Blog

Storytelling in the South

2012-04-26T19:16:39Z

Rivals.com Spotlight: Jacob Hyde (Kentucky) from Derek Poore on Vimeo.

Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia in general is often the target of unwanted media attention. Media companies large and small have been derided for plucking in the most unusual, poor and in some cases drug-addled and criminal residents of this part of the country and placing a spotlight on them for the world to make broad generalizations.

In April, I traveled with a writer from Rivals.com to profile the life of Jacob Hyde, the first member of the University of Kentucky's class of 2013 recruits. Jacob's story and his community's love for him can be found in any small town in America.

Kentucky's Eighth NCAA Championship

2012-04-14T14:17:30Z

2012 NCAA Tournament - Kentucky basketball - Images by Derek Poore

College Basketball: No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 4 Louisville

2012-01-01T23:44:20Z

Picture Kentucky 2011: Jackson, Ky.

2011-10-23T19:07:02Z

Two dozen students and award-winning photojournalists spend five days telling the story of the people of Jackson, Ky. -- a Breathitt County community 90 miles southeast of Lexington. The workshop is held each fall by the Kentucky Kernel, the independent student newspaper of the University of Kentucky.

The workshops staffers and I spent the week following the students and having a little fun in the process. I always look forward to Picture Kentucky because it allows me to surround myself with inspiring photographers and help students discover a path in documentary photography.

Lighting the 'Cats

2011-10-22T21:17:00Z

Kentucky sophomore Terrence Jones/Derek Poore

During the past few months I've had the pleasure of producing visual content for Yahoo! Sports' Rivals.com website - Cats Illustrated. It's tough to covering the University of Kentucky football and basketball team in an oversaturated media market and maintain any creative edge. Sportswriter Michael Smith once called UK sports the small-market version of the Boston Red Sox. The website is one of only three Rivals.com websites that has more than 50,000 registered members.

Sophomore guard Stacey Poole/Derek Poore

For the site's men's basketball preview content, I wanted to present the players in a documentary-style setting, with a gritty and consistent feel. Lots of hard light on the edges and soft up front. I also wanted to maintain a consistency between the video content and still photography.

For the video interviews I used two Kino Flo four-bank lights in front of the subject on the left and right of the camera, a 5D Mark II, with a flozier to cover and soften the medium-sized light source. I used two ARRI hot lights -- around 150 and 300 watts -- with barn doors behind the player to the left and right pointed at the side of their head and shoulders to add rim and provide for some separation with the black background.

Kentucky sophomore transfer Ryan Harrow/Derek Poore

The photographs were a bit more involved. I ended up working with photographer Jonathan Palmer to build a light set up that mimicked the video interviews. The only difference would be a white background instead of black that was used for the interviews.

Starting with an Alien Bee AB800 up front in a softbox and two AB1600s on either side of the athlete in smallish strip banks. Aside from the strip banks there was no modifier between the light and the player. This created a hard light on the edges of the athlete that contrasted nicely with the soft fill up front. The Alien Bees performed horribly, by the way. Other Alien Bees in use at the photo shoot by other photographers wreaked havoc with the AB's internal slave. The next time I'll opt for Einsteins or White Lightnings. To light the white seamless background we used two Nikon SB-26 Speedlites aimed at the background to blow out the highlights so the it was solid white.

Kentucky senior Darius Miller and sophomore Terrance Jones/Derek Poore

Kentucky freshmen Kyle Wiltjer, Anthony Davis, Marquis Teague and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist/Photos by Derek Poore, Illustration by Jonathan Palmer

Streak Snapped

2011-10-22T19:00:00Z

2011 Football: Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State - Images by Derek Poore for Rivals.com

Shannon + Richard

2011-09-25T21:37:44Z

Shannon + Richard Wedding: Louisville, Ky. - Images by Derek Poore

Bluegrass Kickoff

2011-09-11T15:48:44Z

2011 Football: Kentucky vs. Central Michigan - Images by Derek Poore for Rivals.com

The Way Is Blocked

2011-08-16T17:29:13Z

Shannon Dale Engagement: Lexington, Ky. - Images by Derek Poore

Thirty minutes after the engagement shoot began, thunder rumbled.

Pretty soon only half the shoot was complete and a severe thunderstorm, packing 60 mph winds, chewed through the Lexington, Ky., countryside and downed numerous trees. Lexington photographer Jonathan Palmer and I forged ahead and our subjects were happy to oblige.

After manuevering around several downed trees that obstructed many roads in Fayette and Woodford counties, we spotted the first rainbow but we weren't in a good place to make a picture. We kept driving. But the rainbow was not going to hang around forever.

After darting into a field, umbrella in hand, the couple stood for a few shots. Rain was still falling, but the sky, light and colors were too good to pass up.

All of the shortcuts we took were well worth it -- the four of us toasted afterward with bourbon and beer at dinner.

Wedding: Jennifer and Keith

2011-07-25T19:01:37Z

Wedding - Louisville, Ky.

Location shooting is full of surprises. That's one of the main reasons I love documentary photography. "How can we turn this into a visually appealing situation?"

When shooting weddings, churches and venues all start to look the same, so one of the first things I do is wander around the neighborhood to look for something different, something that doesn't scream wedding. Jennifer and Keith were married July 16, 2011, in Louisville, Ky.

I scoped out a few streets around the church for some after-ceremony photos. This side street had depth, character and even though the light was still hard (about 6 p.m.) the quick stop and kiss worked.