What determines an image's sharpness?
(This question has a general and a specific answer.)
Know the answer? Take The PJ Quiz.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Monday, January 07, 2008
Custom phones
Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Saeed Memon (from left to right) sells phone accessories to Kacee and Matt Walker of Silsbee at Cell Stop in Parkdale Mall in Beaumont on Monday, Feb. 26, 2007. Memon is originally from Pakistan.
Cell Stop offers lighted phone accessories and sports-related faceplates at the shop in Parkdale Mall.
Saeed Memon (center) waits as Chad Mouton (from left to right) of Silsbee holds Chad Mouton, Jr. and talks about options with his wife Angie Mouton at Cell Stop in Parkdale Mall.
Cell Stop offers phone covers and accessories to accent most people's personalities at the shop in Parkdale Mall.
Angie Mouton of Silsbee considers a John Deere phone faceplate at Cell Stop in Parkdale Mall in Beaumont.
Images are part of the faces of immigration series.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Moore music
Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
John "Bubba" Moore and his musical family including his grandson Kevinlynn Moore, father Shirley Moore and son David Adam Moore pose for a portrait at the family homestead in Vidor on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007. All four generations of the Moore family have musical abilities. "Bubba" Moore has a platinum-selling record with Tracy Byrd while David Adam Moore performs in New York operas.
David Adam Moore poses for a portrait at the family homestead in Vidor. While coming from a family of Country and Western icons, David Adam Moore has become a world-class operatic singer in New York.
Please read, "Vidor family's generational repertoire..." by Jane McBride, and hear samples of each generation's music.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Stocking trout
Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Jasper Fish Hatchery employees David Morgan (left) and David Cauley (right) prepare to release trout at the Lower Neches Valley Authority Barrier Pond in Beaumont on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007.
Jasper Fish Hatchery employee David Cauley tests a sample of trout in a fish net before stocking a pond at the Lower Neches Valley Authority Barrier Pond. The Texas Parks and Wildlife department released 2,250 rainbow trout fingerlings into the pond.
Alli, Richard Bothel's 1-year-old dog, watches as trout are released into a pond at the Lower Neches Valley Authority Barrier Pond in Beaumont.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Ducky Washathon
Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Some of the 10,000 toy ducks float in a baby pool during the Rub-a-Dub-Ducky Washathon at the Shorkey Center in Beaumont on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007.
Addison Faubion, 4, of Nederland (left) and Erica Gillespie, 8, of Port Neches (right) move a tray of ducks during the Rub-a-Dub-Ducky Washathon. Volunteers cleaned rubber ducks in anticipation of the Rubber Ducky Derby, which will be part of the 2008 Neches River Festival.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Beaumont livestock
Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Beaumont police officer Lester Wilson (center) feeds Shawnee, 8, (left) and Diamond, 7, (right) at his home in Beaumont's Tyrrell Park area on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2007.
Beaumont police officer Lester Wilson cares for his horses Shawnee, 8, (left) and Diamond, 7, (center) at his home in the Tyrrell Park area. Some city residents with enough land are able to legally keep livestock on their property.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Port Arthur hospitality boom
Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Vijay Sinh Vansadia, owner of Comfort Inn & Suites under construction in Port Arthur, removes shipping boxes from the inn on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007. It's one of several hospitality businesses under construction or renovation on Highway 69 near Central Mall, restaurants and other consumer businesses.
Vansadia, who is from India, said 80 percent of the local hospitality businesses are Indian owned or managed.
Image is part of the faces of immigration series.
PJ question - 2 Jan. 08
What is the most common type of camera used by newspaper PJs? Why?
Know the answers? Take The PJ Quiz.
Know the answers? Take The PJ Quiz.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Lamar fall graduation
Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Education major Juwairia Humayun prepares near the loading dock before the fall semester graduation in the Montagne Center at Lamar University in Beaumont on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007.
Doctoral and masters students prepare in the Cardinal Club before the fall semester graduation in the Montagne Center at Lamar University.
Julie Riggs (left) waits with other College of Business students in the women's locker room before the fall semester graduation in the Montagne Center at Lamar University.
PhotoJournalism New Year
Until this year, this blog was either firmly above or below the competence level of other PJs. During 2007, several PJs graduated with their master's degrees or otherwise moved into or advanced in the pro world. Some are already kicking butt.
I've stated several times that I'm an average PJ. To this extent, my work is the acid test. If your work is consistently better than mine, you're doing well. If you're work isn't consistently better than mine, your work needs to improve. As you try to improve your work, so do I. Through this process, my work should continue to be average.
