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Home away from Home
When I think of home, many memories flock my mind. What is home for you. Better yet, where is home. You will be Surprised by how much many people can’t summarize this question with just one word. A simply question yet it, consumes such a broad answer.
By Pam Zeeabout a year ago in Photography
Aloha Michael Jackson
Unless you've been living under a rock—or perhaps in an abandoned missile silo—you are likely aware that Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, passed away at the age of 50 in 2009. What you might not know is that I, as a young and inexperienced photojournalist, inadvertently played a role in prematurely "reporting" his death more than a decade before his shocking passing. It was 1997, and I worked as a tabloid photographer, chasing celebrity stories in my home state of Hawaii. That day was significant—Michael Jackson was flying into Honolulu for the final leg of his HIStory tour. The airport buzzed with energy: security was tight, the weather was perfect, and fans were pressed behind fences, their excitement palpable. Adding to the spectacle, a group of Michael Jackson impersonators mingled with fans holding signs while parents tried to keep their children from wandering off. Reporters, photographers, and even hula dancers filled my section. As I checked my gear, I realized I had brought the wrong zoom lens—a rookie mistake—and that I would need to get closer to capture anything worthwhile. Then I overheard a group of young hula dancers discussing their plans to exit the media area and perform on the tarmac when the jet parked safely near the private hangar. Sensing an opportunity, I approached two teachers and spun a story about needing to document their performance for the newspaper. Whether it was my charm or pure luck, they eagerly agreed to let me join them and placed me in the front row where the group teacher had staged the experienced older dancers. Soon, we were on the tarmac, standing near the private jet with "Kingdom Entertainment" emblazoned on its fuselage. The jet's door opened to reveal a tall Middle Eastern man in a tailored suit, accompanied by a TV cameraman. Moments later, Michael Jackson emerged, greeted by thunderous cheers from the crowd. The scene was surreal: greeters adorned Jackson with Hawaiian leis, hula dancers performed a traditional welcome, and I snapped photos from every angle I could. I edged closer, but a bodyguard quickly intercepted me, motioning for me to step back. I complied but managed to grab a few wider shots from behind the dancers. A line of sleek black SUVs pulled up near the side of the plane, ready to whisk Jackson away. Anticipating his next move, I positioned myself near the vehicles. I captured a perfect head-to-toe shot of him walking, adorned with flower leis, just before he entered the black SUV for his departure to his Waikiki hotel. The whole scene felt like something out of a movie, complete with the flawless timing of every participant. One older woman in the crowd remarked that it was even grander than when she had seen Elvis land in Honolulu for his 1973 concert. I pitched the images by calling a few tabloid photo editors; one was particularly interested. He pushed for a juicy story to accompany the shots. In an offhand comment, I jokingly mentioned a wild rumor I had heard: Jackson supposedly signed autographs with "1998" because he believed he wouldn't live past 40. "Hopefully, he doesn't die here in Hawaii," I quipped. Months later, to my astonishment, I spotted my photo splashed across a tabloid under the sensational headline: "Jacko Dead at 40!" The editor had taken my casual remark and ran with it, crafting a story that implied Jackson's untimely demise was imminent. Looking back, it was a surreal and humbling experience. It showed how a seemingly innocuous comment could spiral into a headline, reminding me of the weight and responsibility of words in the world of tabloid journalism. Unintentionally, I had fueled a bizarre rumor that would linger long after Michael Jackson's visit to Hawaii.
By Tim Wrightabout a year ago in Photography
Breaking the Depression Through the Lens
In the early 1980s, my brother graduated from high school and spent a year working for a local moving company while deciding what to do with his life. Our mother insisted that he attend a Christian college, so he looked for a school that would allow him to play baseball, and he eventually settled on Covenant College because our middle sister had discovered it and recommended it to him. Covenant is located on Lookout Mountain, Georgia, just across the state line from Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, where the famous Rock City can be found.
By Mack D. Amesabout a year ago in Photography
Best Places to Travel on a Budget in 2025
Best Places to Travel on a Budget in 2025 Travel doesn’t have to cost a fortune. That means, with some planning and a bit of creativity you can visit fabulous places all around the world for free! There are the beautiful, mind-blowing, cultural, adventurous potential destinations that are affordable in 2025. Here’s a guide to the best places to go, on a budget, in 2025.
