Photo By Sgt. Karen Sampson | Soldiers of the 215th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment provide a free seminar to...... read more read more
NEW ORLEANS – A break in winter temperatures, bright sun and warm breeze March 7, brought Soldiers of the 215th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment out to City Park to conduct free seminars in photography and videography. The unit’s scheduled community outreach program is focused toward graduating senior level high school and college age students, offering young men and women career guidance and to encourage joining the U.S. Army Reserve’s public affairs broadcast and print journalism program.
The Soldiers and a local chapter of Young Marines from Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office youth leadership program gather together under a canopy of Live Oaks laden with Spanish moss, a visually pleasing environment for a period of instruction on creating better photos and videos and to interact with a locally based Army Reserve public affairs unit and its Soldiers.
Capt. Samuel Sotolongo, the 215th MPAD executive officer and 1st Sgt. Timothy Lawn, the unit senior enlisted advisor, provide instruction to the students on different methods and techniques of capturing a better photo, whether using a camera, or camera phone. The students also have a chance to hear about some of Sotolongo’s and Lawn’s overseas military experiences.
“As a military writer and photographer, we produce unique stories because we are assigned exclusive missions,” Lawn said, he added, “One mission may involve following a dignitary, another may be embedded with troops and reporting on their adventures.”
Lawn highlights camera shooting techniques and emphasizes the common ground on assignment or shooting is being mindful of individual skills and the surrounding environment to produce higher quality photos.
Sotolongo advises and encourages the students to study their camera equipment and know its functional capacity. For the morning demonstration he uses a DSL Canon EOS 7D, now standard issue in a military journalist’s press kit.
Not allowing the course to become a one-way conversation, Lawn interacts with the students and calls for a volunteer. Martin J. Ragas, 16-year-old native of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana and student Marine at JCFO eagerly answer the call.
“Are you a football player?” Lawn inquires.
Considering his physical build, confident posture and presence one may assume Ragas an athlete.
“I am a writer,” Ragas proclaims. Ragas’ is attending high school and desires pursuing a career as a writer integrating his interests in nonfiction and history.
This young man is in the right place at the right time to be in company with a team of military print and video journalists. Ragas’ finds the morning mentoring provides options for his career aspirations and he is now aware the local 215th MPAD needs Soldiers possessing his talents, desire and skills.
In addition to military photography tips and techniques Sgt. 1st Class Chantell Black, 215th MPAD unit administrator and broadcast specialist and Spc. Sye Ellis, 215th MPAD broadcast specialist, offer the students an introduction to broadcast, videography and interview skills.
Whether shooting a photo or video, the Young Marines from Jefferson Parrish have a chance to learn something new and to meet with Army public Affairs Soldiers stationed in their community. Sotolongo, Lawn, Black and Ellis have a chance to conduct a valued community outreach program and interact with local citizens, to showcase the 215th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment in City Park and quite possibly recruit a young man or woman into the Army public affairs program.
| Date Taken: | 03.16.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.16.2015 12:58 |
| Story ID: | 157089 |
| Location: | NEW ORLEANS, LA, US |
| Hometown: | NEW ORLEANS, LA, US |
| Web Views: | 204 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, 215th Mobile Public Affairs recruits with community outreach, by SGT Karen Sampson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT