Although we're not truly into the fall season, last Thursday marked the end of my summer.

School started, (I don't know why on a Thursday) and I am back at it, hitting the books. But this semester is one I have been looking forward to since January. I have crossed that line from a Bulldog to a Spartan, enrolling at San Jose State University.

I have to say that I am pretty excited, and was even more excited about my first assignment for my online Journalism 61 class. Do you want to know how cool it is?

Guess what, you're reading it!

Yup, we have to have a blog, which is the way we will post assignments and such. Pretty cool to see that even journalism classes are keeping pace with the journalism world.

In my assignment I am suppose to introduce myself a little and say what aspects of media interest me, along with what I want to get out of this class. Here it goes:

I am Joe Proudman, hailing from the Central Valley. More specifically, a small town called Lemoore. I am very much so interested in journalism, mainly newspapers. I have a simple goal of latching onto a daily newspaper as a photog or reporter and riding it out for a few years, having all the fun that I can, before I move into teaching.

I expect to come out of this class a better reporter/writer. I hope to be more informed about the journalism world, and maybe make some contacts.

Here's to a good semester.

Oh boy, oh boy...

Nikon just announced the newest additions, that's right, additions with an "s", to their camera family.

On August 23, 2007 they introduced the Nikon D3 and D300.Ken Rockwell has some very nice reviews on both cameras.

Thom Hogan can fill you in on the new lenses that Nikon plans to release; five of them due out in November along with the D3 and D300.

Now there is no way that a poor college student like me can afford either of these cameras, but lets hope they drive down the price on the D200 enough for me to grab one.

My journalism portfolio

Here is my journalistic portfolio from the past year and a half. The photos have appeared in the Twin City Times, Selma Enterprise, Kingsburg Recorder, Lemoore Advance and Hanford Sentinel.

On the right side of my blog is a link to my portfolio filled with captions.

My portflio problem

I have ran into a sort of problem lately.

I have been applying to different news publications, trying to land a spot as a staff member or freelancer. I market myself as a photographer and writer. The issue is, how do I show a possible employer my portfolio when I submit a resume and clips via email?

An obvious answer would be to create a website. Personally I don't have much knowledge in that area, nor the extra funds at the moment. It's an option, but with school starting next week, time will not be an option.

So I have decided to create a slide show which is in the above post, and a Flickr badge in the right column of this blog page that links to my portfolio with captions.

I think it's a nice temporary substitute for a website. But sooner or later I will need to get one of those up and running.

Is there anyone out there that wants to offer a helping hand?

Summer Haze....

So I am getting adjusted to my new digs here in San Jose. One of the best things about living in the area is I have so much going on around me.

For example I went and checked out Ozomatli, G Love and Slightly Stoopid at the Greek Theater at UC Berkeley.

An awesome show at an awesome venue. The best part is, it was less than an hour from my house.

Here is my girlfriend Courtney Laine taking a moment to pose with G. Love. By the way, I took that picture with my cell phone! Technology is definitely on the up and up.

A new me

So, I am coming to you from my new home in San Jose. Last Thursday marked the end of my time at the Twin City Times, quite possibly one of the most of important periods of my life.

I appreciate all that I have learned there, and will take it with me for the rest of my life.

Before the end of this month I will be starting school at San Jose State University. Lets all pray that things work out for me.

On to other news, I recently purchased the foundation to my off camera lighting set-up. I acquired two light stands, a SB-24 and a few cords. I hope to bring out the strobist in myself. I can't wait to start taking pictures of people.



And yes, that's my bear. It was a gift.

Shot with a SB-24 to the left with a toothpaste box snoot.