It seems to be a habit, this weather/photojournalism thing. Drought, fires, floods, hurricanes etc. As it does many of us, weather touches photographers in arcane ways. Our spouses become widows when the light becomes just right. My significant other, the love of my life, knows this well. Fire season around our house means listening to the scanner on a windy day/night. After many nights of covering major blazes, I use the garage as a detox station in order to keep the house smelling of Texas BBQ. My wife of 20 years is the most patient person I know. Without her and my son’s constant support, well, I’d be a mess.
Winter wind and floods mean the same thing, often it culminates in a 3am jaunt to capture the height of a storm. Wind and water be damned! Photojournalists do these things, it’s the nature of news. If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound? You betcha, it’s scary too!
It’s more than that though. Photojournalism is not just a profession, it’s a way of life. The essence of what we do is to view the world in ways very few people can. My entire day is filled with framing through what my brain sees and relating it to what a camera can capture. What lens to use, f-stop shutter speed, angle, light, moment. It’s a mental checklist that takes about three seconds; practiced hundreds of times a day. There is no soft neutral in my head. It’s not the gear that makes the photographer, it’s the moment. A feeling. Don’t get me wrong, good gear does help. I see good photos from smart phones, but rarely storytelling images that coax an emotional response. That being said, I use my phone on breaking news for the web, it’s imperative in this business.
You can follow me on Twitter: @kentphotos Instagram: kpfotog
I’ve been swamped at work and have attempted to re-blog (get it? reboot?) but with daily news gathering, Twittering, Instagraming, Facebooking, photogallering, videoing; the day runs short. It’s an exciting if not harried new world of digital news gathering. A deadline every minute, a credo once reserved for the Associated Press.
With about 40 minutes to the plus side, I give you these. A sampling.
Re
Boot
: )
Meredith Imrie of the North Bay Leadership Council takes a picture of a wind machine under threatening skies at D&L Carinalli Vineyards as summer weather gave way to rain in Santa Rosa, Thursday July 9, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
With a Skunk Train locomotive as a backdrop Tara Logan of Willits practices on a German Wheel for the upcoming Willits Fourth of July Parade, Thursday July 2, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Glen Ellen firefighter George Psaledakis cools off after helping to contain a brush fire above the Petaluma valley floor on Sonoma Mountain, Tuesday June 30, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Petaluman Sarah Williams, 8, at Ridgeway Pool in Santa Rosa, Wednesday July 2, 2015 couldn’t quite complete a backflip . (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Noah Chock has a firm grasp on Tre Warren III as the wait for the Ridgeway Pool to open, Wednesday July 2, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Martin Truex Jr., had a bad day at the track during the Toyota/Savemart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, Sunday June 28, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
A pit crew member of the Dollar Rental was clubbed in the face by and errant tire during the Toyota/Savemart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, Sunday June 28, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Sonoma Valley fire captain Mike Bruno helps to clean up glass from a market in Boyes Hot Springs Wednesday June 24, 2015, in which the driver of the car struck the building shattering the front door. The driver sustained minor injuries. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Flynn Creek Circus of Mendocino has set up shop under threatening skies even though it’s the middle of summer, in Sonoma County, Thursday July 9, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Dale Earnhardt Jr. gives an interview prior to NASCAR practice for the Toyota / Savemart 350 at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, Friday June 26, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
T.J. Woodward of Sonoma “Wanted to wear” his Confederate Flag at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, Friday June 26, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Florence Bates attended R.A. Daniels School off Mill Creek Road near Venado, west of Healdsburg, in 1938. The school had been in disrepair for years, but in the past few years, restoration has begun to preserve the old school, Monday June 22, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
At Goat Rock State Beach in Jenner, East Bay resident David Shelley paraglides off the bluff above Goat Rock State Beach, Wednesday June 17, 2015, Because of the drought, area beaches along the coast received high grades for cleanliness caused by less winter runoff. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Auction Napa Valley, Saturday June 6, 2015 at Meadowood Resort in St. Helena. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Diane Duran of Santa Rosa and Colin Moxon of Eureka, dance at Country Summer 2015 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, Friday June 5, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
