Christine Chang Photography

Introducing the Romans 8:1 Racing Team. Pastor Jeff McCulty created the racing team, which includes three of his daughters (”I’m a father to three and pastor to the rest.”) The gals were fun; they took a break from talking to me by running across the street to grab some ice cream from an ice cream truck. When I was photographing the story and having fun with the kids it felt like I was outside LA and somewhere in the midwest because 1) everyone was very patient and talking to me, not in a rush to go anywhere, and 2) I don’t really hear people talk about NASCAR here except in reference to the movie Talledega Nights.

Above: Candace McCulty, 16, poses next to the car she crashed. “I love NASCAR. I always like to watch my pretend husband Kasey Kahne. He’s gorgeous.”

Merry Christmas everyone, and take lots of pictures.  In the end what a picture does is document a memory, so no matter how you take the picture or what kind of camera you’re taking it with, it’s the memory that counts.

Here’s another topic: I really love technology in the sense that cameras are now so small; being able to put a camera into your pocket is great.  Of course, my camera is good too, but it’s heavy, and I have to carry it around and when I’m with family and not shooting an assignment a big heavy camera becomes a burden.  Besides, with a small camera the potential for catching breaking news is excellent.  If you’re in the middle of breaking news your pictures maybe more valuable than if a photojournalist rushes to the scene 10 minutes later, because you’ll be in the middle of when everything happens.
If you’re up for it, try experimenting with the flash on those smaller cameras.  Direct flash, especially on those little cameras, are for the most part not flattering at all.  It makes pictures look like mug shots or you have people who look like ghosts in your camera.  Try using your hand as a shield to block the light from going directly toward your subject and have it bounce off of the ceiling or a side wall.  Then the flash will light the subject more natually.  Or, try putting a piece of guaze over your flash, or even using a piece of paper to direct the light elsewhere instead of directly on your cameras.  If any of you decide to try this tip let me know how it goes.

When I was a kid, my mom and dad would always lecture me about having everything prepared, whether it’s for school or even in cold weather.  Bring a jacket.  Did you study for your test?  Did you bring your glasses?

I heard it all the time because I am scatterbrained.  By the time I was at UCLA I lost my fifth jacket because I left it somewhere and I can’t really count how many umbrellas I’ve donated to the general public.

Time has passed and I’ve had a chance to hone my skills in keeping my belongings.  I’m a little bit better, though now most of the time I prefer to be cold instead of wearing a jacket.  In any case, my point is that in news photography often misplacing something or forgetting can be the difference between a telling picture of a car accident or a picture of pavement and a few pieces of broken glass.  Bad direction sense, like me, also takes a toll on you, but The Thomas Guide is slowly becoming my friend.  I used to hate reading maps, but now I have to learn for the job, as well as lift heavier weights at the gym so I can carry all of my equipment and run at the same time.

Once we receive a call in the office (this morning it’s a bus accident), a photographer takes five seconds to locate his equipment and run.  That’s how fast this line of work is, so hopefully the only thing I’ll forget when I shoot is my jacket, which would be the least of my worries.

This article from August’s issue of Food and Wine caught my eye. I know alot of you out there love taking food pics. I don’t know if all of you have noticed, but alot of travel photography involves food, even amongst the professionals; almost always food is an inbred definition of a culture. Here are some tips from Food and Wine’s pros. Enjoy!

1. Never use a flash

-If you’re in a restaurant, choose a table near a window. “The flash flattens everything out,” says photographer John Kernick. When that’s not possible, choose one of the camera’s “white balance” settings; for example, the setting indicated by a light bulb compensates for the yellow tint indoor lights can cast.

2. Get in close.

-”If you fill the frame with the dish, it can make the food look heroic,” says photographer James Baigrie. Use a camera’s macro setting to bring a part of the dish into sharper focus. Or widen the aperture to reduce the depth of field, which allows you to focus on foreground details-say, the crusty corner on a dish of macaroni and cheese–and keep the background soft.

3. Wipe glasses and plate edges.

Be sure surfaces are free of smudges and greasy fingerprints. In good light, they really stand out

4. Work quickly.

The longer it takes to set up a shot, the more salads wilt, sauces congeal.

5. Keep hands steady.

In low-light conditions, even the slightest tremor can produce a blurry photograph. Bace your elbows against the table to keep the table steady. Or try Josh friedland’s trick: He often uses the top of a water glass as a makeshift tripod.

6. Shoot a lot.

A photo may seem okay on the camera’s tiny screen, but blown up it might be out of focus or too bright. So shoot alot of the same picture, adjusting the conditions.

7. Shoot food as it’s being prepared.

“There are all sorts of great details that emterge throughout the cooking process”

8. Know what not to shoot.

The notoriously unphotogenic: a meal that’s all one color or dishes with brown sauces.

9. Do your homework.
Skim the food-photo discussion boards at flickr.com.

–Rob Willey