The Military Photojournalism Connection

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MPJ Connection: How did you get started in photography?
I took a photo class in 1991 at a small liberal arts college and I completed a two-year degree in graphic design.  I then joined the Navy to pay off my college loan. I discovered I really enjoyed my military service. It wasn’t until my tour in Guam that I actually realized how photo would become such an important part of my life and work. As a very junior photojournalist,  I  had covered three national disasters including the 1997 Korean Airline crash in Guam that killed 300+ people. The images I made during that assignment changed me as a person. I found inspiration, courage and commitment to my new life as a Navy PJ.

MPJ Connection: Branch of service you are or were in.
Active duty Navy.

MPJ Connection: If you attended SU/RIT what year did you graduate?
MPJ Class of 2000.

MPJ Connection: How has that training affected your photography?
Attending the MPJ program opened my eyes and mind to photojournalism. It taught me that photos communicate across the language barrier and are understood pretty much universally around the world. I learned photography basics in college. But my training in the Navy was where I learned the most; how fast I learned was up to me. During my early days as a Navy PJ in Guam, I learned something new everyday. There is no substitute for learning by being placed in a serious photo situation. When you are on such a shoot for the first time there is a lot of pressure. You realize everyone is counting on you, and the images; there is more focus and clarity. You “sink or swim.”  To fail on a shoot like the Guam airliner crash would likely mean reassignment  from a field shooter back to the lab processing film or sweeping the floors. I didn’t sign on to sweep the floors.

MPJ Connection: What are your suggestions on how to get more applicants for the university-level (currently Syracuse) training program?
 The way to get the most interest for the university-level training program is to assign military photojournalism graduates from the program to follow-on jobs where they can educate and mentor junior photographers. S.U. graduates who are passionate, motivation, talented need to be sent to large commands where they will cross-pollinate their fellow military photojournalists with what they learned at the university. They should be encouraged to teach by example; meaning their position should be as a photo leader, but also as a shooter. Graduates should not be chained to a  desk. That is a huge mistake and not fair to the graduate who is trained and full of fire to make great pictures. That is a sure fire formula to sap the motivation and desire from a graduate. These graduates who have already been working in the United States and in the international arenas need to be put in key positions to mold the future of our PJ community. If we can do this task we will be able to advance the level of competency and quality by increasing the number of military photojournalists who understand how to expertly communicate the DOD mission in visuals.

MPJ Connection: Who has influenced your photography the most?
Only working in this field for seven years, I have a hard time answering this question because I am still every day finding new influences through people, places and things that shape the photographs I create. I keep connected to the civilian and military trends by attending photo-related events throughout the year. I am also influenced by the students that I teach. My students don’t have experience and are seeing things for the first time; I stay fresh by watching how they solve their assignments. Modern resources such as the Internet, online digital archives E-zines provide influence and inspiration from both former and current photographers. This helps me a great deal. I also am influenced from the masters of fine art; the artists who shaped the art world. I was first attracted to Robert Rauschenberg, a fine artist who works in mixed media. He combines graphics, traditional painting and photography to communicate his vision.

MPJ Connection: What do you love about photography?
I love the way people respond emotionally to photographs. Images speak with a universally understood voice. There is no language barrier. Images communicate no matter where you are in the world.

MPJ Connection: What do you consider the best photo assignment you've covered to date?
I have not yet shot that assignment. Assignments that have changed me, taught me how to hone my skills, find courage and find what it is that is important in the image have been: The 1997 Korean Airline crash in Guam; Philippine infantrymen on the front line of terrorism in Basilan; and the images I saw but missed out on in Afghanistan. When I was in Afghanistan logistics was a huge hurdle for my team. We knew where to go to get the images but along with the civilian reporters and photojournalists, we were unable to get there. Working with a video camera in Iraq with little training (I am normally a still photographer) was a great experience. I also cover a lot of ceremonies where I get to see many people in the military at turning points of their lives; re-enlistments, promotions and retirements. In these situations they show the human side of themselves. But I am still waiting for that one assignment that I consider the best assignment.

MPJ Connection: What wisdom can you pass on to others?
Having made many mistakes doing the work of a Navy PJ, here are my suggestions: (1) Don't be afraid to make a mistake  (2) Surround yourself by talent; motivation and dedicated people (3) Don't hang around with people who are not motivated, dedicated or talented. (4) Know your gear as if it was an extension of your body. (5) Get to know the craft of photography and learn from others that have been before you and the ones who are there now. (b) Find your personal motivation to what drives you to make pictures and pursue that in sixth gear. (6) Never stop learning (7) Pick three long-term personal projects and work them again and again over time. (8) Be prepared, no matter what. (9) Keep up with the technology of the industry and don't forget the traditional way that photography started. (10) Commit to the craft. (11) Don't choose the photojournalism career for fame & fortune. (12) Don't ever miss an opportunity to create an image you feel is out there and that you believe in. (13) When you arrive at a point where you know your stuff, don’t forget to give the information as freely as you received it.

MPJ Connection: How long have you been active in photography in and out of the military?
Seven years.

MPJ Connection: What advice would you pass on to young photographers just starting out?
Find a mentor, commit, work hard and always remember, "Sleep is optional."

MPJ Connection: Are you shooting all digital, all film or a combination of both?
Digital. The D2 H is my primary camera body, but I am not above shooting film because I believe a strong photographer should do both. Film takes a bit more time. I feel the pull to get back to basics and plan to be shooting more film in the near future.

MPJ Connection: What are your thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of digital and Film?
You must do the research on both digital and film photography for yourself as an artist and decide where you fit in. Photographers in this day and age need to be able to create in both mediums to give the editor a choice.

MPJ Connection: If you could change "the way we do business in military photography" what would be your first action?
(1) The first action would be to secure the timely release of the images in the field. (2) Put people with the passion and talent in the positions to get ideas and the goals of the future for this discipline to the people in our audience. (3) Get the DoD all on a level playing field pertaining to gear and training to keep everything consistent. We as photographers who are working in the DoD are finding the work environment to be a joint one. Therefore, it would be more productive to get all on the same gear and training cycle to help streamline the process of getting the images out to the perspective customers.