Daily Assignments

We like to blog about things like this (or this) because we care about the pictures and because we feel that the pictures make a difference and we want both of  you who read this to see it. Maybe, as in this case, a photographer brought in the story idea or had an idea to make a regular assignment into a multimedia slideshow or video. But we get sent to regular, daily assignments too just like all newspaper photographers everywhere. Groundbreakings are a perfect example. Newspaper photographers have been sent to groundbreaking ceremonies since the beginning of groundbreakings. I went to one on Monday in Norman.

Natalie Shirley, the Secretary of Commerce & Tourism and Executive Director for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Yoshinori Okami of Hitachi Data Systems Corp. and Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry (from left to right) join others in turning dirt during a groundbreaking ceremony at Hitachi Computers in Norman on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD

Here’s a “behind the scenes” moment of a person arranging the dignitaries for their official groundbreaking picture.

Gene Rainbolt, Sharon McLeod, Leslie Rainbolt Forbes, OU President David Boren and Sandra O'Brien (from left to right) get arranged behind the correct shovels before a groundbreaking ceremony outside Collings Hall on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman on Monday, Nov. 3, 2008. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD

I always try not to get a boring picture. I try to look for a picture that doesn’t feel as posed as groundbreaking pictures are designed to feel. Sometimes my idea makes the paper and sometimes it doesn’t.

-John Clanton