AL DIAZ PHOTO

A baby stopped breathing on a packed Miami highway

2024-02-18T20:09:00.006-05:00

Tuesday, February 20, marks 10 years since Pamela Rauseo’s heroic efforts saved her nephew’s life.

When to take a photograph? The ethics and privacy of photographing a person in grief or tragedy, and when to step in to help or to comfort a person, has been the subject of discussion for years in my profession of photojournalism.

As a photojournalist at the Miami Herald for the past 40 years, these issues have always been on my mind. During disasters, turmoil, tragedy, defeat, and death, the emotions seen on my subject’s faces can be extreme. When to press the shutter button and when to stop is not always clear.

Ten years ago, a traumatic life or death event unfolded before my eyes. Stopped in traffic on Miami’s State Road 836 Dolphin Expressway, Pamela Rauseo stepped out of her SUV screaming as she carried a 5-month-old baby who was not breathing and was turning blue.

Instantly, I jumped out of my car to help as traffic sped past us. Inexperienced to properly perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), I did the best thing that came to mind; I flagged down other motorists. A woman named Lucila Godoy, stopped to help. I turned and spotted a police car and ran through traffic until I reached Sweetwater Police Officer Amauris Bastidas, who then raced to the scene. Through the lifesaving techniques of CPR by Rauseo, the baby began breathing again.

I rushed back to my car and saw four police officers and Godoy helping. I stepped back and paused. I did not want Rauseo to see me taking pictures. My heart did not want to inflict more stress on this traumatized woman, but I know that history demonstrates that compelling images can produce unforeseen and often beneficial results.

A still photograph can alter the course of history, influence policy, raise awareness, and prompt leaders to take action. In this case, inspire others to become trained in CPR and swiftly offer aid to those in dire need.

So, I grabbed my cameras and began documenting what I saw. Little Sebastian de la Cruz stopped breathing for a second time, and his aunt Pamela Rauseo again performed CPR.

I captured the breath of life in a still photograph.

The image went viral around the world. In response, television and radio broadcasters stressed the need for people to learn CPR to save lives.

My photograph raised that awareness. Years of experience prepared me for that day. My first role is to respond to those in need before I respond as a photojournalist.

#miamiherald #photojournalism Canon #thinktankphoto

Read the Miami Herald by Michelle Merchante here:

https://www.miamiherald.com/.../mia.../article285132902.html

AVC EXPO 2024 Chasing the Light - March 2 & 3

2024-01-28T13:30:00.001-05:00

AVC PHOTO & VIDEO SPECIALTY STORE 7500 NW 25th St Unit #1, Miami, FL 33122

Embark on a captivating journey through "Chasing the Light," a two-day extravaganza dedicated to the art of photography. Immerse yourself in a world of visual storytelling with engaging presentations, insightful portfolio reviews, and studio lighting workshops. Our stellar lineup features internationally acclaimed, multi-Pulitzer Prize-winning photographers serving as brand ambassadors for industry leaders such as Canon, Sony, Nikon, and Think Tank Photo. Guiding us through this visual odyssey is the esteemed emcee, Nikon Ambassador Ron Magill of Zoo Miami. Ron will not only grace the stage but also introduce a distinguished faculty comprising former Miami Herald photographers. The event is thoughtfully planned by team leader, Think Tank Pro and Miami Herald photojournalist Al Diaz, ensuring a seamless and enriching experience for all photography enthusiasts. Get ready to elevate your craft and capture the essence of light during AVC EXPO 2024 at AVC PHOTO & VIDEO SPECIALTY STORE.

Early Bird, Student, and Senior Tickets are on sale now!
https://avcstore.com/pages/avcexpo2024

Think Tank's NEW Presspass Series!

2023-08-10T20:32:00.002-04:00

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Designed with input from photojournalists, the new PressPass™ Series can be worn as a sling, crossbody, waist belt, or shoulder bag.

"Look like a pro!

From action to fashion, Think Tank Photo bags

are a perfect choice." Al Diaz

As a special offer to my friends, when you order $50 or more of Think Tank gear, you'll select a choice of free gear at checkout.

FOLLOW THIS LINK!

www.thinktankphoto.com/presspass/?rfsn=165002.6dc14

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Crossbody

Belt Pack

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Camera + Lens

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Shoulder Bag

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Sling

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Rear Phone Pocket

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Self-Locking YKK® RC Fuse Zippers

Double-GateKeeper Attachment Points

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Designed with input from professional photojournalists, the new PressPass Series from Think Tank offers several carry options, including crossbody bag, shoulder bag, waist belt, and sling bag.

Available in three sizes, all of the bags in the PressPass Series feature a wide aperture opening that allows quick and easy access to all your gear, whether you use it as a camera bag or just a lens changer. Also, the padded insert in each PressPass is removable to increase interior space and create a softer, more pliable bag.

The PressPass Series is available now at: www.thinktankphoto.com/presspass/?rfsn=165002.6dc14

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Think Tank Retrospective Travel Series

2022-07-25T10:17:00.001-04:00

The Retrospective Travel Series features a timeless look that is reminiscent of an age when natural cotton fiber offered the softest fabric with the most durability.

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RETROSPECTIVE WEEKENDER

Weekend outings can produce the lasting memories that you will cherish for years to come. The Retrospective Weekender is one of those timeless bags that reminds you of the good times.

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RETROSPECTIVE TOTE

A classic canvas tote is the most convenient way to carry all your day-trip items whether you’re when on a road trip or an exotic vacation.

Long tote straps easily fit on your shoulder even when the bag is full

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Inner stash pocket keeps small items easily within reach

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RETROSPECTIVE LAUNDRY BAG

The Retrospective Laundry bag helps keep your luggage neat and organized, and most importantly, keeps your clean clothes smelling fresh.

Drawstring closure with top flap to confine oders

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Simple zippered pouches crafted from stone-washed cotton canvas keep small items contained and secure.

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Think Tank Photo: Black Friday 40% Off on Select Products!

2021-11-24T01:42:00.001-05:00

Save up to 40% on select products

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PhotoCross 13 Backpack

Fits an ungripped DSLR or Mirrorless body, 3–5 lenses including a 70–200mm f/2.8 detached and a 13” laptop.

Orange Ember

Was $149.99
NOW $89.99

Carbon Grey

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PhotoCross 15 Backpack

Fits an ungripped DSLR, 3–5 lenses including a 70–200mm f/2.8 attached and a 15” laptop.

Orange Ember

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Carbon Grey

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Essentials Convertible Rolling Backpack

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BLACK FRIDAY SALE HIGHLIGHTS

This Black Friday, from Nov. 26 to 29, Think Tank is taking up to 40% off three of their most popular bags: PhotoCross 13 & 15 Backpacks, the Essentials Convertible Rolling Backpack, and the Airport Advantage roller.

