Photo by Mike Anzaldi
In regards to freelance photojournalist Mike Anzaldi’s brush with the law earlier this week: Yes, he has recovered all the photos the Chicago Police Department erased from his memory card.
While journalists don’t always have their rights, they do have technology.
Photo by Mike Anzaldi
This kind of thing is expected in someplace like Nepal or China, but … Chicago?
Freelance photojournalist Mike Anzaldi was arrested on Tuesday by the Chicago Police Department while covering a shooting in the Englewood section of the city. He was charged with resisting and obstructing a peace officer, held for nine hours and had about 500 images deleted from his memory card.
No doubt tensions were high since an off-duty detective was involved in the shooting, but Freedom of the Press should apply at all news events, regardless. And as long as journalists abide by the law, law enforcement should too.
We asked Anzaldi for his side of the story. He frequently covers breaking news in Chicago, and when he heard about an officer-involved fatal shooting on the radio, he arrived at the scene and was shooting images and video on the property of a neighbor with about 20-25 other bystanders. The problem, he says, arrived in the form of Chicago Police Department spokeswoman Monique Bond.
Continue reading ‘No Shooting Shootings, Says Chicago Police’
Photo by discarted
In an interesting move aimed at reducing gun violence, the city of Toronto has launched a gun amnesty program where people can get cameras in exchange for their firearms. Called “Pixels for Pistols,” legal and illegal gun owners alike not only get a Nikon digital camera from Henry’s photo store but a free photography lesson too.
Farley Flex, a music promoter and judge on “Canadian Idol” supports the program as a necessary action to re-focus thugs and criminals away from violence and to “productive, rewarding behaviour through photography, videography et cetera.”
While this measure seems well-intended, it also seems highly idealistic and, from the tone of the comments, not likely to have much of an impact.
A sampling:
It’s ludicrous to think a heartless thug who won’t hesitate to shoot someone would hand in a gun for photography lessons!
And:
So, you’re saying that law abiding people who own guns for collections or hunting or whatever will jump at a chance to get a “free digital camera” to shoot with instead of a real gun? I like it. Let me know how this fairytale works out.
And:
Legalize all drugs. Problem solved.
Article from CTV Toronto.
Photo by Max Becherer/New York Times
Today the New York Times’ Baghdad Bureau introduced the Photographer’s Journal, a regular feature that aims to give some insight into shooting in Iraq, from the photojournalist’s perspective. The first one is “The Gap: Haifa Street 2004 and 2008” by Max Becherer, who describes the circumstances behind two Haifa Street photos four years apart. One is chaos; one is calm. Becherer explains what the photographer’s prized “gap” is:
The gap is the moment of time after something catastrophic happens but before everyone reacts to it. It is a solid gold moment for any photographer, be it in a war zone or in New York City, with a news photographer trying to beat the police cordon.
Article via New York Times.
To see more of Max Becherer’s work, go here.
Photo by Platon/The New Yorker
If you’re like me, you’re wondering how you can make it so you never hear another word about Joe the Plumber again. Well unfortunately, that’s near impossible as this seemingly endless presidential campaign reaches its zenith in the next few weeks. So, in that case, I will mention this election-related bit of photo news. As you probably know, Gen. Colin Powell gave a very thoughtful endorsement of Barack Obama on Sunday’s “Meet the Press” (notwithstanding that he’s the guy who sold the Iraq war to the UN, but I digress…).
Part of what turned the tide for Powell and made him jump ship from the R’s to the D’s was a photo by Platon in The New Yorker. It showed a mother draped over the tombstone of her son, a 20-year-old Muslim-American soldier named Cpl. Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan. Powell said he was disheartened by the tone of the current Republican party and its anti-Islamic rhetoric directed at Obama.
Now, that’s a powerful photo.
Photos by discarted
Why is that when people believe in such things as ghosts, UFOs, chemtrails, or question what we’ve been told about 9/11 those people are labeled kooks, nut jobs, or worse — conspiracy theorists?
However, all of the Jesus believers preaching on street corners, television shows, and radio programs who believe that there’s a gaunt, bearded man up in the sky who rose from the dead, walked on water, fed thousands with five loaves of bread, and is now looking down on us, JUDGING us … get a free ride. And more importantly, these views are shared and accepted by billions.
They can go on and on and on, proselytizing their beliefs but are rarely questioned or ridiculed for espousing such an imaginative idea, which nonetheless, cannot be substantiated at all. They can even get out of paying taxes for organizing this radical concept into a structured religion. It boggles the mind to know that a government system would not only grant this exemption but promote it. Does this mean I can round up a bunch of Big Foot believers, call ourselves the Fundamentalist Church of the Northern Sasquatch and be granted tax exemption status? Thus, finally being recognized, via the symbolic message of tax exemption, as an acceptable way of thinking. Probably not.
