Get Inspired: Denver Post Photographer Wins Pulitzer

I am proud to announce that one of my colleagues, Denver Post Photographer Craig Walker, won the 2010 Feature Photography Pulitzer for "Ian Fisher: American Soldier." In May of 2007, Ian Fisher was a high school graduate looking for a new direction in life. He chose the military, where he could put his fighting instincts to work in defense of his country. Craig and reporters Kevin Simpson, Michael Riley and Bruce Finley tracked Fisher from high school graduation through basic training, assignment to Colorado’s Fort Carson and a year-long deployment in Iraq. The narratives and photos reveal how Fisher also had to win a battle with himself before he could defend his nation. Meanwhile, videos in the comprehensive online multimedia project of Fisher’s friends, relatives and military colleagues discuss his decision to join the Army and how his military career path has impacted them.

The Pulitzer couldn't have gone to a more deserving, hardworking photojournalist. Craig's accomplishments with his lens has spanned the years from chronicling the last 6 months of a one young woman's battle with cancer to risking his own life while shooting in Afghanistan. He has always been one of the most supportive photography staff members here at the Post encouraging me to continue with my own photography studies and even fighting for my ability to be able to shoot here at the Denver Post.

During his speech, I chuckled when I learned that Craig's favorite photo from his series on Ian Fisher was Ian's most disliked photo. Sounds familiar, huh, considering the fact that as a photographer, often my favorite shots are the ones the clients could care less about. It was very poignant to hear Craig talk about living through the emotional ups and downs along with Ian who gave unprecedented access to he and his family throughout his journey of becoming an American soldier. The Fishers were in attendance today when the Denver Post staff saluted them and Craig with a champagne toast and a party complete with a live band later that evening. Publisher Dean Singleton and Editor Greg Moore spoke about Craig's win as validation of all the sacrifices The Denver Post has overcome in the past year to stay alive in the aftermath of the closing of the Rocky Mountain News, including surviving layoffs, and cuts in salaries and benefits.

Get Inspired: Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest Winner

When I saw the above image, I knew I just had to show it on my blog as a source of inspiration to both you and me. It's always a good idea to study another photographer's work so that you can use similar ideas, techniques, editing or compositional elements to craft your own images. Congratulations Bernardo Medina. What an imazing, storytelling image...the kind I strive to capture.

ST. LOUIS, MO--(Marketwire - October 22, 2009) - From among 12,500 entries, Bernardo Medina's incredible photo was selected as the Grand Prize Winner in the 2009 "Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest" (NYSE: ENR) with National Geographic. Medina will now receive the "ultimate" grand prize: a trip of a lifetime for two to the Galápagos Islands and seeing his photo grace the pages of National Geographic magazine in an ad for Energizer® Ultimate Lithium batteries.

Last spring, Medina, an architect by trade, submitted his photo -- Peddling Bicycle in Wind -- in the Inspiration/Keep Going® category. In August, his photo was named a Category Finalist by Jim Richardson, a National Geographic photographer and the judge for the "Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest." Then America was asked to go online to nationalgeographic.com/lithium to vote for a favorite in each of the six categories: animals/wildlife, nature, travel, people and cultures, weather and inspiration/Keep Going®. After four weeks of voting, Medina's photo advanced to become a Category Winner. Richardson went back and reviewed all of the Category Winners, and in the end, he selected Medina's photo as the "ultimate" best and named the Houston photographer the Grand Prize Winner.

"Each and every finalist in the 'Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest' would have been a worthy winner, but one photo so captured the essence of its category that I ultimately chose it as the Grand Prize Winner," said Richardson. "I have no idea what sort of storm this rider faced, but the photographer drew on every creative tool available to produce an image that truly captured the heart of the theme: Inspiration/Keep Going®. Congratulations to one and all!"

Energizer, the company known for innovative solutions to power people's lives, partnered with the world-famous magazine National Geographic for the second annual "Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest" to highlight Energizer® Ultimate Lithium batteries, which last up to 8x times longer* in digital cameras.

Medina will now begin planning his once-in-a-lifetime adventure to the Galápagos Islands, and his photo will be featured in the December issue of National Geographic magazine in an ad for Energizer® Ultimate Lithium batteries. Medina will also receive a prize pack of a 2.0 USB scanner, an assortment of Energizer® Ultimate Lithium batteries, two National Geographic books: Organize Your Digital Life and National Geographic: The Photographs, and a framed and signed 16x20 print from Richardson's photography gallery.

For more information on the "Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest" and to see Medina's photo and the other five Category Winners, go to www.nationalgeographic.com/lithium.

Get Inspired: Adam Welch Photography

Photo credit: Adam Welch

Today I am introducing a new category of my blog I'm calling "Get Inspired." As much as we all love our craft as fellow photographers, I know there are times when motivation wanes, insecurity sets in or life circumstances weigh us down. For some, the culprit is the economic downturn raising doubts and questions about how many of our businesses can survive. For part-timers like me who depend on the salary brought in by a full-time day job, time management is an issue, trying to pay homage to two masters while juggling families and personal commitments. When a friend on a photography forum voiced his concerns about lack of motivation, I could feel his pain and worried about his blog which hadn't been updated about his recent projects or shoots in months.

Some might say the answer is to just get out there and shoot, then shoot some more. But if you've been wallowing for too long, it can be hard to get the juices flowing again. That's when I say seek inspiration from viewing others work. Examining how other photographers "see" their world can help expand your perspective and take your photography to a new level. See an image that moves you? They say "imitation is the best flattery." But don't stop at admiration. There's nothing wrong with trying to duplicate it, and it can be fun figuring out the lighting setups, poses and compositional elements to create that end result and then tweak it with your own personal style. Whenever I'm getting ready for a session I've never shot before, such as my recent bridal fitting shoot, I always check out what other photographers have done to gain inspiration and ideas.

Photo credit: Adam Welch

This week, I'm getting inspired by wedding photojournalist Adam Welch of Adam Welch Photography. Welch, a Colorado native, began his career as a newpaper photographer. As a print journalist myself, I can instantly relate to Welch's "real world training" and his love of candid photography.

Photo credit: Adam Welch

While preparing for my back-to-back wedding sessions I will be shooting later this month, I needed some validation for the type of imagery I capture. Often times when I Google wedding photography online, I come across sites that showcase these glamorous "destination wedding" images that look more like magazine ads pitching dream weddings than something that was actually experienced by a real live couple. The images were breath-taking, no doubt. But It just seemed so far removed from reality to me. But it made me worry: is this the kind of imagery that clients want? Is this how you secure that $5,000 destination wedding client?

Photo credit: Adam Welch

I think the answer is that you have to shoot what you are good at and find clients who appreciate your work. As a reporter, I'm just naturally more drawn to covering the reality of the event as it happens. Of course, you have to have traditional posed shots of the wedding party and formal portraits. But documenting that day should be about capturing all the moments that made your wedding unique. Did the flower girl or ring bearer fall asleep on his/her duty? Did your Dad give the crowd a thumbs up when walking you down the aisle? Did your nephew who wouldn't be caught dead dancing ask you to accompany him to the floor? If that's what happened at your wedding, then that is what needs to be remembered. In order to know this kind of detail about a client, it may mean that you need to spend more time getting to know about them and their family and situation, but that's what I think a good photographer needs to do anyway. You can't get that kind of information by setting up a shoot on the phone.

Photo credit: Adam Welch

Welch's photography confirmed for me that there is a place for my style of candid event coverage. I hope that my photography can reach his natural level of storytelling. Welch will be hosting a four-week workshop series called "Taking Better Candids" in June. I plan to attend.

Photo credit: Adam Welch