Use this link and receive a free product and free U.S. shipping on all orders over $50:
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Death toll rises to 32 in Surfside collapse as demolition opens new areas to search teams

2021-07-06T11:52:00.000-04:00

The remaining portion of the 12-story Champlain Towers South, site of one of the worst building failures in U.S. history, tumbled to the ground, after a controlled demolition explosion at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, July 4th, 2021. So far, 32 people are confirmed dead and over 100 are still missing in the rubble in the town of Surfside. Miami Herald, #storytelling #photojournalism #Canon #CPS #ThinkTankPro THINK TANK PHOTO, #3leggedthing

Introducing the Manager Series V2

2021-04-23T19:43:00.000-04:00

Take Your Studio With You

The Think Tank Manager Series is made up of professional strength, high capacity rolling cases designed for lighting gear, grip and large photographic equipment.

We understand what a production crew goes through: loading and unloading gear from vehicles, up stairs, off road and through gravel. Transport your complete studio in a single case that offers the highest level of protection at the lightest weight possible. These handmade bags provide durability for the long-haul and outlast the competition.

Production Manager 50 V2

3–4 flash heads, 2–3 power packs, Monoblocks, Umbrellas, Large size softboxes or modifiers (collapsed), large light stands including C-stands

SPECIFICATIONS
Exterior Dimensions: 17.3” W x 53.1” H x 12.6” D
(44 x 135 x 32 cm)
Interior Dimensions: 15.6” W x 49.2” H x 10” D
(39.5 x 125 x 25 cm)
Weight: 25.9 lbs. (11.7 kg)

Production Manager 40 V2

3–4 flash heads, 2–3 power packs, Monoblocks, Umbrellas, Medium softboxes (collapsed), Small-medium light stands

SPECIFICATIONS
Exterior Dimensions: 15.8” W x 40” H x 12.6” D
(40.1 x 101.6 x 32 cm)
Interior Dimensions: 13.7” W x 38” H x 10” D
(35 x 96.5 x 25 cm)
Weight: 20.3 lbs. (9.2 kg)

Logistics Manager 30 V2

Up to an 800mm f/4, multiple bodies and lenses, flash heads, power packs, small light stands

LOGISTICS MANAGER 30 V2
Exterior Dimensions: 15.8” W x 30” H x 12.6” D
(40.1 x 76 x 32 cm)
Interior Dimensions: 14” W x 27” H x 8.3–10” D
(35.5 x 68.6 x 21–25 cm)
Weight: 16.9 lbs. (7.6 kg)

KEY FEATURES

Pack and transport your entire studio in one case

Fully customizable interior with excess dividers to protect small and large lighting equipment, including C-stands in the Production Manager 50

Wide-set wheels stabilize the load and hold up under the toughest conditions

Large shock-absorbing wheels reduce impact when rolling over rough surfaces.

Large zippered pocket on front lid for reflectors, umbrellas, extension cords, cables, etc.

Attachments for light stands or tripods (straps included)

Armored plating and ballistic nylon exterior provide superior protection and durability

Customizable ID panels show the contents at a glance on the top and side of the bag

Robust handles on 3 sides for easy loading and unloading

Lock the main compartment and secure your bag with the included lock and cable

Adjustable lid straps keep bag open
and accessible

Large interior mesh pockets for organizing pocket wizards, gels, cords, tape, batteries, and other grip

V2 UPGRADES

Added shock-absorbing wheels to Logistics Manager 30 and Production Manager 40
Added customizable identification panel
Reduced weight 2-4 lbs.
Upgraded Logistics Manager 30 front and side panel to Production Manager 40 style
Replaced stretch material on side pockets to ballistics fabric with ladder-lock tightener
Upgraded foot style on Logistics Manager 30

Learn more about our Manager Series V2.0 Rolling Cases

RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS

Think Tank has released the newest generation of their Manager Series rolling cases. Made of top quality materials, these three, high capacity rolling cases are designed for lighting gear, grip and large photographic equipment.

Think Tank understands what a production crew goes through: loading and unloading gear from vehicles, rolling cases up stairs, off road and through gravel. With the Manager Series, you can transport your studio gear to set in cases that offers the highest level of protection at the lightest weight possible.
www.thinktankphoto.com/?rfsn=165002.6dc14

PPAM's EVOLVE 2021 Convention: Photographic Inspiration, Education & Community

2020-12-30T23:40:00.004-05:00

PPAM's EVOLVE 2021 Convention

Get ready for a lot of great speakers,

topics, images, and inspiration!

Silent Auction | Virtual Expo | Chat Rooms | Live Shooting

Fri, Feb 26, 2021 at 10:30 AM to Sun, Feb 28, 2021 1:30 PM (EST)

SPEAKER: Miami Photojournalist AL Diaz Presents

Ethical Dilemmas: Dealing with questions of self-imposed restrictions or self-censorship.

A discussion by Miami Herald photojournalist Al Diaz on the ethical dilemmas of dealing with questions of self-imposed restrictions or self-censorship while photographing sensitive situations that cause physical, emotional, spiritual, or psychological pain.

Questions will be raised on the ethics of photographing these traumatic events throughout a photojournalist's career. What’s the public good weighing against what's the private pain that's incurred and what’s the effect on people who are going to see these images? Are the photographs going to be too upsetting for the families of the victims or is there a greater good being served?

Diaz will discuss the responsibility of a photojournalist telling stories through images, how to visualize and capture the emotion of a decisive moment, facial expressions, hand gestures, the light, and composition, all coming together to tell a story in a compelling way in a single photograph.

REGISTRATION LINK: https://www.accelevents.com/e/PPAMsEVOLVE2021Convention

#ppamusa #ourppa #printcompetition #awardwinning #professionalphotographer #capecodphotographer #neverstoplearning #handsonlearning #evolve #bostonphotographer #photoeducation #photoconference #photographygroup #inspire #bostonphotoconvention #ThinkTankPhoto

The Sunday Still: From Patrick Farrell

2020-12-06T18:18:00.001-05:00

The Sunday Still
from Patrick Farrell
with Jodi Mailander Farrell

DECEMBER6,2020

An Empty Seat

Connecting with families to photograph their most private moments is a delicate, time-honored tradition in photojournalism made even more difficult by COVID-19 restrictions. But as Americans marked Thanksgiving on Nov. 26 amid a pandemic that has killed more than a quarter of a million people in the United States, AP photographer John Minchillo deftly captured one New York family’s deep loss in a poignant photograph that resonated across the country. In the intimate photo, Vivian Zayas reaches out during the family’s pre-meal prayer to grasp the flower-draped walker of her mother, Ana Martinez, who died in April from the virus in a nursing home. Minchillo shoots from the perspective of the empty place setting, focusing on the neatly-folded house coat and fading into the family’s collective heads bowed in prayer over turkey and green beans. In one instant, story-telling image, a country’s Norman Rockwell moment has slipped into sadness and regret.

