Monday, October 5, 2009

Fall is here


It's fall here in San Jose, just barely, but nonetheless I'm having to break out my jackets. This photo was manipulated in photo shop for an assignment that I did for an art history class, and really captured what this time of the year means for me. Hope you like it.

Holy Crap

It has been way too long since I have posted on here. Since my last post things have tremendously changed in my life.

A quick list:
Quit my old job at Victory Lane.
Moved out of my house.
Moved into a new house.
Took position as photo editor of the Spartan Daily.
Celebrated my 23rd birthday.

I hope to be posting more here, though I am pondering moving to a wordpress blog on my server, which hosts www.joeproudman.com.

Also be sure to check out www.spartandailyphoto.com. It is the new photo blog of the Spartan Daily. It's amazing.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

MotoGP


I look forward to the US Moto Grand Prix at Laguna Seca just about as much as I look forward to my birthday. It means nothing but bikes, beers and good company on one of the biggest weekends in America. This year's event happened to on the fourth of July.

Here is a quick photo from the event. I'll get more up as soon as I can. I am way behind on editing.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

The sun decided to show


So I took a quick trip down the coast (I love living in California) earlier tonight. I just need to take a drive. While I got over the hill into Santa Cruz I was hoping to be greeted be a gorgeous sunset, but was instead welcomed by the gray clouds and no sun. As I was leaving to head back home and walking back from some cliffs I saw the sun peaking out from under the clouds, and ran up a small hill to get this shot. I hope you like it.

Monday, June 1, 2009

So you graduated college... now what?

That's exactly what Harvey RaƱola is trying to figure out. Well, actually he knows what he needs to do, and that is get a job. That is easier said than done. Take a look a series that Harvey has started, documenting his time being unemployed. It's funny and really a bunch of nonesense, but is very well put together and interesting. Keep and eye out for future episodes.




Saturday, May 16, 2009

Soulja Boy

Got a gig shooting the Soulja Boy concert recently. It was a nice event to shoot, as I had access to pretty much everywhere. Here are a couple of shots from the concert.



Thursday, April 23, 2009

Umbrella Project

For my Advanced Digital Photography class we mainly have one large project, our umbrella project. We had a choice of a subject we wanted to pursue, with not too many restrictions. Some people did studio lighting, others did a theme on drugs and alcohol, one person is doing a project on race. I wanted to pursue something with my faith.

At first I wanted to create images in the studio that shared my view on Christianity, being a Christian. I tried to find similar pieces of work, but had a hard time. Eventually I decided to go a different route. I figured it would be helpful to find out what people around me believe.

So instead of a studio assignment it turned into a documentary. What I do is find people, take their photo and ask them, "Who is God to you?" They then write it down and I eventually scan that piece of paper and place it next to their photograph.

I hope to do around 10-15 of them all at 16x20. This project has gone several revisions since I started a few months ago. Firstly, I want to focus on college age people. A recent sermon I heard said that more and more college age people are drifting away from religion. Secondly I want to print big. By printing larger, I wanted to make the images very immediate. I wanted the words bigger than life.

With this project, the people I document are now creating God in their image. It is extremely interesting to compare the writing to the people in the photographs. I am about halfway done, so let me know what you think.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Globalmediainitiative.com

Check out the GMI website with all the photos and stories from the trip to London and Paris.

There are sections for Magazine, Photojournalism, Broadcast and a link to our blog which has some personal accounts of the trip.

It was designed by the very talented Megan C. Hamilton, who also did a great job, along with Suzanne Yada, running the trip. These two girls kept everyone on their heels and pushed them to do better.

So why are you still reading this? GO HERE.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Life.com

I am a big fan of Life Magazine. Not that Sunday, cheap thing that would come with your newspaper, tucked between the comics. Anytime I see a book about the old Life Magazine, I have to try extremely hard not to buy it. The pictures, concept and quality of that magazine have been unmatched.

Recently, the magazine has found new life online. Life.com recently launched, a sort of revival in a new medium. It is strongly visually based, with tons of photos of current news. In fact, through a quick exploration, I don't see any written stories. The pictures seem to be telling the words with extended cutlines.

So is this going to be successful? Is it going to revive the old spirit of Life Magazine?

