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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Curfew Ideas
Beth Van Zandt, Photographer
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Muscatine | IA | USA | Posted: 3:06 PM on 04.11.06 |
| ->> I'm looking for ideas to illustrate a story on teens and the local curfew law. And as usual, the deadline is Thursday. So I have a short amount of time to do it. There were some ideas thrown around the staff meeting, but they included photographing teens before the actual curfew and calling it a photo illustration. I'm not comfortable with doing that. To me that's deceiving the readers. I'd appreciate any ideas. Thanks in advance. Beth |
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Jamie Roper, Photographer
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Hays | KS | United States | Posted: 3:51 PM on 04.11.06 |
->> (Warning: Bitterness ahead)
I think that at this point, reader's expect deception, and don't care (for the most part). Think the average reader can tell what's been done in-camera and what's been 'photoshopped'? If so, you're catering to a more savvy group than i am. It's pretty repugnant to me, but dang -- i sure do shoot a lot of 'sportraits' and business features that run as actual news!
Given that we are, by and large, providers of entertainment rather than information, give 'em the show the readers and your editors want. How about an over-the-shoulder silhouette shot of some wistful teen looking out of her bedroom window onto an empty street, lit by a single street lamp? Or how about a just an empty (though obviously picturesque and dusk-lit) street?
More and more, it feels like our duties are to evoke, rather than depict. Murky water, at best.
Sorry if this stuff is OT. I've got a long week of non-photo photos ahead of me. I'm sure you can come up with something. Stick to your guns and do your best to avoid an illustration if that's how you want to handle it. My bitterness aside, this is still a good place to search out ideas. |
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Peter Taylor, Photographer, Photo Editor
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NYC, Washington | DC | | Posted: 3:55 PM on 04.11.06 |
->> how about using two shots to illustrate the story, the first one being a shot of the fronof the 7-11 or quickie mart where the kids hang out, with all the kids in front smoking hanging, etc. the one of the same store, same place same focal/vantage point of no one hanging out in front of it.
pt |
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William Jurasz, Photographer, Assistant
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Cedar Park | TX | USA | Posted: 4:01 PM on 04.11.06 |
->> I think Peter has a good idea. But what exactly about teens and curfew laws are you trying to talk about? Positive aspects of it, negative aspects of it? Anything in particular?
As per Jamie's post, I'll agree that reader's expect deception, but I also think the average reader is smarter than you give them credit. May I suggest reading http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060797460/sr=8-2/qid=1144785102/ref=pd_bb... |
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Wesley R. Bush, Photographer
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Nashville | TN | U.S. | Posted: 4:14 PM on 04.11.06 |
| ->> It's going to be hard to take photos of underage kids out past curfew. You might have better luck doing a ride-along with a police officer and shoot him checking people for curfew or whatever it is they do. We see so many of those types of shots, but I'm struggling thinking of a way to shoot it without setting it up. Maybe ask some children of coworkers or friends to see if you can show up for some shots at a local hangout. Where I'm from, it was mostly fields parties so we could do whatever we wanted without having the police called on us. |
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Brian Ray, Photographer
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Iowa City | IA | USA | Posted: 4:21 PM on 04.11.06 |
->> Beth,
Call the Police Department and see if you can ride along with an officer for a few hours as they enforce this law. If that is not possible you can always ask if there is a place in town where they typically find teens out after curfew and go there on your own. I realize that this may not be possible given the short amount of time you were given but you never know. One last thing you might want to try is to talk to your editor and see if you can get the story pushed back till after the weekend. You will have a much better chance of actually finding teens out on a non-school night.
My $.02
Brian |
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Melissa Golden, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Athens | GA | USA | Posted: 5:32 PM on 04.11.06 |
| ->> If you do an illustration, maybe get a bunch of kids together outdoors after dark and have them all glancing at their watches/timepieces/local clock tower with concern. |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Maryville | MO | USA | Posted: 8:44 PM on 04.11.06 |
| ->> Why not take a ride along with a teen rather than the cop? There perspective is likely to be less predictable and less contrived. The PD is going to be less permissive than riding with some teens. Just ask around your paper. Your circulation dept. is likely to have some teens or parents of teens (delivery people) around that may relate well to the story. |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 10:14 PM on 04.11.06 |
->> Boy, Melissa and I were on the same page. As I was reading your assignment, the image formed in my head. Kids in front of a local clocktower landmark in front of their cars. I'd shoot it 15 minutes before the curfew and make SURE you can see the time in the clocktower easily.
And needless to say this needs to be lit properly. (White T shirts and leather jackets optional :)). Play with the angle. A low angle can emphasize the kids being a bit disgruntled. Fun assignment if you ask me. |
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Adam Gerik, Photographer
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Peoria | IL | USA | Posted: 3:07 AM on 04.12.06 |
| ->> How about shooting a teen through their bedroom window at dusk or night? This would convey that they're inside, instead of outside... |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Maryville | MO | USA | Posted: 12:10 PM on 04.12.06 |
| ->> Why does it have to be contrived? Shouldn't it be done journalistic. Show what kids want to do late at night by hanging out with them and just documenting it. You all want to turn this into a posed photo or something that is so sterile that it doesn't illustrate reality. Reality is they want to drive around, smoke, make out, buy a snack etc. Don't be so literal in regards to the time element. |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Maryville | MO | USA | Posted: 12:11 PM on 04.12.06 |
| ->> The point of the photo is: How does a curfew impact their lives? |
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