Patrick Farrell is the 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winner for Breaking News Photography for The Miami Herald, where he worked from 1987 to 2019. He is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Media Management at the University of Miami School of Communication.

Jodi Mailander Farrell is a former Miami Herald reporter and editor who is an adjunct writing instructor in the School of Communication at the University of Miami.

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

DO OR DYE

The powerful still image stops time, allowing us to study the moment and ask life’s big questions. Why are we in this war? What can we do to prevent this from happening again? What the heck is dripping down Rudy Giuliani’s face? European Pressphoto Agency (EPA) photographer Jim Lo Scalzo’s sharp, frame-filling close-up of Giuliani’s leaky sideburns at a Nov. 19 press conference dominated viral photos under scrutiny this week, as the world’s top political journalists called in hairdressers for analysis. Was it hair dye? Mascara? The mystery liquid streaking the cheeks of President Donald Trump’s sweaty personal lawyer became a meltdown metaphor for a wild, rant-filled 90-minute presser at Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., where Trump’s campaign legal team continued to claim widespread voter fraud won the presidency for Joe Biden. Years from now, when we start to wonder if 2020 was really as bizarre as we remember it, Scalzo and other photographers won’t let us forget. We’ll have this moment, with the American flag in the background, as our reminder—a photo with staying power any hairdresser would dye for.

NOVEMBER 15, 2020

VICTORY FOR AUNTIE

Wearing suffragette white like their history-making great aunt, two little girls caught the nation’s eye when they stepped out on stage in Wilmington, Delaware, on Nov. 7 for a victory celebration. But it was a behind-the-scenes photo by their mom that captured the meaningful moment best. Proving that access and Robert Capa’s “you’re not close enough” rule still prevail, the family photo by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ niece Meena Harris is an unguarded ta-da moment celebrating Harris shattering one of the world’s most obstinate glass ceilings to become the first woman, first Black person and first South Asian American to be elected vice president of the United States. “While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last,” Harris told the crowd. Flanked by two American flags, Amara Ajagu, 4, and her 2-year-old sister responded with little girl joy.

NOVEMBER 8, 2020

THE COUNTRY VOTER

In 1948, shooting for Life magazine, master photo essayist W. Eugene Smith created a series of pivotal photographs called “The Country Doctor” that captured the isolated drama of small-town life in the remote Colorado Rocky Mountains. Getty Images photographer Mario Tama channels Smith and the sweet Americana of painter Norman Rockwell in this Nov. 3 powerful storytelling image of Holly Schuler with her kids in tow as she heads to cast her ballot at dusk on election day at Sherman Township Hall, a former one-room schoolhouse in Zearing, Iowa. Shooting from a low angle, Tama silhouettes Schuler and her children against the crisp sky’s fading light. He balances the golden light dancing off the façade of the old schoolhouse and the inviting warmth of the interior light, pulling back just enough to include the American flag gently waving in the wind. The small red taillight of the lone car on the horizon blinks a solitary spot of color. In a noisy presidential election year, Tama’s quiet composition whispers volumes about the power of a single vote.

NOVEMBER 1, 2020

MIRROR MIRROR

How many state houses can you count? Boston Globe photographer John Tlumacki has made images for 30 years that give New Englanders an extraordinary perspective of their beloved home and beyond, from the Boston Marathon bombing and the Winter Olympics to wildlife and the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Pulitzer Prize finalist takes our eyes to another dimension with his mind-bending macro photograph on Oct. 29 of raindrops on the window of a car parked on Beacon Street repeatedly mirroring the Massachusetts State House. It’s a classic example of how our seemingly mundane surroundings can become quite incredible if you take a closer look.

October 25, 2020

BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Recalling New York Times photographer Damon Winter’s memorable, Pulitzer Prize-winning photos of Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign, the AP’s Matt Slocum captured a hazy, dramatic image of an older, grayer former president back in the spotlight Oct. 21 as he stumped for Joe Biden in Philadelphia. Slocum marked the rare appearance by exposing for the light illuminating Obama, allowing the rest of the image to drop off into the moody darkness of the drive-in rally of about 300 cars outside Lincoln Financial Field.

OCTOBER 18, 2020

VIEWPOINT

The campaign trail can be long and grueling for candidates, but also for photographers trying to overcome restricted access with extraordinary angles. New social distancing rules compound the challenge. Photographer Roberto Schmidt, who has shot a deadly Mount Everest avalanche and been held hostage in Libya during his 25-year career with Agence France-Presse (AFP), relied on his quick reflexes to adapt to a media scrum around Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Oct. 10 in Erie, Pennsylvania. Schmidt dropped low and framed Biden with reporters’ extended arms for his uncommon portrait of political life on the road. He anchored the image with a reporter’s smartphone and masked profile in the bottom left corner and adjusted exposure to keep the light from the sky darkening his primary subject. The added visual element of a big, colorful umbrella provides diagonal shapes that lead the eye to the center of the photo, which captures a time and place like no other that day.

OCTOBER 11, 2020

WILD GOOSE CHASE

Moonlight, sunlight, thunderstorms, joggers, dancers, tourists and even the random goose make cameo appearances in the stunning New York City skyline photos of former Reuters photographer and photo editor Gary Hershorn, whose new photography book, “New York Celestial,” is a love letter to light and shadows in Gotham. Hershorn’s Instagram feed is like eye candy for photophiles and I Love New Yorkers. Posted on Oct. 4, his striking image of a goose strutting in an empty lot in Union City, New Jersey, plays with depth and layers as the sun rises behind the Empire State Building across the Hudson River. Hershorn’s long lens compresses the depth, which pulls together background and foreground. A starbursting sunrise sandwiched between goose and ESB adds POP! The vantage point creates an eye-stopping, multi-dimensional King Kong moment that makes the viewer see the world in a new way.