This brings us back to the first sentence of this post. In a way, I feel new PJs are my children. I've watched many grow into fine PJs over the last four years. This year, many have spread their wings and flown from the nest.
I applaud their achievements. I wish them all the luck they'll need to excell in this changing profession. I encourage them to raise the bar and make us all want to work harder.
Meanwhile, I plan to do my best each day. I'll work for this community (Southeast Texas), for my profession and for this blog's readers.
With this said, it's time for me to dig through the old posts and fill some missing gaps. The PJs who are advancing beyond this simple advice are encouraged to do so. The folks who are beginning to walk down this path are encouraged to read previous and future posts about this profession.
I know experienced pros have no need to reexamine what they already know. However, several are kind enough to visit occasionally and add their voice. To them, I say thank you. This is why I always request your comments and e-mails about posts. Together, we're paving the road for the next generation of PJs.
When we're young, we are immortal. As we age, we realize how little time we have on this planet. The exponential growth of knowledge and its delivery in recent years allows us to hasten the scientific process. Although it's a drop of water in the ocean, I hope this blog allows new PJs to avoid my mistakes. My New Year's wish is they'll learn this business better and faster than I.
Enough for now,
I've stated several times that I'm an average PJ. To this extent, my work is the acid test. If your work is consistently better than mine, you're doing well. If you're work isn't consistently better than mine, your work needs to improve. As you try to improve your work, so do I. Through this process, my work should continue to be average.
This brings us back to the first sentence of this post. In a way, I feel new PJs are my children. I've watched many grow into fine PJs over the last four years. This year, many have spread their wings and flown from the nest.
I applaud their achievements. I wish them all the luck they'll need to excell in this changing profession. I encourage them to raise the bar and make us all want to work harder.
Meanwhile, I plan to do my best each day. I'll work for this community (Southeast Texas), for my profession and for this blog's readers.
With this said, it's time for me to dig through the old posts and fill some missing gaps. The PJs who are advancing beyond this simple advice are encouraged to do so. The folks who are beginning to walk down this path are encouraged to read previous and future posts about this profession.
I know experienced pros have no need to reexamine what they already know. However, several are kind enough to visit occasionally and add their voice. To them, I say thank you. This is why I always request your comments and e-mails about posts. Together, we're paving the road for the next generation of PJs.
When we're young, we are immortal. As we age, we realize how little time we have on this planet. The exponential growth of knowledge and its delivery in recent years allows us to hasten the scientific process. Although it's a drop of water in the ocean, I hope this blog allows new PJs to avoid my mistakes. My New Year's wish is they'll learn this business better and faster than I.
Enough for now,
Take the PJ quiz
Strangely, one of the most popular posts on this blog is the environmental portrait quiz. To me, it's too easy. The AP style pop quizzes also got some responses from readers. Personally, I like to take the Newseum's trivia quizzes.
Since I plan to spend a lot of time this year combing through and updating previous blog posts, I'll start posting questions from those posts. I'll post the question on the front page and link it to the post with the answer(s). PJs who know the answers can skip the link, others might want to follow the link and read the post.
I started drafting the questions and already have January covered. So, it shouldn't be a problem to create one question per day during 2008.
Since some folks are new to the blog and/or visit via RSS and may not read this post, I'll turn off the comments on the quiz links. This should keep folks from giving away the answers.
I'll link the quiz page on the sidebar (important links) and add new quiz questions to the post for instructors to use in classroom studies. Since the answers are already provided, it's an open-book test. However, I'm not going to provide an answer key. If someone doesn't know the answer, follow the link.
Enough for now,
Since I plan to spend a lot of time this year combing through and updating previous blog posts, I'll start posting questions from those posts. I'll post the question on the front page and link it to the post with the answer(s). PJs who know the answers can skip the link, others might want to follow the link and read the post.
I started drafting the questions and already have January covered. So, it shouldn't be a problem to create one question per day during 2008.
Since some folks are new to the blog and/or visit via RSS and may not read this post, I'll turn off the comments on the quiz links. This should keep folks from giving away the answers.
I'll link the quiz page on the sidebar (important links) and add new quiz questions to the post for instructors to use in classroom studies. Since the answers are already provided, it's an open-book test. However, I'm not going to provide an answer key. If someone doesn't know the answer, follow the link.
Enough for now,
The PJ quiz
Questions are linked to previous posts on this blog with appropriate answers. New questions are added daily during 2008.
