Tom Frazier: Stuck in a rut? Shake it up!

Sun-Star photographs won major awards. In the past -- way past.

Long ago, Jay Sousa left a San Francisco paper to become the chief photographer for the Sun-Star. Jay now has a highly successful photo business in Merced.

Then there was Roger Wyan, now a photography instructor at UC Merced and a popular freelance photographer.

Greg Hubbard followed. Greg now has his own photo business and teaches for Fresno City College.

In 2002, Sun-Star Photographer Dave Getzschman won two awards from the San Francisco Bay Area Press Photographers Association.

So what happened to the Sun-Star? When is the last time one of the photographers was recognized with an award?

It's been quite a while.

I don't look forward to seeing Sun-Star photos these days. Most are trite, familiar and, well, boring.

There's one that comes to mind -- a front-pager. The story was about the new COOL food labeling with a picture of romaine lettuce.

If you look closely at the top, you will see the words, "Product of USA," the purpose of the photo and story.

Marci Stenberg, the photographer, didn't think it belonged on the front page. It was a last-minute assignment which she claims happens "way too often."

Keith Jones, the Editorial Page and Photo Editor, didn't like it much either, but said, "They can't all be gems."

The reporter, Carol Reiter, didn't like it either.

If no one liked it, how did it end up on page 1?

I took the picture to the Merced Camera Club for comments. With loud and unanimous consent, it was a total flop. Lloyd Hall, the club's past president, "It doesn't tell me anything." Lloyd Bever, a long-time member just chuckled and said, "I sure wouldn't enter it into competition."

Karen Campbell, a recent winner in an international competition, said it was definitely a "6." (The club scores pictures between 6 and 10 points.) The current president of the club, Andy Tolsma, claimed it was "junk."

That's not to say all photos are bad -- you just have to search hard, very hard, for good ones.

One exception is Lisa James -- fresh and unpredictable. Browse through her work on the photo gallery tabs online, but be prepared to see duplicate or very similar images. She hasn't yet learned how to edit.

My advice? Go for quality -- not quantity. The old adages, "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link" or "one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel" come to mind.

Kenneth Irby, a faculty member of The Poynter Institute, stated in a recent interview, "I believe strongly that ideas are the currency of the newsroom and that photojournalists are equal reporters in the news-gathering process with their writing colleagues." I agree.

Reiter, a 13-year veteran reporter for the Sun-Star, recalls when photographers, not copy editors, had the final say in which photos were printed. She thought that method worked better than the current practice. She also claims the Sun-Star photographers are underutilized.

Lisa James asserts the copy desk seems to select "safe" or "conventional" shots.

Let's just say the paper seems to be in a slump. The system is stuck in a rut. Everything is routine. Predictable.

Photographers receive little or no outside training; there's not enough depth to allow attendance at seminars, or to take classes. Saves money, y'know.

I'd say it's time to examine the entire process -- from how and when photo assignment is made to the time it appears in print. Everyone should be involved.

Think outside the box Brownie. Try post-shoot critique sessions. Clearly explain why one photo was selected and another rejected.

There's more. Encourage the shooters to join the National Press Photographers Association. If you can't afford to send them to workshops or seminars, insist they take online classes. Many are free.

With some work, maybe the Sun-Star could be recognized for both investigative reporting and photography.

I hope so. I like photography.

Tom Frazier writes Sun Dog and can be reached at sundog@promessage.com.