Friday, November 25, 2011

Waiting for the snow to fall

Zack Dronitsky, 2, of West Conshohocken, checks out the Christmas lights on the tree during the Conshohocken Annual Tree Lighting event on Friday, November 25, 2011. The event feautred a DJ, as well as hot chocolate and treats, trivia and prizes for the kids, followed by the arrival of Santa Claus, escorted into town by Conshohocken Fire Companies. Photo by Christine Reckner/Times Herald Staff
Glen Ridenour, of Conshohocken, takes a photo of his children from left, Anna, 10, Audrey, 5, and Steven, 8, at the annual Conshohocken Tree Lighting event on Friday, November 25, 2011. Photo by Christine Reckner/Times Herald Staff

Monday, November 14, 2011

Basketball season is here






Tonight I photographed Lafayette vs. Princeton Womens Basketball at Lafayette College. With my deadline shortened by an hour, I'm pleased with the shots I got in the little amount of time I was given to trasmit. Also, this was my first basketball game since Penn State, so it's been at least a season, maybe two since I've shot BBall. Photos came out a bit yellow though due to the lights in the gym...I think my color balance skills still need some work.

Also, found these kids this afternoon at an adventure park being..well, adventurous.



Friday, November 4, 2011

First Week on the Job




My first week at the Times Herald has definitely been an eye opening experience. I realize now what I've been missing out on these months I've been freelancing. Human contact, for one. When I freelance, I drive to my assignment and then come right back home to edit. I really enjoy coming into an office and working with other people with similar interests and skills to my own.

Another thing I enjoy is all the fun toys I get to take home, cameras, lenses, flip cams, net books, business cards even reporter notebooks..I feel like a real journalist now! AND my title isn't just "Photographer", my official title is Multimedia Journalist. I like all that that title encompasses. In addition to my shooting stills, I'm also once again shooting short videos, making slideshows, and will even be brushing up on my writing.

And the most important thing is that I'm really learning a lot. The other photographers here have been showing me a ton over the past few days, in fact, my head feels a little like it's going to explode. But that's a good thing, in some sense. I've needed this after my long hiatus from school.

One thing that's a little tricky to learn is that I've got to edit my photos to light almost to the point where they're uncomfortably washed out because the photos are going to look differently in print than from what I see on my computer screen. I've always been told to raise the levels and high lights but it seems now I've really gotta bump it up a notch.

Oh yeah, and in case you were interested, these photos are from Plymouth Whitemarsh's homecoming football game.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Jobobobob

I got the job!!

Starting next Tuesday I will be starting as a staff photographer for the Times Herald in Norristown!

It's so exciting to know that all my hard work has paid off!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Fall Features

Jacob Friedman, 2, of Telford, attempts to pick up at pumpkin at Brumbaugh's Farm in Telford on Tuesday, October 18, 2011.



Leave it to little kids to come to the rescue when you've been assigned features. My thought process was pretty much, "find a farm that's selling pumpkins. Find a small, cute child picking a pumpkin." Great success, and a nice little break from all the sports I've been shooting.

What's really starting to drive me crazy is that now that I'm shooting almost every day, I'm starting to get more and more critical of my work (not neccessarily a completely bad or good thing). I can tell myself for each assignment 5 things I could have done better. It makes me wonder why I didn't do these things in the first place! Example: I wish I had gotten even lower to the ground to photograph Jacob, it's hard to see his eyes. Or maybe even lower as if we were looking through the pumpkins...it seems that sometimes I get so worried about a deadline that I try to shoot something good instead of something awesome.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Souderton vs. Pennridge Girls Field Hockey

Pennridge’s Sarah Yerk tries the control the ball while Souderton’s Abbey Gabriel gives chase during Wednesday’s Suburban One Continental Conference game. For Montgomery Media—CHRISTINE RECKNER




BOO!




I'm loving these haunted attraction assignments. The people working the haunts try just as hard to scare me as they do their other guests so I'm screaming along with them as people are jumping out at me too. If only I didn't have to use my flash...but these haunts are sometimes in complete darkness..

Mike Hart, of Harleysville, shows the crowd an old fashioned corn shelling demonstration at the 38th annual Applebutter Frolic at the Mennoite Heritage Center in Harleysville on Saturday, October 1, 2011.