The Dawn Patrol ascends during the 25th anniversary of the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic in Windsor, Saturday June 20, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
The Golden State Warriors victory parade in Oakland, Friday June 19, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Maria Carrillo’s Erin Dobler celebrates after receiving her diploma as she runs to thank science teacher Maggie Swarner with a hug during Maria Carrillo’s High School commencement. Friday June 5, 2015 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
The Antelope Valley in Sites would be flooded for a new reservoir as far as the eye can see, which is the proposed Sites Reservoir, Thursday June 4, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
A thunderstorm sprays lightning over the Sacramento foothills, but little rain benefits a fallowed rice field between Maxwell and Williams, Thursday June 4, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
A meadowlark in the Antelope Valley in Sites , Thursday June 4, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Cardinal Newman’s Bryce McChinak just misses a foul ball, Wednesday May 13, 2015 during their game with Casa Grande in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Clear Lake’s second baseman Jake Egger stretches out for a line drive that he couldn’t quite reach during the Cardinals 7-3 loss to Head Royce in the semi-finals of the NCS Div5 finals in Lakeport, Wednesday June 3, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Recording the last out of the game, Rancho Cotate’s Taylor Del Santo makes a diving play on Casa Grande’ Christina Wilson, during the Cougars 9-4 win over the Gauchos in Rohnert Park. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
An infinity pool reflects wine country outdoor decor at Hall Wines in St. Helena, Wednesday May 27, 2015. The winery will be the site of this year’s barrel tasting kicking of Auction Napa Valley. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Scaffolding comes down on the Museum on the Square at the old AT&;T building on Third Street in Santa Rosa, Tuesday May 19, revealing a new facade and windows with reflections of the old Courthouse. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Wavy Gravy shows his true colors during his 79th birthday celebration during a concert to benefit the Zeva Foundation at the Sonoma Mountain Event Center in Rohnert Park, Sunday May 17, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Roger Williams rides his modified single speed bike to his job at ITT BIW Connector Systems in Santa Rosa as his wife Leslie Williams tags along on her day off, during Thursday’s Bike to Work Day, May 14, 2015 (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Dan Bighaus of Santa Rosa as Elvis, during Santa Rosa’s Wednesday Night Market, May 6, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
2,000 coho salmonids are released at the Russian River in Monte Rio, Thursday April 30, 2015. The fish were partially raised at Westminster Woods in a large tub, with water from Dutch Bill Creek in order to imprint the fish with native water. The coho, were raised from eggs at the Lake Sonoma Don Clausen Fish Hatchery in Geyserville. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with the Army Corp. of Engineers are attempting to bolster the coho population on Dutch Bill. The salmon had to be trucked from the creek to the river because of the low water level due to the drought. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
ZZTop performs at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, Wed, April 22, 2015 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Kids cool off at the end of the Apple Blossom Parade in Sebastopol, Saturday April 18, 2015 assisted by a Graton Fire Protection District engine. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Julie the Dachshund during the Apple Blossom Parade in Sebastopol, Saturday April 18, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Brandon Phillips of Incline Village heads to the top of the Schoolhouse slope, with limited snow, Thursday March 26, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
King’s Beach residents Tyler Foster, left, Dion Houck and James Wallace take advantage of a lowered Lake Tahoe to lounge on exposed boulders, Wed. March 25, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Monte Rio volunteer firefighter Gabriela Gibson, sprays down hot spots on a half acre fire in timber above Monte Rio, Friday April 10, 2015. A control burn slopped over containment lines and wind blew embers in to the timber, igniting drought stressed trees and brush. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Pasqual, who wouldn’t give his last name, had most of his face covered save for the eyes, while painting the inside of Bell Village, a new Windsor mixed use development, Wednesday March 18, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Daniel Cortez, left and Juan Perez help farm Chuck McCoy’s 45 acres of wine grapes in the new American Viticultural Area, the Fountaingrove District, Tuesday Feb. 24, 2015 above Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
Sebastopol firefighters wait for water as a home and car burn on Ramondo Drive between Sebastopol and Santa Rosa, Wednesday Feb. 18, 2015. Water tenders were used to shuttle water and power lines down delayed firefighters attempts to douse the blaze. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015
-Kent Porter