OCTOBER 4, 2020

MIGHTY GIRL

For a story about retired Olympian weightlifter Mercy Obiero training her 10-year-old granddaughter in Kenya, The Sun newspaper photographer Monicah Mwangi dropped down to get a low angle and shot up for a powerful photograph that captures the drama of the little girl lifting weights in a Nairobi gym on Sept. 18. It’s difficult to position yourself in a small, crowded space, but Mwangi wisely shrunk down to accentuate the moment and avoid her own reflection in the gym’s mirrors. Keysha Atiky’s granny, the first female weightlifter from Kenya to make it to the Olympics in 2012, also is absent from the image, but her presence is felt in Keysha’s tenacious stance and expression.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2020

HELLO, DARKNESS, MY OLD FRIEND

With symmetry and patterns, AP photographer Ariel Schalit captured a lone cyclist—and the overwhelming isolation of Israel’s second coronavirus lockdown on the first day of Rosh Hashanah—in a single photograph from Tel Aviv on Sept. 18. Circular red and green traffic lights mimic the shape of the blazing yellow hole in the sky, guiding our eyes toward the solitary figure riding into the sunset. Even the repetition of arrows on the empty street and the surrounding darkness point the way. With a new three-week lockdown imposed due to a steadily worsening COVID-19 outbreak, the image told the story of a nation once again shutting down its roads, markets and beaches, launching a defense of self-imposed solitude against the return of a silent killer.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2020

RIP RBG

The death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday sparked national mourning and an inevitable political battle over the future of the highest court. Shooting for Reuters, Washington, D.C.-based photographer Al Drago clearly captured the mood of RBG’s millennial fan base and the looming ideological struggle ahead as he documented the crowd of hundreds gathering for an impromptu vigil on the courthouse steps. With young mourners in focus in the foreground facing the unmistakable blur of the Supreme Court Building, Drago’s solemn image speaks volumes about the loss of a liberal legal legend, its historical implications, and the bond between a young generation of women and the diminutive-yet-towering women’s rights champion who fought and thought for them.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL

Natural disasters and street conflicts are challenging assignments, but the real test of a skilled shooter is producing a photograph from an all-nude event that can actually be published. Study, if you dare, photographer Leon Kuegeler’s well-timed image from a Sept. 6 soccer match in Germany, where players shed their uniforms– and, some might say, their dignity– to protest the increasing commercialization of professional soccer. Shooting for Reuters, Kuegeler captured the shrinking moment when concern for future lineage triggered a rare use of hands. No masks or knickers. Just flying feet and, um, physiques. How did they measure for social distance or tell their teams apart? By the length of their socks? In a week of heartbreakingly incredible photos of wildfires, children returning in masks to school, and clashes between street protesters and police – made even more horrifying when viewed from our coronavirus-imposed isolation – Kuegeler’s cringe-worthy distraction permits us to crack a rare smile.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2020

ONE STRIKING IMAGE

As a longtime photographer in the Washington Bureau of The New York Times (and one of the few members of the media to be dubbed a “genius,” by President Trump), Doug Mills spends a lot of time looking through a camera at the president. On Aug. 28, his skill and lightning reflexes paid off with a well-timed photograph that shows a streak of lightning passing behind President Trump as he walks off Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, following a New Hampshire campaign rally. The position of the car’s headlights and the bolt itself direct your eyes to the umbrella-toting president. The silhouetted salutes of the surrounding military personnel convey the pomp and circumstance of the moment. Shooting from a low position, Mills captures it all in one well-composed, fleeting instant.

Think Tank Photo: 15% Off Holiday SALE!

2020-11-09T12:36:00.001-05:00

Save 15% on Stocking Stuffers

STOCKING STUFFER SALE

Get 15% off these great stocking stuffers for the special photographer in you life!

Apply discount code: stockingstuffers at checkout

(Applies to these featured products only. Can not be combined with any other discount offer)

Stocking Stuffers
Save 15% on Camera Accessories for Your Special Photographer

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Emergency Rain Covers

Emergency Rain Covers are a simple, compact solution to protect your gear from a downpour or dusty conditions. These seam-sealed rain covers can be quickly deployed when outdoor conditions change. Every photographer should carry an Emergency Rain Cover in their kit.

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Filter Cases

Keep all of your filters organized and protected with a variety of storage case solutions designed to meet the needs of outdoor photographers.

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Memory Card Wallets

Keep your memory cards secure and organized.
Six options to choose from!

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STOCKING STUFFER SALE

Get 15% off these great stocking stuffers for the special photographer in you life!

Apply discount code: stockingstuffers at checkout

(Applies to these featured products only. Can not be combined with any other discount offer)

A special 2019-20 Miami Heat season

2020-10-02T19:05:00.001-04:00

A special 2019-20 Miami Heat season

BY AL DIAZ / adiaz@miamiherald.com

Click the link to my compilation of photographs from game action and portraits I captured of the original 12 team members during Miami Heat media day on September 30, 2019. From a 44-29 regular-season record to the fifth-seeded Miami Heat's surprising, and impressive playoff run, the 2019-20 season has been one to remember for the Heat. https://youtu.be/9yxcZuGs9oc

My son, Jimmyd "the beast" Diaz, joins me and our Think Tank Photo arsenal of camera bags during Miami Heat media day in 2019.

https://youtu.be/9yxcZuGs9oc

AP, Sony reach deal for new still and video cameras

2020-07-24T06:30:00.000-04:00

NEW YORK (AP) — The Associated Press says it has reached a deal with Sony Electronics to exclusively equip its visual journalists with new video and still cameras over the next two years.

The AP sends some 3,000 photos and 200 videos a day to customers worldwide. Visual journalism is a point of pride for the news cooperative, which won its 54th Pulitzer Prize this year, the 32nd it has won for photography.

Final Days Hours on Kickstarter the Freeway Longhaul - Carryall Duffel by Think Tank

2020-07-22T01:38:00.000-04:00

For decades I've been in a constant battle trying to figure out the best way to organize the trunk of my car with all my extra photo gear. I've used cardboard boxes, plastic bins, and even built a wooden storage box. Leave it to Think Tank Photo to come up with the best solution, the Freeway Longhaul carryall duffel. It features a customizable divider system and numerous pockets to keep your gear organized, secure, and easy to access. For security reasons, the last thing I want to do is hang out behind my car, with the trunk open, looking for that one thingamajig buried in a box somewhere. Now I have a place for everything and everything in its place. 

Check it out! https://kicks.to/think/y7J1lKk
Final Days Hours on Kickstarter the 
Freeway Longhaul - Carryall Duffel 
by Think Tank

#ThinkTankPro #MyThinkTank #portrait #photography #inspiration #storytelling #photojournalism #ThinkTankFreeway #ThinkTankTravel #ThinkTankPhoto

The Sunday Still: Road Trip

2020-07-19T12:43:00.000-04:00

The Sunday Still
from Patrick Farrell

Road Trip

As a coronavirus-stricken United States struggled to shelter in place, celebrity photographer Brian Bowen Smith saddled up a vintage Ford pickup truck and grabbed his Leica M10 Monochrom to document Americans from the safe social distance of his front seat. With his 1958 Ford F100’s window as a frame adding another dimensional layer, Smith snapped a black-and-white photo series of famous and gritty people and places along his 11,000-mile, cross-country journey. Reese Witherspoon, Common and the blended family of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis made the cut, but so did a farm family in Wisconsin, a jazz singer in New Orleans and healthcare workers in Austin. The six-week “Drivebys” project, featured on “CBS This Morning” on July 16, visually conveys the diversity of Americans from sea to shining sea. Together, the photographs are a brief anecdote for our wanderlust – and a reminder of the frustration, isolation and resilience that unites us.

