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|| SportsShooter.com: News Item: Posted 2008-04-10
Gray Matters: Just Do It.
Jim Merithew did not disappear off the face of the earth.
By Jim Merithew, Wired News
Photo by Jim Merithew / Wired.com
Internet journalists photograph Al Alcorn, creator of Pong, and Ralph Baer, designer of the first home videogame console, Odyssey, during their Game Developers Conference panel.
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Wow.
Did I disappear off the face of the earth or what?
Just ask my friends. I have been totally incommunicato for weeks.
It turns out that working at wired.com (http://www.wired.com), being a husband, and teaching at San Francisco State University leaves me with no extra time for any of the usual extra-curricular activities such as writing a column.
Oddly enough, I love it. I love being busy. I love working. And I love teaching.
I even picked up the camera professionally for the first time in a long time.
Anyway, I want to share a couple of recent observations I've had during my craziness. I'm not telling you anything new. Instead, it's stuff we've all experienced, or thought about before. But I felt like a reminder was in order.
First, if you want to do anything worth a shit with your camera, you have to take a hint from Nike and Just Do It.
Over the past couple of months there were instances where I tried to shoot or assign a picture but then hesitated. I wanted some definitive word or needed to be "sure" it was a good idea. Each time I ended up kicking myself for not following my instincts.
Second, some of the best pitches end up being crap. And some of the worst pitches end up being gems. If you have the resources, sometimes you have to throw pasta at the wall and see what sticks.
Third, if you push, you'll be surprised what you can do. The talent pool in my class at SFSU varies. But during the course of the semester every student in that class has made a picture that surprised me. It goes to show that if you put yourself in great picture making situations you might just make an amazing photograph.
Fourth, be careful when you try to talk about photography. It's a challenge to try and use words to describe this thing we do. Talking about photography can help you become a better photographer. Whenever possible remember to show them and not tell them.
Fifth, sometimes subjects just want to talk. And talk. And talk. My students found this out the hard way. They are working on a project about aging and constantly run into the chatty chatter while trying to get intimate with their subjects. I've run into this situation too and am not sure I have the answer. It's different every time. Sometimes honesty works. Sometimes being a little rude works. Sometimes giving a little physical space works. And sometimes the only thing that works is remembering you just need one photograph from any situation. When you remember that, you can relax and patiently wait for that little window of opportunity.
Finally, every time you think you have this business figured out it throws you for a loop. More on that later.
Before I sign off, I want to give a quick shout out to my students at SFSU. They have been a great source of inspiration. Now get to work.
I also want to remind everyone the Stan Kalish picture editing workshop (http://www.kalishworkshop.org) is accepting applications. Great workshop and great people.
I promise to find my way back here more often.
Until then, go make a little picture.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and the author alone. They do not represent the views of his employer, co-workers, friends or family.
(Jim Merithew is a picture editor at Wired News. Jim invites you to direct your questions and comments about this column and other issues involving photojournalism ethics to him through his member page: http://www.sportsshooter.com/merithew.)
Related Links:
Merithew's member page
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Contents copyright 2008, SportsShooter.com. Do not republish without permission.
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