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Star photographers hold seminar at reference library to tell stories behind photos


This seminar was moderated by Toronto Star photographer and honorary Estonian, Richard Lautens. Since the title "honorary Estonian" is given only by the Estonian Parliament we could call Lautens an "honourable Estonian" since he has children who speak Estonian, has a wife who is Estonian and photographed the Estonian school events as well as wears an Estonian ring.

The event is part of an exhibition of news photographs by Toronto Star photographers in the gallery by the front door of the reference library running until June 14. Other photographers on the panel were retired photogs Boris Spremo and Tim Bock and active ones Rick Madonik, and Steve Russell. It was a full audience.
Richard Lautens - photo by Philip McMaster

The first question was, “What got you into photography ?” they all said they started when they were young. The dangers of news photography were varied. Madonik said he felt danger in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Haiti. Bock said he felt it in India. Spremo was always afraid of landmines.

One lady asked if they had suffered from PTSD. All said they had and Russell coped with physical exercise while Spremo said he had depended on family.

Most all of the panel said they were motivated by the need for action, the words “action junkie” was mentioned often. Whereas reporters become editors and even publishers, photographers stay photographers their entire careers.

The nature of news photography has changed by virtue of the fact that everybody now has a camera in their cell phone and can send those pictures off to the news outlet. It was mentioned that Sports Illustrated has laid off all their staff photographers (the magazine is buying their images from photo services who are contracted with their subjects).
The seminar was very interesting and Boris Spremo took some gentle ribbing for being a bit of a star among photographers.

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