Rob Finch
Posted by Tim Gruber | Filed under Uncategorized
Rob Finch was at Ohio University the other night to give a talk. Along with being a humble person he’s a gifted and intimate storyteller. Rob’s website, blog, and a nice interview of him on APAD. One comment from his speech has really stuck with me:
Some stories tell themselves. Sometimes you don’t have to force it. (Paraphrasing there since I’m bad at writing in total darkness.)
At times I find myself getting caught up in what I’m trying to say and finding my own voice that I forget the voice that matters most; my subjects. One of the best gifts one can possess is the ability to listen. What are my subjects and this environment telling me? Telling honest and intimate stories comes with great care and responsibility. At times that means putting my camera down and just listening.
Recently I learned this lesson again when I was out working on my magazine assignment. A situation I was hoping to photograph never happened, but after a conversation with the couple I realized there was an issue to my story I never considered — personal safety.
The couple, thanks to concealed permits, carry with them two pistols. They also keep a shotgun in the RV. It was an issue that was never on my project roadmap until that conversation. It makes sense though since there are thousands of snowbirds boondocking(RVing without electric, water, sewer, or telephone hookups.) out in the middle of the desert all by themselves.
Thanks for the lesson Bob and Yvonne.
Tags: photojournalism, school
Sharing “War Stories”
Posted by Tim Gruber | Filed under Uncategorized
Monday was our first day of class since returning from our 10-day shoots, which meant it was story time. Everyone returned OK minus Megan who came down with a bad case of the flu. No equipment was lost or stolen. Whew.
The class was a chance to hear how everyone dealt with the many things that can happen or evolve while you’re out on assignment. The constant fear and reality of rejection is always big for me. Its the same reason why I’ve never asked a girl out.(Thanks Jenn for taking the initiative.) I can’t tell you how many times I’d drive by a situation and try to talk myself out of stopping. It’s not as if they were going to say no cause everyone in Quartzsite is very warm and welcoming. That didn’t stop my mind from telling me otherwise. Eventually I would get out of the car and strike up a conversation and be thankful I did.
Sometimes all the planning in the world can’t prepare you for the spontaneity of life. Every shooter hits their highs and lows during a shoot. It’s a given. The low came for me on the very first day. It wasn’t justified since at that point I didn’t even have a single frame in the bag. The key for me was to start shooting and a bag of Red Vines. Discouragement can come easy if you’re looking for it. It’s a roller coaster that’ll take you to the highest of highs and darkest of lows. The low serves as a reminder that nothing comes easy. The high tugs at my heart and reminds me instantly why I do this.
I love it.
Even in Quartzsite Naked Paul is one of a kind. He owns a local bookstore and is a must-see for most of the snowbirds who call Quartzsite home for the winter.
Tags: photojournalism, Quartzsite, school
More from Quartzsite.
Posted by Tim Gruber | Filed under Uncategorized
I woke up earlier than my body would have liked to do a time-lapse of Quartzsite and capture a few scene setters. The light was in its usual AZ glory, which made getting up a lot easier.
Was delighted to have the flag to use as a foreground element.
Buck here was a pretty good shot.
Tags: photojournalism, school
Another day in Quartzsite.
Posted by Tim Gruber | Filed under Uncategorized
Spent another day in Quartzsite working on my shoot for magazine class. The warmth of the people here continues to amaze me. Today turned out to be a 12 hour day. The population here might primarily be over 65, but they have no problem staying active. In fact, I feel like the old one here. They’re wearing me out.
Trying to keep a few phrases in mind as I’ve been shooting with one of those being “Home Sweet Home”
Still smell the smoke in my clothes
The part-time residents here show amazing dedication to the community. Patty is one of those people. She just opened an animal shelter and walks the dogs every night. It’s probably a safe bet that these dogs are just as spoiled now as they will be when they find a new home.
If I could have I would of took Sugar home with me.
Tags: photojournalism, school
Super Sunday
Posted by Tim Gruber | Filed under Uncategorized
Wasn’t a whole lot going on today. The wind was out of control, which caused most vendors to close shop. I did spend the night with a fantastic family watching the Super Bowl.
Tags: photojournalism, school
A Snowbird Haven
Posted by Tim Gruber | Filed under Uncategorized
I’m finally starting to feel a little better about the images I’m making, but still have a ton of work ahead of me. Self-doubt always seems to be the one consistent when I’m working on a project.
Making Pizza…yes it was good
Rockhounds
Met Gene and Iola(Gene pictured) they’re extremely
active snowbirds here in the community and started a Boy Scout troop
for the kids since the town has never had one. On this day
the adults outnumbered the two scouts.
I even managed to find a few people under 65.
Tags: photojournalism, school
What do you want?
Posted by Tim Gruber | Filed under journalism
This is making its way around in the blogosphere.
I don’t want to work for an industry that is content with the status quo.
