College photography students make an impression

The more thorough we are with the learning and preparation processes, the more successful our photography will be.

I firmly believe the eight students in Kevin Moloney's advanced photojournalism class at the University of Colorado at Boulder, are headed toward fulfillment in whatever they do for their livelihood. This is because they follow learning and preparation by analyzing their results.

They presented their portfolios for final critiques on May 3. The discussion among the students and a jury of four evaluators was quite meaningful.

The jury was made up of Joanna B. Pinneo, a longtime contributor to National Geographic magazine and a documentary photographer; Beth Wald, a National Geographic contributor known most frequently for her work in the world of extreme climbing (she is also an accomplished documentary photographer and educator); Glenn Asakawa, a Pultizer-winning photojournalist who has worked for the Boulder Daily Camera, L.A. Daily News, Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post. Glenn is now on staff as a photographer at CU; and, me.

The students were Megen MacKenize and Morgan Varon, who graduated earlier this month; Bill Drumm, Brittany Ansay, Stephanie Davis, Ashleigh Oldland, Mara Auster and Jason Bartz.

Whether evaluating others' pictures or my own, I instinctively utilize a basic criteria:

Content: Does the photograph have a purpose, meaning?

Impact: Does the picture produce a first glance that leads toward another glance then readership and appreciation?

Communication: Does the viewer become a reader and understands or interprets?

Composition and craftsmanship: Does the photographer place the elements so the reader moves smoothly to the points of interest?

Control of light: Is the light natural, created or imposed; does it give the reader clarity and emotional as well as visual response?

Creativity: Is the viewpoint and picture innovative or refreshing? When "rules" are judiciously broken, then a photo will draw wonderful attention. Anything generic may gain a second glance but not often if it doesn't create a personal feeling.)

Compassion, respect, dignity, sensitivity and sincerity: Did the photographer put heart and feeling into the photograph, whether real or implied?

When we make the time to record our answers to these questions, we construct the wonderful foundation for learning, understanding and appreciation. Everyone benefits.

Paul Moloney has always "wondered" about life, marveled at and admired the beauty God has granted the world -- and "wandered," roamed, roved with his cameras. All photos © Paul F. Moloney.

CAPTIONS

(@ 2008 by William Drumm)

BILL DRUMM (NO. 1 PHOTO)

AN INCA TERN splashes its legs in a pond at an avery at the Denver Zoo. Years ago photographers made every effort to stop action for picture clarity. Today photographing motion is more storytelling and gives pictures feeling. This makes Bill Drumm's photo wildly read. The photo is very satisfying to his primary interest -- biology.

©2008 Morgan Varon

MORGAN VARON (NO. 2 PHOTO)

MORGAN VARON DESCRIBES in part her reaction and appraisal of the photo and circumstances: "A little girl lets her hands lead her as she emerges from a room in the Andhra Mahila Sabha Center in Chennai, India. The center stands as a home and orphanage to many mentally and physically disabled children. The light and gesture in this photo is what makes it most interesting (to me). Light is a very important aspect in photography. It can make or break a photo. Here, I love how the light catches the little girl's hands first and then reveals only a portion of her face, fully illuminating just her left eye. The light from there rushes out of the photo becoming darker the farther away it gets from the subject. This allows the subject to capture and keep the attention of the viewer. In photography, I also try to find patterns within a picture. In this particular one, the child's hands mimic the lock and hatch on the door, while her body and the frames of the doors all follow the same vertical line. Pattern in a photo adds an element of fluidity and also simplicity regardless of how complex and chaotic a picture can be."

©2007 by Ashleigh Oldland

ASHLEIGH OLDLAND (NO. 3 PHOTO)

AMY HERDY, a University of Colorado journalism professor, poses on the steps outside Old Main at the Boulder campus. Herdy became a full-time teacher this semester after retiring as a reporter for 9News in Denver. The rapport between Herdy and Oldland was wonderful and sensitive as visually expressed in this portrait. Oldland made certain the basic questions were answered either visually or verbally: "Who, what, when, where, why and how." With each picture we publish or keep in our "shoe boxes" (albums), let's

record the answer to those questions for our descendants to know us

and the story and circumstances of the photos.

©2007 by Brittany Ansay

BRITTANY ANSAY (PHOTO NO. 4)

VIETNAM VETERAN ROBERT O'CONNELL proudly grips a jacket decorated with skilled stitch-work of Vietnam references, while expressing his political views at Folsom St. Coffee Co. in Boulder. As an avid customer to the shop, O'Connell enjoys speaking with others about politics. He also wears a pin that shares his excitement for Jan. 20, 2009, which is the George W. Bush Administration's last day in office.