Review: 'The Great Picture Hunt 2: The Art and Ethics of Feature Picture Hunting'

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|| SportsShooter.com: News Item: Posted 2005-07-26

Review: 'The Great Picture Hunt 2: The Art and Ethics of Feature Picture Hunting'
What Photographers Should Be Reading

By Jim McNay, Brooks Institute of Photography

Heeeeeee's baaccckkk!!!!

After several years out of print, Dave Labelle has created a revised version of his classic book on photojournalism and feature photography.

After many years in the business as a photographer and manager, Labelle is now teaching photojournalism at the University of Kentucky. And like every professor, Labelle has his "metaphor de guerre" that helps him explain what he is all about.

For Labelle the model is that of the hunter. In this case he is after the qualities one needs to hunt out good feature photographs. He distinguishes what he calls the inherent qualities and the learned characteristics needed by the hunter with a camera, and the sacrifices required along the way to put these elements into practice.

All this is presented in bite sized bits. The sign of a great teacher is someone who can break a complex subject down so it is understandable to the new learner. With this volume photographers can read a page-a-day and then do go work using that day's principle as they hit the streets.

Along the way readers will learn:

What it took for a picture to be awarded two points by legendary picture editor Bob Lynn.

Why Labelle sat on the floor of a rehabilitation center for 30 minutes -amidst a collection of farm animals.

Labelle takes chapter headings such as "Hunter Qualities", "Learning to Hunt", "Hunter Methods" and "What to Hunt" and writes about them so photographers have new insight in what they can do next to go make a picture. And he does not just stick to the single picture. He digs into the subjects of picture stories and photo essays as well.

Throughout the book, photographers are reminded making good pictures is not just about the mechanics of photography. "The great photojournalists, "Labelle says, "are not in love with the mechanics of photography-they are in love with people and with life. Photography is the brush they use to paint the world as they see it."

Parallel to being a good photographer for Labelle is the importance of being a good person. "As an editor, I would rather have one photographer with a great attitude than 10 with aptitude," he says.

Frankly, this book has more good ideas per square inch than just about any other book about photojournalism.

Hunt it out.

Photographers, particularly those in school or seeking to break into the photojournalism, are welcome to send ideas for future columns to Jim McNay at jim.mcnay@brooks.edu.

Questions about getting started in photojournalism that might be answered in future columns are also welcome.

Related Links:

Book: The Great Picture Hunt 2

Jim McNay's Member Page

Related Email Addresses:

Jim McNay: jim.mcnay@brooks.edu