This is our final Soundslides project, a team photo story we did on Wood Lane Industries in Bowling Green, Ohio. Read about my experience and view my photos in the previous blog post:

Final team project: Documenting Wood Lane Industries

Brian helps Joy Riffle make a snack. (PHO/245 photos by Damion Roundtree)

   As a class for our final project, we got the chance to visit Wood Lane Industries. Wood Lane provides residential services throughout Wood County for people with developmental disabilities.

   During our trip we had to gather information and photos so we could put together a photo story with audio.

   After arriving at Wood Lane we met with a coordinator for an interview. She explained to us what they were about and told us some of the things they did to help serve their clients.

   We then split up into two groups; the group I was with had the pleasure of visiting a couple cottages, which housed individuals that lived together.

   There were only a few individuals home because we went during the time most of them worked or had other things to do.

   We then took photos of the individuals carrying out their daily tasks.

   I think our trip was successful and due to the small amount of people available, it allowed us a more up-close and personal  chance to meet some really neat individuals, as well as their staff.

   Working as a team was cool because if there was anything we missed, we had someone else there to possibly catch it.

   Putting together the story was fun because everyone jumped in and gave what they thought would work best with the pictures we had.

   Working as a team also posed many challenges but everyone came together well to finish what we started. 

    Hope you enjoy the photos!

Elaine Johnston does laundry.

Home of the residents.

  

Learning to shoot sports in any environment

Kalamazoo's Tyler Oliver drives to the basket. (PHO245 photos by Damion Roundtree)

Owens head coach Dave Clarke shouts out a play.

   Sports photography is much harder than I expected. There are a lot of things to keep in mind when shooting sports.

   Upon entering the facility you need to check out the lighting, depending on how the gym in this case is lit the proper lens will need to be chosen.

   Low light lenses will work best in this situation but if you don’t have one, which I did not, your camera control skills are your best option.

   Anticipation is the key to getting some really good action shots. Following the game at its fast pace can be hard when looking through the viewfinder.

   Setting your camera on a high shutter speed will help you stop action in its tracks.

   Remembering your there to shoot the game is a challenge in its own, I’m a sports kind of guy so I found my self watching and forgetting about shooting several times.

   I really enjoyed shooting the Owens Community College basketball game, besides getting in free and watching the game from the floor the the teams put on a good show for their fans.

   Despite not having the best equipment for the job, I don’t think I done bad.

You be the judge and I hope you enjoy the photos.

Fans watch the game.

Finding a portrait in the elements of your environment

Instructor chef Gretchen Fayerweather

Lab assistant Amy Morford

   Environmental portraits can be taken in many ways from posing in front of a camera, which is probably the most common to waiting at a sporting event for the right moment to snap the shot.

   The culinary arts class at Owens Community College posed a little different scenario for me to be able to get this done.

   While the instructors and students are trying to keep deadlines with what they have going on, I had to work around them while they stayed busy.

   The task was not easy; while they worked I positioned my self in lots of different places. Taking pictures from any and every angle I could think of to get a somewhat of a decent shoot.

   Environmental portraits are best photographed in the environment that best relates to the subject.         Everything about the photo should say what the person does from the foreground to the background.

   

Portrait photography can be challenging when you don’t know your subject personally, moving around finding the right composition while giving instructions did not come easy for me. The more you work with people the more you will learn and the better you will become.

Feature photography and the unique ways of shooting it

Culinary student Jacob Harmon prepares Venison during class. (PHO245/Damion Roundtree)

    Finding feature photos is about keeping your eyes open for something new that may happen during any situation. 

      No matter what time it is, when you see something interesting, stop and take a picture.      

   You never want to be the one saying "Man, I should have stopped!" 

      When shooting features always try to show photos that are interesting, rather it be through the angle of the shot, height, location, or even a unique vantage point. Shoot photos in a way viewers rarely see.

      Shoot feature was very interesting; I spent time with the culinary arts class at Owens Community College.

      Chef instructor  Gretchen, was very welcoming and open to the idea of me taking pictures for my feature photography assignment. 

      The day the class welcomed me in; they were making sausage from scratch. Although I'm a sausage lover I found this experience a little challenging. Yuck!

   Students worked well together as their instructors guided them and tasted the prepared sausage.

      The only thing I have to say is, I am the kind of person who doesn't need to know every detail of preparation for my food.

      Overall, my experience was very pleasing and worth my time for my feature.

      I would like to thank the instructor Gretchen and Lab Assistant Amy Morford and students for allowing me to take up some of their time.

Learning to control light through camera operations

Fog rises as the night air sets in at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.  (PHO245/Damion Roundtree)

The Ferris Wheel stopped in action.

   I really didn’t learn anything new; all things discussed in this block of instruction I have learned in previous classes.

   What I do know is the more you shoot, the more you learn.

   Camera operations is a learning experience; each time you set out to shoot something use the manual function on your camera. It can be trying at first, but manual will help you control issues when they pop up in difficult lighting situations.

   When a scene is not lit to your liking, try letting light in, whether it’s through f/stops and shutter speeds.

Tombs glow in the dark.

   Using a tripod helps you limit blurring with your images.

   Shoot whenever you get a chance and play with your camera controls as much as possible.

   Happy shooting!

   

Caption writing and its importance

   Photos are not the only information to tell a story; sometimes captions are needed so readers do not misinterpret important facts.
   Captions help readers not assume what the photo may be about.

   Do not use adjectives unless you know how the person really feels.

   It is very important to have the correct information gather names, ages, locations etc.

   Always speak in present tense so the story does't sound outdated.

   Captions when used properly can make or break a photo, depending on what is said could capture the readers attention and allow him/her to read the article in its entirety.

   The AP Style guide is a tool that can help you choose the right words to use because writing as a photojournalist can be tricky.