Patrick Farrell, the curator of The Sunday Still, is the 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winner for Breaking News Photography for The Miami Herald, where he worked from 1987 to 2019. He is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Media Management at the University of Miami School of Communication.

The Sunday Still: From Patrick Farrell

2020-07-12T14:20:00.000-04:00

The Sunday Still
from Patrick Farrell

July 12, 2020

Welcome back to photojournalist Patrick Farrell's weekly feature, The Sunday Still. Along with this week's selection, I'm including Farrel's selects from the past several weeks. Farrell selects one image each week that showcases the best photojournalism by photojournalists from around the world. The feature runs weekly in The Sunday Long Read. The goal of the newsletter, edited by Don Van Natta Jr. and Jacob Feldman, is to put the week’s best journalism in your hands every Sunday morning.

THE ASSIGNMENT ALSO RISES

Faced with empty arenas, canceled events and other nonstarters, photojournalists this summer are taking on tough assignments to make something from nothing. Reuters photographer Jon Nazca rose to the challenge in Spain by holding up photos from last year’s running of the bulls in the same Pamplona locations, effectively conveying the first cancellation of the famous San Fermin festival since the 1930s. The July 7 photo illustrations contrast quiet streets and squares with hand-held printed images that are raucous and full of life – a resourceful response to a pandemic forcing shooters to think outside the frame.

The Sunday Still
from Patrick Farrell
July 5th, 2020

Meet Me in St. Louis?

Photographing street protests is challenging enough, but it becomes even more so when an AR-15 rifle and a shiny semiautomatic pistol are pointed at you. Reuters photographer Lawrence Bryant was doubly challenged when a Black Lives Matter protest he was covering June 28 turned into a confrontation with barefoot, gun-waving homeowners Mark and Patricia McCloskey outside their 18,000-square-foot mansion in St. Louis, Missouri. Bryant, carrying only one camera, risked being confused with protestors and snapped a series of unnerving breaking news images that lit up partisan divides, with deeper symbolism about guns, race and private property vs. public space. “I just was trying to make frames,” Bryant said. “Trying to stay safe, trying to dodge the barrel of the gun and stay out of sight and out of line. I’m a big, Black man and I always have to pay attention to that anyway.”

                           The Sunday Still
                                                   from Patrick Farrell
                                                       June 28th, 2020

MONUMENTAL CHANGE

AAt 60 feet, the Robert E. Lee Monument in the center of Richmond is too massive to topple. With its fate now in the courts as lawsuits challenge Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s decision to remove the stone-and-bronze statue, the one-time symbol of the Confederate Capital has been transformed by Black Lives Matter protesters into a canvas for graffiti, a performance venue for video projections and gospel concerts, and a makeshift court for pick-up basketball. Style Weekly Photography Editor Scott Elmquist captured the public takeover in a riveting Juneteenth photo that shows Melachi Cobbs in mid-dunk against an attempted block by his cousin, Myles Bradley Cobbs. The peak playground moment amid swirling social change is made even more dramatic against an ominous gray sky, with daylight bouncing off the statue’s transformed base. The vignette is reminiscent of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer John H. White’s moving photos of Black Chicago life in the 1970s for the Environmental Protection Agency’s DOCUMERICA project. Like White’s masterful photos, Elmquist’s image conveys the everyday life conquest of joy in the moment.

The Sunday Still

from Patrick Farrell
June 21st, 2020

LET YOUR FLAG FLY

A solitary Pride Flag and the majestic U.S. Supreme Court building came together for the photo of the week in Washington, D.C., on June 15, when Reuters photographer Tom Brenner waited for the decisive moment to capture the jubilation of runner Joseph Fons as he celebrated the court’s ruling protecting LGBTQ+ workers. The monochromatic background of the towering courthouse and pastel blue sky draw all eyes to the colorful statement of the rippling flag’s rainbow colors piercing through the middle of the photograph. Brenner’s wide perspective conveys the magnitude of the moment and a movement’s victory.

                           The Sunday Still
                                                   from Patrick Farrell
                                                       June 14th, 2020

A Country Pays Respects

The power of the still image is that sometimes a photographer can show us what we don’t see or what we need to see. Shooting for The Fayetteville Observer, photographer Melissa Sue Gerrits spotted this ethereal moment on June 6 outside of Cape Fear Conference B Church, where thousands of people lined up for a memorial for George Floyd near his North Carolina birthplace, as his body traveled through there from Minneapolis, where he died in police custody, on the way to Houston, where he grew up. Gerrits’ remarkable photograph is one of many in “How Black Lives Matter Reached Every Corner of America,” a fascinating interactive display of the movement published by The New York Times that marries images, data and the poetic words of national enterprise correspondent Audra D.S. Burch. I got lost all weekend in these 250+ photos, starting with Gerrits’ stunner. Shooting from a low vantage point, Gerrits saw through the crowds to isolate the distinguished profile of a lone masked mourner leaning into the heavenly backdrop of a church steeple disappearing into the clouds. She wisely gave the photo room to breathe, conveying a moment that was solemn, majestic and otherworldly.

The Sunday Still
from Patrick Farrell

June 7th, 2020

Fists Up

Among the many powerful images from the continuing Black Lives Matter protests, freelance photographer Alyssa Schukar captured a solemn moment of solidarity June 2 at a makeshift Minneapolis memorial where George Floyd was taken into police custody. The past week brought one striking photo after another – from worldwide street demonstrations and the destruction of Confederate statues to President Trump’s Bible-toting, church-side photo op and the bright yellow Black Lives Matter street mural painted by a defiant DC mayor. Despite becoming targets of violence as they were shot by rubber bullets, pepper sprayed, arrested and at times criticized for showing demonstrators’ faces, photojournalists documented a remarkable week. Shooting for the New York Times, Schukar framed her photograph with a fist raised in the foreground, a gesture repeated in the shadows of fists through the crowd, rising to a rooftop series of clenched hands. Set against a moody sky, the historic symbol of triumph and resistance represented the momentum of a movement.

