gypsy photo

Scott Bish loads his plate from the lunch buffet at The Beaumont Club in Beaumont, TX, Tuesday, October 30, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

The story is about the do's and don'ts of buffet eating. This man is clearly displaying a dont. Evidently the editor wanted a do but didn't bother to tell me that.

I had an interesting discussion with the features editor over this pic. His concern was because I cropped out the head of the subject he wondered if readers would wonder about the identity of the eater. My arguement was that because I cut off the head of the diner, he becomes an "everyman". The editor was also concerned that because I asked the diner his name, he might assume that his image would appear in the paper and would be disappointed that I cut off his head. One-It's my job to get thier names, Two-I don't think we can allow what our subjects May assume dictate how art is edited.

Halloween Decorations

2007-11-13T14:26:00.001-06:00

Lindsey Kimbrow places spiders in a web in a room known as "The Attic" in preparation for the Trunk or Treat celebration at the First United Methodist Church in Orange, TX, Tuesday, October 30, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

This photo was cropped by the assistant photo editor due to extreme cleavage. While I understand the sensitivity to such issues, I can't control what the subjects wear. And I did try to shoot her from a different angle, but it took away from the web and it wasn't much more modest.

School Security

2007-11-13T14:21:00.001-06:00

Beaumont Independent School District Police Officer, A. Ginns patrols the breezeway as students walk to class at Ozen High School in Beaumont, TX, Thursday, November 1, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

The assignment was to shoot the state attorney general speaking about school security inititives. I think showing school security inititives made for a much more dynamic photo than just a talking head.

Richard Body Search

2007-11-13T14:15:00.000-06:00

Debbie Richard talks to the Beaumont Enterprise while searching for her son, Timothy Richard after he was murdered in Jefferson County, TX, Tuesday, November 6, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Bubba Moore

2007-11-13T14:14:00.000-06:00

Bubba Moore performs at Kryptonite on Crockett Street in Beaumont, TX, Wednesday, November 7, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Buu Mon Bamboo Festival

2007-11-13T14:04:00.000-06:00

The Buu Mon Temple Lotus Dancers perform the Lotus Hand dance during the Second Annual Southeast Texas Bamboo Festival and Kathina/High Ordination Ceremony at the Buu Mon Temple in Port Arthur, TX, Sunday, October 28, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Chyna Nguyen (8) walks through one of the bamboo gardens at the Buu Mon Temple during the Bamboo Festival in Port Arthur, TX, Sunday, October 28, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Bamboo gardens on display reflect thier leaves in water feature during the Second Annual Southeast Texas Bamboo Festival and Kathina/High Ordination Ceremony at the Buu Mon Temple in Port Arthur, TX, Sunday, October 28, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Church Anniversary

2007-11-13T13:49:00.000-06:00

Brother Bailey Harris gives the sermon during the 150th anniversary of the congregation at Old First Orange Baptist Church in Orange, TX, Sunday, October 28, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Suicide Attempt

2007-11-13T13:34:00.000-06:00

A family member taunts the media as Beaumont Police officers and SWAT members remove weapons from a home where a 61 year old white male barracaded himself earlier in Beaumont, TX, Sunday, October 28, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

While not an excellent photo, it does bring up an interesting point. I did get some crap for turning in a pic with a man flipping me off. But, some papers allow these type of photos and some don't. And since I am new here, I didn't know the policy on that. Personally, I feel if that what was happening on the scene, then that's what I should photograph. It gives an accurate description of what was going on. But editors are notoriously more sensitive than photographers, and the non-dancing-around-flipping-me-off photo ran in the paper.

On another note, this is probably why newspapers shouldn't allow photographers to post top page photos without editorial approval, because I would have posted the one of the guy flipping me off.