freelancer teaches photojournalism
he spent behind the scenes with be unique.
'
“There isn’t a picture that
President Ford. David Kennedy,
’reelance
magazine a well-known photojoumalist, hasn’t been taken,” he said,
»t^grapher, David Falconer had been on the staff of The “so do it different.” Falconer
be teaching the winter term Oregonian and was back for a had Portlandia’s sculptor’s
itdjournalism class here at visit during the time that he was wife, who was the model for
IÏlas Communtiy College President Ford’s personal Portlandia, stand profile with
onday from 7 to 10p.m. photographer. Falconer asked the sculpture to show the
tier began his career as a Kennedy when someone else resemblance. He then had her
photographer for the would be allowed behind the kiss Portlandia on the nose,
making the shot a definite
nian in 1953. It all began scenes and Kennedy replied,
original.
“
When
do
you
want
to
come
■ he was a copy aid at the
ijn Journal, and was con- back?” Falconer soon found “No news is good
ly hanging around the himself riding in Air Force One
news. If you do hear
pom, asking questions. So with the President, in private
quarters
in
the
White
House,
on
back, it generally
ie referred him to a “two
Ijob” opening up in the die other side of secret service means something’s
itography department at The blockades, and even eating meals
wrong. You’re ex
:gonian. At that time, The with the President. He had open
ajnian had six photographers access and felt as though he was pected to produce.”
Because he is freelance,
Ke cameras they used were in a special, elite group.
“It was a different world. I Falconer’s work schedule is not
Kky four by fives. He stayed
[he Oregonian for 25 years. mean, here you are with the most regular. He works on assign
7alconer has since been out of powerful man in the Western ment and often he will be the
H “news” business for seven World and I’m as close to him as one to make the first move. He
I am to you, and no restrictions. will call the Picture Editor of
js , working freelance, doing
tures for Time, Life, People , I’ve always enjoyed the privelege various magazines presenting
tiotial Geographic and USA of getting to do that. It was fun.” them with possible feature
Falconer also did a shoot of ideas. If they give him the go-
day. He does a lot of
;ople” pictures, scenic photos, Portlandia for People Maga ahead, David will do the shoot,
zine. Because it is published , send the film in, and not hear
features.
Vhen asked about what he felt weekly, the daily publications anything until his check arrives.
“No news is good news. If
> his most interesting assign already had pictures of it out,
at, Falconer described the time and David wanted his picture to ■^ou^dojiear^ack^jt^generan^
Afarie Thompson
^■Sditor
means something s wrong.
You’re expected to produce.”
When it comes down to ac
tually getting a job, Falconer
says that the old saying,“It’s
not what you know, it’s who
you know” still holds true, and
that editors definitely have their
favorites.
Falconer now does 90% of
his work for magazines, the
other 110% is for USA Today.
Because of the type of work he
does, Falconer must travel a lot,
usually outside of Portland,
often outside of Oregon, and
occasionally outside of the
Pacific Northwest. He never
went to college and says that his
experience on the newspaper
helped him to recognize pic
tures.
Falconer doesn’t normally do
any writing to accompany his
photos, but says that times are
changing and it’s becoming
necessary to “try and learn to
do a little writing and to use
computers.”
“The weather and
lighting will never be
right. Learn to work
¡with that.”
As for the photojournalism
class here at Clackamas Com
munity College, Falconer’s goal
is to “teach people to ‘see’ pic
tures. To see, recognize, and do
something about it.” There won’t
be any instruction on how to use
a camera, but “this will be a
hands-on learning experience.”
There will be weekly assignments
to be critiqued by himself and the
class, weekly and term layouts,
The Print and a daily newspaper
will be critiqued in class.
There may possibly be a guest -i
speaker from television.
Deadlines will be stressed. “No
alibis,” says Falconer.
Falconer’s advice to anyone
wanting to become a photojour
nalist?
“The weather and lighting will
never be right. Learn to work
with that. Learn to shoot and
print color film. All publications
except for People Magazine are
color now. Get a journalistic,
newspaper background. Photo
graphers today are better
educated, better equipped. Get
out and ’sell’ yoursef.