By Sadam Hussainabout a year ago in Photography
The Grey Heron Through My Lens
Today, I want to share a story, nut just about birds but about life, guidance, and the quoet moments that lead to something extraordinary. But first, let me tell you about my encounters with the Grey Heron, a bird that has become more than just a fleeting image in my life; it has become a symbol of direction, renewal, and sometimes, hope when I least expected it.
By Christian Bassabout a year ago in Photography
From the Projects to the President
The moment I received an invitation in 1994 to serve as the warm-up speaker for former President George H. W. Bush at a Wealth Management Conference in Phoenix, AZ, felt surreal. As the Chief Economist for JPMorgan Chase, I was used to addressing influential audiences, but this opportunity was truly unique. It represented a personal triumph—an affirmation of how far I had come from the low-income housing projects where I grew up. Yet, as I prepared for the event, one person remained in my thoughts: my mother.
By Anthony Chanabout a year ago in Photography
Kenneth Dolin: “Most Photographers Ask Their Clients to Pose. I Get Them to Stop Posing
“The minute the camera comes up, people’s guards come up.” This is one of the many lessons Kenneth Dolin has learned in his nearly 20 years of taking portraits, one that he’s tried to remember with every client that’s stood in front of his lens. He knows how unnatural it feels for his subjects, because he was in front of a lens himself when he was pursuing a career in acting. So he learned that while most photographers get their clients to pose, his job was to get them to stop posing. To help them take off their mask, and live truthfully in front of his camera.
By Kenneth Dolinabout a year ago in Photography
Capturing the Hawaii Shaka
On Friday, June 21, 2024, Hawaii's Governor, Josh Green, signed Senate Bill 3312, also known as The Shaka Bill, to adopt the Shaka as Hawaii's official state "hand gesture." It's the first-ever official gesture adopted by any state in America. Having spent over three decades as a part-time freelance news and sports photographer in Hawaii, I've captured countless moments and collected numerous images of people flashing the shaka sign. Whenever I covered a notable person visiting Hawaii, I would ask them to pose with a shaka for my collection. Requesting a shaka photo required a delicate balance of timing and rapport-building to avoid disrupting the event flow or the subject's concentration. Over the years, I loosely refined this skill and captured some memorable shaka moments and a few shaka fails.
By Tim Wrightabout a year ago in Photography
Exploring the Mystique of the Amazon Jungle: Nature’s Greatest Treasure
The Amazon Jungle, often called the "lungs of the Earth," is an extraordinary natural wonder that captivates adventurers, scientists, and conservationists alike. Spanning over 6.7 million square kilometers and spread across nine countries, it is the world’s largest tropical rainforest and a vital component of our planet’s ecosystem. Its unmatched biodiversity and ecological significance make the Amazon a treasure worth exploring and protecting.
By Ryan Hill about a year ago in Photography
jAlbum Review: Create Stunning Web Photo Albums with Ease. AI-Generated.
If you're looking for a seamless and professional way to create web photo albums, jAlbum is an excellent choice. Known for its intuitive design and powerful features, jAlbum offers a variety of packages to meet the needs of individuals, photographers, and businesses alike. This review will take an in-depth look at what makes jAlbum stand out in a crowded market, detailing its features, benefits, and pricing plans. To learn more or purchase the product, visit this link.
By Ahmed soomroabout a year ago in Photography
It's Just a Selfie. Runner-Up in Through the Lens Challenge. Content Warning.
It's just a selfie. A vein, shallow representation of myself. Me. Me. Me. I. I. I. That was the summer I left my ex-husband. The summer after I actually buckled down and lost some of the weight I’d been carrying around.
By L.K. Rolanabout a year ago in Photography
Top 10 Nature Photography: Capturing the Soul of the Earth
Nature Photography: Capturing the Soul of the Earth Nature photography is more than just pointing a camera at a scenic landscape; it’s about capturing the soul of the earth, the essence of a moment that can evoke emotion, inspire awe, and tell a story. In today’s fast-paced world, where people often overlook the beauty of their surroundings, nature photography serves as a gentle reminder of the wonders of the natural world.
By Ryan Hill about a year ago in Photography
