Photo Story

Taken June 1st- Blocked off road to second part of campground that was still closed at Yellowjacket Lake Campground. 

Taken May 24th- Mattie Woodbury crossing the cattle guard and under the tape to walk into the closed campsite.

Taken May 24th- My car parked on the outside of the tape taken from inside the closed camp.

Taken May 23rd- Information board with small paper saying that the camp was closed.

Taken May 23rd- Overall view of the closed campground with tape across the cattle guard at Elk Creek Campground. 

Taken May 25th- Shows the empty spots in the camp which are normally packed during Memorial Day Weekend. 

It's What I Do

This book surprised me so much. At first I was surprised because I did not expect it to be about a freelance photographer in second and third world countries, mostly stricken by wars. I did not really not know what to expect, but it was not the life that Lynsey Addario lives. 

My favorite parts of the book was in the beginning of the book when she was just getting started in the more dangerous parts of her life. I found it amazing how she got started in her career. I also found it comforting that she was worried about her safety and if she would do a good job. That was so comforting to me because as I am closer to going out into the world and starting my career I have those same concerns sometimes. Reading about her struggles and how she overcame them showed me that it was possible to do what you want and make a positive difference in the world if you put your mind to it. 

One of my favorite things about Addario and her style is how much she cares. Reading about the times that she needed to get out of a bad situation, but she would still pause to take a picture or two if she felt compelled. She cared about her subjects, and the state that they were in. She cared about the places that were being destroyed by wars. 

I understand Addario's sense of responsibility to go out there and report on what is really happening there. She does not want to sit on the sidelines and tell a story that is not complete. I respect her opinion a lot and share that understanding with her. But I do not think that I would be able to do her job. I would probably be too scared to do it, but I love that she can do it without fear. The closest I would get to her line of work is going after the wars to see the damages done. 

I did not use much of her methods per say, but I did acquire more confidence in myself to go up to a stranger and ask them if I could take pictures of them. One of my biggest challenges of being a photojournalist was getting out of my comfort zone and taking more pictures of people and places where people congregate. I think the other aspects of her work I just did not have the capacity nor the resources to use some more of her technical methods.

This is my favorite picture because it is so simple. I like it more with the slight blur to it than if it was clear. To me, it shows how hectic it was there and then, but there was only one goal: win the war. Because it is so dark it shows how depressing it was and how bad people felt at times, but they kept moving forward. If I were to have taken this picture, I feel that it would have been one of those "good accidents." One that was unintentionally taken at that angle or blurry, but when it all comes together it just looks so good. 

One of my favorite quotes from the whole book is from the chapter "How Many Children do You Have?" The quote is, "I thought of Mohammed from the visa office, the working city women stuck at home, the widows in the countryside, the maternity hospital with its ghastly conditions. Mr. Faiz, in his grand office at the Foreign Ministry in Kabul, represented everything millions of women across the world have fought... But perhaps there were many women in Afghanistan happy with how they lived: their days spent baking bread in the countryside and caring for their families in the crisp, clean Afghan air. My own life choices must have been equally as confounding to people like Mr. Faiz." I like this quote because it sums up how she felt doing her job often when she was in different countries. She often thought of women and their suffering, but also acknowledges that maybe some enjoy their lives and think that she is the crazy one. She was okay with women who liked their lives, and did not want to intervene in how they lived, but she wanted everyone to be treated equally. 

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. Regardless if they were a photojournalist, or if they liked photography at all. This book is so much more than a lesson book on how to be a good photographer, but it is not all about people suffering. It has the perfect amount of adventure to get your adrenaline going, and tells you about Addario's life to really relate to her as a book character. This book is a perfect mix of a little bit of everything. 

Photographer of the Week Report

Photographer of the Week: Jim Marshall


Jim Marshall was a self-made photographer most famous for shooting musicians and concerts like the one above of Def Leppard taken at Woodstock. Marshall picked up a camera when he was a teenage and fell in love with it. Soon after he got a job for a record label where he landed jobs like The Beatles farewell tour where he gained a lot of fame. 
Marshall only had a few rules when it came to shooting his subjects, no editing, no hair and makeup, none of that. I think that is also a huge reason why he mostly shot photos in black and white. It shows the raw, and the emotion behind the photos. 
Most of the time, when Jim Marshall was photographing an event, he was the only photographer there. Even though The Beatles farewell tour was widely photographed, he was the only one that was allowed backstage with the band. One of his most famous pictures is of the band running across the field from the stage after their final performance.
Other than musicians, Jim Marshall was very passionate about cars. He loved them from a young age and never lost his interest. He photographed the Indy 500 in 2005 and the release of the new car in Tokyo, Japan.
Sources:
 https://www.jimmarshallphotographyllc.com
https://media.jimmarshallphotographyllc.com

Hometown(s)

I was fortunate enough to have two home towns. One where I was raised, and one where I graduated and consider home now. These are the things that I am most proud of. 

Taken May 24th, 2020. Every year Prairie City, Oregon puts up flags in every post in the cemetery over Memorial Day weekend to honor veterans. 

Taken May 24nd, 2020. This is the Methodist church turned community center in Prairie City.  It sits right in the middle of town with a view of the mountains. 

Taken May 22nd, 2020. The Harney County Courthouse is a staple in the community because even after the town burnt down three times, it was built to survive. 

Around My Town pt 2

Mattie Woodbury looks at her pole as she is about to cast her line into the lake 

Melissa Woodbury looks at her line while casually reeling it back in 

My pole while I was waiting for a bite

Environment & Mug Shot

Mary Woodbury pictured at her leather working bench. She started with leatherwork as a 4-H project and now it has expanded far beyond that. 

Around my town

Kevin (also didn't want full name), Greg, & Ariel Winegar getting ready to tie one on 

Mark Woodbury & Gage Immoos making sure the calf stays calm while it waits for a brand

Greg (who didn't want his full name out) roping a calf while his horse walked to where he needed to go