As A Photo Intern…
July 5, 2006
As a photo intern at the Herald, I have had some great opportunities. I got to spend a day with the Southwind Drum Corp and record a day in the life of the members. It was neat to see what it was like for someone who packed their suitcase and sleeping bag and left home for months to sleep on gym floors and ride across country on a bus. I know it may not sound fun, but when I saw the excitement in these musicians, it reminded me of my passions and excitements. It was an assignment that excited me even more about getting into photography as a career. It’s like playing all the time… as a job!
On this photo, I was so blessed by the surroundings. I was at Campbellsville High School. This football field was actually up on a hill, making the background clear and absolutely beautiful! The sun was coming in and out of clouds, big fluffy, dreamy clouds. It was around 7 in the evening. So… I got an idea to try and silhouette the players. I laid on my belly on the ground.. I exposed for the sky, not the players. I exposed for the brightest part of the sky. Then, I composed my picture and took one. I am a digital shooter, so I checked it on my camera. The players were not nearly dark enough. So, I exposed for the sky again and exposed it 2 f stops darker than the sky’s exposure. Then I took another shot. It worked!
The players warmed up for at least 30 minutes, so I had plenty of time to play with the exposures, which changed rapidly with the sun coming in and out of the clouds.
I thought the arch of the players was beautiful in itself, so I tried to incorporate the beautiful sky as best as possible. This job is so fun!
The most difficult thing was finding people after a performance or practice to ask them their name. Although I knew none were leaving the area, but it could take a lot of time since they were spread out in a high school. I was successful in finding everyone…
But I have a lot to learn.
Man vs. Beast
July 1, 2006
This photo, taken in Rupp Arena June 30 at the Dodge Xtreme Bulls Ride Hart Tour, shows you how brave the rodeo bullfighters (and don’t call them rodeo “clowns”) can be in the ring with these fierce animals. The bullfighters’ main job is to get between a downed rider and the bull, so that the bull won’t hook or stomp the rider. But bullfighter Matt Baldwin also gave a love tap to this bull while the rider was still aboard! It looked like Baldwin was trying to get in position so that when the rider was either bucked off or dismounted after a successful ride, he’d be ready. I’d like to give you the rider’s name, but welcome to my world: the only cowboy NOT listed in the roster of competitors was this guy, number 45!
Also, this is one of the few sports that I found the Nikon D2’s “whatever is closest to the camera will be sharp” autofocus setting worked best. The bull can make a wicked sharp turn, and then an autofocus spot will move off the rider or bull in a hurry. Yes, sometimes a bullfigher can come in the edge of the frame and throw off the “closest to the camera” autofocus, but I found that it works generally well.
Tech info: Nikon D2, 1/500 sec., 80mm, f2.8, 800 ISO, Auto White Balance.
