Just submitted these photos to reno newspaper...What do you think of them?

Question

These shots are of a fire fighting effort on the South end of Reno Nevada. The area is called Rattlesnake Mountain.

http://howto.netmorale.com/viewtopic.php?t=301

These are photos of events as they were happening with no time for "composition" or to choose the perfect angle. Never ment for them to be artistic, just to actually capture the newsworthy event as it was happening.

Thaks to all for the input. Guess they felt one was worth of publishing:

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

Answer 1

The following is a bit harsh but you did ask what I think of them and telling you lies wont help anyone.

Saying you had no time to compose the shots is so lame! it takes as long to compose badly as it does to compose well in the case of those shots

I think they are poor compositions, poor exposures, poor technically, generally un printable

what I would like to know is what the paper will say, proberly the same as me.

If they are exclusive and its still news they might use one.

EDIT: good fair coment by seemless, i balanced the thumbs out, how can someone thumb down his wise answer?


a

Answer 2

I'm happy to see that you got one published! Congratulations!

I have seen the comments about composition, etc., others have made. It's quite clear that none of them have any experience in photojournalism ('cept Antoni, maybe, but videography isn't the same - usually) and no idea of what the criteria is for publication.

The image that they published is the one that they felt illustrated the fire being under control. That was the news worthy point of view for the story. Is it the best picture of the lot? No. The picture of the tanker flying low dropping a load of fire retardent is, but it wouldn't be in line with the tone of the news angle.

It is often, if not always the case, that you take the picture you can. In fact, it's pretty much the name of the game. The action can be too fast, concentrated and non-repeatable to spend any time on the finer aspects of photography. Criticising spot news photos on some sort of artsy fartsy basis misses completely the use and intent of the image.

Having said that, it doesn't mean that you should not try to get the best image possible. For a working photojournalist, solidly grounded in the basics, things like composition and exposure come to the fore virtually without thought. They are always in the context of the situation, though. You get the best composition you can and the best exposure you can, but your primary focus is to get the bloody picture.

You images obviously met those criteria for the paper. However, images more solidly composed by another photographer would have been chosen if they were available. In order of importance to a newspaper:

1. Get the image.
2. Get the best image.

If this wets your apetite for this type of photography, I encourage you to continue to explore it. You won't be able to compete with an experienced photojournalist, but there will be other spot opportunities like this that you can take advantage of and you will learn what gets published, why, and how to get those pictures.

Vance

Answer 3

I wouldn't have submitted the first one at all - you can't even make out what's happening, it looks like a bomb - but the other three aren't too bad for showing what was happening. I would have tried to avoid the power lines if I were you (I know, you were in a hurry, but can't you take a picture while running?) I understand if you couldn't get anywhere else, but you can't see the fire, or smoke, or anything. These photos just aren't very exciting.

Answer 4

Congratulations on getting one published.

I wonder what the comments would be if Robert Capa was alive and submitted a couple of his D-Day landing photos.

My reference to Capa inspired me to thumb through my copy of a biography of him. He was in London, England in 1941 with Life Magazine photographer Bill Vandivert.

"Inevitably, some of the conversation was about photography, and occasionally Capa and Bill Vandivert, a Life photographer, would get into an argument about how Capa worked too late in bad light and how he didn't take enough time to set up properly. "I'm not interested in taking pretty pictures, " Capa would reply. "I'm anxious to tell story. You never know when things are going to happen. They may happen just as the light goes. I'd rather have a strong image that is technically bad than vice versa." "

From 'Robert Capa: A Biography' by Richard Whelan.

Answer 5

The first one is completely out of focus. The others lack contrast, composition, and good angles. The last one, the best out of them, (though still needs work) was worsened by the power lines cutting across the frame.
The only thing I can suggest is try harder next time.

Answer 6

They're kind of...blurry. Nothing artistic about them, really.

It might have been better if you moved to a different position, to get different lighting.

They look kind of dark.

The paper might use them if they are the only photos though.

Answer 7

Pretty vanilla to me...dont mean to offend but technically low quality and weak in compostion. In short not very compelling. Keep trying though if taking pics is your thing GO FOR IT! Good luck!

Answer 8

There pretty good but try a tripod and get the wires outta the way but anyways not bad.

Answer 9

Congratualtions. Those are some of the worse photos I have seen.