Spread The Bread - Nov11/12

Spread the Bread is a multi-unit, multi-branch girl guide event held at Polson Park United Church. Basically, the girls (sparks through to rangers) learn about baking, make goodies and given them to our local emergency personnel (police, fire and paramedics) as part of a community service project. They all arrived Friday night, did a few crafts, made murals and then got to sleep over, with some doing it for the first time.  The next day involved making sessions, games, crafts before a full spaghetti dinner and going home.

-30-

NPAC Spotlight

So cool.

At a classmates suggestion I submitted my car fire photo to NPAC (News Photographers Association of Canada), and for which I am a member, under their spotlight feature and I just got word today that it's on the front of their website.

So cool.

http://npac.ca/

-30-

Spot News - EB 401 near Gardiners Rd

OK - really?

So, I kinda thought Monday's spot news was just really good luck but I, once again, hung around the newsroom at school a bit later than normal, which put me in the right place at the right time to get the tweet about a vehicle fire on the 401 a few exits ahead of where I was, driving home.

This was my first major highway spot news so I was a bit nervous, but once I saw a few other cars had pulled past the scene and were parked near the ditch with their 4-ways on I just followed suit.  I parked, switched to my long lens, grabbed my purse (forgot my mitts) and grabbed my reflective vest from the trunk.

There was an off duty OPP constable waiting by one of the cars - she told me that the driver and her passenger were both ok (thank god) and were waiting in her car for the fire trucks.  

I didn't realize how cold it was until my fingertips started to hurt.  I luckily had my big gloves in my coat pocket but forgot my under gloves in the car - the big gloves have flip fingers for the index and thumb so when I'm shooting I can feel the camera controls.

While I was waiting for the on-duty constable to come back to speak with me I contacted the local daily paper to let them know I was on scene.  I have since sent them three images (1st, 3rd and 4th). 

I'm kinda proud of the images I produced from this - with the cold, my nerves and standing on the 401 with cars whipping past I was able to stay calm and shoot for the moment.

-30-

Spot News - Sydenham Street House Fire

After a full day at school (Loyalist College in Belleville) on Monday (Jan 14th) I randomly decided to stay a bit later, to hang out with a classmate.

On my way home I got word that there was a house fire downtown Kingston.  I was in Shannonville at this point.  I figured that it would be out by the time I got there but decided to just go and see anyway.

And here is what just going with the flow can get you:

January 14, 2013 - Sydenham Street House Fire

-30-

POM (Photos of the Month) - October 2012

Loyalist Photojournalism 2nd year students run a Photo of the Month competition from the summer through to April.  Each months images are judged by a different member of our advisory board.

For the first time I placed..... For the month of October I came in 2nd place News category with one of my fire shots and in 3rd place in the Multiple Pictures category with my series on the Governor General's visit to Kingston.

I now have 75 points :D

Link - POM: October 2012 Results

The Globe and Mail staff photographer Peter Power was the judge of October's POM contest.

-30-

Shooting Spot News

Before attending Loyalist College for Photojournalism I'd never heard the term "spot news".

During the first year (in 2nd semester), as part of the News Photography course, I needed to shoot a spot news photo.  The idea was unsettling.  Taking a picture of an accident, breaking news, fire, etc was daunting and I wasn't sure I could do it.  Speaking to the emergency personnel, stopping and shooting while someone is at a low point (or worse) was not something I wanted to do.   I ended up getting a shot of an accident on the 401 from my car (while stopped).  I couldn't even get out the car.  I didn't want to be in the way and felt like I didn't have the right to stop and ask questions.

401 EB near Camden East

A model train show

 This year (semester 3) I've gained confidence as a photojournalist.  I started subscribing to a few local twitter feeds that post alerts for accidents, fires, alarms and medical emergencies in my area.  I bought a reflective safety vest that now lives in the truck of my car.  And I've found myself going towards the accidents, instead of just passing or turning away.  I understand the need for the news to be covered and it can be part of my job.  I've been lucky that everything I've covered so far was just property damage and no lives were lost, but I know that will come.  Don't know how I'll deal with that but I'm going to keep trying to cover my community news, no matter the scene.

HWY38 - First photoj on scene - freelanced image to Kingston Whig Standard

HWY38 - First photoj on scene - freelanced image to Kingston Whig Standard

Small house fire in west end of Kingston - Was the only photoj on scene

First photoj on scene - freelanced image to Kingston Whig Standard

First photoj on scene - freelanced image to Kingston Whig Standard

-30-