#NEWS – It’s all local

by Andrew Dolph

What happened in the industry this month?

#ONPA MATTERS

1/ Mary Circelli has been added to the Trail Blazers of Light group – “an educational database site of women photojournalists from the film era largely in the US” founded and maintained by Yunghi Kim. Mary was a photographer at The Columbus Dispatch for more than 35 years and died on Friday, Nov 5, while visiting her granddaughter in Italy.

2/ As in previous newsletters, the ONPA Board is seeking to fill the position of secretary. Please reach out to me at: onpaprez@gmaill.com for more information. Thank you.

#OTHER MATTERS

1/ On AI:

James Whitlow Delano recently posted on Facebook illuminating on news of the admission that, “A photographer entered an AI Image into the Sony World Photography Awards 2023 and won. The dystopian era where no one knows what is true anymore is in full bloom…like a rafflesia (google it). A rafflesia is a rainforest flower that smells like rotting flesh and attracts flies to pollenate it.”

Delano was not the first to post on the matter, but as a well-respected photojournalist in his own right, he has taken a stand against AI visuals across social media, championing the cause.

Pictured below is the “artist” Boris Eldagsen and the image – not photograph, that was submitted and won the prize. He said, “We, the photo world, need an open discussion. A discussion about what we want to consider photography & what not. Is the umbrella of photography large enough to invite AI images to enter – or would this be a mistake? With my refusal of the award I hope to speed up this debate.”

My question is this: if we can create AI and machine learning capable of producing such imagery, why can image verification also be created to check metadata of submitted works to verify authenticity – ie: whether a submitted work was actually produced using a camera, or not?

The fingers give it away for sure – and more. Who were the judges, you may ask? Why did this pass? The answer to the latter for those that are unfamiliar with the machinations of judging, is that the images ideally would have been vetted by whomever is running the contest. Judges would then abide by rules given (if any). So, it’s not necessarily on the judges for potentially calling out any perceived issues. But should they have spoken up? Did they notice? Did they care? Did it matter?

More on the matter:

• The United States Government has taken notice. You can read a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights, here.
• Chris Quinn, Editor and Publisher of Cleveland.com (The Plain Dealer) – as locally maligned as he may be, has also weighed in on AI in published editorial, here.
• NPR: Photograph or… ‘promptograph?’ Artist questions implications of AI generated images. NPR’s Scott Detrow talks with photographer Boris Elgadsen about his decision to reject a photography award he received for an image he created using AI.
• Variety: The issue of AI spills over to other industries as well. AI-Generated Fake ‘Drake’/’Weeknd’ Collaboration, ‘Heart on My Sleeve,’ Delights Fans and Sets Off Industry Alarm Bells
• PetaPixel: AI Image Dataset Demands Money from Photographer Who Requested Removal of His Photos
• Andy Adams: Down the AI rabbit hole. Some people hate it, but I can’t stop looking

• BlindMagazine: How AI Imagery is Shaking Photojournalism

  In this Op-ed, independent photography director and educator Amber Terranova discusses one of the most controversial AI imagery projects in recent weeks.

2/ The annual OHIO APME Awards finalists for 2023 have been announced with actual placings coming at the usual banquet. Congratulations to all – there’s a lot of familiar names on the list.

#PEOPLE

1/ Dave Zapotosky, Chief Photographer of at the Toledo Blade for over 30 years has retired. Z-man has worked for 46 years as a photojournalist. Replacing him will be Jeremy Wadsworth. It is certainly a well deserved promotion! Jeremy will continue facilitation of the monthly clip contest along with Becca Benson, also of The Blade. Thank you to both for their commitment.

2/ Former Columbus Dispatch Photographer and former ONPA Board of Trustees President, Joshua Bickell, is joining the AP. In a recent Facebook post, he said:

“Seems like as good a time as any to share some professional news:

I’ll soon be joining the Associated Press as a video journalist on their Climate and Environment team, focusing on climate and agriculture. I’m really excited to join a global team of passionate and talented journalists covering one of the most important issues of our time.