Categories
A. Basic
B. Composition
C. How to...
D. Get a job
E. Business
F. Sports
G. Lighting
H. Writing
I. General PJ
J. Multimedia
K. Legal / Ethics
L. Applied PJ
M. AP pop quizes
Basic
Back to top
1. What's the difference between a photographer and a photojournalist?
2. What is the most common type of camera used by newspaper PJs? Why?
3. What three camera variables can adjust exposure values?
4. What are the three minimum requirements of most successful photographs?
5. What's an ISO?
6. What is the average start-up costs for a beginning PJ?
7. What's the minimum shutter speed a PJ should use with an 80~200mm zoom lens?
8. What determines an image's sharpness?
(This question has a general and a specific answer.)
9. What happened to the delivery speed of PJ work during the last 10 years?
10. From a PJ's position, what angle and direction should a shadow lay for most assignments?
11. What does a PJ see through the viewfinder when s/he squeezes the shutter release button?
12. What does a tripod prevent?
13. What's depth of field?
14. What's the most important part of a camera system?
15. What is a stringer?
16. What are four of the eight major fields of photography?
17. Which type of light meter reading is most accurate?
18. What is composition?
19. Who is responsible for the actions of a photographer?
20. What is one of the easiest and cheapest pieces of equipment to improve image quality?
21. What functions does a flash card wallet perform?
22. What does the golden ratio determine?
23. What is a cutline?
24. Which university is currently considered the best for photojournalists? Why?
25. What is a clean image?
26. What is the dynamic range?
27. What causes red eye?
28. What is a photograph's skeletal structure?
29. How do PJs define tangents?
30. What is a critique?
31. Where is the plane of focus located?
Composition
Back to top
32. What is composition?
33. What does it mean to shoot "full frame"?
34. Of the four dimensions, which two can't be captured with a still photograph?
35. What compositional device holds an image together on a printed page?
How to...
Back to top
61. What should PJs do before dramatic weather changes?
Get a job
Back to top
92. Are elected officials or PJs subjected to the most thorough background checks?
Business
Back to top
122. In what two ways does "A penny saved is a penny earned" affect a PJ's business?
123. Why should business cards be thermographically printed?
Sports
Back to top
153. What should be the first shots taken at any sporting event?
Lighting
Back to top
183. What are the Kelvin-degree color temperatures of daylight and tungsten light?
Writing
Back to top
214.
General PJ
Back to top
244. Why is photography considered the most powerful form of communication?
245. What sells newspapers?
246. Before charging off to breaking news, what should a PJ do?
247.When it comes to PJ, what is the primary concern of a publisher or assignment editor?
Multimedia
Back to top
275. What is the difference between a "photo clump" and a photo story?
Legal / Ethics
Back to top
305. Who is considered "press" or "media" in America?
306. The U.S. government can close a U.S. newspaper only if it does what?
307. How does the Fairness Doctrine and Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1937 apply to a PJ's coverage of elections?
Applied PJ
Back to top
336. Why would PJs make more than one portrait of a single subject?
Deadline pop quizzes
Back to top
Where in the AP Stylebook can a journalist find the guidelines to write the following?
1. The name of military educational institutions and its students?
2. The title of a clergy member?
3. The type of gun used in news stories?
4. The name, personal pronouns and capitalization for dogs?
5. The correct way to write the ranks of all soldiers, sailors and airmen?
Enough for now,
Categories
A. Basic
B. Composition
C. How to...
D. Get a job
E. Business
F. Sports
G. Lighting
H. Writing
I. General PJ
J. Multimedia
K. Legal / Ethics
L. Applied PJ
M. AP pop quizes
Basic
Back to top
1. What's the difference between a photographer and a photojournalist?
2. What is the most common type of camera used by newspaper PJs? Why?
3. What three camera variables can adjust exposure values?
4. What are the three minimum requirements of most successful photographs?
5. What's an ISO?
6. What is the average start-up costs for a beginning PJ?
7. What's the minimum shutter speed a PJ should use with an 80~200mm zoom lens?
8. What determines an image's sharpness?
(This question has a general and a specific answer.)
