Vincent Laforet’s Blog

Vincent, keep up the good work. I really appreciate you sharing your top photos with us, as well as letting us into your head as you shoot one of the most exciting events of this decade.

When I found out that you had begun blogging, I was thrilled. After seeing your work at the Eddie Adams Workshop, I knew you were just on a different level than most of the photographers out there. Reading this blog has further confirmed that. I think this is one direction that the photojournalism industry is heading. Sure every Joe and Mary can get a photo of the big news event with their P&S or their cameraphone, but can they tell a story, and continually keep people coming back for more quality photography? I think that’s where our role as photojournalists will shift. Less than just providing a photo and more towards passing on the experience. But then again, what does a 3rd year college student know about the industry?

I’m not sure if you remember me, but I was at the Eddie Adams Workshop 2 years ago, and told you that I wanted to be a neurosurgeon. I’ve continued to shoot for our school newspaper, and have been the photo editor there for 3 semesters. Moving into the new year, I have been struggling a lot with your same thoughts.

Being the editor at a small school newspaper, I’m pretty much in control of what goes in the paper visually. I’m the main shooter, so I go to most of the events. So what goes in the paper mostly comes down to what I think is a good photo. But going into my 3rd year, I’m starting to try to find something fresh to show the readers. Most of my sports photos (or anything, in fact) have started to meld together. Besides the faces in the photos, they all look the same. I can remember thinking to myself, “I stood here last year shooting this same event.” And going through the photos later, the same shots appear.

So this year is going to be a struggle to find those new angles or those different shots no one has seen before.

I’d just like so say thanks for sharing your thoughts and your perspectives, and being completely vulnerable. And while we may beat ourselves up for not getting “the shot” or not being fresh enough, I think we sometimes need to step back a second and realize how lucky we are. While some people are stuck in a cubicle all day drudging through life, we are out shooting and doing something we thoroughly enjoy. Not everyone is as fortunate as we are.

Great photos, and keep up the fantastic work. Can’t wait to read your next post.

Wow. Thanks for such a candid view into your thinking at this point in the games. In a way, I can relate in the struggle to find ones vision. In another, of course, I can’t even begin to relate because of the scale and magnitude of the games. I’ve been looking forward to every post from Bejing and now I can’t wait to see what comes next.

This should be compulsory reading for any person aspiring to shoot sports.
Needless to say, (in my opinion at least) this is one of the best contributions I have had the opportunity to read.
Many thanks for sharing your knowledge!

I read. I understand. Do not overthink it. I appreciate the blog. get the picture. guy

Vincent,

You are such a great photo journalist! We enjoy reading your blogs. Keep up the great work!!!

Love,
John and Teri

Vincent,

Keep it up. I’ve read every word and look at every image of each day’s post.

Sounds like you have too much going through your head right now. Doesn’t always sound like your enjoying it. You know what to do. Enjoy it!

Best.
Aaron

Since you’re one of the few photographers who will discuss technique while you’re on the job shooting, I wonder if you could explain to photo enthusiasts what master photographers mean when they say that there’s a difference between what the photographer sees and what the camera sees, and that a good photographer must learn to know what the camera sees. Thanks for those stunning images.