Every once in awhile a story comes along that we photographers know will make good pictures. Last weekend, I was sent to cover the Emerald Cup north of Laytonville. You can read the story by Glenda Anderson here. Mendocino County is ground zero for cannabis culture. The Emerald Cup has [...]
How many times have we driven under the Bicentennial over crossing traveling south on Highway 101 and not noticed that Steele Lane was misspelled on the directional sign above us? Well somebody did and I was assigned to tromp through pouring rain to get a simple...but effective picture. If I [...]
I debated to myself whether to post anything from the latest skirmish in Oakland Friday night (Nov. 5). Some of what I experienced that night last week was frenetic and harried. Another part, partially amusing. At least one experience had me literally shaking in my shoes. You would probably think [...]
Last day of the Legislature. Politicians. State Capitol. Lobbyists. State budget. Photograph all of the above. There were not many happy politicians on the Assembly and Senate floors August 31. Each side had their state budgets shot down, leaving some very dour faces in it's wake. [...]
Before being assigned to shoot the unrest in Oakland Thursday, I shot the aftermath of a house fire on the way to another assignment. A bad situation with the fire, made a little better with teamwork. -Kent Porter
Become a photojournalist and witness first hand how life works. The good, bad and downright ugly. Riots. Demonstrations. Protests. Civil unrest. Call it whatever you want. It was with trepidation and nervousness when assigned to photograph on Thursday night, Oakland's reaction to the involuntary manslaughter verdict on Johannes Mehserle, a [...]
Between assignments Friday, I made it to a brush fire located on the D Street extension in Petaluma. Not having enough time to put on the fire gear and hike up a hillside, I concentrated on shooting Cal Fire's Boggs Mountain water dropping helicopter. The smoke was pretty thick but [...]
It's been almost a week since my last post. Forgive me. Pretty busy for us here in the photo department, with six different grass and structure fires. Welcome to summer. If there's news, we try to photograph it. Tuesday it was a quick trip to Lakeport for some ugly weeds [...]
The last month I've had a chance to photograph fathers and sons together. Quite by accident I assure you. The pictures just happened that way. Having my own son has been a joy. He has taught me so much about how to live life carefree. Not that all children don't. [...]
Most of us have had some type of an emergency. A sprained ankle, broken knee, car accident, heart attack, etc. Besides saying thanks for the help after peril has run it's course, first responders go back to work and wait for the next emergency. The amount of people it takes [...]
How many frames in a photojournalists life? Millions. Literally.
I’ve lost count since I started shooting photos at eight years-old with a Polaroid Land Camera (which I still own). It’s a way of life this photojournalism thing which is endlessly fascinating. The trip along the way, now in my 31st year professionally and the last 25 with the Press Democrat, has been an adventure in life. What it has to offer, ranging from implausible beauty to the utterly cruel things life randomly pitches out have shaped and molded who I am. That means I get to witness history. Pretty cool, eh? This journey has included photographing lots of inanimate objects which can be terribly boring. I’ve also borne the brunt of people unhappy to see a photographer show up to document less than pleasant circumstances. Then there’s the weather, which wreaks havoc on the human race daily. So I document the clouds. My advice for anyone having a bad day is to go outside and take a picture of those clouds once in awhile. It will do wonders for the interior beast. Unless you are using a metal tripod in an electrical storm.
-Kent Porter