9. What happened to the delivery speed of PJ work during the last 10 years?
10. From a PJ's position, what angle and direction should a shadow lay for most assignments?
11. What does a PJ see through the viewfinder when s/he squeezes the shutter release button?
12. What does a tripod prevent?
13. What's depth of field?
14. What's the most important part of a camera system?
15. What is a stringer?
16. What are four of the eight major fields of photography?
17. Which type of light meter reading is most accurate?
18. What is composition?
19. Who is responsible for the actions of a photographer?
20. What is one of the easiest and cheapest pieces of equipment to improve image quality?
21. What functions does a flash card wallet perform?
22. What does the golden ratio determine?
23. What is a cutline?
24. Which university is currently considered the best for photojournalists? Why?
25. What is a clean image?
26. What is the dynamic range?
27. What causes red eye?
28. What is a photograph's skeletal structure?
29. How do PJs define tangents?
30. What is a critique?
31. Where is the plane of focus located?
Composition
Back to top
32. What is composition?
33. What does it mean to shoot "full frame"?
34. Of the four dimensions, which two can't be captured with a still photograph?
35. What compositional device holds an image together on a printed page?
How to...
Back to top
61. What should PJs do before dramatic weather changes?
Get a job
Back to top
92. Are elected officials or PJs subjected to the most thorough background checks?
Business
Back to top
122. In what two ways does "A penny saved is a penny earned" affect a PJ's business?
123. Why should business cards be thermographically printed?
Sports
Back to top
153. What should be the first shots taken at any sporting event?
Lighting
Back to top
183. What are the Kelvin-degree color temperatures of daylight and tungsten light?
Writing
Back to top
214.
General PJ
Back to top
244. Why is photography considered the most powerful form of communication?
245. What sells newspapers?
246. Before charging off to breaking news, what should a PJ do?
247.When it comes to PJ, what is the primary concern of a publisher or assignment editor?
Multimedia
Back to top
275. What is the difference between a "photo clump" and a photo story?
Legal / Ethics
Back to top
305. Who is considered "press" or "media" in America?
306. The U.S. government can close a U.S. newspaper only if it does what?
307. How does the Fairness Doctrine and Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1937 apply to a PJ's coverage of elections?
Applied PJ
Back to top
336. Why would PJs make more than one portrait of a single subject?
Deadline pop quizzes
Back to top
Where in the AP Stylebook can a journalist find the guidelines to write the following?
1. The name of military educational institutions and its students?
2. The title of a clergy member?
3. The type of gun used in news stories?
4. The name, personal pronouns and capitalization for dogs?
5. The correct way to write the ranks of all soldiers, sailors and airmen?
Enough for now,
Monday, December 31, 2007
Firefighting city hall
Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Retired firefighter James Mathews (left) and retired chief Joe Clark (right) carry protest signs as they walk during a picket at Beaumont City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007. Retired firefighters picketed city hall following Monday's burn injuries of firefighter Cody Schroeder and Capt. Calvin Carrier.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Catters' schoolin'
Wildcatters's Moises Gutierrez (No. 39, left) checks Mississippi Sea Wolves' Lance Monych (No. 18, right) during an ECHL hockey game at Ford Arena in Beaumont on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2007.
Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Local grade school students cheer before a hockey game between the Wildcatters and Mississippi Sea Wolves at Ford Arena. The team-sponsored event helps students prepare for an upcoming TAKS test through applied science.
Wildcatters' Brandon Benedict (No. 26) stretches for the puck as Mississippi Sea Wolves' Jason Tejchma (No. 6) gives chase during an ECHL hockey game at Ford Arena.
Wildcatters goalie Anton Khudobin blocks a shot with his foot during an ECHL hockey game against the Mississippi Sea Wolves at Ford Arena. The Catters remain in first place for the entire ECHL.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Texas trailing phlox slideshow
Photos & music by Mark M. Hancock / photos © The Beaumont Enterprise
Conservation organizations work with forest management companies and the government to reintroduce the endangered Texas trailing phlox plant in Tyler County on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007. The plant is only known to grow in four Texas counties.
Friday, December 28, 2007
'Tis the TAKS season
Dunbar Elementary School technical liaison Margie Clayton (top) works with 4th-grader Kyra Rodgers in the computer lab at the school in Beaumont on Friday, Dec. 21, 2007.
Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Dunbar Elementary School 4th-grader Tre'von Antoine considers an engineering problem at the school. The school used seasonal themes to educate students for the upcoming Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test.
Image is part of the Charlton-Pollard series.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Restaurant business booms
Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Lynn Ferguson, assistant manager at McAlister's Deli, prepares umbrellas on the patio for lunchtime business at the store in Beaumont on Friday, Dec. 21, 2007. The number of Southeast Texas deli-style restaurants has grown in recent years and the trend is expected to continue.
