I believe we, as Greater Pittstonians, know we come from a great place to live and work.
We have always known from the days of the 1972 flood, we are “The Valley with a Heart.”
Last week was a good example of how giving we are. The Shop with a Cop Gala was held at The Banks where the venue was filled to capacity.
There was an auction and fabulous food by The Refinery. It was a first-class event.
I’m hoping tons of money was raised to help support Shop with a Cop where law enforcement and emergency services personnel get to shop with children for locally crafted items for loved ones.
It’s a really great event, and the children, as well as law enforcement, have a ball.
Money raised from the gala and other fundraisers goes toward the children to make purchases. Last year, 300 children participated in the 2023 Christmas campaign.
Usually, I have to cover the Shop with a Cop Gala, but this year I got to attend. I wish I could count how many times people asked me where my camera was. Apparently, I’m always seen with it.
I suppose I’m more identifiable as a photographer then a writer, but other than this column, I assure you, I have written many articles.
Speaking of photography, it was another busy week and when a sitting President or former President or a Presidential candidate comes to town, I have to plan on a 12-hour day.
Such was the case when former President Trump stopped at Scranton to stump for the Oval Office once again.
It’s the usual get to the event, check in my gear, leave the building for a few hours, have my equipment checked, then back into the building only to sit and wait, and wait, and wait for several hours for, in this case, the former President to show up.
After a 90-minute speech, packing the gear, fighting to get out of the parking lot, and driving home, it turned out to be a 12-hour day with photo editing including.
During the former President’s speech, I got to shoot in the buffer zone. Some call it the pit and others have different names for the area right in front of the podium where only Secret Service and select photographers get to go.
It’s at that point, you are under the discretion of the Trump staff on how long we can stay in the buffer zone. For Vice President Harris, I was able to shoot photos close range for about 10 minutes or so, then you get the hook for other photographers to take your place.
It’s when you’re in the buffer zone when you take a ton of photos of the former President, the crowd, the VIPs, or anything else that catches your eye.
Rob Bresnahan, who is running for Congress, sat in the VIP seats and was kind enough to take a few photos of me while I was working. I never really get to see photos of me doing photo work, but when people share with me, it’s special and maybe my children will think it’s special once I’m long gone.
The political world is so strange these days and often times when I’m photographing a candidate who someone opposes, will ask, “How can you photograph that person?”
The answer is simple. I have a job to do no matter to whom it might be. The camera doesn’t know any difference who I’m taking a photo of. I have to look for do what I’m hired to do, take photos to the best of my ability and do the things I mentioned above. The subject is the subject no matter who they are.
I enjoy the challenges of picture-taking. You have to remember; photographers have essentially sophisticated computers in our hands. We have to constantly make adjustments whether it’s lighting, depth of field, cropping the photo, zooming in, zooming out, over and over and over again.
I have several buttons set on my camera body and even lens where I’m making adjustments. Even when the camera isn’t up to my eye and by my side, I can make adjustments.
Anyone can shoot a photo with a cellphone, but to pick up a complicated piece of equipment like a mirrorless camera is an art.
Unfortunately, I have learned the hard way — I’m self-trained. I have always admired those photographers that have been formerly trained then myself who picked up my first professional camera at the age of 17.
Back then, there were no automatic anything cameras, not like today. Even with all the automatic settings, most pros chose to shoot in manual mode; that’s like driving a car with a stick shift, you have more control over the car when driving a stick. Same as a camera. The more control you have, the more feel you have to control your camera.
After all these years of shooting photos, I’m always evolving and learning — forever learning.
I never said I was a great photographer, there are others that can stake that claim. I’m proficient, I know how to frame a shot, I have a good eye and good reflexes to get the job done.
On to the next job.
Quote of the Week
“I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom.” — Rosa Parks
Thought of the Week
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Bumper Sticker
“Being happy never goes out of style.” — Lilly Pulitzer
