Voices from the Sit In on Television

 

My short documentary Voices from the Sit In is on the TV tonight.

You can watch the film on Mississippi Public Broadcasting TONIGHT at 7:30 PM and SUNDAY at 11 AM and 5 PM.

 

If you're in Mississippi, you can watch the film during the airing times on your television or you can use the MPB/PBS livestream on your computer (https://www.mpbonline.org/television/livestream/) or the MPB/PBS app.

 

If you've seen the film, or see it this weekend, be sure to give it a review or rating at IMDb.

 

If you want to know more about the film, see:

 

https://www.neh.gov/article/sit-delta-state-40-years-later

 

Danielle Saar #occupyla (046)

KABC reporter Danielle Saar records for a report on "Bank Transfer Day" at California Plaza in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 5, 2011.

It's Okay, We're from Television

This term I've been teaching a television production class. For our first 5-minute piece we've been working on a three-camera interview-style show.

So we have three people running cameras, one on lights, a sound mixer, a technical director (running the switcher), and a director. You know the routine: "Ready camera 1 ... take camera one. Ready camera 3...."

It's interesting, to me anyway, how the process is a sort of improvisational editing. When we cut something in post, we work to find the right moment to cut -- so that the conversation makes sense. Live, however, it's always a bit of a best guess....

It's great fun to watch. We did four run-throughs on Tuesday, getting better each time. Then finally recorded to tape -- and had a few errors. In Thursday's class we're doing another run-through or two -- then going to tape for the final version.

Photography on TV

What to watch this week? The New York Times has a good article on the series of photography-connected documentaries Sundance Channel will run starting Monday night.

Photographers, on the Other Side of the Lens

Photographers — how they work, what they shoot, and their sources of inspiration — are the subject of a weeklong documentary series that begins Monday night on the Sundance Channel. The documentaries, made over the last decade by 10 independent filmmakers and assembled for the series, feature a broad range of photographers including William Eggleston, Tina Barney, Helmut Newton, and Robert Mapplethorpe and his mentor Sam Wagstaff, among other lesser-known artists.

Speaking of Quest

For those of you who get CNN International, you might enjoy seeing Richard Quest's take on photography, which is running this weekend.

Quest for the perfect photo

"One brief window of opportunity when all the elements align themselves. The light, the look - it all comes together. And then -- the click. A fleeting magical moment come and gone, then lost forever. But preserved in one picture. This month Richard Quest goes in search of the perfect photo."

Also, Rename the Show "Hair Dance"

Sure, I've said bad things about The Shot. Criticism is easy, though. The real question is: what would actually work in a reality-television show about photographers? What would be less painful to watch? Well, here are three ideas:

1. Stop with the repetition. Each episode is essentially the same, and people win and lose on the same exact concerns. Change things significantly from week to week. Photography is a broad and diverse art form, and even if the show is strictly "fashion photography" you can find the underlying skills and make challenges based on those.  


2. Don't assume we won't understand the technical. A little bit of discussion of the technical side of photography, handled well, could really be interesting. Those knobs on the camera -- they do something, right?


3. Stop just saying a photo is good or bad. Tell us how it works, and why you like it or hate it. Just giving a thumbs-up or down is boring -- why does this photo work, and not that one?

What would that be like? Well, for one assignment, set the expensive cameras aside, and get out of the studio. Drop off photographer and model on a grimy block with a disposable camera, a roll of aluminum foil and a cardboard box. For the next, emphasize shooting consistency by choosing at random which shot will be shown. For the next, show five great possibilities for the shot at hand -- and disallow all of them and penalize anything at all similar.

The Shot: Do They Mean Penicillin?

Yes, I watched Sunday's episode of "The Shot." What do you mean, "Lame, lame, lame?"

Are you saying that just because they plan to give money and fame to photographers who can't operate studio lights, crop properly, or work with other human beings? You're awfully strict. Next you'll want them to know about lenses and composition and exposure.

Clearly, you need some Vaseline.

Photography Advice from "The Shot"

I've mentioned that I have been happily suffering through VH1's "The Shot." Well, now they've posted photo tips.

In case a food fight breaks out, and then the nude models show up.

3D Can Be 1D Worse Than Regular Bad Photography

Ah, yes, I did watch episode four of The Shot. A roomful of synchronized cameras, two fans going full blast, a huge lighting rig and some of the worst photographs ever. Amazingly painful to watch.

Is that why it's sponsored by Vaseline?

For those of you self-punishing enough to have seen it, here are some real lessons to take from it:

repeating "hair dance, hair dance" over and over again is not actually the same as having a plan for a shoot

claiming that the best fashion photographers are men is a sign you should look around at the field a bit more

having the hair look bad in a shoot that's about hair (and supervised by a hair guy and a photographer with great hair) may shows poor listening skills

if your photographs look exactly like those of the other six contestants, you're doing it wrong

Genius of Photography

I've been watching The Genius of Photography on Ovation TV. It's a great series. Some of the camera work for the show seems strange to me -- perhaps a bit forced -- but the content is fantastic and well handled. And they got interviews from a wonderful group of people.

The only strange choice: the photographs are presented on a beige background.

The Monochromatic Angels of Parma, Ohio

Appearing as an anonymous video expert, I have now officially spoken out -- for all of two seconds -- that blue fluff is more common than blue ectoplasm, and that cameras don't actually record ghosts.

The Inside Edition story is here.

This Just In

Well, I've done my part.

While a stunningly large percentage of my fellow citizens continue to believe that cameras capture photographs of ghosts, I have now appeared on television -- for perhaps two seconds -- noting that blue fluff on the lens is a more likely theory than ectoplasmic blue mist or monochromatic angels.

Not that I'll change anyone's mind.

Inside Edition story here.

I Mist It

I did not get to see the 6 p.m. showing of Inside Edition so I'm not sure if I'm on it or not. But note the otherworldly rectangle at the bottom of this snapshot: it baffles even the most confirmed skeptic.

Another snapshot over at New York Portraits.

At Inside Edition

Look. There. At the back of the photograph. Is that a blue mist?

Three Seconds of Immortality

I just went across town to be interviewed at Inside Edition. I believe I will be on tonight, for a very, very brief time. More soon.

Breakingish

I will probably be on "Inside Edition" tonight. Probably for less than three seconds, I expect. Details soon.

Taking "The Shot"

Well, sure, the idea of a "reality" television show about photographers might have jokingly crossed your mind once or twice in the past.

But did you think it would be as bad as The Shot is?

I mentioned the show to some photographer friends, and they watched it, and I feel sort of bad for that. Still, I'll probably suffer my way to the end. A challenge to photograph a model and a monkey? Even if it's bad, it's good.

Project No Way

Don't tell anyone, but I watched The Shot.

"Whether it's shooting on the deck of a schooner in the midst of a storm, or trying to get a supermodel to cuddle up to a Siberian tiger, our cast will face daunting tasks and obstacles that will test their talent, desire and drive to be the next great fashion photographer."

Nightline, Finally

Nightline finally ran the news story I'm in.

The video:
is here.

The article:
is here.

Or Monday

It appears the Nightline segment is moved to Monday night.