NAB 2019

Photo Feature Hunt on May 18 - Cancelled

Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances the Feature Photo Hunt previously scheduled for Saturday, May 18th has been cancelled.

Please stay tuned for future events.

Thank you

William B. Knight 1931-2019

Bill Knight (right) and Ben Borok, LA Mirror 1952

Bill Knight died on January 17th, 2019, 87 years of age. He had been sick for a long time and was, quite frankly, bored with it all. He had spent a rewarding life as a husband, father, and news photographer of the highest caliber doing what he loved with those who he loved.

Born in Los Angeles on September 3, 1931 to Bert and Viola Knight, Bill grew up as the quintessential Angeleno, graduating from Dorsey High with only one goal in mind to be a press photographer in Los Angeles. His first decade was spent as both an outdoor and general assignment photographer for the Daily Mirror, the afternoon edition of the Los Angeles Times. He then graduated to television news, and after a freelance stint at KCOP, found a permanent home as a news cameraman at KTLA. Over the next 35 years, Bill was definitely Old School. He started his career as a still news photographer and migrated to the new kid in town, TV. Bill made the transition from still to movie film to Electronic News Gathering.

Bill’s career was a mirror of the history of Los Angeles. From the assassination of Robert Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel to the Rodney King Riots and more, he was there. A vigilant witness for the people to the happenings of his city, he often said that the camera was the only honest observer, never lying and always optimistic. He was proud of both his work and his colleagues. His association with the Press Photographers Association of greater Los Angeles (PPAGLA.org) was profound, serving as President three times while spending over 60 years supporting efforts of news photographers in Los Angeles. He was the consummate and concerned professional.

Bill Knight and Ferddie Olmo

He was President in 1971,1990 and 1991. Bill served as Vice President in 1970 and 1976 and as Director from 1977-1982. He spent nearly a dozen years on the Board of Directors in some capacity.

Bill won the annual TV Spot News category so many times that the Association lost count.

When Bill retired he funded the Bill Knight Endowment which funds the Video Spot news category. Bill was part of the effort to move the monthly Board of Directors meeting from the Press Club Bar to a more suitable location. As is turned out alcohol-free meetings actually were more productive. He even hosted meetings at his home with his wife,  Betty providing the meals.

Bill always showed encouragement to the youngsters coming up the ranks. He made friends with still photogs as well as video shooters. Former Los Angeles Times staff photographer Rick Meyer says that “Bill pigeoned-holed me in to running for the Board of Directors and then told me I was to be the Treasurer, even though I was just a year out of college. This was back in 1975 and I’ve been really involved with the organization ever since.” Bill was the cornerstone of the organization.

Retired Fox 11 reporter Tony Valdez says, “Bill Knight taught me most of what I know about being a broadcast journalist.” In the late 1970s, Tony was the reporter assigned to KTLA’s Photo 5, one of only two news crews the station had during that era.  With soundman Bob “Zimmy” Zimmerman, they covered stories all over Southern California.  Bill, with his CP16 camera, loaded with Kodak color film, made every shot count.  Film was too expensive to waste on shots that would never make air.  Back then, most TV news reports were about a minute and thirty seconds long.  Bill never shot more than five minutes on any story.

Wherever they went, Bill had his scanner on, monitoring police and fire frequencies.  His ears were tuned to anything that might turn into a Code 20 event. Code 20 was LAPD’s term for a newsworthy event. 

Tony said “When KTLA decided to let me go, Bill called me that night with condolences, encouragement and advice that I needed to move on. I recall being surprised that Bill, always reserved and much admired, would take the time to help me.” Years later, when I discovered that Bill had endowed a PPAGLA award, I was reminded of what a great man Bill was. I am grateful that he was a part of my life.”

Bill was an exemplary husband and father. Married since 1965 to his partner and soul mate Elizabeth (Betty), they raised two children, Kathyrne and Christopher. Bill had a love of the outdoors and nature that he shared through both his work and in his private life. In his retirement, his great joy and partner in all things silly was his six-year-old granddaughter Lily, the perfect foil for an 80-something who never stopped being a kid at heart. In addition to his other grandchildren Sean and Maegan, Bill is survived by daughter-in-law Susan and son-in-law Don.

