Janet Worne - Thoughtful Photography

JAWS

 I recently joined an organization called JAWS, which stands for Journalism & Women Symposium. The declaration on their website states:  "JAWS supports the professional empowerment and personal growth of women in journalism and works toward a more accurate portrayal of the whole society."

The first local get-together I attended was great. (I call it a get-together because that's precisely what it was, rather than a formal meeting) I found mostly writers--in fact I think I was the only photographer. That's okay, though, because I consider myself a writer as well as photographer. It was wonderful to gather with a group of women in my field and compare notes. Even though the number of female reporters, editors and photographers is growing steadily, we are still not well represented in management. We still face the unique issues that men don't seem to worry about as much, such as juggling childcare with the crazy hours of a journalist, and being taken as seriously as our male counterparts by our bosses and the public. It is refreshing to have a group to talk to frankly about those issues and have them actually UNDERSTAND what I'm talking about.

I am on their mailing list and the latest topic was a call for quotes by female journalists. Here are a couple of my favorites:

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me.”
            --Erma Bombeck

"Networking is a primary way women discover that we are not crazy, the system is."
             -– Gloria Steinem

"Women are in a double bind. If we talk like women we are not respected. If we talk like men, we are not liked."
             -– Deborah Tannen

"Information is power and without it we can ‘t make the changes that we need in order to balance our work and family lives."
             -– Judy Mann

“In journalism, there has always been a tension between getting it first and getting it right”
                --Ellen Goodman

Annie Leibovitz Quote

"A thing that you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people." 
                    -- Annie Leibovitz

Asleep At The Wheel

I went to an open air concert last night at the Albuquerque Summerfest and photographed "Asleep At The Wheel". It was like old times. Very, very old times.

Years ago, you could find me leaning against the stage at various concerts with my camera, happily recording the visual moments while savoring the musical feast--for as long as I wanted.

These days, an army of security guards stand by your elbow ready to pounce if you override their strict rules of picture-taking. No flash photography. Only shoot from the tiny prescribed area. Only shoot during the first song. Oh, and first you must sign this document agreeing to turn over all rights to your work and your first born child.

I am exaggerating of course, but only a little. Last night, though, there seemed to be no such restrictions and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Ray Benson on lead guitar and vocals was as entertaining as ever...

And even played his guitar backwards...

Jason Roberts, center, played fiddle and vocals and Eddie Rivers, right, played sax and steel guitar...

Keyword Inspiration

Our July/August monsoon season seems to have arrived ahead of schedule. Not that we have been getting a lot of rain--especially by my old Kentucky standards--but our typically blue, cloudless skies have seen small storms rolling past periodically each day. For us that translates into cooler afternoons and evening light shows. What rain there is to be dropped, is usually unleashed on the Sandia Mountains within sight of my camera.

I took these pictures during Mother Nature's after dinner entertainment while sitting on our patio. Looking at them I am still awed by what I see. My mind runs through the list of keywords I attached to the metadata. I start with the literal: mountains, weather, wind, clouds, sunset, sky, Southwest, Sandia, storm...

Somehow that seems inadequate. I move on to the more descriptive: alpen glow, pastel, orange, intense, scenic, strength, grandeur, big sky...

Then I unleash my feelings and add a few larger concepts for good measure: Enchantment, dreamy, faith, spirituality, passion, perfection, surreal, vitality, dreams, goals, Zen...

Can't you just see one of these photos on a poster with some inspirational message about reaching for your goals with passion? The point is, if they were languishing in some stock agency with only the literal keywords, the buyer looking for an image to illustrate a concept or inspirational message would never find them.

Awe-inspiring. I never tire of looking at that mountain. I need to come up with more words to describe it.

Jodi Cobb Quote

"You get your best pictures when you engage in a process of discovering each other. I want the viewer to have an emotional response to the subject, without some obvious technique getting in the way."
                  -- Jodi Cobb

Playful Photography

My photos are a result of my relationship with the subject. Sometimes the relationship is fleeting and somewhat one-sided and sometimes protracted and mutual. At times it is contentious and other times, playful.

While in Milan, it was my intention to get back to the Duomo after dinner in time for the best light. But I could see the golden light fading as we approached. I felt deflated and stood in front of the ornate cathedral in frustration, wondering "what do I do now?" That's when a something red to the right of the Duomo caught my eye.

It was "Toy Building N. 1", a futuristic sculpture created by Italo Rota and temporarily installed in the piazza. Okay, this was cool. I love contrasts and this modern, red, odd shape will frame the centuries-old cathedral nicely.

But then the sky darkened and the sculpture lit up and glowed and became the subject.

Then I played with both shapes equally, playing off the contrasts...

That was when I noticed the mirrors in the sculpture and a soundscape surrounded me with indescribable noises that lent a weird sense of disorientation to the scene. At this point I found myself grinning broadly and probably laughed out loud a couple of times.

The night ended as I turned away from the Duomo entirely and took one last shot of the sculpture before tearing myself away.

I love it when I have a playful experience with photography. In those moments I find it very easy to slip into that Zen state where time doesn't exist.

National Geographic Website

Check this out. It is a fun photo website to explore, but then what do you expect from National Geographic?

Happy Birthday Tessa

My dog, Tessa, is 6 years old today. It's hard to believe.
She is still an amazing dog with a personality that won't quit. She was a search and rescue dog for 4 years. The very first mission I took her on was as a small puppy. It was a house fire and one person was missing inside. My older dog, Dakhota, found the body and afterward, when the firefighters were finishing up, I walked Tessa around the scene to get her used to uneven footing and all the smells.

Ansel Adams Quote

“Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter.”
                    --Ansel Adams

Italian Magic

We can talk about color vs. black and white, we can talk about composition and we can talk about higher meaning. But the bottom line in photography is always light. It is the light that we chase. It is the dull, flat light that turns us off and the magical, golden light that sends the chills down our spines.

Somehow, I found the light in Italy extra special. Even in the middle of the day. I wondered what it could be. Was my perception colored by the affection I have for the place? When I critique portfolios, I caution young photographers not to be blinded by celebrities or foreign subjects. Just having those subjects in a photo does not make a good photo. It must also have the other qualities of a good photo.

After giving it some thought I decided it was because the light bounces around the ancient buildings and reflects off the subtle colors of the plaster. Another reason may be that I am inspired by the things I see and feel while I am there so that I am more receptive to capturing these images.

Whatever the reason, I am thankful.

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan was an exercise in sensory overload for a photographer:

A reflecting pool in the Castello Sforzesco in Milan was a bit more restful:
As was this courtyard, also in the Castello:

The Torre del Mangia in the Piazza del Campo in Siena glows red in the evening:

And an early morning shaft of light caught a pedestrian's yellow bag in the Piazza della Repubblic in Florence: