Photo By: Harmony Motter
In 1994 I held my first camera in my hand. It was a Minolta that my mother had purchased for me at a yard sale along with a 50 mm lens. I loved it. I was photographing all kinds of stuff. I would shoot my family's hands, dead mice that we would catch in traps, trees in the Winter. I knew that this was my path. Whether I succeeded or failed, I had to try this thing. I enrolled at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 1995 and met a girl named Brook Pifer. Whether she knows it or not, she taught me about the composition of photography. We would often talk about photographs, I would look at hers and she would look at mine. In 1997 I graduated with an Associates Degree in Photography. At the time I didn't really care about what I was photographing, I just wanted to hold a camera in my hand. I was always talking my little sister, Sarahbeth into some weird and wacky photo shoot. So I shot whatever I could, two year-olds, flowers in vases, the leaves in the Fall, naked people, cups of coffee. You get the gist. In 2001 I was hired by Jim Stefanucci at the Meadville Tribune. It was there at that little, small town newspaper that I learned about the "MOMENTS!" Oh, the moments...I was now responsible for capturing feelings of love, life and loss and I loved it. So, now 10 years later my photography has taken me to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and to Westbrook, Maine. I have seen some amazing things through the lens of a camera. I have witnessed child births, funerals, laughter and tears. I look forward to the future and to where my photography will take me and I look forward to the moments.
Photo By: Harmony Motter
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I can't remember if I posted this before. Years ago I was sent to take a picture at the local senior center and it just didn't go well. I showed up late for what was happening and the pictures just weren't really what I wanted. As I was leaving I saw this guy hanging out smoking his pipe and began chatting with him. I found out he was part of the event asa volunteer and he was taking a break to have a smoke. Next thing I knew I found a story within the story to tell and I always think those are more interesting the actual event itself. I asked if he'd mind if I took his picture and he agreed. I knew at this point that it would be a portrait shot, but I was alright with this. He was interesting and had a great face/hat and pipe. I tried to get a shot without my reflection in it but it just didn't work as well as getting in very close with a wide angle lens and letting the reflection just be in order to keep all the great angles and be close enough to that wonderful expression. Back then we still understood the importance of having a really good photo on page one regardless of the 'importance' level of the story. We allowed ourselves the reflection of life around us to stand as a strength--both of our newspaper and the community. This was the brilliance Jim Stefanucci brought to the Meadville Tribune and I was very proud to take pictures like this one to reflect his vision. This did appear on page one of the newspaper and readers got a chance to know a very interesting man that they might not have otherwise known. Meadville Tribune file photo stumbled upon tonight by Richard Sayer. I use this picture often in lecture about community journalism and the importance of knowing great stories are every
Today I got a chance to photograph Chrissy and Ben for their engagement photos. One thing I like to do is get the couple staring at each other. What seems sort of awkward at first turns into some laughing and then some real looks of love into each others eyes. Thats when I know I have it. After achieving this the rest of the pictures we take are much more relaxed and those looks come through even when they are staring at the camera in the more traditional poses. It was warm today so we actually went outside after this and did a few frames in the streets and alleys near the studio. I thought the subtle looks they each have in this picture really shows the love and comfort they have with each other. SayerMotter Photograph by Richard Sayer.
This was a weird post today--but I posted the pictures I took underneath my earlier question mark. The thing that is truly weird about the work we do for a newspaper is that we really don't know what we're going to encounter so we can think of the shot we want to get, but really what we have to do is make sure everything is working right so when we see the shot we need to get--we get it. Today I showed up to the track event and had the wrong lens on when I got there and a race was ending--at the time I didn't know it was really my only chance at a picture because there was a lull in the action and I was on a tight schedule--so my track picture lacks a great deal. I did get a little chance to experience the pure joy of photography, but today was about running. My four assignments that I wrote about below turned into five(I haven't downloaded the fifth yet) So it was a long day of trying to bounce from one thing to the next and then get them processed and captioned. I know my old friends in the business would say 4 or 5 is nothing--and I would agree, but its really not. Its a great thing, but difficult thing to shift gears and still find story telling images in interesting ways. These were some of my images from today. The stories were a healthy kids day event in Diamond park, track and field at MASH, Egg decorating in Venango and a beer tasting(which I couldn't partake) that is part of a college level class at Allegheny College. My extra assignment came from the story on beer--one of the students was brewing a batch of Irish Red tonight and helping a friend bottle an oatmeal stout(again--did not partake!) It was a good day! I have four assignments that I know about today and I'm about to head out the door right now to start on them. I think sometimes, what if all my best pictures are behind me? Seems sort of pointless maybe to continue if this is true. Luckily those are fleeting thoughts and I realize that even if it is true, that the best picture I will ever take was in 1999 when the Lions softball team won a district championship, or in 2005 when a man lay dying in a bed by a window with his daughter touching his hand or any of the other pictures I've taken, that the stories I'm about to embark on telling are the most important picture I will take--everyone's story is important and as long as I keep this in mind and give my best effort, it doesn't matter if it is a better photograph in my portfolio. It really doesn't. And even though I'll continue to try to get 'the best picture I've ever taken' I know that its more important that I get an image that communicates the story. So today, we'll see, I'll post my best pictures from my four assignments later on today, so check back. Question mark on white 2011 by Richard Sayer(and ad ons from the day posted over 12 hours later).