His son Christopher Knight said, “He was as honest as the pictures he took and his love and respect for the outdoors is why I’m a naturalist and scientist today. He was a hunter, fisherman, and objective witness to the changes in the ecology of California and I was there to learn from that. It was good stuff. I will miss him surely but he will always be there when I’m in the field, under the water, or being a father. I will definitely see him out there. 

Interment will be private as per Bill’s wishes. In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed care of the William Knight Endowment Fund at the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles. 

Bob Zimmerman and Bill Knight early 1980's

Joe Kennedy

On January 1, 2019, Joe Kennedy passed peacefully in his sleep, one week shy of his 81st birthday.

Joe was a staff photographer for the Los Angeles Times for more than 40 years. He was also a PPAGLA member for over 40 years, serving as secretary in 1972. Additionally, Joe was a past president of National Press Photographers Association.

Joe saw it all at the Los Angeles Times. His dispatch call sign was CAR 4 but he preferred his nickname, TUNA. He was responsible for photographing many great events and the notable people throughout the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. He covered the LA Riots, JFK and Bobby Kennedy, a slew of Presidents from Kennedy to Reagan, and Sunday Dodger games—hangin’ with Lasorda, Garvey, Yeager, enjoying Fernando Mania.

The Kennedy home was a museum of daily news events. Every wall had a picture on it…none greater than his picture of Kirk Gibson hitting the World Series game winner for the Dodgers. It was his most famous picture that lives to this day in Dodger History.

His son Greg said, “He was a great dad and lived a great life. He did some amazing things and met some amazing people along the way. My dad always did it his way until the very end, with his dogs right by his side.”

Outside of family and work, Joe had a love for the outdoors. He spent several summers as a Camp Director for the Boy Scouts of America at Camp Oljato and at Camp Radford for the 4H Club. He loved snow skiing at Mammoth Mountain and Big Bear, as well as spending time with his beautiful Aussie dogs.

After retirement, Joe continued to stay busy. He was an usher at the Anaheim Angel’s Stadium where he was assigned to the Diamond Club.

Joe mentored many young photographers, giving them their “early break” just las he was given early in his career. Joe was humble…he never wanted to be the news, he wanted to cover the news. 

He gave out some great nicknames. Lori Shepler became Ms. Clear. Tammy Lechner was Pooh. Tom Kelsey was 10-speed. Reed Saxon was Reedorootor. John Barr was The Candy Man. Marsha Gorman was Mush. Genaro Molina became The Doctor of Light. Rob Gauthier’s handle was Robster, and Jayne Kamin Oncea was Kaminsky.

According to fellow staffer LA Times staffer Rick Meyer, Joe had some quirks. For example, when Joe lived in Whittier, he would paint one-quarter of the exterior of the house every year. That way the house always looked good with a low work load. Joe never met an expense report that he couldn’t massage in his favor. A three-dollar lunch became a $25 meal receipt almost like magic. Joe loved to work the assignment desk on holidays when the pay was double time and a half. He was also a great multitasker running the Boy Scout and 4H camps while on company time. While on the road, Joe knew who to bribe, and for how much. 

With the LA Times radio system, the proper way to end a radio transmission was to say “KRJ233.” Joe always ended the radio calls with “KRUD AM and FM.”

He is survived by his son Greg and dozens of photogs that he worked with over the decades. The following photogs attended Joe’s funeral mass:Wayne Kelly, Jim Caccavo, Larry Gus, Axel Koester, Hyungwon Kang, Rosemary Kaul, Bonnie Burrow, Keith Birmingham, Alex Galardo, Bob Lachman, Mark Boster, Don Kelsen, Raleigh Souther, Scott Harrison, Bob Chamberlin, Iris Schneider, Reed Saxon, Lori Shepler, Mel Melcon, Jayne Kamin Oncea and Rick Meyer. 

Board Elections - Vote now up until Dec 31

Board Elections

Professional members can vote now up until Dec 31 for your 2017 Board of Directors. Ballots are cast online only and will only take a couple of minutes. Click on this link to start the voting process. The election is only open to Professional Members. Associate and student members cannot vote.

Your vote is important to all of us - Please VOTE by December 31st!

https://goo.gl/forms/WJgCTdb9uYK9zwhl2

Shocker: News Photography Gets Worse Without Actual News Photographers

“It’s been a rough time for photojournalists, with many large metro newspapers laying off entire photo staffs. Quality is bound to take a hit, but does the public notice? A new study says that they do.