I don’t want to work for an industry that is afraid of innovation.
I don’t want to work for an industry that blames its readers when things go bad.
I don’t want to work for an industry that is scared of risk — and success.
I don’t want to work for an industry that is scared of change.
I don’t want to work for an industry that is afraid to have a conversation with its users.
I don’t want to work for an industry that is content to die.
I want to work for an industry that believes in its audience.
I want to work for an industry that can admit it was wrong.
I want to work for an industry that has the audacity to innovate.
I want to work for an industry that always wants to improve, even when it’s on top.
I want to work for an industry that always strives to be the best.
I want to work for an industry that believes there is no such thing as good enough.
I want to work for an industry that puts innovation first.
If this is the last stand for the American Newspaper, I don’t want to go out without a fight. I want to shatter paradigms, destroy cherished icons and push the envelop of innovation. And if all those efforts fail, I want try again.
I don’t want to admit defeat without at least trying. If I lose, I want it to be because I had nothing left to give. I don’t want to lose because I decided it was too hard to win.
I want the audacity of ambition — and innovation.
What do you want?
That last question is something I’ve been battling this quarter. From the start of my capstone class I’ve been thinking about story ideas I wanted to pursue. In the class we have to produce a 24 page prototype magazine or an online publication. I decided on the latter with little stress. Settling on my story idea on the other hand became a graying hair experience.
It’s amazing when given the criteria of only staying within the confines of the US how hard it becomes to decide on a story. Everything you ever wanted to work as a photojournalist is now open to your exploration. No more excuses. No more maybe next week or I don’t have time. This may be your last and only time you’ll have this kind of freedom to pursue something for you and only you. The choice of which story to choose wasn’t an easy one. At one point in the process I resorted to drawing it out of a hat cause I couldn’t decide.
In the end I decided on the small community of Quartzsite, AZ. It’s been called Woodstock for an older population. For the next 10 days a RV will be home as I explore a world I’ve always wanted to know. What’s more exciting than selling everything you own to call the open road your home?
The class required that I wear many hats including that of a publisher, managing editor, assignment editor and in a few hours a photojournalist. I wrote a mission statement in my role as an editor. I defined and wrote the assignments as an assignment editor. The assignment editor has you shooting portraits when the day before, with planning, you could have been shooting moments? I’m the only one to blame now.
In a matter of hours weeks of preparation and research will come to light with 10 days of visual exploration. I’ve never been so well versed in a subject before arriving to an assignment. I’m usually of the camp where I approach each assignment as a baby and immerse myself in the experience and let my subjects educate me. Not this time.
Now I’m here and an open desert awaits.
Tags: inspiration, journalism, photojournalism, school
Originality Doesn’t Make Great Drama
Posted by Tim Gruber | Filed under Uncategorized
Good read with this post that’s geared to script writers, but just as easily applies to anyone trying to tell stories.
People mistakenly equate rule breaking with originality; they believe originality automatically makes something good; and, they also think being different is the key to success… when, in fact, being good is… and, there is no direct link between being excellent and being original.
My guess is, the guys who developed House understand that it’s great characters and great writing that make great drama… and originality isn’t as important as having a great character
High quality story telling will always triumph over originality
This is something I need to keep in my mind as I plan out my 10 day shoot for my magazine class. In the class I’ll be producing a multimedia package instead of the traditional print piece that most people have in the past. One of my goals for the class is to push myself in terms of multimedia storytelling and while I’d love to produce a charming original piece solid storytelling needs to be at the core of everything I attempt to produce.
Tags: 2read, creative, inspiration, multimedia, school
The work of OU students
Posted by Tim Gruber | Filed under Uncategorized
My girlfriend, Jenn, posted an informal round-up of links to former and current OU students for the class she’s teaching this quarter.
Check it out and add to the list if you’d like.
If anything check out some great work by past and present OU students.
Tags: inspiration, photography, photojournalism, school
One year ago today
Posted by Tim Gruber | Filed under Uncategorized
One year ago today I wrote in my then new journal:
There’s a level of excitement in starting something new. New hopes. New dreams. New life. What these pages ahead hold for me I don’t know. It all feels so fresh now. I breathe clearly and dream passionately. I look forward to falling and the lesson the fall holds. I look forward to flying and the dreams that’ll grow. I look forward to living.
I wrote that at the start of what would become my most intense class here in Athens. A class that had my classmates and I all trying to do individual essays on the same topic. The class stretched my classmates and I like silly putty. Working on the same topic at times was more competitive than any cross-town rivalry I’ve seen, but it was the drive of my classmates that became one of the key ingredients in my growth.
Here I am a year later thinking about one of my final classes and the multimedia project I’d like to pursue. My legs shake in the uncertainty, but hopefully, just as last year, my classmates\friends will again push me to new heights.
Tags: coal, photojournalism, school
