Social photography is the visual capture of the history and meaning of an event (parties, reunions, service projects, conferences, ceremonies, amateur sports, performances, etc.). It is simultaneously a utilitarian form of record keeping and a highly creative genre, enabling the viewer to know, or remember, who was there, what they did, what they experienced, and what the event participants experienced and felt.   It is an exciting and fulfilling form of journalistic photography that requires very different skills from the tripod based, painstakingly stalked or staged subjects typical of club competition. This session, which Jay has given in England, Ohio, and Virginia, provides practical ideas for technique, aesthetics, and equipment, covering topics including flash diffusion, subject rapport, software processing and image sharing.

Last year’s NVPS Advanced Versatile Photographer of the year, Jay has been shooting since he was 10 years old, growing up in his dad’s darkroom and benefitting from an active and prize winning high school journalism program.  He began club competition while living in England, where he also participated in the Royal Photographic Society and obtained his LRPS distinction. Jay has been shooting exclusively in digital since 1999, although he has fond memories of long hours spent in the darkroom.  His blog, which combines text and photos, and frequently addresses photographic topics, can be found at www.heiserhollow.net.