Researchers Tara Mortensen and Peter Gade, in a study published in Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, analyzed photographs from the Middletown (N.Y.) Times Herald-Record pre- and post-layoff of the photo staff in 2013. From this set of photographs, 488 were identified as taken by a professional and 409 were not. These photos were then classified on a scale devised by Ken Kobré, a professor who wrote the seminal photojournalism text, “Photojournalism: The Professionals’ Approach.” The scale rated photos as informational, graphically appealing, emotionally appealing, and intimate.”

— https://fstoppers.com/news/shocker-news-photography-gets-worse-without-actual-news-photographers-321366

Special Board Meeting 1/7/19

Tis the Season to be Jolly

From PPAGLA President Louis Gabriele

It is the most wonderful time of the year. Do not kid yourself, the stock market is down. Can you see the bottom yet? I am not sure. The Fed is raising the rates! Soak up the Festive Cheer! Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

Eat Healthy This Season

Get your greens in wherever you can

Be Charitable: PPAGLA is recognized by the IRS with 501c3 as an educational foundation.

Golly Gee! You’re depressed! Traffic, Traffic Everywhere! Be Aware! Holiday Scams! Be Wary! People Prey on your Generosity. Scammers increase their game at this time of the year.

This Holiday Season can be difficult and even depressing, for those who have recently lost loved ones. Recently I lost a friend who passed away in Cleveland. He was only 55 years old. No doubt, you have your own story of a loved one. My thoughts and prayers are with you, especially if your loss was recent. Allow me to share some things that I’ve learned that might help make this Holiday Season a bit jollier for you 1) Remember the good times you’ve had with those who are gone. 2) Don’t spend the Holidays by yourself. Be with people. Figure it out; I don’t have to tell you. 3) Have a Happy Holiday! This really is the season to be jolly. It is the most wonderful time of the year.

Save the Date - 2019 Annual Awards Banquet

PPAGLA Annual Awards Banquet
Saturday, March 30, 2019
Quiet Canyon - 901 Via San Clemente, Montebello, CA 90640

Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
More information to follow.

Did you learn anything?

Award-Winning Chinese Photojournalist Missing While Visiting The Country, Wife Says

“Lu Guang, an award-winning Chinese photographer and resident of New York, has gone missing while visiting China, his wife says.

Lu was invited to a photography event in the heavily controlled region of Xinjiang. He flew to Urumqi, the region’s capital, on Oct. 23.

His wife Xu Xiaoli said in a detailed Twitter post Monday that she last heard from her husband on the evening of Nov. 3.”

— https://www.npr.org/2018/11/27/671108999/award-winning-chinese-photojournalist-missing-while-visiting-the-country-wife-sa

PPAGLA Report - SMPTE 2018

Dan Madden

Dan Madden passed away on October 7, 2018. Dan was a long time staff photographer who retired from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Dan was Secretary at the PPAGLA Board of Directors 1991, 1992 and MAIC Committee Member.  He also co-authored the Media Guidebook. Dan loved to fish and was quite a fisherman despite his hardship: Parkinson Disease. He was a fighter to the end. Rest in Peace, Dan! 

His Daughter:

Video Seminar for DSLR and news video journalists hosted by Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles (PPAGLA)

RSVP - 11/1 -SOLD OUT

When:  Sunday, November 4:  9:15AM-12:30PM

Where: Culver City Veterans Memorial Complex Iksan Room

4117 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90230

(free onsite parking in adjacent lots)

Ever wondered how to make the compelling short news/documentary videos seen on websites and on TV?  Or where the opportunities are for landing your first job, or furthering your career?  

What could be better than PPAGLA hosting a seminar with our own experts in the field?  We will have award winning LA Times photographers, Myung Chung and Mel Melcon,  who have successfully transitioned from stills to shooting video and award winning news video photographers David Fernandez (formerly NBC) and Arturo Quezada (Chief Photojournalist/ Univision.)

This not to be missed seminar includes: 

Myung Chun: staff photographer, Los Angeles Times. Chun began his photography career at the Los Angeles Daily News in 1988, and joined the Times in 1999. Since 2007, he has been a videographer. He found video to be a natural extension of his photography and he fully embraced the technological change. In 2011, He won a national Emmy for a team project about innocent victims of gang violence. Today, he splits his time between still and video assignments. 