When we moved to Cincinnati last summer, the photo community here was so welcoming and answered all of my silly questions, helped me find new clients and showed me the best places to park on game days. It’s an incredibly supportive group down here, and I’m so glad that I still get to count myself among you in this new role. Y’all are the best.

Also beyond grateful for the always unwavering support of Jackie, who encouraged me to apply and was understanding when the news director said I might have to go to Mexico City for a few days to do some training.

And until then, I’ve got a few more house projects to finish up…or start.”

3/ Although not an Ohioan, friend to just about everyone in this region – Denny Simmons – is also making a major change. He’s headed to the Tennessee Tennesseean – say that five time fast! Denny will be filling the role of Deputy Director of Photography and Visuals. Congratulations!

4/ A personal and professional matter: The Times-Reporter in New Philadelphia will be officially without a physical newsroom as of May 31; although, we are instructed to vacate by May 12. Gannett has chosen not to renew the current year-long lease agreement. The paper moved out of its former location on Wabash Ave of many years, where it housed two printing presses. As far as I know, I will be working remotely, with my home an hour away. There’s a lot of implications to this scenario for a community journalist. If I were a wire photographer, or war correspondent for instance, this would be a non-issue. But, it is the current way of the industry since COVID times and seems to continue in that direction.

In a recent NYT Opinion piece titled Requiem for the Newsroom, Maureen Dowd says, “I worry that the romance, the alchemy, is gone. Once people realized the completely stunning fact that they could put out a great newspaper from home, they decided, why not do so?” The responses on Twitter have been remarkably varied in response.

5/ After 33 years at the Ashland Times-Gazette photojournalist Tom Puskar has retired.

#INSPIRATIONS and #RESOURCES

Helpful things

1/ Check out the emerging niché photographic support organization, PBPA. I’m told that the folks behind the organization itself are trusted professionals from the industry – fret not, they are legit. More information will be announced by PBPA when ready. Until then, as our friend Sue Morrow says, ‘stay tuned!’

2/ Toronto has named a new Photo Laureate, Nadya Kwandibens, a member of Animakee Wa Zhing #37 First Nation.

“I’m an ambassador for the visual arts and culture in the city, so I’ve been getting a lot of requests from different arts organizations to speak, mentor and teach. I’m also thinking about a legacy project that I will develop for the city, so I’m looking forward to getting the creative wheels turning.”

3/ Nice frame by Tom.

4/ Neal Boenzi, Top New York Times Photographer for Four Decades, Dies at 97

He built a reputation for finding compelling subjects on the street. “Anyone can take a picture,” he liked to say, “but are you a journalist?”

5a/ Where to Start If You Feel Burned Out at Work Burnout expert Christina Maslach talks about the causes of burnout at work and how employees and employers can start addressing it.

5b/ Combatting Burnout as a Photographer: Tips for Self-Care, By Scott Wyden Kivowitz

6/ Did you know that Cleveland-area photographer and Cleveland Cavaliers team photographer David Liam Kyle is an all-American? I sure didn’t. Here’s his Facebook post about it

7/ Daniella Zalcman has spent a decade interviewing over 300 survivors of coercive assimilation institutions known as Indian Boarding Schools in the U.S. and Canada. You can view that project, here.

8/ Beautiful ‘sportrait’ from Corey.

9/ Grace Hollars made some absolutely magical high school ‘sportraits’ for the IndyStar sports front.

10/ Easter.

11/ David J. Carol

12/ Akron Beacon-Journal staff photographer Mike Cardew, pictured at right in the still screenshot below, shows a child how to use a camera during Jayland Walker-related protests in Akron.

13/

14/ (Thread) – Take heed students and professionals: save your work offline, in and out of the cloud too.

15/ CNN: Photographer Matika Wilbur set out to take portraits of every Native American tribe — these are the results

“I made a very conscious decision to move home, so that my baby would have that relationship with this place,” Wilbur said. “So her afterbirth could be buried here, where her grandmother’s cedar tree is and where her ancestors are. I realized that was very important to me.”

You can purchase Project 562 here.

 

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