I hope so.

The site itself is straight forward. The pictures look great. The stories are current.

Some bad things: the site is slow. Viewing the stories needs a much better player. I would expect something flash, though I am sure they have many reasons why it isn't. But it takes way to long to switch to the next picture sometimes and is annoying to see the next page load.

It's obviously going to have to rely on the name and possibly older stories and photos such as the one below to get going. Lets hope that it can stand on its own in this new age of media.

I have always dreamed of shooting for Life, maybe that'll happen someday.

The recent discovery of photos from the day Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered is wonderful. Going through the pictures, I find myself in a sort of awe of the photos and what they mean; what those moments meant after MLK was assassinated. Its amazing that these photos have been in a file cabinet for the past few decades.

This photo story is an important documentation of one of the most somber times in American history, and they just might be what Life.com needed to get going. Something big to bring attention to the site, which without it, these pictures might not have surfaced for many more years.

Life.com is going to get more than just a bookmark in my browser. Its going on the bookmark bar with my daily sites I check.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Oh how I miss Paris



This is one of my favorite photos of the trip.

It was a complete act of guided randomness. I wouldn't call it an accident and can't say that it was completely random. I purposely held the camera lower at an angle. I knew the focus would be iffy. I was pretty positive that I would capture a natural moment.

But I did not know how it would turn out.

That's okay.

What I like so much is the area in focus. Normally a head in front of a monument would be exposed well and in focus, to ensure its place of value in the photo. I don't know that the head in front losses any value. In fact it makes me think. Who is this guy? Why is he by the Eiffel Tower? Why doesn't he look happy? Is he having some issues? Why isn't he important enough to be in focus?

I did the same thing for this photo. I just wish I could have got more of the tower in the background. Not much more, just a more.

I think this is a style I am going to pursue. It's kinda holga-ish, even more since I went with the square crop.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Back Home

After being back home for a full day and sleeping many many hours to catch up with the jet-lag, I'm here to write about my experiences abroad in London and Paris.

It was my first time out of the country, second time out of California and fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth time flying commercially. I was as green as Kevin Federline's accountant at a rodeo wearing a plastic cowboy hat.

The week leading up to my departure, I was scared. I was afraid to leave all that I knew was comfortable, afraid that I wouldn't be able to hack it as a journalist in another country, afraid that I wouldn't like it over there.

That's crazy right? Hell, I'm an award winning reporter with more experience than most of those people on the trip. I've been in the heat of things and I know what it takes to get a good story. But I know that none of that means shit. Excuse my French, (no pun intended... ok a little). But in all honesty, none of that matters. It's what I get done there that counts. Nothing I've won yesterday gets the job done today.

That scared me. I know that every time I go into the field, I have to prove myself over and over again. To let my employers know that I am worth the buck. But to do that in another country was a whole new obstacle to the game. But what sets a good journalist apart, better yet person, is being excited about that obstacle. Like I have said in this very paragraph, it scared me to go, but I was even more excited.

It was a test. It was an adventure. It was an opportunity.

Once I hit the ground in London, all of that fear left me. I was there and nothing was going to change that. In one week's time I would be back in that very airport, and I better have some stories to tell.

Let me tell you one thing, two and half days in London and Paris is not nearly enough. Not even close, but I am so stoked that I went to both. The highlight for me in London was not finding a story, but meeting a pub manager. More or less, he showed me that meeting people across the pond is just as easy as it is back home. It starts with a simple hello, and maybe a drink.

In Paris, seeing all the sites was amazing. The Louvre, Eiffel Tour, Montmartre, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame were all breathtaking. I saw the Mona Lisa and all the greats like Giotto and Dadi. I don't know if I could pick out one of those experiences as better than another, but one thing they all have in common is that I was able to explore them with an aspiring photojournalist. This young gal has a bright future ahead of her if she continues her path, and was a pleasure to hang out with. But to me the essence of this trip was made clear in Paris.

There was no other way I would have met some of these people that traveled to Paris and London with me. I know for a fact that a lot of those who I shared sleepless nights with, and rubbed elbows with on the tiny airline seats will be more than the person I say the occasional hi to in the hallway. I gained many friends on this trip, and in an industry which has become brutal and cut-throat, having friends could never be more important.

