In covering military funerals, I’ve been to some where the media has nearly unfettered access to others where we’re tightly controlled. It’s usually the decision of the families involved, and we respect that. Still, our job is to get the best stories and photos to present the event with emotional impact, regardless of the restrictions. [...]
(Camera: Nikon D300. Lens: Nikkor 70-200mm @ 130mm. Exposure: 1/500th sec. @ f/5. ISO: 400) The thing about shooting fires is that you’ll end up reeking of smoke if you can’t figure out a way to shoot upwind. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a position that’s smoke-free, but there are other times where there’s just [...]
In 1988, The Record did a special project that covered a day-in-the-life of illegal drugs in Stockton. Just a few blocks south of the office is the Gleason Park area, back then it was a notorious haven for drugs and crime. I had the assignment of trying to get a shot of a drug deal [...]
Sandra Cantu was an 8-year-old girl seen smiling for her school picture. In a video released by police she was seen skipping and playfully swinging her arms like any other child. She could have been any child, anywhere. Perhaps it was that normalcy that moved people to action. I covered the second day of Sandra’s [...]
How the other half lives
KGO Channel 7 veteran reporter Terry McSweeney waits for his live shot to start near the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park in Tracy. (Camera: Nikon D300. Lens Nikkor 17-55mm @ 17mm. Exposure: 1/500th sec @ f/8. ISO: 200) It may look a little incongruous and a bit schizophrenic, but the unofficial uniform of the young [...]