Third Week

My third week at my internship was a hard week with two different long shoot. I took the Monday off because I worked on Saturday at the Gay Pride Festival. So Tuesday was the most important shoot of my internship: shooting Ted Turner with different international journalists invited to hear him speak and get a picture with him. Justin and I photographed the journalists and Ted in his office on Lucky St. in downtown Atlanta. We shot around 9 portraits and broke down our lights (two lights shooting into umbrellas pointed into the corners of the room) and went back to the studio. The rest of the day we got ready for the big shoot for Boomerang, a “tween” network, that involved a lot of planning to get it all done.

The next day we shoot a large production for the “tween” network Boomerang in a neighborhood in East Atlanta called Gordan Parks. The day started at early at 7:30 am with meeting 4 assistants to pack and load up for the day. We arrived at the location and began looking at what we needed for the first set up which included all the pro-b lights (which was the first major time using all the new lights from Profoto equipment) many c-stands, and softboxes. The shoot idea was to create a stop motion look to all the action so each shot had to look seamless with lighting and angle. We started shooting in a spa setting with two other variations. We later went on to eight other locations with 3 variations each which included: outside with golf carts, inside a clothing store, inside a hair salon, outside in and near a fountain, and in the town square. The day was hot, long, and hot but I learned exactly how much goes into a big production for TV and I’m still amazed.

On Thursday in the studio we shot 12 people for ireport.com holding various cameras. Each person needed three different poses so it was easier to know what shots needed to be done and how to accommodate the photographer. Most of the models that were shot for the campaign were employees from image management, which included a photographer, editors, and creative people. I think this was the day where a lot of what I was doing solidified for me and I realized exactly what was expected of me and that I could accomplish it.

Friday of the third week began with another corporate headshot. It was asked of me to come in early to help Jeremy set up. After setting up and breaking it all down, I got to help organize the 2,000+ files from the shoot on Thursday using Capture One Pro. It was a stressful job because if I messed up I would lose a picture that we couldn’t get back exactly how it was. When I finished, Mark went over the metadata process with me. After learning how to enter the file metadata, I organized the large black cabinet kept in the studio. It is the home for the coffee makers, coffee, teas, cds and cd player, plates, cups, mugs, and condiments.

My Second Week

My second week at Turner started with me waking up with a horrible stomach ache. I ended up called Mark to let him know I wasn't feeling great. I ended up going to turner at 1 30 pm in time for a photoshoot outside on the parking lot with rocket skates. We set up a fill light facing the skater and a light behind him with a red filter. We also lit smoke sticks to add to the effect. For some reason or another the digital back wouldn't connect to the laptop so we had to shoot to the card. After the shoot we packed up everything and went back to the studio. I unpacked the equipment and tore down the set that Mark had up from earlier that day. That was my day.

On Tuesday I assisted Ted who shot headshot for the Latin section of CNN. We set up a simple white set up with v-flats on the sides to light the background and plexi on the ground to give a shadow to ground the subject. The main light was a large octobank with a bi-head dynalight head. We also set up a small soft box for a fill. After that shoot was over and taken down, Ted and I went to CNN to take abstract images of the technical aspects of the building for art work. We shot in a few control rooms and in a server room. It was very interesting to talk to the IT guy over the servers about how everything was set up to feed into the CNN building and sent out via a secret group of arrays South of Atlanta.

The next two days included going with Ted to Home Depot to pick up wood to build cubbyholes for the Profoto 7a heads and the brand new Profoto 7b heads and power packs. We measured and measured again, then cut the boards. It took us both days to get the boards cut and sanded and placed in between the shelves. We also had to rearrange the existing equipment to fit along with the 10,000 dollars worth of gear that was bought.

On Thursday Ted and I unpacked more of the new lenses and gear that was bought. We also labeled and rearranged the dividers in the flight cases for all of them to fit. I cut a large amount of styrofome for the lenses to rest on and be easily removed from the cabinet. I also use the p-touch machine to label all of the lenses and their place so anyone looking could tell what lens was available and what lens was taken.

The Friday I was off. My sister also came up to visit during the weekend while she was out of school.

The Sunday had me shooting a rock/country duo with Ted for a freelance job. The first set up was entirely lit with flourescent lights and set up to look like a den with wood paneling. The second shoot was a location in Castleberry near railroad tracks that made for an interesting time. The guys were really nice, so the shoot was easy and fun.

The first week

The first week of my internship was exhausting. I began my first day by setting up for a table top shoot for PR packages for new shows like "Black Gold" and "Speeders" for TRUtv and Court TV. I learned how the turner photographers, especially Mark Hill, likes his set ups with each light attached to its seperate powerpack. After learning about shooting tethered and how to handle the Canon Mark II's they have I left to get back to my apartment before they closed at 6 to get a key cut because I left mine at home.

On the second day I finished up the press kits by shooting a punching bag on table top. My supervisor had meetings for the rest of the day so I had to begin a special intern project to start organizing a prop closet at the studio. The closet contained many interesting items including a giant banner with the TNT logo on it, 5 huge theater curtains, sporting equipment, back-lit posters, prop blankets, podiums, large sheets of plexi, Halloween decorations, and 3 American flag dresses. I also was able to find a fake beard. The project will continue through the internship so I had to pick up one of the other photographers from AVIS after returning from Nashville, TN. We when returned we began packing for the Wednesday photo shoot of a video production shoot.

Wednesday began earlier than usual. I got at the studio at 8:15 to pack the photo gear in Ted's car to go to a video shoot. The shoot was off of Wells St off of Metropolitan Parkway at Ambient Studios. The shoot was most of the day boring but I asked questions and watched how the video assistants handled all the grip equipment and used existing light. Ted mainly shot production stills with the blimps on the cameras. At the end of the day we shot some promotion shots with the talent. John Good, the talent, spent the night doing promotional spots for CNN's Black in America. Ted and I got back to the studio at 10 30 pm. We unpacked the camera equipment and left.

Thursday began with me unpacking the equipment from the day before. Then we set up for a photoshoot using their humongous white cyc wall. It was for the head of Latin CNN. We shot him in 2 different suites and ties. We shot him on white plexi-glass and v-flats. After the shoot I broke down the set and talked to Mark about the closet that I started to organize. After that I left for the week.

The first week was tiring and an interesting view into what I'll be doing the rest of the summer.

Orientation

Today was orientation for my internship with Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc. here in Atlanta. I didn't know what the cultural aspect of the company would be so I figured I would wear a suit so I would dress to impress. I got there on time for the 9:30 meeting to discuss the packet and fill out forms. After that we got our security badges and parking decals. Since my supervisor, Mark Hill, was in Mexico until Wednesday another staff photographer picked me up to take me to meet another staff photographer. So Jake, Ken, and I went to eat lunch and to chat about what I wanted out of the internship. Jake mentioned that I should type up a proposal of bullet points of what I wanted to accomplish. After the meeting and lunch of great thai food, we went back to Turner to show me around a bit. He introduced me some of the editors, designers, re-touchers, and others who also worked in the department. He had alot of work to catch up on so he let me go. All in All, I think my first day went well. I tried to be very pleasant and give as many firm handshakes and smiles as I could.