Mel Melcon: staff photographer, Los Angeles Times.  A graduate of Long Beach State, Melcon started out with the Los Angeles Times as a summer intern in 1984 and has been there ever since.  After working at the paper on a freelance basis for over 10 years, he was hired as a staff photographer in 1996.  Melcon likes to capture the offbeat and funny side of life in his images and he creates compelling narratives about daily life. 

David Fernandez:  28 year KNBC-TV videographer.  Fernandez was a part of the special assignment department where he won his most prestigious national awards, two Edward R. Murrow awards and a Peabody Award. He also earned many Los Angeles Emmy Awards, Golden Mike Awards and Press Photographer of Greater Los Angeles Awards.  After leaving KNBC-TV in 2009, he stepped into the freelance world.  Fernandez has been a member of PPAGLA for over 35 years.  He led the organization as president from 2012 through 2013 focusing much of his energy to help high school and college students.

Arturo Quezada: Chief Photojournalist, Univision Los Angeles:  With over 30 years experience in television, Quezada has held numerous positions in the industry. 23 of his years have been at Univision where he has been Univision Network News Videographer and Editor.  Additionally, he was Operations Manager for Univision Corporate where he taught editing, videography, newsroom workflow and storytelling.  Recipient of 10 Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards, the Edward R. Murrow Award, the George Foster Peabody Award, 16 RTNA Golden Mike Awards,  5 - time PPAGLA Videographer of the Year, and is an NAHJ and Associated Press Award winner. 

In the seminar, we will learn the process involved in shooting short 1-5 minute videos from concept to finished product.  Our panelists will show some of their work and discuss such topics as what type of shots to use in different situations….establishing shots, tight, wide, pans, zooms, b-roll, editing techniques, subject placement, integrating still images, titles, equipment, lighting and the importance of sound.

Career opportunities will also be discussed!

Each panelist will present their work and field questions from the audience.

FREE for PPAGLA members and non-members!

SAG-AFTRA Strikes against BBH

From Louis Gabriele, PPAGLA President -

Memorial services for Glenn Waggner Jr.

A message from Howard Waggner regarding memorial services for his father, Glenn Waggner.

As you know, my father passed away quietly last month.

I would like to invite you out to his memorial service.

The memorial service will be held on September 29th at 10am at the St Ambrose Catholic Church: 1281 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Lite refreshment will be served.

Glenn was a huge influence on many photographers as well as someone that influenced press relations in fire and law enforcement over the years.

My family is looking forward to seeing you in the celebration of my father’s life.

Please feel free to contact me directly for any additional information. Howard Waggner via Facebook

Glenn Waggner 1936-2018

Famed Photographer to the Stars, Glenn Waggner Jr quietly passed away in Los Angeles on August 19, 2018.
By Howard Waggner

He succumbed to complications of pneumonia, with his family by his side, at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

He was 82 years old.

Glenn Jr was born in Richmond, Virginia to Glenn Sr and Rose WaGGner. His family moved to the Hollywood area while he was a teenager. He was a graduate of Hollywood High School.

Glenn WaGGner Jr.'s historic career in the photojournalism field began very simply, through a program in high school shooting local high school football and basketball games in the Los Angeles area.

Before he was done, he'd end up being nominated for multiple Pulitzer prizes (including three in one year, in 3 different categories), and got to photograph prominent politicians and celebrities at the apex of their careers.

Talking with WaGGner about his career was better than sitting through a 20th Century U.S. History class.

He was on a train as a child when President Roosevelt passed by in a wheelchair, giving him a chance to photograph the first of many presidents in his illustrious career.

Nixon, Carter, Reagan. You name them, he shot them.

He was there for tragedy – Waggner was one of the first on the scene at the death of Marilyn Monroe – and triumph, having shot the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and multiple Super Bowls.

Monroe's death wasn't the only major celebrity event where WaGGner was one of the first on the scene. He also was able to get some of the first photos of a young Frank Sinatra, Jr., after he was recovered in December 1963 following a kidnapping for ransom.