Tia Matos (right) explains deli options to Tazia and James Paul of Beaumont at McAlister's Deli in Beaumont. Texas is ranked 4th in the nation for restaurant sales growth and 10-year industry job growth.
Noticeably absent from local restaurant options are Middle Eastern, (non-Italian) Mediterranean or Indian restaurants.
We just returned from Dallas. While there, we pigged on Middle Eastern food and pleaded at each restaurant for them to open a franchise here. Since Beaumont is located on I-10 between Houston and Lake Charles it's an ideal setting.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Building jobs
Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Work continues on the Golden Pass LNG plant in Port Arthur on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007. The Port Arthur City Council is concerned about the number of local jobs created by industrial construction.
Please read "... how many locals are hired ..." by Christine Rappleye.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas
Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Joseph, played by David Webb, (left) and Mary, played by Katie Ice, (right) chat while waiting on visitors in the live nativity at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Beaumont on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007.
Shepherds (right) play their scene while the wise men (left) wait for their cue during the live nativity at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Beaumont.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Hockey Santa
Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Wildcatter season ticket holder Jason Huff of Beaumont helps organize arriving buses before a hockey game between the Wildcatters and Mississippi Sea Wolves at Ford Arena in Beaumont on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2007. The team-sponsored event helps local grade school students prepare for an upcoming TAKS test through applied science.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Christus boogie
Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Dr. Tom Royer, Christus Health Systems CEO, plays Christmas carols with hospital staff and guests at St. Elizabeth Christus Hospital in Beaumont on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Dewey spider
Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
A spider waits in a dewey web in Tyler County on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007. Wednesday morning's thick fog made driving difficult throughout Southeast Texas.
Award Winner:
2nd Place, Feature Photo, Texas Press Association
This image is also the final image in this slideshow. You're not seeing double.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Feast of Sharing
Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Beaumont resident Julio Raveiro entertains his 5-month-old daughter Solanah Raveiro during the 17th annual H-E-B Feast of Sharing at the Ford Exhibition Hall in Beaumont on Friday, Dec. 14, 2007. All Southeast Texas residents were invited to free entertainment and a holiday meal.
Volunteer Brad Jorgensen distributes pies during the 17th annual H-E-B Feast of Sharing at the Ford Exhibition Hall. Volunteers prepared 7,500 meals for the event plus an additional 3,000 meals to be delivered to homebound individuals in the Beaumont area.
Home-schooled senior Meghan Seim, 17, greets guests during the 17th annual H-E-B Feast of Sharing. H-E-B is the largest privately-owend business in Texas.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Sour Lake Christmas On The Square
Ashley Jones of Beaumont leaves the square with her shotgun after gunning down a man as part of a gun fight show during the Old Timer's Day and Christmas On The Square in Sour Lake on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007.
Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Earl Keith of Sour Lake (bottom) rises from the dead after a gun fight show during the Old Timer's Day and Christmas On The Square.
Sour Lake resident Ann Carpenter announces activities during the Old Timer's Day and Christmas On The Square.
Children ride an oil-barrel train through the square as gunfighters talk during the Old Timer's Day and Christmas On The Square in Sour Lake.
MP3 music
I'll post the MP3 songs I've composed with some explanation on this page. View this page to learn how to install this player on other blogs.
To hear the song, click on the player, then click on the play symbol (click on the triangle inside the circle twice).
All music on this post is © Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com.
This is the MP3 to go with the Texas trailing phlox slideshow. Genre is folk. (:36 sec)
This is the MP3 to go with the Holiday Lights slideshow. Genre is seasonal. (1:12 sec)
This is the MP3 to go with the Douget Rice Farm harvest slideshow. Genre is folk. (:40 sec)
This is the MP3 to go with the Hotel Beaumont Annex demolition video. Genre is dance/techno. (1:23 sec)
This is an experimental MP3. Genre is jazz. (1:05 sec)
To hear the song, click on the player, then click on the play symbol (click on the triangle inside the circle twice).
All music on this post is © Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com.
This is the MP3 to go with the Texas trailing phlox slideshow. Genre is folk. (:36 sec)
This is the MP3 to go with the Holiday Lights slideshow. Genre is seasonal. (1:12 sec)
This is the MP3 to go with the Douget Rice Farm harvest slideshow. Genre is folk. (:40 sec)
This is the MP3 to go with the Hotel Beaumont Annex demolition video. Genre is dance/techno. (1:23 sec)
This is an experimental MP3. Genre is jazz. (1:05 sec)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
