Richard Lautens, Staff Photographer

 

As much as possible, we always try to make photographs for stories with actual events.  Occasionally we illustrate stories with portraits-faces of the news.  Once in a while we are forced/choose to create a ‘photo illustration’.

You can tell the difference between from ‘real photos’ by the cutline and by the bottom right hand corner of the photo where you can find the photo credit that states it is a photo illustration.  You can find all the Star’s photo guidelines here -  http://www.thestar.com/article/145048

Following the NBA story of Gilbert Arenas pulling a gun in a dressing room a few weeks ago the Star was working on a story about the roots of violence of many pro athletes.  Read the story here - http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/748728--gun-toting-pro-athletes-becoming-a-familiar-problem

It is a difficult story to illustrate and one thought was to illustrate it with a moody pic of a generic basketball player in an old tyme gym. 

One of our (very tall and thin) interns volunteered to be a model, Jarvis Collegiate was willing to let us use their gym over the lunch hour and the rest frankly was up to some moody lighting.

The photo never ran and I am glad.  It is fun to create these pictures but ultimately our staff was able to figure out a better way to illustrate the story with news photos-always the first choice.

 

Richard Lautens/Toronto Star

 

For some photo tips, check out http://www.thestar.com/travel/columnists/542443--lautens-richard

Comments

[Christopher Dick]

Great example... I think I'll steal it and use it in my class that I'm teaching this semester at Sheridan... if that's OK with you that is :)

All the best,

-cd