Now interning at the Star-Ledger

Last month I graduate from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and started an internship as a photojournalist at the Star-Ledger in New Jersey. The Star-Ledger is a fantastic newspaper and has an excellent photo staff. They're coming off a Pulitzer Prize win, and in the short two weeks I've been on the job, I've heard nothing but good things from New Jersey residents.

While there, I am just like a staff photographer. I get all the gear, any range of assignments and most importantly a paycheck. I've been lucky in that I've been able to cover a few MLB games recently. I got out to the Mets/Braves and then a couple Yankees games against the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians. These games are a workout, as I'm transmitting early and often. Here are some photos from those three games:

This is New York City

I've been in New York for several months now and haven't really shot anything. I played around with video a lot last semester and wrote a lot, but I rarely took MY camera out of my bag. It was a disappointing realization, when I went back to California for the break and didn't really have a whole lot to show my family and friends. I hope to change that this semester, even planning to carve out a day dedicated to exploring and shooting. But more importantly I just need to take my camera out more often.




Like the one I found at Union Square in the subway. I could decide if these guys were cool or just creepy. They were getting a lot of attention, and rightfully so, but it wasn't so much for their music, which I don't remember being bad, I just don't remember it at all. But here is a glimpse of New York, where this isn't really weird, just another cold day in the city.

Have you shot anything good recently?

Sixth Annual New York Hustle Congress

I spent a good chunk of the weekend shooting the Sixth Annual New York Hustle Congress. I have to say that it was a tremendous amount of fun. I really enjoyed snapping pictures of people who were having the times of their lives. A lot of people had just expressions of pure fun on their faces and it was a pleasure to document.

If you are looking to purchase photos from the event, go to www.joeproudman.com/nyhustle and follow the directions from there. If you have any questions just shoot me an email I'll get right back to you.

This is what the galleries will look like when you start searching for photos.


I've realized that it might not be a bad idea to learn a dance or two. It's rather impressive what some people were doing on the floor with just a few well placed and timed steps.

I'm seeing blue

This semester I am taking Alternative Photo at SJSU. If working in the darkroom wasn't obscure enough these days, this class takes it a step further, by finding- you guessed it, alternative ways to print photos.

No need for any fiber based paper or lines of trays under the amber light (although may choose to create their negatives in the traditional darkroom, but is that so traditional?). Print on what you want: watercolor paper, wood, wool, cotton. Anything that'll let you really.

So for I first assignment, we did Cyanotypes. These print pretty well on watercolor paper, which is what I chose to use. One gal tried wood, but couldn't get it to work.

Since this is a sort of vintage process, I decided to go with some vintage cars as my subject. I had some pretty good shots from the Monterey Historics and wanted to pump those pics up a little more.

A quick rundown of the process is: you coat your paper (or whatever you want) with the solution that contains potassium ferricyanide and ferric ammonium citrate. Then after it dries, you put an inverted transperancy on top and expouse in the sun for a few minutes. Next you rinse for about ten minutes, drop in a little hydrogen peroxide. All of a sudden you get this gorgeous blue print.

I made things hard on myself, trying to print large. I wanted 16x20s and the biggest I found to print transparencies was 8.5x11. So I put four of them together on one. I later found that I can buy rolls of Pictorico that are much larger (but also more expensive.)

The image on this post, doesn't do the process justice. But it gives you an idea.

Next is Van Dykes. Can someone say Cowboy Up?

A business question

So I have felt the need to create a business card, as I start to get into a little freelancing. It's not something I am too familiar with, but came up with a satisfactory card. I created it pretty quickly as I was out the door to Stanford.

Tell me what you think and if you have one to share please do.

And the winners are....

The Pulitzer Prize winners were recently released and with no real major events such as 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina, there was not one dominant event. I believe The Wall Street Journal was the only entity to walk away with multiple awards.

The main two winners that interested me, were the photography winners.


Oded Balilty of The Associated Press won for Breaking News Photo and his shot of a Jewish settler challenging Israeli security officers.


A lone Jewish settler challenges Israeli security officers during clashes that erupted as authorities cleared the West Bank settlement of Amona, east of the Palestinian town of Ramallah. Thousands of troops in riot gear and on horseback clashed with hundreds of stone-throwing Jewish settlers holed up in this illegal West Bank outpost after Israel’s Supreme Court cleared the way of demolition of nine homes at the site. February 1, 2006.

For Feature Photography, Renée C. Byer of the Sacramento Bee won with her very compelling photo essay on a young man battling cancer with his mom by his side. I tell you the last few photos are so impacting, as is the whole story. This is a very sad story, but these photos help you to feel that sadness.



Cyndie holds Derek on May 8. He is on medication that hinders his speech and keeps him awake at night. Except for a few minutes while hospice nurses are with him, Cyndie spends nearly every moment of the day at his side.."I was exhausted beyond belief but I had to do this. He would call my name and always expects me to be there," Cyndie said.

Both of these photographers were very deserving artist. Let's give them a round of applause.

Check out more winners here.

Cowboy Up

Thought I would give you something else to look at since it has been so long since I posted.



I took this at the Laton Rodeo, right before the rider was let out of the gate. What I really like about it is the hands reaching in and framing the flag on his shoulder.

Laton is a small town, located in the middle of the country in the Central Valley of California. The rodeo is by far the biggest event of the year for the rural community. All around you see cowboy hats, spurs and huge belt buckles.

I really think this picture captures that small town America look. It's simple like the town, you always have a helping hand from the community, and you're modest, like the rider who is looking away. The riders hands are worn from hard work, much like the residence of the small farming community.

I feel that this is what journalistic photography is all about; portraying an entire event, community or demographic with a single photo. It's a tough job, and I am by no means saying I did or do a good job doing it. But being a photographer in the media world, means telling a story. I think this photo tells that story and tells about the community where it comes from. I didn't run this photo in the newspaper, but it was favorite.

What do you think?