B/W Portraits from West Africa is a post from: William Haun Photography, Video, and Web Development

While Jym was working on what became the 10-minute short film entitled PEE​L and I took the portraits below of a few of the actors involved. You can watch an abbreviated version of PEEL on YouTube. The first few opening shots are mine, but the rest of the mind-boggling sequence is Jym’s (including the great soundtrack).

PEEL Portraits is a post from: William Haun Photography, Video, and Web Development

Today I got my photos back and was excited to find out that six of my 10 submissions won ribbons. Best of all, my photo of Trey painted green with a luna moth won the top prize at the Fair – the Award of Excellence.

Oh, and if you were wondering if the moth was Photoshop’d into the picture with Trey, the answer is “No, it was really there.” You can see more photos from the day I painted Trey green in my blog’s archives.

“Camouflage” – 1st Place, I Spy: Green (Color)
Award of Excellence in Color

“Medical Clinic in Peru” – 1st Place, Photojournalism (Color)

“Ashaninka Village in Peru” – 1st Place, Scenic (Color)

“Grangou (Hungry in Haiti)” – 3rd Place, People (Color)

“Jwa (Joy in Haiti)” – 4th Place, People (Mono)

“MLK Jr Blvd, Macon” – 4th Place, Georgia Street Scenes (Color)

2010 GA National Fair Winners is a post from: William Haun Photography, Video, and Web Development

Looking for slightly unconventional portraits, they were good sports and put up with bugs and poison ivy in our back yard in order to get these late night photos. In typical Haun photoshoot fashion, some smoke and a gas mask did make an appearance.

TBI Founder Luke Goddard is a post from: William Haun Photography, Video, and Web Development

I just got here today and was welcomed by some intense heat & humidity. I haven’t taken many pictures yet, so here are a few I never posted from my trip to Jacmel in February. More to come!

Back in Haiti for a Week is a post from: William Haun Photography, Video, and Web Development

The photographs will be on display throughout the month of May and can be seen any weekday from 10am-5pm. Gray’s sculptures will only be on display the night of the opening reception.

Here is some info about the artists exhibiting from the press release:

Lynne Barta’s variety of styles and subjects has won her several awards. Locally, her work has been seen on the cover of the Telegraph’s Out & About, and her work has been selected on four different occasions for the prestigious Macon Magazine. She was also the guest speaker for the last year on 13WMAZ’s photo tip segment.

A photography judge once stated, “Lynne’s photographs are a joy to look upon.”

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William Haun is a freelance photojournalist who specializes in covering projects for non-profit organizations. His work with non-profits has taken him to five continents and he most recently covered the relief efforts after Haiti’s disastrous earthquake. His passion is to capture images & portraits in 3rd world countries that motivate and inspire others to take up the cause of social justice and human rights.

Maconites will be in for a treat to see this incredible collection of “Faces From Around the World.”

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Woodrow Gray’s wire sculptures are a true work of art. He started working with pipe cleaners as a child, then progressed to wire coat hangers, and then he discovered wire fencing that was being used on his grandparent’s property, and has been using that ever since. His work is one of a kind and awe inspiring. Macon has never seen the likes of work such as Woodrow Gray’s.

It is a real honor to have work such as his on display at the Douglass. This is a must see exhibit.

Exhibit at Macon’s Douglass Theatre is a post from: William Haun Photography, Video, and Web Development

Here is a short video I created to promote the event. Feel free to share it with your friends and family.  I’ll post more details about the show in the weeks to come.

Upcoming Exhibit at the Douglass is a post from: William Haun Photography, Video, and Web Development

Recently I was invited on Macon’s local CBS station 13WMAZ‘s Weekend Mornin’ show to share a photo tip. This topic was what I talked about because I don’t think there are any secret or magical tricks to it – it really boils down to some basic (and polite) human behaviors.

I truly believe that the best portraits are made by interacting with the subject before hand. Not interacting or asking permission and literally “stealing” a shot can make people angry and contribute to a general distrust/dislike of photographers. Plus you’ll end up with a mediocre image (at best) and you won’t know the person’s story (and I guarantee they have a great one to tell).

So here are the 4 steps I shared on 13WMAZ that sum up the way I approach taking pictures of strangers:

1. Smile
   A person approaching you with a camera can be intimidating – perhaps even creepy. Make sure you smile – that is the most important body language you can express (especially when you and the subject don’t speak the same language).
2. Talk
   Strike up a conversation. You don’t even have to mention taking a photo yet. You obviously found something interesting about the individual or what ever they are doing so talk to them about that. Let them know you are genuinely interested in what they are doing and let them tell you about it.

   People love to talk about what they are doing and your interest in them can give them a sense of validation & confidence in their actions. I try to listen attentively, ask questions, and even crack a few jokes (at my expense not theirs).

   When you don’t speak the same language you can still use body language to ask questions. I’ve been known to make whacky hand gestures and goofy faces to try and get my point across. It isn’t hard and they usually get the drift.

3. Ask
   If you’ve done #2, this next one is a breeze. Often times the conversation turns on me – what am I doing there? am I a photographer? This is a great segue to ask permission to photograph the person. If you’ve already had a friendly chat with the person and shown interest in them they rarely say “No.”

   If I’m interested in something a person is doing or something they have, I’ll ask to photograph that first. Then when I show them that photo (#4) it opens the door for me to photograph them.Don’t speak their language? No problem. Hold up your camera, point to it, point to them, make an inquisitive face, and ask “Photo?”. It doesn’t matter wherever the heck you are in the world, that will translate into asking permission.

4. Share
   Digital cameras have give us the wonderful ability to share photos instantly. Always turn your camera around after taking a photo and show them their image on the LCD. In some parts of the world this is akin to performing a small miracle.

   Give them positive feedback about their image. I always learn the words “Beautiful” and “Handsome” in whatever foreign language I’m dealing with. If you can make them feel good about that first photo you can usually follow up with a 2nd or 3rd or dozens more photos. It also puts them at ease with you in your role as photographer and gives you a chance to compose different shots and sometimes even ask them to pose a certain way or move to an area with better light.If your subject is pleased with their image they can be your biggest promoter – get them to you introduce you to their friends and family for more portraits. Get friends together and photograph them as a group. Just keep smiling and keep talking.

   The second part to sharing the photo is to offer to send them a digital copy. You’d be surprised how many people have email addresses, even in the most remote locations. I keep a notebook with me and I’ll jot down their email address and the file number shown on my camera LCD of their photo. Then when I get back from my trip, I set aside some time one evening to send out all the photos to the email addresses I collected.

   If it is possible (and feasible) you can even mail prints of your photos to them by getting their address. In some remote areas your print may be the only photo a person has of themselves or of a family member. It can be an incredible gift! However, NEVER PROMISE this if you aren’t sure you can follow through with it. If you do mail them prints you will be amazed how excited and grateful they will be if you ever re-visit the area.

I’ve found that smiling, talking, asking permission, and giving back quickly turns those strangers into new friends. Following are some photos from real examples of wonderful experiences I’ve had around the world photographing strangers.

Taking Pictures of Strangers is a post from: William Haun Photography, Video, and Web Development

Hundreds of thousands of Haitians are still homeless – living in temporary shelters. The rainy season is coming and it brings with it landslides, malaria, dengue fever, and dozens of other diseases and hygiene issues.

These are portraits I made in February of survivors in Jacmel, Haiti. As you look at their faces try to imagine what they are feeling right now, 2 months after the photos were taken. Pray for each of them and thank God for the blessings you enjoy. Visit the Baptist Global Response web site to share a portion of your financial blessings with those less fortunate than you.

Portraits of Peru is a post from: William Haun Photography, Video, and Web Development

The Faces of Guaimaca is a post from: William Haun Photography, Video, and Web Development