Photo By Master Sgt. Carolyn Erfe | Roxanna Rawls, Collections Management, Defense Imagery Management Operations Center...... read more read more
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MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. - From the moment he was introduced, Reuben Aaronson took his captive audience on an incredible narrative journey. It began in the jungles of the Amazon, where a small animal, the Agouti, is responsible for the growth of the Brazil Nut Tree, and ended with the last great gondola builder in Venice. All ears listened with anticipation as he spoke. Aaronson was not talking to a group of school children, he was sharing his experiences with the Airmen of the 4th Combat Camera Squadron.
“The farthest away I have ever been was a place called Irian Jaya,” said Aaronson. “The people there build tree houses five or six times as high as this building. They live where it’s safer, above the mosquitoes and pull up the ladder at night, so they can’t be attacked.”
An award winning filmmaker, he was not only sharing his experiences with the airmen, Aaronson was doing much more, he was mentoring. Amongst Aaronson’s accomplishments he has won an Emmy for the cinematography in an anthropological film documenting a strange disappearance of frogs. His work has been nominated for several Academy Awards. One of the nominees was a film called "Hotel Terminus: The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie." Another film nominated was "The Ground Truth," which was a documentary about Iraqi War veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. Mr. Aaronson has traveled the world to shoot and direct films for television networks such as National Geographic, Discovery, HBO and PBS to name a few.
“I find that you have to rely on your instincts and your instincts are easily beaten down . . . You have to listen to the voice that is saying this interview isn’t working or it is,” Aaronson said.
The filmmaker visited the 4 CTCS as a guest speaker for their first Military Photographer/Videographer of the Year Workshop, held Jan. 17-21. The week-long workshop held at March ARB was intended to help combat camera members prepare submissions to the Defense Department’s Visual Information Awards Program.
“I was excited about coming out here,” said Aaronson. “I wanted to meet everyone, see what you are doing, and give any help I could.”
Additionally, there was a great line-up of instructors and mentors, who are not only industry professionals, but also former and current combat camera members: Rob Whitehead, Rick Sforza, John Nonog, Lono Kollars, Val Gempis, Nick Strocchia, and Jim Fabio.
“They have the benefit of the guest instructors' mentorship during this process, which gives them additional perspectives as they craft their pieces," said Capt. Meg Harper, Workshop Director.
For combat camera reservists, it can be difficult to find the critical stretches of time to dedicate to the process of preparing submission packages for this contest.
“Our unit members deserve this opportunity to refine the imagery they may have risked their lives to obtain during their deployments,” Harper said.
Providing hands on video editing assistance during the workshop was retired Master Sgt. John Nonog, placed first in the Military Videographer of the Year program, and Lt. Col. Jim Fabio, a reservist with the 1st CTCS, Charleston AFB, S.C.
Besides being a valued member of 1 CTCS, Lt. Col. Fabio is also an award-winning television and film producer, digital editor, graphic designer, and strategic communication expert. He has won two Emmy Awards and a Telly Award.
“I think the workshop has been very productive, in taking the work that very talented photographers and videographers have done and shaping it into something that will hopefully garnish some attention and awards,” Fabio said. “It was great to come out here to our sister unit.”
With a newly-grown mustache and revamped civilian style, the recently retired Master Sgt. Rick Sforza came back to his combat camera family to teach Photoshop techniques and critiquing skills.
Sforza is a photo editor for the San Bernardino Sun newspaper, making his valuable expertise an outstanding asset to the workshop.
“I thought it was great being able to get outside perspectives especially from those who have been there before or done this before us,” said Senior Airmen Jonathan Garcia, a 4 CTCS broadcast journalist.
Retired Master Sgt. Robert Whitehead, the photographer-in-residence for California State University San Bernardino and a former combat camera member, taught fellow photographers Photoshop techniques, portraiture and sports photography.
Whitehead placed in the sports category in the Military Photographer of the Year program.
A new member of 4 CTCS and professional civilian photographer, Capt. Nick Strocchia taught a class on photo editing shortcuts and time saving techniques using Adobe Bridge and Photoshop.
“It really changed the way I look at the products, because we usually make our products for a military audience. With input from our civilian mentors, seeing it from their side, I am trying to de-militarize the products a little to appeal to a wider audience,” said Garcia.
By having both civilian and military mentors attend the workshop, 4 CTCS members were able to learn different ways of looking at their imagery. This will enable their work to have more versatility with media outlets.
The Airmen also received a tour of the Defense Imagery Management Operations Center – Riverside, lead by Roxanna Rawls, a retired 4 CTCS Senior Master Sgt., currently working in Collections Management. DIMOC-R is one of three sites where all DOD Combat Camera imagery is archived.
Rawls’ co-workers at DIMOC-R, retired Master Sgts. Lono Kollars and Val Gempis, discussed the importance of iconic images in history with the airmen. Having a vast world of knowledge to contribute, they told war stories from their experiences as photojournalists with combat camera and Airman Magazine.
Reflecting on Joe Rosenthal’s flag-raising photo taken at Iwo Jima during WWII, Kollars said, “What is going to tell that story 50 years from now?”
“The exposure associated with an image that places in the MILPHOG competition can make that image stand out in history. People stop to look at award winning photos,” said Senior Master Sgt. Keith Baxter, a squadron superintendent.
As stated on contest website: http://www.dinfos.osd.mil/events/viap/index.asp, the VIAP is designed to recognize, reward, and promote excellence among military photographers, videographers, journalists and graphic artists for their achievements in furthering the objectives of military photography, videography, and graphic arts as command information and documentation media within the military.
"When they submit their imagery to this high-profile competition, our photographers and videographers are showcasing the talent and pride of 4 CTCS, as well as their motivation to do their part in capturing critical military operations and historical events," said Harper.
Although the focus of this workshop was on the MILVID/MILPHOG contest, the more important aspect is that it will improve the airmen’s video and photographic skills, which improve their documentation capabilities in the field.
"We are excited about our upcoming workshops, which will focus on other aspects of the documentation process. These programs give our airmen the focused and intense training that is difficult to accomplish during busy drill weekends," said Harper.
| Date Taken: | 02.09.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.09.2011 17:29 |
| Story ID: | 65096 |
| Location: | RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 404 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Award-winning filmmakers and photographers mentor Airmen, by TSgt Christine Jones, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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