For the Feature Event picture story, the feature event was defined as: A candid, unposed story or essay of a significant planned or unplanned event that does not qualify as “hard news” or focus on “social issues.” Examples are: Michael Jackson’s death and memorial, President Barack Obama’s inauguration, spiritual celebrations or pilgrimages, cultural festivals, or any number of other event-based experiences.
Caption (from the First Place picture story): WASHINGTON - JANUARY 20: Barack H. Obama holds in a crowded hallway backstage at the Capital moments before walking out to be sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts as the 44th president of the United States on the West Front of the Capitol on January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama becomes the first African-American to be elected to the office of President in the history of the United States.
I mentioned the definition because there were several good stories that were eliminated because they didn't fit the definition of what category it was entered in. One such story was Tomas Van Houtryve's essay, The Great Leap Backwards.
Caption: A portrait of Chairman Mao Zedong is seen reflected in wet pavement in "The East is Red" square (Dongfanghong square) of Nanjie village in Henan province, China on 31 October 2009.
As only 12 images were allowed for an essay, the ones entered are #1-6, 8, 16-20. Because it didn't seem to be of a specific event (as per the caption and story summary), say the anniversary of Mao's death, it was disqualified, even though the judges liked the story and the images. One comment that sticks out to me from their judging: "It's interesting to think of the Communist government as a brand name."
And that brings me to one of my conclusions from watching the judging and being a caption reader: Make sure that you write a good succinct story summary, not a personal statement. There was one in there that really reminded me of those artist's statements which explain their philosophy, etc., instead of that hypothesis that Rita's been talking about in class. And condensing it for the judges wasn't easy. Which makes me think about thinking when you shoot, so that you can explain your story through your images.
Other stories that were liked but eliminated because of problems:
- The story on a houdou festival in Haiti. The judges felt like "the story went in 2 directions: covering the festival and issue reporting on poverty." One of the judges described it as "thrashing about" by the photographer - a visual image that I really like :) I can see that photographer, head whipping all over, shooting indiscriminately. I think that sort of thing comes with inexperience - because you don't *know* what's a good shot, moment, what to look for. What it was eliminated for comes from a combination of maybe a bad edit, but also not having a clear focused 7-word sentence to describe his essay.
- The "Day of the Dead" picture story. Again, it had a problem with the photographer, Laura Morton's, edit. Looking at everything put together from that event, she had images that would have answered that problems noted by the judges. They took issue with the lack of people, even though the event description talked about it being a big town celebration. The images in the story: #2-4, 6-8, 10, 12, 20, and 21. The judges also felt like the way that the photographer used black and white created a spectacle, made it mysterious, but that it fell short in fulfilling the atmosphere it envoked.
- There was another inauguration project (besides the First Place winner), which was shot in Harlem, that the judges liked because of the risk they felt like the photographer was taking, telling the story in a different way, but it was voted out because the judges felt like the project ended too early due to the photographer ran out of ideas. The photographer "left the sentence incomplete." (What a great image!) One judge also commented that "it feels like I want the photographer to turn around [and photograph what's going on behind him], like he's missing something."
- The 1st Place winner, Charles Ommanney, was commended for taking an original angle to coverage of Obama's inauguration. His pictures were terrific. What I loved about them - the human moments, the authenticity of the moment - were what the judges loved. One judge commented that the essay illustrated the difference someone between being permitted in and someone just wandering by. It reminded me of the onion we talk about in class, getting to know your subjects and seeing them, not the image they project, but them.
Caption: WASHINGTON - JANUARY 20: In their last moments in the White House President George W. Bush, first lady Laura Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynn await the arrival of Barack H. Obama before he is sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts as the 44th president of the United States on the West Front of the Capitol on January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama becomes the first African-American to be elected to the office of President in the history of the United States. In these behind the scenes photographs the Bush and Cheney entourage wait for the Obama family to arrive at the White House for a coffee morning with congressional leaders in the Blue room.
- Of Daniel Ochoa de Olza's entry "Bullfighting in Spain" (which won 3rd Place in the Feature Event category), the judges really liked how it told a familiar story told with a new angle. They liked how the framing was simple, the moments it captured were impactful and it showed the consequences of the bullfighting culture. But they also felt like it was too stylized and clean, perfect, which made it imperfect. Several of the images, especially the bull busting into the ring, reminded of the colors in "Bully for Bugs" (see below) and some pictures I've seen when I was younger but I can't put my finger on where or what they were. I really liked how the photographer evoked those national colors of Spain in his work and the way he used light.
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