NYCSalt-blog Working to Engage, Inspire and Empower Today's Youth

Christian’s Summer Internship @ the studio :) + camp

written by Christian Rodriguez

It’s been a busy summer at NYCSalt! Working to keep the studio in tippy top shape and organize our ever growing mailing list can be a challenge, but we’ve prevailed, we’ve succeeded. I’ve been working with Alicia and Adam all summer giving the studio some improvements, everything from sweeping to building new walls from scratch. The most interesting thing has been learning the ins and outs of studio lighting and studio photography which has been a blast. I’ve also assisted on location photo shoots from a garage at Orange County Choppers to some high end manhattan apartments.

I’ve not only learned a lot in the studio, but I also experienced the college life at the SPI program at Syracuse University. That’s where the “Salties” and I took the four day intensive advanced photojournalism class. We endured four hour long classes three times a day. NYCSalt made up the majority of the class which was nice because it was like being at home here in New York City. In those classes, we learned about three major parts of photojournalism: composition, how to approach real life situations, and how to document events. Being out of the city for those four days was inspiring, but the most amazing thing was the sky. Upstate there is almost no light pollution, so you can see the milky way. It was like being in space itself.

This summer I also decided it was time to update that list of goals which we all have. The unemployment rate in the United States is at 9.6 % so my number one goal is to find a job. That Nikon D700 isn't going to just get handed to me, unfortunately. Right now I’m working on getting a job at Apple Inc. I’m trying to saddle up to the genius bar where I can learn how to repair computer hardware. My second goal is to have an internship at the photo equipment store “Scheimpflug.” Don’t worry if you can’t pronounce it, I believe its German.

Included in my list of priorities is to keep helping at the studio and NYCSalt. The upcoming school year is my senior year so this means that by next year at this time I will be in a college. My plan is to get into a great four year program. My top choices are Syracuse University and The New School here in New York City. The list may grow by the summer. I’m super excited about an upcoming collaboration that NYCSalt will be having in October, we’ll be working with NPR! National Public Radio and the Radio Rookies. We’ll be learning about audio and some software like Protools. We’ll also be broadcasting and making slideshows with our still images. I am super duper excited about learning a totally new form of media. We’ll be sure to keep you guys updated on the development of that new part of NYCSalt. As we get ready for the fall and the ruff New York City winter I leave everyone with some of my images from this summer!  I’ll close with the Vulcan salute, Live long and Prosper!

Peter Turnley comes to speak to NYCSalt

Last week on April 22, world reknown photojournalist Peter Turnley gave us some of his time and expertise and showed a selection from the vast archive of images he has created since he was a teenager. He talked about the first project he did with his twin brother, David Turnley, who is also a photojournalist, when they were just sixteen years old. It is called "McClellan Street" and it was a street in a neighborhood different from the one where the Turnleys lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana. For Peter, "it wasn't about making photographs -- it was about experiencing life" which brought him to do that project. He had "a desire to enter new worlds" and the camera was his passport.

Here are some of his words of wisdom:

"Shoot with a consistent style - It's like writing. You wouldn't change writing styles in the middle of a story"

"If you get  nervous, do it. If you  don't, it'll become harder, if you do, it'll become easier"  (This particularly applies to photographing people on the street or anywhere that it might be somewhat challenging).

"We, as people have radar. You can usually tell who's good or who's bad"

"Learn to have the courage to be calm and look people in the eye" - don't look away after you make a photo of someone.

"We all like to be flattered, admired, honored. You have to charm people, seduce them [with your camera]"

"The First Amendment of our Constitution (Freedom of Speech) protects your right as a photographer to make photos in a public place. This is particularly good to know if someone challenges you.

"If someone doesn't want me to make their picture, I don't do it."

"Let people organize themselves the way they want to be seen. You don't always need to tell them how to pose. Oftentimes, just letting happen naturally creates the most interesting images."

....and the best advice of all, told to Peter, when he was a shy teenager, by one of his teachers:

"Every time you find yourself looking down at the ground, lift your head."

Peter obviously has a wonderful love of life and appreciation for all the different kind of life that exists in this world. The NYCSalt students listened in complete silence, totally drawn in by Peter's images and words.

It was a great day.