The Sunday Still
from Patrick Farrell

May 31st, 2020

The World Turned Upside Down—Again

In three Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs seared into our collective memory, the American flag has been an expression of valor, a weapon, and a jolting statement about the American dream-turned-nightmare. On May 28, when Associated Press photographer Julio Cortez captured a lone protestor’s silhouette against the flames of a burning liquor store in Minneapolis, the upside-down flag became the latest symbol of racial injustice and outrage as people poured into the streets to protest another black man’s death in white police custody. At a minute before midnight, on the third day of protests over the death of George Floyd, Cortez caught up with the protestor passing by the fire, its flames glowing through the fabric of the flag. In that split second, Cortez snapped an image that tells a country’s history, just like Joe Rosenthal’s 1945 picture of six U.S. Marines raising the flag in Iwo Jima, Stanley Forman’s “Soiling of Old Glory” of a white teenager assaulting a black lawyer in Boston in 1977, and Robert Cohen’s photo of Ferguson protestor Edward Crawford wearing a stars-and-stripes T-shirt while throwing a tear gas canister back at police in Missouri six years ago, when 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot to death by a white police officer. Cortez’s quick news judgment on a tense, chaotic street went viral. Said AP Director of Photography David Ake: “One foot in either direction and the image would lose that backlight and lose the impact.”

➢The Undefeated: George Floyd’s mother was not there but he used her as a sacred invocation
➢The New York Times: In George Floyd’s Death, a Police Technique Results in a Too-Familar Tragedy
➢The New Yorker: The Intolerable Tensions Between American Cities and their Police Forces
➢The Washington Post: This is why Colin Kaepernick took a knee

Patrick Farrell, the curator of The Sunday Still, is the 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winner for Breaking News Photography for The Miami Herald, where he worked from 1987 to 2019. He is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Media Management at the University of Miami School of Communication.

WIN the new Freeway Longhaul™ Carryall Duffel from Think Tank Photo

2020-05-22T19:50:00.002-04:00

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Think Tank Photo: 20% Off Everything!

2020-04-28T18:11:00.000-04:00

Use this link to receive free gear and free U.S. shipping on all orders over $50, and so that you'll receive your commissions:

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Think Tank Photo; 20% Off Everything!

2020-04-13T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here is a note from our friends at Think Tank Photo

www.thinktankphoto.com/pages/affiliates?rfsn=165002.6dc14

We hope you and your families are safe during this COVID-19 crisis. Everyone here at Think Tank is working from home but we're available to serve you personally.

We know that you want to get back to business ASAP, and we want to help you gear up by taking 20% OFF EVERYTHING in our online store from April 10-30, 2020

This offer includes ALL U.S. retailers who sell Think Tank products — Local camera shops are essential to us, and we all need to help support each other. Some retailers still offer online sales or curbside pick-up. Either way, we hope this 20% off sale helps us all get through these times.

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The Sunday Still: Stranded at Sea

2020-04-05T10:03:00.000-04:00

The Sunday Still
from Patrick Farrell

Welcome to photojournalist Patrick Farrell's weekly feature, The Sunday Still. Farrell selects one image each week that showcases the best photojournalism by photojournalists from around the world. The feature runs weekly in The Sunday Long Read. The goal of the newsletter, edited by Don Van Natta Jr. and Jacob Feldman, is to put the week’s best journalism in your hands every Sunday morning.

Stranded at Sea

Before it was allowed to dock in Fort Lauderdale this past week, Holland America’s TMS Zaandam was one of the “virus death ships” nobody wanted. Carrying nearly 200 passengers confined to their cabins and four dead bodies, the cruise ship was in limbo for days after South American ports denied it entry. AFP photographer Luis Acosta captured the sad saga as the ship passed through the Panama Canal on March 29. Most news outlets ran wide shots of the indistinguishable ship at sea, but Acosta’s image of a solitary passenger framed in the glowing window of his cabin zoomed in on the story. His stark photograph is a frame within a frame, creating multi-dimensional layers made more compelling by the emptiness of the other lit windows. The photo’s solitary silhouette spoke volumes about what was at stake – not a big ship, but the frightened, isolated lives on board.

Patrick Farrell, the curator of The Sunday Still, is the 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winner for Breaking News Photography for The Miami Herald, where he worked from 1987 to 2019. He is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Media Management at the University of Miami School of Communication.

The Sunday Still: The New Normal

2020-03-22T11:22:00.000-04:00

The Sunday Still
from Patrick Farrell

The New Normal

Award-winning photojournalist Yunghi Kim went underground to document New York City getting sicker in a three-day series of masterful black-and-white photos published in Rolling Stone on March 17. Her 14 images depict life-changing for the millions of New Yorkers who rely on the city’s subway system. The first photo of a man asleep with a surgical mask in an unusually empty car near 34^th Street inserts us into the moment, seemingly unaware that a photographer has brought us there. The best documentary-style photos make you wonder, “Where is the photographer? How did she do that?” Kim and her camera are unobtrusive, invisible. She has turned us into eyewitnesses as life swirls around us. Kim, who has covered conflicts and in-depth stories around the world for 34 years, started the “Trailblazers of Light” website earlier this year to recognize the work of pioneering female photojournalists. This photo story demonstrates why she’s made her mark in the field.

Patrick Farrell, the curator of The Sunday Still, is the 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winner for Breaking News Photography for The Miami Herald, where he worked from 1987 to 2019. He is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Media Management at the University of Miami School of Communication.

Think Tank Photo: Women's History Month

2020-03-21T07:30:00.000-04:00

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

Photo Credit: Deanne Fitzmaurice

BIG breath! So much has happened since we first discussed the focus of this month's newsletter with Think Tank co-founder, Deanne Fitzmaurice, a few weeks ago. Now we're all here, in this new paradigm, together. To all of you in our extended Think Tank family, we want you to know our hearts are with you and we hope your families stay safe and healthy.

Despite all the uncertainty, unknowns, and anxiety around us, it's still Women's History Month, and we want to honor the incredible work the female members of Think Tank's Pro Team are creating. Here's Deanne:

"Fifteen years ago, when we started Think Tank to create carrying solutions for photographers, I had no idea how much the industry would have evolved. We are deeply grateful to help support a strong, diverse community of visual storytellers shining a light and telling stories with passion and heart.

I’m honored to be a part of this vibrant community of photographers, and today I want to give a special shout-out to all the amazing women as we celebrate Women’s History Month. Your voices contribute powerfully to the collective story being told by photographers today and throughout history pioneered by women such as Margaret Bourke-White, Dorothea Lange, Bernice Abbott, Helen Levitt and Imogen Cunningham, to name a few.

Today, in these uncertain times with the Covid-19 virus pandemic, photographers everywhere are trying to keep ourselves and our families safe and healthy, while feeling the economic impact. Here is a list of resources to help freelance artists through this period." — Deanne Fitzmaurice

THINK TANK PRO NICOLE CHAN

Nicole Chan is a Boston wedding photographer dedicated to capturing candid moments, creating beautiful portraits, and eating wedding cake.You can follow Nicole on both her photography and studioInstagrams.

THINK TANK PRO LOTUS CARROLL

Photographer and poet living in the Austin, TX area, Lotus Carroll, creates to portray what her heart and soul, rather than just her eyes, are seeing. Check out more of her work on her SmugMug page, as well as on Instagram,
and the Lightroom class on Skillshare she is currently teaching.

