard also shoots film and he used a variety of film formats including 35mm, medium format and even broke out his Speed Graphic to shoot 4X5 portraits.

It was so nice to see the love and faith displayed by both families and everyone was so easy to work with. Michael’s father is the minister at CrossWay Community Church and he performed the service.

Each photographer has their own distinct style and it was fun to see how we all approached photographing the day. While we all draw from different genres at times, Richard is know for his incredible fine art sensibility, Kristin has a fun, fashion-oriented approach and Rodney is more of a quiet observer. And I utilize a very documentary, photojournalistic style in my photography. Richard, who was the main photographer on the shoot, plans to create a website of the coverage to demonstrate each photographer’s style.

It was great fun working and sharing with these talented photographers and we couldn’t have had better subject matter.

Congratulations Liz and Michael - I think you are going to have one spectacular wedding album!