Calm Photos

rds.usmc.077

Originally uploaded by rdsphotos.

For me this would be a dream assignment - the opportunity to photograph every aspect of Marine Corps Recruit Training, unhindered. Pro freelance shooter Richard Schoenberg had just such an opportunity, and has self-published a book featuring this body of work on Blurb, titled “Boot Camp - A Marine Legacy.” Here he follows and photographs a platoon of recruits as they endure their initiation into the Marine Corps at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, beginning in April 2006.

I’ve ordered a copy to be sent to my brother Shane, who went through boot camp at MCRD San Diego back in the fall of 1981. It was the beginning of his three active duty enlistment. I followed him in the spring of 1983, beginning a six year Reserve enlistment at MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina, the same place where our father went through boot camp in 1946.

It’s true. The experience never leaves you, and Schoenberg’s style presents some of the best photographs I’ve seen of what really goes on in the making of Marines. He gets in close, shoots wide and captures the emotions of both scared recruit and the managed chaos asserted by the Drill Instructors.

This is photojournalism at its best.

BLACKFIVE: Ernie Pyle

Just recently a photograph has surfaced showing Ernie Pyle after he had been shot and killed while reporting on the 77th Infantry Division (US Army), fighting the Japanese on the island of Ie Shima in April 1945.

My Uncle Robert Crotty, 83, who I have a tremendous amount of respect for, was just 100 yards away when Ernie Pyle fell, being struck by a Japanese round from a hidden machine gun. Uncle Bob was later wounded in action during the same campaign for Okinawa, at the Battle for Shuri Castle. He left the 77th with two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. Unfortunately I didn’t even know about his experiences on Okinawa when I was there during the summer of 1987 as part of my ATD with the United States Marine Corps Reserve. It wasn’t until much later that Uncle Bob opened-up one evening and went into some rather painful detail about his experiences in combat.

Ernie Pyle reported the horrendous experience of combat during World War Two directly from the front lines and from a grunt’s eye view, all the way from North Africa, o Italy, through France and then over to the Pacific. He was the very lifeline of communications from the troops in the field to the folks back home, and he did it the old fashioned way, with pen and paper.

The original “embedded” reporter. Ernie Pyle set the bar high for those who would later follow in his footsteps.

chad hunt photography

A photographer and photo journalist who has captured some of the most amazing candid portraits I have ever seen, in what could be considered the most challenging of shooting environments (no pun intended).

The best photo journalists are always those who master the art of capturing the emotion of the moment with an exquisite attention to detail. Chad Hunt is one of the best.

I’m very excited to announce that on April 30th, 2008 I will be presenting my body of work on the nature and landscapes of Ohio to the New York City Chapter of the Sierra Club in Manhattan. The last time I was in NYC was September 11, 2001. Obviously I departed in a somewhat altered frame of mind, so I’m looking forward to returning under more normal circumstances and even more excited to have the opportunity to share my visual discoveries of Ohio woodlands and landscapes with this particular audience.

This past November 14th I was pleased to present samples of my work, show a few pieces of photo gear and talk about my profession to four groups of 8th graders at Northmont Middle School in Clayton, Ohio. I was invited to participate in Career Choices Day at Northmont. As usual, it was fun and motivating to see some lights of interest turn on amongst a few faces in the audience as well as answer lots of interesting questions, such as “have you ever been attacked by any of the animals you take pictures of” and “what is your favorite place to take pictures.”

On Saturday, February 23, 2008 I will be conducting a half-day workshop on Nature and Landscape Photography at the Orvis Store at the Dayton Mall. Last spring I was there to show some of my prints as part of the store’s grand opening (pictured above with my special helper Emma Crotty). I was happy to be invited for a return visit to present an instructional workshop. I’m often asked if and when I will do a workshop, so, here’s my first of what will hopefully become many more. More info to follow.

‘Allo Paris, we have a problem….. - Reuters Blogs

I noticed this story from a posting on the Aperture Users Network blog. It’s a bit of a long read, but be sure to scroll down for the pics.

And I thought I getting stuck in the sand at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in southern Utah was challenging ???

The following are a few sample images from an editorial assignment I shot last week, at the 2007 Military Tattoo event held on the grounds of the United States Air Force Museum and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, here in Dayton. A regional magazine had asked me to shoot the event for an upcoming cover and feature article.

One of the positives of living in the Dayton area is Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. This wasn’t the first time I’ve photographed flight events at the USAF Museum, and the collection of both static and flying military aircraft on display is perhaps the best in the world. I’ve also had the pleasure of shooting several product assignments for various civilian contractors on the base.

The Military Tattoo event was a true pleasure to photograph - beautiful weather, friendly and enthusiastic people, great performances and some incredible flight technology on display, particularly the after-sunset fly-over of the F-22 Raptor, which when going into an almost 90 degree climb over the parking lot proceeded to set-off just about every car alarm. But the visual element that really topped things off for me was the visual treat of a colorful sunset, providing the perfect background and setting for a celebration that marked the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force.

Russell Lee Klika - Combat Camera Photographer

Something that never ceases to amaze me is the depth and degree of photographic talent that is being displayed by our military combat photographers currently serving, or who have recently served, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

To say these men and women give their civilian counterparts a run for their money would be an understatement.

They’re good. Damn good. And Staff Sergeant Klika (gotta love that name) is one the best.

The work Staff Sergeant Klika and others are doing provides a perfect testimonial to something I’ve always felt strong about when it comes to creating powerful images.

A successful photographer is one who knows and respects his subject inside and out. They are also the ones who have the guts and initiative to go that extra mile to obtain those images that will best tell the story needed to be told.

Which leads me to my next point.

Perhaps - just perhaps - the military-trained, combat photojournalist in uniform has just enough of an edge when it comes to courage, initiative and respect for subject to overcome any possible advantage exhibited by his or her civilian counterpart may have, such as in the areas of talent, creative vision and journalistic style (where SSgt. Klika can easily compete). Not that there aren’t civilian photojournalists who have stuck their necks out and done some incredible work throughout this war, but perhaps there is even another advantage of shooting combat images while actually serving in uniform.

And this is where I will stick my neck out. Maybe, just maybe, and against all rational, civilian-type thinking, the military photojournalist has a little bit more freedom to operate, with less concern of being politically “edited,” than the civilian photojournalists who work for some of the major newspapers and publications. “Unbelievable - the U.S. military censors everything and severely limits freedom of expression” you say ?

What do you think goes on in a major news organization that clearly has a political agenda (something that is more than obvious in today’s media) ?

Incredible work Staff Sergeant Klika, and incredible service. Thank you.

Then again, we’re reminded about those things that really matter -