“Don’t be afraid to take
chances,’’Falconer added.
Symes’ “ Pioneers” wins silver medal
1 Marie Thompson
toj|ditor
Jill- Symes has many respon-
lities as Public Information
Xwisor here at Clackamas
impunity College. Among
m is the production of multi-
ig^ slide shows. In September
:hS year, his production “The
w Pioneers” won a silver
dal at the Northwest Regional
tpBation for Multi Images
rival in Coos Bay.
‘The New Pioneers” is a 15
lute show on the history of
iclkmas County that ties the
neftr past in with the pioneer
ure. “The New Pioneers”
anftents the past with old
otographs, paintings, and
nts, and covers the whole
tory of the county. The pro-
m was used as a theme for the
tckamas Community College
h Anniversary Community
nquet last May and has been
wed by over 5,000 people.
Bill began producing slide
shows eight years ago when he
was working at Oregon Health
Sciences Center. OHSC needed a
production for their poison
center and found the $5,000 to
$7,000 bids from Portland’s pro
fessional producers over their
budget. OHSC decided to make
it an in-house project, and Symes
took it on. It took six months to
complete because “I had to do
everything wrong and then do it
again.” Since then, Bill has done
between 15 and 20 shows, four in
the last year, two of which were
done in the same week.
When asked how a show is put
together, Symes rolls his eyes and
says, “Don’t ask! It’s an agoniz
ing process.” First there are the
given basics: an unreasonable
deadline, a low budget, and a
purpose. From there, it’s in Bill’s
hands. He must create a concept
that flows naturally and will have
an impact on the audience. “I
want it to get ’em.” Next, a script
for the show, be it a brief descrip-
Ition or a word-for-word account
of what will be going on. The
script is a sort of blueprint for the
production. After the script is
written, the two elements of a
slide show, soundtrack and
visuals, must be created and
brought together. Location
photographs or graphics, such as
titles or backgrounds, must be
shot, and the tapes must be
made.
Bill (often uses location recor
ding in a documentary fashion
along with music, the main
source of sound, and an occa
sional narration. Once he has
the location tapes made, a
transcript of the tapes is writ
ten, the desired material is
marked, and Symes heads into a
studio. There he dubs the
sounds he wants onto a four-
track reel to reel, mixes
| everything on a multi-track,
leaving one track open for cues.
Cues are computer programmed
onto the tape to automatically
cycle the projectors. Thus, a
seamless master, soundtrack is
made to accompany the visuals.
“The soundtrack and the
visuals compliment each other
and work together to have an
emotional impact on the au
dience. That’s what you shoot
for. Hopefully the effect on
screen is that you don’t sense
any of the technical stuff going
on in the background. All you
see is a show that looks logical
and sensible and flows together
well. A lot of times, though,
you’ll get people who turn
around and watch the projec
tors instead of watching the
screen.”
Besides
“The
New
Pioneers,” Symes has done a
show focusing on the Oregon
Trail which played at the
Oregon Pavillion at Exop ‘86. It
was done in “one extremely in
tense week. Slide shows are real
labor intensive,” commented
Symes.
Symes also did a show for
Clackamas Community Col
lege’s staff 20th Anniversay
program using “original music
and graphic pzazz” to accom
pany the photographs of the
staff members being honored.
As well as these, Symes is also
responsible for the current col
lege presentation used in
recruiting high school students.
As it is five years old, Symes is
thinking of doing a new one this
spring.
“I’m not planning on doing
any more slide shows for a
while. But I always recover, or,
I guess forget. And generally,
after a little bit of rest, I’ll get
excited about doing another
show.”
Posters for New Pioneers!
** ;
Oregon City on the Willamette River
c. 1852 oil on canons by western painter John Mix Stanley
Wishing you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year!
John S. Keyser, CCC President
Full color, limited edition posters commemorating
Clackamas Community College's 20th Anniversary.
Available now at the CCC Bookstore or call the Foundation
Office at 657-8400, ext. 402. $10 unframed, $50 framed.
Proceeds benefit the Clackamas Community College Foundation.