THINK TANK PRO MANDY LEA DAVIS

Our newest Think Tank Pro, Mandy Lea Davis, says this about her journey, "After nearly 20 years of pursuing a conventional photography career in camera stores I was faced with a choice: give in to burnout from the same routine everyday or take a daring leap and pursue my passion. So, I quit my job, moved into a teardrop trailer, and took my photography skills to the road." You can follow Mandy and Kendrick's tear-dropped adventures on Instagram and YouTube.

THINK TANK PRO DEANNE FITZMAURICE

Select photographs from the Women at Work series by Think Tank co-founder, Deanne Fitzmaurice. You can see more of Deanne's Pulitzer Prize
winning work on her website and Instagram.

THINK TANK PRO TAMARA LACKEY

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2020-03-20T21:26:00.003-04:00

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The Sunday Still: Window on the World

2020-03-15T22:09:00.000-04:00

Photojournalist Patrick Farrell has joined the blog with his weekly feature, The Sunday Still. Farrell selects one image each week that showcases the best photojournalism by photojournalists from around the world. The feature runs weekly in The Sunday Long Read. The goal of the newsletter, edited by Don Van Natta Jr. and Jacob Feldman, is to put the week’s best journalism in your hands every Sunday morning.

The Sunday Still
from Patrick Farrell

Window on the World

As U.S. nursing homes banned visitors to stall the coronavirus spread, AP photographer Ted S. Warren documented family members trying to communicate with their relatives at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, one of the worst-hit places in the country, with 63 confirmed infections and 23 deaths. Warren captured a tender moment as nursing home resident Judie Shape, who has tested positive for the coronavirus, blew a kiss to her son-in-law through a glass window on March 11. Warren angled the shot to escape the glare of the window and keep himself out of the reflection while conveying the new reality of families struggling to maintain contact.

Patrick Farrell, the curator of The Sunday Still, is the 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winner for Breaking News Photography for The Miami Herald, where he worked from 1987 to 2019. He is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Media Management at the University of Miami School of Communication.

Four Time Pulitzer Prize Winner Carol Guzy Defends POY Winning Photojournalists

2020-02-28T19:49:00.000-05:00

Four-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Carol Guzy, says message thread on Facebook does a disservice to the photojournalists that made POY winning images and the people that are portrayed in them.

Carol Guzy

February 21 at 2:39 PM

Time on my hands with wretched lungs and new-puppy duty, so felt compelled to comment (forgive the long 2 cents):

With all due respect, I feel there is a message thread (below) that does a disservice to the photojournalists that made POY winning images and most importantly the people portrayed in them. It’s quite easy from a place of comfort and privilege to debate sophistication of visual storytelling. Much harder when you are mired in a brutal reality of conflict, hunger, oppression, etc. Yes, ‘black and brown’ inhabitants of our planet are still disproportionally suffering. Anyone struggling in those shadows of despair, of any race, gender, ethnicity etc. may be grateful for journalists that cared enough to highlight a desperate situation and hopefully promote change.

Contest judging is subjective and it’s easy to second-guess. Of course it would be great to have more dialogue about the process - contests should be less about winning and more about learning. POY does a live stream, which is commendable and should be the norm. Looking at the images that placed, I’m trying to understand many of these comments, including the need for hope rather than such emphasis on problems. First place in portrait series is a delightful look at a slice of humanity. Coney Island piece is positively charming. We do need balance in coverage - most vitally to document news situations and issues in dire need of change; but also to celebrate the poetry of life. We can all discuss and debate the selections of the judges but I believe many of the photojournalists recognized are compassionate professionals. If I was in the dire circumstances they have portrayed, I would be grateful for their concern. We can throw around that word cliché - but the situation is anything but cliché to a desperate woman holding her starving baby whatever the color of her skin.

It seems unfair to generalize, painting all winning entries with the same brush of disapproval. There are many deserving images from 2020 that didn’t place and I too would have perhaps chosen differently, but narrowing it to the best is a difficult task. Perhaps there should be a folder of photos that lasted through final rounds so viewers have a wider range of ‘best’ with detailed discussion. It would be helpful if the judges (that volunteer their time) would weigh in about their choices that are being criticized. Also would love to hear from the photographers about their thought process and heart when taking the pictures. Most vitally would be the voice of people in the pictures about any feelings of exploitation - or the opposite. Always, there are as many opinions about photographs as there are pictures in each category. Different set of judges = different set of photos. Healthy debate should be encouraged for us all to visually evolve but done in a way that is constructive. Some favorite images from this past year didn’t win but is that a reason to diss all those that did?

Many here say it’s a matter of ‘how’ we report a story, not the fact we should indeed continue to document poverty and the pressing issues that continue to plague our world. Diversity in journalism for coverage of our diverse world is ideal and necessary. We do our best to translate, but it’s never the same as walking in another’s shoes. Of course, it’s crucial to spend time and portray a more intimate view of experiences and issues - but how many have that luxury in today’s state of photojournalism? Best to seek solutions not only complain about contest wins. Focus on how to better equip photojournalists with the resources it takes to spend the time necessary for coverage with more depth. For instance, publications can help struggling photographers by supporting long-form journalism in all ways; truly committing to the story and the people that have the courage to open up their lives to our cameras; honoring the instincts of photojournalists by having their back when the story needs more time; encouragement and understanding for a journalist’s wellbeing when witnessing so much of the sorrows and inequities of this world yet still putting the narrative over their own needs as they pursue truth. It’s really hard to stay with a story when it’s ripping your own heart to shreds. Photographers also need emotionally sophisticated and caring editors so they can make the intimate images so many here are demanding that better represent minorities especially. It’s easy to applaud great immersive photojournalism but how many in management truly champion it by dedicating the necessary time and funds. Tangible assistance would be paying freelancers properly and not demanding rights to their images for a mere day rate. Ever. The press claims to be a watchdog of the world, yet we treat our own so unfairly. So many young photographers have the passion for poignant comprehensive storytelling, yet can’t fund their projects much less pay their bills. Surely that’s as important as the ‘message’ sent by contest judging.

I truly believe most photojournalists are concerned and caring individuals that do their best to highlight issues. Their goal is not to produce “poverty porn” – ugh, an awful term. The only thing pornographic about poverty is that it is still so pervasive - along with fear, conflict, repression, inequality and on and on. Perhaps society should find these issues most intolerable not the pictures that remind us of it. There are photographers on this thread whose work I deeply respect, as their opinions. But I also feel sad for the winners that are having their images dissected in this way. We can all enhance our own level of empathy and move forward with the way we visually represent those who trust us with telling their stories. Can we all be humble enough to know we can each strive to do better? I hope to not merely coach from a safe and cozy chair, but also mentor young photographers in the trenches we share with those that we document.