I'm not a morning person(I even have a coffee cup that I got from somewhere years ago that says this) so when I was told the Seton School send-off for their basketball team was 10 a.m. I wasn't too thrilled about it. Then I found out that there was a pep rally set for 9 a.m.---ughhhhg! But I preach that we should cover things right (these things come back to haunt-always) so up I got to get there in time. And I was glad I did. This small school has a big noise. I entered into the gym to noise makers, foot pounding and cheers(not for me--though I pretended for a moment that they were). This basketball team is one of the top eight teams in the state of Pennsylvania and they will compete this weekend to determine were among the eight they stand. I first saw Tyler Orr, the team manager peaking in from a doorway holding on to the school's flag and thought I might get a pretty good picture. I then had to wait til it all began and I saw the cheerleaders line up. This is where being a newspaper photographer is strange--we get to make an ass of ourselves by getting in the middle of things so I went onto the court and got real close to use the cheerleader arms and poms to frame the action. I admit I'm a bit shy about doing this but again my own words come back to haunt me. I tell my students that you have to determine what kind of picture you want to get and then have the courage to get it. So as I was thinking these words I was running to mid court out in front of all the kids, teachers and their families to snap this picture. Meadville Tribune photograph by Richard Sayer. Good lu
One of the great things about working for a newspaper is the variety. Meetings, awards ceremonies, kids playing around--its always something different. Each week I photograph sports and features and cover stories. On good dys I have 2-3 assignments that I get to spend time on. Bad days, I'm in the office doing paperwork and other odds and ends related to--but not photography. Other days that aren't so fun is when there are 6 to 8 assignments and rushing in between. Sometimes those days produce good photographs, but they are too busy to feel like we're really covering a story right. I took this picture last night of the Shafer award winner. I knew who it was before hand so I could keep an eye on him. I got the feeling he knew it was him based on watching him sort of standing back - kind of uncomfortable(he is normally one of the presenters of the award so it was a different spot for him to be in. I like this picture because the words asked the question and he being in the frame answered it. Below are kids playing with a balloon that I caught with my first frame and even thogh I tried to work the shot more, my initial instinct was the best. Below is Sue Kilburn using photographs I took of her during her chemotherapy days to explain her story and the bottom was kids in line to get their face painted looking in a mirror. I didn't bother posting any sports even though I had a couple standard Volleyball shots this week. My friend Harmony posted the other day thet 'today I love photography!' I know she loves it everyday and I agree--its quite a gift to be able to do this everyday. Meadville Tribune photographs by Richard Sayer.
Recently I photographed the Saegertown Spring sports programs. These sessions are always tied to the start or end of a practice--which makes things a bit hurried,but I still like to try having some fun. One nice thing that was said to me from a sports coach was that my flexibility and listening to what the kids wanted to do was a real plus. I took that in and really thought about it. These pictures are 'their' pictures. I'm hired to make them look good and help come up with an interesting design, background etc... but the pictures are them and should show their personality. So I let them horse around a little(we need to keep some order to get the pictures dine so coach can have them for practice, but why not have a laugh or two). So these pictures like this are sort of asides or outtakes, but they are fun and when it comes down to the picture they want for mom and dad's wall, they are relaxed and smiling. I always keep these outtakes and if anyone wants one of these I'm more than happy--in fact I get really excited because these are the fun pictures people will look at and make comments about. Since I photograph a lot of sports for the newspaper, I really enjoy photographing sports teams and their individual shots--i now these kids from the sidelines and this gets me to know them a little more as people as we try to figure out what pose and gesture--how much they should or shouldn't smile for their photo.And if they want to do something funny or silly--my camera is loaded and ready! SayerMotter Photographs by Richard Sayer. The orders should be ready soon, I'm expecting to be done with the printing sometime today.
Recently Richard Sayer embarked on a new project called 'drive-by-shootings.' No, he has no intentions of physically harming anyone, at least I don't think so. He is simply shooting pictures from his car window. So, I thought that I would try my hand at this project as well. Above is my first attempt. I should be honest and say that it was more like a drive-by and park shooting and no, a small turtle sundae was not involved. Hee-hee!!
Photo By: Harmony Motter I may have to work on the title a bit, but I began a fun project recently that I started calling drive by's. The premise is simple--i see something out the window lift my camera and point--and not run over or into anything. I don't look thru the camera and I don't always get the camera level to the horizon, but I snap the shots. My favorites are of people along side the road. I'm driving by so they are natural and in their place not even thinking about a camera. This has a long history in the genre of street photography and its interesting to see how the camera ends up compositing these little scenes. My eventual goal for this is to make a multimedia piece with some sort of audio component, but I'm a ways away from that. I just started it last week and the rules have changed from the beginning. At first it was going to be nothing but black and white and every picture had to have a person in it. I began shooting architecture this way and really began to like the results even without a person. Tonight I just shot this sun setting over Atlantic(not the ocean--a small town in NWPA.) The other rule i developed is that I can't crop these. We'll see where it leads. Photographs by Richard Sayer while dri
I have been spending some time with the Arc of Crawford County lately and it has been very rewarding for me. Last week when I was photographing the 2nd annual talent show, Jeffrey Glover smiled and said to me..."human beings should not be allowed to have this much fun." I knew exactly what he meant. The members of the Arc of Crawford County are happy humans with no judgment. I find myself relaxing there and smiling a lot more than I usually do. I think that I am going to try to photograph a music class within the next few weeks. Thanks guys for allowing me to hang out and snap away. Photos By: Harmony Motter
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