Even when things appeared to be against him, such as when UPI cut him loose in the early 90s, he still kept on, teaming with a writing staff to form their own entertainment wire and utilizing the early days of the Internet to change the ways in which newspapers and emerging news and entertainment websites received photos.

Family was critically important to Glenn, who took his wife and children with him to a number of events, including Presidential press conferences in the early days of his career and the Academy Awards. He'd use his sons, Howard and Glenn III, to help serve as runners to the deadline room to deliver film and collect tear sheets as Glenn snapped away.

He'd go on tour with Bob Hope, traveling on USO tours and blending right in with the celebrity culture.

And as crazy as that might seem, WaGGner was nearly face-to-face with someone who was truly just that.

“Charles Manson said I looked crazy,” WaGGner said. “I'll take that as a compliment.”

He covered protests during the Iran hostage crisis, more fires than he can remember and had cyanide-laced bullets ricocheting off the curb in front of him during a 1974 shootout between Los Angeles police and members of the Symbionese Liberation Army.

He was a witness to some of the most memorable events and people over the latter half of the 20th Century, and despite knowing at the time he was witnessing history, he never lost focus of his job at hand.

“When you're shooting presidents and the like, it's always interesting when you get to tell them where to move and what to do,” he said.

Glenn was considered a mentor to many talented photographers during his tenure, included several that became personal photographers for several US presidents, and many in other specialized fields.

One of his biggest legacy achievements that he worked on was to change California law regarding press access during major disasters. California Penal Code 409.5 section D forever cleared the way for the press to gather information, as real time witnesses, for the public.

Along with the countless awards he received over his amazing career, Glenn WaGGner recognized with a Lifetime Achievement award from the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles in 2014. He served as President of the organization in 1978.

Glenn Jr. Is survived by his wife of 56 years, Phyllis; son Glenn III (Cecille); son Howard (Starla); granddaughters An and Lisa and grandson Daniel.

Report released for entrapments on Horse Park Fire

“Additional information has been released about the entrapments that occurred on the Horse Park Fire May 27 in a remote area of Southwest Colorado. Earlier we posted two videos that were shot when firefighters hurriedly retreated as the fire advanced, plus information from a “72-hour report”.

Now a 56-page Facilitated Learning Analysis and a 12-minute video are available that break down the incident in even more detail.

To very briefly summarize what happened, while scouting a road for a potential burnout operation, a hotshot crew superintendent and foreman encounter a wall of flames and attempt to retreat. Their truck becomes stuck, forcing them to flee on foot, narrowly escaping the rapidly advancing fire front. Just as they reach safety, they learn that their crew lookout is missing. After nearly 40 agonizing minutes, the lead plane pilot locates her after she ignited an escape fire. It is a compelling story, which is pretty well summed up in this video.”

— http://wildfiretoday.com/2018/07/15/report-released-for-entrapments-on-horse-park-fire/

2018 CWA District 9 Leadership Conference in Hawaii: “This is a dangerous time to be a journalist”

May 22, 2018:  "Week after week, President Trump and this Administration seem to break new ground in their attacks on the press. The president and his cabinet officials view the free press as the enemy. CNN and the Associated Press were barred from entering an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) summit on water contamination where Administrator Scott Pruitt was speaking. When a reporter asked questions about why she was prohibited entry, she was forcibly removed by security guards.”                                                                                                   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

May 25th 2018 Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) filed a bill in the Senate that would make it a federal crime to assault a journalist. A similar bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Eric Swalwell of California in February of this year. Unions representing 30,000 reporters, photographers, and broadcast employees are praising the bill. News Guild President Bernie Lunzer said, “The Journalist Protection Act addresses a real need. This is a dangerous time to be a journalist.”

“NABET members are easy and tempting prey for anti-media extremists and thieves because they often work in the field alone or with just one other person. They also carry equipment that’s expensive and cumbersome,” said NABET Sector President Charlie Braico. He also said, “The Journalist Protection Act will permit the authorities to properly punish people who attempt to interfere with our members as they work in dynamic and challenging newsgathering situations,”

The bill would make it a federal crime to intentionally cause bodily injury to a journalist engaged in reporting or with the intention of intimidating the journalist or impeding newsgathering. It calls for punishment of up to six years in prison.

                                                                                                                        By Louis Gabriele 

2018 Communications Workers of America Leadership Conference in Hawaii

By Louis Gabriele