Coach Don Willard's final home game after coaching for 39 years. The games was one of the best I have seen and it was a real battle between to very well matched teams. The coach took a huge risk with around 2 minutes to go trailing by 1 point he decided to go for two, knowing that making it would probably send his team to the state finals, and that not making it meant it was his final game. But after some scrambling by his quarterback they made the two point conversion and then held on to win and make the State Finals for Class 1A. So the coach will get one last chance to get the one thing he hasn't won....a State Championship.
Congratulations to the Knightstown Panthers and Coach Willard!

JS

More shots of the game

JS

Good job again, JS. The only one that doesn't stand out to me is the 2nd one because you can't see the ball carrier behind the defensive player. Also, were you running your flash a little high? The whites seem really blown out, and the green seems like it is overexposed as well.

OK, now I know it's not me..... :rolleyes:

masdog & livin4lax09...you two are both seeing something I am not, and thats why I said more later on this...thinking I was nuts, however I have my system calibrated the same as the newspaper. Your (livin & masdog) photos all appear dark on my screen, while mine are pretty much where they should be, which tells me that you two are seeing mine as blown out when they are not.The ones Livin posted recently appear dark, and masdog's protest shots appeared a tad darker than I thought they should. So this morning the system was recalibrated, and no changes needed to be made to stay in line with the papers system....interesting! Anyway, the colors came out perfect in todays paper, nothing blown out or off.

JS

hmm...everything comes out the same in my paper as I see it on my screen, and as far as I know, my monitor is also calibrated. This thing was a huge pain to calibrate correctly though, but when I go home to my imac g5, the colors appear the same. Odd. Maybe your eyesight is going ;) jp with ya.

Well, I took a look at the settings on my laptop, and it turns out that I never reinstalled the factory color profile for my screen when I reformatted my computer a few weeks ago. I downloaded and installed that, and I think that settled most of the issues I was having.

hmm...everything comes out the same in my paper as I see it on my screen, and as far as I know, my monitor is also calibrated. This thing was a huge pain to calibrate correctly though, but when I go home to my imac g5, the colors appear the same. Odd. Maybe your eyesight is going ;) jp with ya.

hahaha...my eyes have never been right :D but I could always tell if something is blown out. Blown out is a whole lot different than being, shall we say "well lit", or even slightly over exposed. Which by the way is how the paper wants them, as the difference, even calibrated, between my system and theirs works out perfect in print. I actually over expose in most cases by 1 step for them, or they look dark in the paper. I'm curious if your paper actually lightens your shots up. I didn't know the paper was changing them until I watched them working on them one night and we figured out what worked for them, now they don't have to do much of anything other than cropping as they want to do that so they can fit it like they want it. Rarely would we crop the same way....I say that and today they used one shot completly uncropped and ran it fairly large :)



JS

I like the group shot the most. It shows a lot of spirit. I like that everyone looks excited and like they're having fun. It's much better than an uptight, formal group photo.

I want to see a better photo of the coach. That's what I was hoping to see when I clicked on this. Will you get another chance? Was he not being cooperative? I think you've got the opportunity for a really powerful and emotional portrait - one that will be bigger than football. I don't know if you're looking for that photo. But I would be.

I like the group shot the most. It shows a lot of spirit. I like that everyone looks excited and like they're having fun. It's much better than an uptight, formal group photo.

I want to see a better photo of the coach. That's what I was hoping to see when I clicked on this. Will you get another chance? Was he not being cooperative? I think you've got the opportunity for a really powerful and emotional portrait - one that will be bigger than football. I don't know if you're looking for that photo. But I would be.

The two best shots of the coach the paper used. They are sticklers for not allowing use of the photos they run, the one you want to see is one of those, so, I'll cheat and take a picture of the article. :) They used the best one with the article and the other on the front page. Part of the problem though, is the man doesn't give much expression, good or bad, at anytime. I just happened to "catch" him though.

I'll also be getting some more on Friday as they will be in the first game I cover that day. It will be fun, almost the entire town will be at the Dome to cheer these kids on. They do know how to have fun...they partied for and hour after the game.

Side note: The coach will coach against his college roommate in the championship game! There first meeting as opposing coaches, and it will be in his final game!

JS

Photo John,

Here is the shot the paper ran with the story. The ONLY time he smiled before the game was over.

JS

Thanks for posting that. It's a good one. That's what I wanted to see.

So the paper won't even let you use the photos for personal use? That doesn't seem right. Are you on assignment or are you shooting on spec, as a freelancer? It seems like you should retain the right to use the photos for personal purposes like self-promotion. And I think posting here qualifies in that area.

I can but it's a real hassle, takes forever because the final descision comes from the CFO of the company that actually owns the paper. It is similar to the AP where they hold publishing rights for two years from first publication. By the time the CFO gets the request it could be two or three months....they have more pressing issues, like figuring out how to pay me on time, and that has taken 5 years to straighten out. :confused: The invoices would sit on one persons desk for a month or two before finally winding up at the person who actually does the checks :)

Glad you liked that shot, but the first one is really how the man looks. He finally smiled once he knew for certain they were going to the finals.
JS

Could you have a contract with them that explicitly startes what rights you want and what you grant them? Or will they just throw their weight around and tell you take it or leave it? I hate this stuff. It's part of the reason I never really want to be a full time photographer. Publishers take advantage of photographers.

On a tangent - I've been thinking more and more about how we're starting to need a photography business forum. This little side discussion is something that might be best handled and archived on a business forum. What do you think?

Could you have a contract with them that explicitly startes what rights you want and what you grant them? Or will they just throw their weight around and tell you take it or leave it? I hate this stuff. It's part of the reason I never really want to be a full time photographer. Publishers take advantage of photographers.

On a tangent - I've been thinking more and more about how we're starting to need a photography business forum. This little side discussion is something that might be best handled and archived on a business forum. What do you think?

Thats a possibility Photo John.
THis paper however does not want anything that even comes close to a contract, let alone put anything in writing! More and more this is happening, especially with small papers. Any kind of thing in writing and there is, in their mind a "contract" and then they are liable for any injuries or damages while I'm on a job. So say, if I have a lens damaged they would have to replace it. They claim they cannot afford it. If I push things they will just stop using all stringers.

One topic we do need here too is equipment insurance! Most do not know the ins and outs of this, and the legal issues that can crop up. Turn around and whack some kid in the eye with that petty big lens and you can get sued...how are you covered? Lots to consider in the business side of things.

JS

That green grass freaks me out.

:D

Great pics!

That green grass freaks me out.

:D

Great pics!

hahahaha...thats funny Scott...but there is something odd about it, considering up North we HAVE green grass and down South you DON"T :p

I just couldn't resist that one Scott.
Oh, BTW...it's bit green now...but more white :D Winter is here...how appropriate, boys basketball starts tonight!

JS

I think a photo business forum would be a great idea. I'd be willing to moderate too. :)

Photo Business Forum would be great and would be nice if it could cover other parts of the world like here in Aussie Land as well.

There is really not a great deal of free info out there for this to be found, without having to join up costly places to find out. It seems like a bit of a closed shop really.

Hmmm, from a retiring coach to businees forum....this one did a 180 :confused:

JS

The coaches last game ended in a loss 21-7 but the kids battled hard, just came up on a better prepared team today.
I got a photo of him with the opposing coach after the game...two old friends and college roommates...both great guys!

JS