Joe McNally took a photography course as a requirement for his journalism program at Syracuse University. Though his intent at the time was to become a writer, when he picked up a camera he knew immediately things were about to change for him. Find out more about more about how his career and the industry have evolved, and how being at the right place at the right time (with Peter Jennings) kickstarted his work as a freelancer.
Very good interview! But please pay attention to the sound quality. In a film or video, sound is as important as the image. In this kind of situation with background noise, a pro always uses a wireless microphone system with a clip microphone attached close to the mouth of the person interviewed. If a wireless mic is not available, a more silent place for the interview would need to be found. At least a directional microphone would be needed as additional equipment. Built-in camera mics rarely do a good job.
Wow! That is easily the best interview on a career in photojournalism that I have seen McNally presents a lot of wisdom, and I think anyone getting started would do well to take his advice to heart. (As a fulltime freelance writer who shoots photos to illustrate his stories, I have, perhaps, some standing for saying so.) The interviewer did an excellent job as well.
The comments about establishing rapport with subjects and the fact that the photographer needs "food for the soul as well as food for the body" are right on target.
On a scale of 1-10, this interview is at least a 12. Well done.
I was a photojournalism major at the great UT Austin in the early 70's. But I took the easy way out and joined the corporate world. I respect Joe so much for sticking too his guns. If I could go back and talk to a younger me, I would say, stay with your passion and you will be successful.
Are you talking as a corporate shooter or just working in general for a corporation. If you are commenting about being a corporate shooter, as a corporate shooter for over 40 years it was NO easy way out. The pressure was much greater then the 9 years I spent as a photojournalist. I'm sure corporate shooters would agree. Photojournalism is a wonderful profession and I loved every minute of it. Corporate work was every bit as satisfying. let's not make it sound like corporate work is just a day at the beach. I'm surprised to hear you say that
No I should have been more specific. I joined the corporate world as a non-shooter. Procurement was my profession. Quite satisfying and made me a lot of money but not my passion of photography. Now that I am retired, I can pursue the passion.
Prefocusing is underestimated today. When you have a digital camera that can do 10fps, it does not require much thinking. When you focus on somethink beforehand and then re-compose you can take the picture with a fairly simple camera. I do this as much as I can if I can use the right aperture, with the right lens.
High sequential mode doesn't remove the manual pre-focus benefits.
Canon understood this with "focus trap" automation like we used to do with actual release-traps (IR lights, mouse traps etc triggering from weight/light changes) that allowed us to get excellent shots easily without being lagging from our reaction times.
Then came sequential shooting with motor etc. And now some people get 15-30fps with excellent quality for daily use.
Like the shot in video thumbnail, it is more about lighting and composition than anything else.
Thanks for the interview with Joe McNally. Always liked Joe and felt he doesn't get the recognition that he deserves. Joe has definitely paid his dues. The fact that he isn't sitting back on easy street after his huge repertoire of excellent work just goes to show how difficult a business photography is.
DP, could I make a suggestion with these interview videos...try to intersperse his stills while the subject is talking, I think would really capture what he is trying to to convey. This is a man who has been around the block with different styles and venues and he is proud of that.
She mentioned the rude crowd, constant interruptions, and even a few hecklers claiming his portfolio was not from his talent or work ethic - but because he was "lucky."
Joe was a consummate professional and never got flustered.
Joe even gave up a large portion of his lunch break to talk with the daughter another booth vendor who wanted to show Joe her artwork she made for school - she was 11 or 12 years old.
Many photographers who mouth off verbally or on a keyboard in a negative way are in nature not people persons. If they were they would treat other photographers with more respect. Sure there are just as many easy going and genuinely nice photographers out there but it seems they prefer to let the rest make a fool of themselves. Photography when in its raw form (not digitally molested on a PC) is a combination of art, luck, timing, skill and passion. I have won a few competitions with my images when I was younger (before photoshop) I put down to luck and being at the right place at the right time. I envy anyone that can make a living doing what they love. I don't see it as an opportunity to put them down because of jealousy. Knowing how to use your kit should be a given, If you don't know how to use your gear just take the time to study, practice and learn as you go. The rest is how you apply your artistic skills to capture the subject. And from your post he seems like a nice guy. :)
It is lots of about luck, just like it is about lots from others that we can succeed individually. No one does everything by themselves or without luck.
But those doesn't meant that individuals doesn't need to work hard, some just little more than others and some far less.
The Danish goal keeper Peter Schmeichel once was accused of just being lucky. His reply was: "It is funny, the more I excercise, the luckier I get" I guess in the photography business you can improve your chances of getting THE shot by being trained to foresee what might happen and then be ready to react when it does happen
"I guess in the photography business you can improve your chances of getting THE shot by being trained to foresee what might happen and then be ready to react when it does happen"
Yes, but without luck there would only be skill, and that would mean there isn't anykind possibilities to take a bad photograph unless willingly taking such.
Luck is just a bunch of random effects happening all around us that finally comes to placed in such manner in front of us that it looks to us like something magical. Like throwing a basket balls on the basket, a beginner will probably succeed 15% of the throws, while professional with years of training probably miss 15%. And that is just to situation where the ball and all the physical properties of the hand and the basket itself (friction, motion, force etc) just happens to be different by amount of success/miss. That is very easy to count few variables.
But lets look example a football game, how many variables there is going all the time? A lot!
Joe McNally is a class act, period. Every minute of interview portrays a humble, sincere, and super likable person. Incredibly engaging experience. Thanks Joe and Barney.
Cannot recommend Joe highly enough as a youtube follower for some time. His speedlight work and tutorials are fantastic, great combination of a highly skilled and accomplished photographer, excellent communicator and generous, modest guy, and just passionate about still photography and capturing decisive moments in time.
Been following Joe for a while. He's mentioned his initial intention to have become a writer many times. Though this is not specific to him, it's interesting to me how some of the very best photographers are quite good writers when they take to illustrating their craft, or subjects, with words rather than images.
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