Is it the shoes? It’s gotta be the shoes…
Last weekend at the Small-Paper Summit in Waterbury, Conn., design guru Bill Ostendorf talked about top-of-A1 promos and how so many papers screw up these no-brainers.
I think the Pilot got it right today with this above-the-nameplate photo which referred to a story and photo package inside:
Is that an arresting image, or what?
This being a huge Navy town — the home of the Atlantic Fleet and its air wings — we’re constantly shooting homecomings and deployments. Lots of spouses and kids, lots of hugs and tears. I don’t know how our folks do it, but nearly every time, they come up with something different.
And man, was this different. That was Rich-Joseph Facun behind the viewfinder.
It’s also turned out to be somewhat controversial. Public response to the photo at the Pilot’s web site has been an interesting experience today.
Old Doll wrote Wednesday (the shot was posted long before we put together Thursday’s paper):
That is an awesome photograph!
SandInMyShoes added kudos:
I agree, the photo of the shoes with the ship and sailors in the background is an awesome shot! Good job Mr. Facun!
As did Cjgrad
That pic has GOT to get an award that is very 1930’s ish bravo to the photographer
But Litlebit was a little bit annoyed with the Pilot:
With the picture only of the pink shoes, one’s mind tends to think there is a trench coat with nothing underneath that goes along them. So please if you can next time show a flag or showing a child excited to see mom or dad coming home!
Marks57720 asked:
What is the photographer implying here?
Skoops88 supplied an answer:
It says that a wife is waiting for a husband… This isn’t about what you want to see, it’s about the sailors. Get over it, if you like looking at flags go buy yourself one.
And Paulb84662 noted:
The pink shoes were great but she should have taken the time to remove the price tag. lol
I don’t know. I thought the price tag was a charming touch. A closer view:
Here’s the largest photo I can muster from the PDF. Click for a bigger view:
The Pilot’s caption for the photo:
Candice Knilans waits for her husband, Petty Officer 3rd Class John Knilans, to leave the carrier Harry S. Truman after its seven-month deployment. (Rich-Joseph Facun | The Virginian-Pilot)
Friday’s Pilot contained two contrasting letters to the editor about this photo, both from readers in Virginia Beach. This is from Jacquelyn B. McDaniel:
Kudos to Pilot photographer Rich-Joseph Facun for a photo of extreme poignance and brilliant composition.
Remember the nurse and the sailor in Times Square at the end of World War II? This photo ranks right up there with it, doesn’t it?
The other was from JulieAnn Singleton-Smith:
Your photo of the cheap, hot pink high-heeled shoes was a poor one. Yet, it was very convenient. As a high school journalism teacher, I was able to use it as an example of what not to do when choosing a front page photo. The photo conveys a message that military wives are cheap and trashy.
As a military wife who has a career and a series of degrees, I find your photo extremely offensive.
I’m still trying to figure out how Rich got this shot. I can just see the conversation at dockside:
Excuse me, m’am. I’m going to slide my camera down around your ankles and take some pictures. Don’t let me bother you…
If I tried that, I’d find myself on the national sex offender’s registry. Rich comes away with what will surely be an all-time classic.
Originally from Virginia Beach, Rich-Joseph Facun has shot for the Arizona Daily Star, The Northwest Herald in Crystal Lake, Ill., The Sun News of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and the Copley chain in Plainfield, Ill. Rich is a graduate of Ohio University.
Rich shot this homecoming photo in December:
This is a five-year-old kid waiting for his father — a Navy pilot — to land at Oceana Naval Air Station. Just incredible. Read more about this photo here.
Find more of Rich’s work at his personal portfolio site.
Read the story that goes with the pink shoes photo — and see a gallery of more pictures — here.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:23 am
I just saw that photo and page. It’s amazing and gorgeous and says troops are coming home. I bet everyone who saw those hot pink shoes stopped and looked at the paper, I sure did. I even squinted and read the caption off Newseum.
I did feel embarrassed for her about the price tags, I mean you don’t expect a photographer to be taking a picture of the soles of your shoes.
That whole photo gallery is beautiful. The child waiting for his dad is wonderful, too.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:27 am
That photo to me shows love, and dedication. See how her ankles are crossed? You gals (and yeah, maybe some of you guys) know it’s NOT easy to stand that way in four-inch stiletto heels. But she wants to look beautiful for her homecoming hero. Just awesome. Please pass my kudos on to the shooter.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
People have a problem with that photo?! I did the exact same thing as Autumn, that photo and the brilliant color contrast stopped me dead in my tracks. There are times when photojournalism crosses into realm of iconic art: The flag raising at Iwo Jima, the kiss at the end of World War 2 are both examples, I think this one falls right into that same category.
In fact, it’s so amazing, my wife wants me to print out a version on photo-stock paper and frame it in our office.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I thought the photo was gorgeous as well. Like it or hate it, it did the job - made people stop and look at the paper. That alone is worth a healthy round of applause. The photo, and the accompanying cutline, evoke images of World War II for me, and the soldiers coming home from it. I’m sure the shot of the soldier kissing the nurse in the middle of the street was considered scandalous in its day as well.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
About the old shot of the soldier kissing the nurse in NYC, there was probably somebody in the newsroom who said, “What’s the big deal? It’s just two people making out!”
June 6th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Visually arresting shot and great promo. Heck, if we pleased everyone we’d never have a reason to go out an try harder. I see the photog has links to both Illinois (my home state) and Ohio (where I spent the past 37 years before moving to SW Florida in 05). GREAT things come from those two states!!! lol. Excellent job Rich.
June 7th, 2008 at 11:12 am
What a refreshing way to tell a story. This photo is hot just like the hot pink shoes this woman is wearing. If I was coming home from serving overseas and that was my woman wearing those hot pink shoes …. that’s TMI. Anyway, I’m glad to see a different approach towards the touchy-feely photos often used. Yes, we always want the best photo especially those that show emotion but think of the emotions that come with photo. This photo is too sexy even for my cat… This photo rocks in my book.
June 7th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
That was an awesome photo taken by an award winning photographer. The perception of the eyes, catches what the mind read. The pink shoes she is wearing convey love to her returning hero and not to anyone else.
June 8th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Who wants to see another of the already thousands of shots taken at homecomings of families and children donned in military apparel? The sexy, sassy, pink shoes is the most awesome picture I have seen in years! I just love it!
June 8th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I saw this on Newseum last week and instantly fell in love. (With the photo, not the legs!) Brilliant photo and play on the A1 of my favorite daily!