I may not have come home with the "wow" picture or story I was hoping for, but I did come home with that "wow" experience. I made some good friends, and made other relationships even stronger. I would do it again in a heart beat.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

check it

Hey all,

Be sure to check out our group website at globalmediainitiative.blogspot.com. You can find blogs, photos and some stories.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Busking



I came across Darci on my way to Big Ben. Here street musicians are called buskers, and frequent the London Underground Tube system. Darci was a pretty cool cat, who had been busking for over 15 years.

London story

Sunday, March 22, 2009

London

Sorry I haven't been posting yet, there's no free wifi in the area.

But keep an eye out tomorrow and I'll have some stuff up.

Including my new website. Details to come.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

London/Paris here I come!

So I know I have been neglecting this blog for a few months. I've been busy.

But to make up for that I will be continuously posting here from London and Paris starting tomorrow, granted I can find wifi.

So please check back next week for photos, videos, stories and so on. Be sure to leave some comments.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Wedding this weekend


No it's not mine... I'm too pretty to get married this young.

Anyways,shooting a wedding in Pismo Beach this weekend, with some great people. Wish me luck and hope that it stays sunny or at least dry.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

San Jose Stealth Dance Team



A few members of the San Jose Stealth Dance Team, part of the professional lacrosse team in San Jose, are associated with SJSU. Here is a soundslide show on those girls.

Monday, February 23, 2009

A sign that a good day is on the way


Snapped this in Sunnyvale while switching trains on my way to work.

"When I woke up this morning, a rainbow filled the sky, Well that was God tellin me, Everything...Everything is gonna be alright...."
- Jack Johnson and G. Love- Rainbow

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Check it

Kevin German was named 2009 Southern Photographer of the Year.

Kevin is a former photographer at the Sacramento Bee before moving to Vietnam to work on documentaries in South Asia.

His Images have an astounding effect on viewers, as it doesn't get any more real than what he has shot. Not only are his pictures amazing and capture very emotional moments, the stories he has found in the short time that he has been there are just impressive. Kevin is a rare journalist that is focused on nothing but the story.

Check out his winning portfolio submission here.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

A face lift




















If you're in the market for a good lookin' photography blog site, check out these 30 Amazing photoblogs.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

The night life

Mr. Harvey Ranola and I decided to do a little late night shooting on top of a parking garage a couple of weeks ago. It was a fun experience and the first photo shoot I had done in a few weeks. I really wanted to try and utilize the low light that is available on top of that garage. I did have to bust out the flash, though on the shots near the ledge, but I put a red filter on it. This diffused the light and when converting to grayscale, red seems to do better. I don't know if there is any science to that, but that's what seems to happen to me. By diffusing the light enough i was able to capture the ambient light of the city.

Enjoy.




Wednesday, January 28, 2009

A look into the future... from 1981



Las Vegas Sun staffer, Kyle Hansen showed this to me. Very funny.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Inauguration

I uploaded this to Ireporter on cnn.com. I am not exactly thrilled about it at the moment, but I just wanted to get something up quick. It is kind of long, but I had so much good audio. I even left one interview out. I hope to have a soundslide version of this up soon, with the other interview.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Its been way too long

Since school let out for the winter break, I have just turned off my brain. My daily routine has consisted of me stumbling my way to work, working, stumbling my way home and doing it all over again. I have gotten away to the beach a few times, and spent wonderful time with the girlfriend, but alas I have taken no real photos. I haven't written anything worth a darn. I haven't done much with this down time. I'm even slacking on editing photos that I shot this past semester.

School is about two weeks away, and with such a full semester ahead of me, I won't have any time to work on any personal projects. I hope I can get motivated. Anyways, I know that I have neglected this blog too. I hope to start another blog, which would focus more on my writing. But I can hardly keep up with this one.

Here is a photo I gave my sister for Christmas, from her wedding in September. I figure if I was going to post something I need to have a pic. I really like this photo; it was a great location, my favorite time of day and it was really their first quite moment as a married couple. in most of the photos before and after this i was using a fill flash but I really liked how this one came out.

I don't really tint my photos, but I felt it worked for this picture. I hope to shoot more weddings this season and this is definitely a portfolio picture.