Moreover, as soon as someone gets on the airwaves with less than mainstream beliefs, such as radio host Art Bell, they are relegated to the wee hours of the morning and questioned, ridiculed and dismissed by society. And this is the same society and government that grants religious status to Scientology — which is based on aliens mind you, as if that premise isn’t ludicrous or out of the mainstream.
In the end, I understand we all will have opposing viewpoints and beliefs or follow some sort of faith or moral compass that some find objectionable. And that is why the First Amendment exists: to protect our right to free speech and for us photographers the right to bare cameras in public and to take pictures of Jesus Freaks.
All I know though is that my main man Hay-Zeus, be it on a street corner, the radio, or television, is being shoved down my throat more often than food these days. And I shouldn’t be made to feel bad, or be told, “That’s sad”, by someone because I “don’t fuck with the Jesus.”
Photo by discarted
If you’re a passionate and dedicated photographer with the intention of making photography more than just your weekend hobby, it’s almost certain that you have taken a class or two throughout your time shooting.
Held at Venice Arts in Venice, CA, the Social Impact Workshop is a brand new long-term documentary program run by acclaimed photojournalist and three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee Jim Hubbard.
Meeting every other Saturday and ending in late February for a total of 12 classes, the workshop will use presentation, discussion, work sharing, and personal shooting to help students explore their chosen subjects more deeply. And with that, see the depth and quality of their work expand over the length of the class.
Other topics that will be covered include but are not limited to accessing subjects, ethical and legal considerations, and equipment selection. At the end of the workshop students will share their work with the public via an exhibit hosted by the Venice Arts Gallery.
With the combination of Jim’s expertise and an eclectic group of talented people (consisting of all skill levels and one child psychologist) to poke and prod for critiques and advice, there isn’t any doubt that each of us will learn something new and likely incorporate another photographer’s way of working into our own camera bag of tricks.
Downtown’s Million Dollar Theater, by jericl cat
The second-annual ShootDowntown Meetup is happening this Saturday, October 4 in downtown LA. The idea is for photographers to gather, shoot and talk shop while exploring downtown architecture and street life. The last event in December attracted 16 photographers so we wondered how well that went seeing as downtown is notoriously camera unfriendly.
Eric Richardson, of Blogdowntown and organizer of the meetup, reports there were no such problems, mainly because they stuck to older buildings and the Historic Core and not the newer skyscrapers that are seemingly managed by people who believe cameras equal terrorists. (My words not his.)
Last month, Blogdowntown ran this article about photographers rights in which Dave Bullock writes, “If you are stopped and hassled, keep in mind that you are likely in the right and your accuser is likely in the wrong.” Commenters posted that in particular the Heron Building, Wells Fargo and the U.S. Bank Tower are all high-harassment spots. If you wish to test those statements, let us know how it turns out.
Photo by discarted
If you live in Los Angeles, you know there is woefully little green space. But Griffith Park remains a last refuge, an oasis of trails, wildlife and woodland in the middle of one of the densest cities in the country.
Sadly, but inevitably, certain city officials and developers would like to be able to develop it. Parking structures, amusement parks and restaurants all seem reasonable propositions to them. (Because it’s not enough to have digitized advertisements in grocery store checkout lines and billboards and strip malls as far as the eye can see. We must not stop until every last patch of green is covered!)
In response, there is a movement to designate the park — in its entirety — as a historic cultural monument. That designation would prevent any commercial development within its borders. If you believe in this cause and are sick of city officials who prize maximum density (and the money it brings) above all else, then write to Councilman Tom LaBonge and the Cultural Heritage Commission and tell them so. The Commission’s next meeting to discuss the matter will be October 30 at City Hall.
Photo by discarted
Councilman LaBonge in particular is a troubling case. As a man who’s never met a camera he didn’t like, especially when it comes to touting his love and affection for the park, it’s downright scary that he told the LA Times, “This is a park, not a preserve,” and:
“I’m all for designation of buildings and spots of significance in the park, but right here?” LaBonge asked, circling his finger over the dirt trail path one Friday morning, “Would it be something to designate? I’m not sure.”
For more info:
Read the LA Times article about the issue.
Go to the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council page.
In the alternate universe that is Hollywood Boulevard, Marilyn Monroe has a restraining order against Chewbacca, the same guy plays Darth Vader, Barney and Mickey Mouse, and multiple Spideys vie for the title of baggiest costume. For years, photographer James Knoblauch has been photographing the characters who populate the few blocks around Graumann’s Chinese Theatre, and earlier this year his collection of portraits was published in a book called Imposters.
Here, we talked to him about what it’s like to go back to SpongeBob’s place for drinks, among other things.
You called Roger Gastman, the founder of Swindle magazine, the “instigator” of the book. How is that?
I did not use the words “instigator” to describe Roger Gastman, who was a business contributor to the project. Someone at the publisher thought it was a cute way to describe his function in the book project. I had sent Roger “imposter” photos with the hope of having some printed in his magazine and he suggested creating a book with 30 or so images of different characters. He then found a publisher to release the book.
boywithgrenade.org 
