ideas are pumping...

It's great when photographers come up with their own ideas for a story. Frankly, I don't think it happens enough. This was an idea that the photographer had brought to me a few weeks prior to the event. We talked about it, talked about what day we thought would be better, talked about getting a writer involved (which in the end didn't happen.) The communication was there.

The photographer was able to spend the day at this one event, and I think the pictures reflect the time commitment and the level of interest the photographer had. Luckily, we were able to give it good play on the local cover the next day too!

I think it is so important that photographer's help generate their own ideas and I don't necessarily mean long-term story projects. But projects that can be turned out in one day. As a former photographer it gives you the option of working on something you care about and want to do rather than be handed what could be a "lame" assignment. And as an editor, it can really help save the daily section on a particular day. It gives the editors more options---and editors LOVE options.