There will possibly be backlash to this message, but just trying to speak for the voiceless - this time the journalists who need support for their in-depth projects and those honored by POY for outstanding work that have all been lumped into the same criticisms with this message thread. I didn’t win, but would like to celebrate many of our colleagues who did.

3 Legged Thing Pro Team Member Al Diaz

2020-02-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

In April, it will be a year that I have had the honor of being a 3LT Pro Team member.

3 Legged Thing was founded by Danny Lenihan back in 2010. It all started in a Chicken Shed, in Stagsden, Bedfordshire. Danny had a small UK lighting business and a commercial photography studio. A collector of gear, Danny had half a dozen tripods, all for different purposes, and it was this that inspired him to design something truly different. Having already brought to market two tripods, for studio use, Danny set about designing what would become an industry benchmark in camera support technology.

I've been using their products for several years now and I'm completely satisfied with Winston 2.0, their most powerful and stable tripod system. Along with several accessories, I also have Alan, 3LT's professional monopod I use almost daily.

Pro Team

Published on April 1st, 2019 | by Shannon Walford

Pro Team: Al Diaz

Our Pro Team are a fantastic group of talented photographers, many of whom have used 3 Legged Thing tripods and accessories for several years. Each month we introduce you to different members of the team, using short Q&As to give you some insight into how they work, what equipment they use, and how they became professional photographers.

Next in the series is Al Diaz, a Miami based photojournalist who blogs about his work assignments, issues affecting visual journalists today, products, gear, technology and events as well as news and information regarding the photographic industry.

What is your earliest memory of handling a camera?

“During my youth, I earned enough cash cutting all my neighbour’s lawns at five bucks a pop so I could buy my first camera. At the time, the “Mamamiya” 500 DTL film camera retailed for about $120 at Zayre department store in Miami. At 14 years old, I knew nothing about sales taxes, so when I whipped out all my cash the cashier said I was a bit short. Fortunately, my dad graciously covered the difference.

“As a freshman in high school, Gus Pupo-Mayo, an upperclassman, further sparked my interest in photography when I walked into a dimly lit room and saw Gus photographing a cone, a sphere and a square resting on a table as he slowly moved a single light bulb to see the effect of light and shadow on the objects. Gus saw my puzzled look and went on to explain that he was taking a photography course by mail and suggested that I should join the school’s camera club. By my senior year, I was photographing for the school newspaper and yearbook. Gus went on to become the founding President and CEO of MGM Networks Latin America and I’ve been living the dream as a photojournalist at the Miami Herald for 35 years.”

– “Miami Heat players pose for a portrait before the start of the season during Miami Heat media day at the American Airlines Arena in Miami on Monday, September 24, 2018.”

Was there a single event that made you decide to become a professional photographer?

“Allergies, yep! I wanted to be a carpenter like my dad but working at the wood shop one summer killed that idea. My face would turn red and my nose would be dribbling from all the sawdust particles I was allergic to. I figured plan A was not going to work out so plan B in photography might be a better fit.”

Are there any strange/unusual items in your photo bag?

“Yes, alien tripods! In my camera bag, there are 3 Legged Things like the DOCZ stabiliser foot mounted on my Alan monopod. And then there is Winston Churchill resurrected as a tripod of all things, powerful, resolute and steadfast carrying an AirHed 360.”

– “Carol City High School’s head coach Benedick Hyppolite in the locker room on Monday, August 21, 2017.”

What’s in your kit bag?

“Lately, I’ve been using the DJI Mavic PRO drone stored in a Think Tank Photo Hubba Hubba Hiney that can be used as a belt pack or shoulder bag. My TTP ShapeShifter V2 carries my laptop, card reader, cables, etc. My daily assignments dictate what to carry in my three TTP Airport Security rollers. These are my options:

Two Canon EOS-1D X’s
One Canon 5D Mark III
Canon EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 II USM lens
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L II USM lens
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens
Canon EF 400 f/2.8L IS II USM lens
Canon EF 200-400 f/4L IS lens USM with built-in Extender 1.4x
Canon XA10 camcorder, cables, and audio gear.

“For location lighting, I have two TTPProduction Manager 40’s filled with Dynalite strobes, light modifiers, light stands and PocketWizard remotes. The TTP Airport International V2 roller carries four Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT’s with all the accessories. I usually strap 3 Legged Thing’s Alan monopod and/or a Winston Churchill tripod on to the side of the rollers.”

– “Fight promoter “Dada 5000″, Dhafir Harris, puts on backyard fights at his mother’s house that go viral on YouTube and have been the subject of documentaries. Sometimes the men fight until they are unconscious. There’ s no gloves and occasionally, there’s a cage.”

You’ve covered natural disasters, political campaigns, sports championships, temperamental celebrities, and angry mobs, are there any early lessons in your career that you recall?

“There are several life lessons that I learned from my mentors. Here’s one lesson I still follow daily.

“In 1980 I was just starting to work as a stringer freelancing for the Associated Press when race riots broke out in Miami. The city burned following the acquittal of four white Miami-Dade Police officers charged in the beating death of African-American, Arthur McDuffie.

“Days later U.S. President Jimmy Carter met with local leaders in a meeting that quickly turned ugly. Secret Service agents rushed the President out of the room. As Carter’s motorcade pulled away, the large crowd booed and threw trash, a beer bottle bounced off the roof of Carter’s limousine. I was positioned across the street and photographed the drama as it unfolded.

“Upon returning to the office, AP staff photographers rushed to process their 35mm Kodak black & white Tri-X film. As prints were being made and transmitted worldwide, a couple of AP staffers scanned through my negatives with a loupe, magnifying the images, but nothing caught their interest until AP Florida photography editor, Phil Sandlin had a look.

“Sandlin reviewed the negatives one by one, never skipping a frame, until he stopped, turned and smiled. Sandlin found an image showing the bottle at mid-flight bouncing off the roof of Carter’s limo. He quickly ran off to make a B&W print then placed it on the drum scanner and transmitted.

“Sandlin taught me to always look at every frame. A high bar I hold for myself and anyone else that edits my work. That lesson has helped me find hidden gems on many occasions.”

– “City of Miami police in riot gear, fire pepper spray and advance on demonstrators who massed along the city’s Biscayne Boulevard protesting the Free Trade Area of the Americas meeting in Miami.”

How would you describe your style of photography?

“My friend, photojournalist Patrick Farrell, says I’m like a utility player in baseball. I can play any position on demand and consistently excel at it. Give me anything and I’ll hit it out of the park photographically for 1A with style.”

“May the best shots be yours!” – Al Diaz

AL DIAZ PHOTO

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The Sunday Still from Patrick Farrell June 14th, 2020

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The Sunday Still
from Patrick Farrell
June 14th, 2020