Tony Overman’s Eight Simple Rules (To Be A Better Photojournalist)
Number 8. Circle, circle, circle.
You think you know what it looks like from “over there,” but you really have no idea until you get there.
Number 7. Kiss up to the cops.
This extends to anyone who can control you access to anything. Take a picture of the police leading your local parade. You might never use it, but they’ll see you and remember that you work to the newspaper and that “you’re ok.”
Number 6. Minimize confrontations.
Even when you’re right, you lose, because you’re not taking pictures (Remember Rule #3).
Number 5. Be prepared.
Set your camera BEFORE you walk into an event. Have enough film/cards. Have batteries. Have your flash.
Number 4. Cover your ass. (You decide when).
This involves a long story about ______ _______ and a 1997 U2 concert in Eugene. It ends with ______ saying, “It’s freakin’ Pop Art, man!” Basically, if you know you’ll have the opportunity to cover your ass later, use the time before to be creative … and vice versa.
Number 3. Anything is better than nothing.
You’ve got to get a picture, so take pictures. The few times I’ve walked away from the spectacular news event thinking, “Well, it is better than nothing”, I’ve won an award for it.
Number 2. Don’t wait for it to get better.
Take the picture and if it gets better, take more.
Number 1. If you don’t go, you’ll never know.
This works for spot news as well as photo stories and everything in between.
BONUS RULE: Once I walk out of the door of my newspaper, I work for (insert your dream publication here). Every summer when I cover the Rochester Swede Festival I imagine that National Geographic needs me to provide on photo for a story about local festivals. When I do a portrait of the all-league football team, I imagine it’s for Sports Illustrated.
Please note that these are quotes from Tony Overman, not patrick. patrick just had the chance to intern around and inhabit quarters with Tony Overman.