January 7, 2011

Today at the Times Picayune I accompanied John McCusker to the re-enactment of the Battle of New Orleans at Chalmette Battlefield. Mr. McCusker is a photographer for the Times Picayune and also films  videos at the newspaper. Mr. McCusker offered valuable photography tips, including helpful insights regarding the placement of light and the importance of "tight, close-up" shots. Mr. McCusker also drove me through the Lower Ninth Ward, an area in Orleans Parish, close to Chalmette, that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Mr. McCusker has taken countless amazing photographs for the Times Picayune, especially after the Oil Spill during the summer. Below is a link to a video created by the Times Picayune photographers after the oil spill.
http://videos.nola.com/times-picayune/2010/12/through_our_eyes_the_bp_oil_sp.html

I have always been fascinated with photo-journalism and was excited to spend the morning with Mr. McCusker. Shadowing him was truly an unforgettable experience. Not only did he share interesting information from a photographer's perspective, but he offered a great deal of information about New Orleans's history, the detrimental effects of Hurricane Katrina, and tips on how to interact professionally and gregariously with other photographers, journalists, and press secretaries.

The Battle of New Orleans was a monumental battle for the young nation, and observing the re-enactment was a memorable opportunity. Although Andrew Jackson is a controversial character in American history, his leadership during the battle had a monumental impact upon the United States. The re-enactor portraying Andrew Jackson was fabulous; his accent, mannerisms, persona were impressive.
After the excursion, I watched Mr. McCusker upload, edit, and select photos to be submitted to his photo editor. I was stunned by his usage of lighting and direction, especially through the silhouette shots of the soldiers and children. Mr. McCusker reminded me of the importance of creating captions using accurate names (and spelling) of the people featured in the photographs.

Below are a few pictures I took from the morning.

Above is the re-enactor portraying Andrew Jackson. 

My mentor, John McCusker, is at far left. 

Above is the Chalmette Battlefield Memorial. 

I also assisted Sports Editor Doug Tatum this afternoon with editing the twenty-two paged Saints spread that will appear in the Saturday newspaper. As the Saints prepare to play Seattle in the playoffs, the Times Picayune is expected to run a spread on the team. I reviewed several graphics, charts, action shots, and articles for Mr. Tatum. I also learned about the production process of the section and enjoyed proofreading. Mr. Tatum explained that "catching mistakes" early is essential. Printing a spelling mistake or incorrectly matching a player's mugshot to his information is considered an iniquity for the newspaper.

Today was very productive, and I am excited for next week's work at both the Times Picayune and New Orleans Outreach Center.