Deseret News Multimedia

This summer at the Deseret Morning News, where I interned, multimedia was a term that was starting to gain a foothold. Last week, the paper published a multimedia piece staffer Jeff Allred produced on a the Youth Pioneer Handcart Trek. I think this was one his first and he was eager to jump on board. I remember the night I drove the audio recorder over to him before he left to do this story. I gave him a couple tips and then I just told him to play and try it things out. I think he did great. He put together a good narrative and the sound is strong.

He also wrote the story. I think this is a great example of a multidimensional photographer — one that can tell stories in multiple forms. Great job Jeff.

My Last Week as an Intern

(Again, a post never posted, written on Aug. 24, 2007)

My last week as an intern at the Deseret Morning News was filled with excitement and emotion.

The last day at the paper, I photographed the homecoming of the National Guard. Here are three images from that shoot. The first is my interpretation and the second and third, I thought, a normal image that would come out of that assignment. The paper ended up running the first large on A1 and the other two inside. I was happy with that decision thanks to the photo editor.

Days before leaving Utah, I was sent down to Huntington, Utah, to photograph the Crandall Canyon mine disaster. My last day in Huntington, I photographed the funeral of Dale Black, one of the rescue miners killed in the second accident at the mine searching for the six miners that were trapped. This was my first experience as a pool photographer and I have to admit, I was scared and nervous going into it.

But after the family showed up, I was reminded that it wasn’t about me. I walked over to Dale’s wife and thanked her for allowing me in and told her that if at any time you want me to walk away just give me a signal. Hundreds of friends and family, and while I am bad with numbers maybe around 500, were there to celebrate and mourn. And while, I felt a little more pressure to get a good image because I was the only photographer, I tried to remain just as sensitive and somewhere in the middle, hearing the story of this man’s life, made me cry. I have learned and now I bring tissues to all my assignments.

The Families of the Miners

I just found some posts from the summer I never posted.
(Written Aug. 19, 2007)

Tonight I had the privilege of talking with Don Erickson’s family at a vigil the community held for the six trapped miners and the three mine rescuers from Crandall Canyon Mine.

I had just transmitted the photo I thought would work for the vigil and as I was eating my dinner, I saw the families walk towards the front of the stage. I started shooting as the families’ lawyer began sharing a statement the families had written. The gist of it … they still have hope that their loved ones are still alive and they want the 30″ inch hole to be drilled as they feel it is their last hope. They feel Murray has given up as he has not communicated with the family since Thursday’s accident.

After the families walked away, they all lit candles and prayed for their loved ones. I spent a couple of minutes with the Erikson family. Normally there would be a circus of photographers, but tonight there were just two, me and a photographer from the New York Times. I think because of this, the families felt comfortable to stay for a couple of minutes instead of running. This is the first time a lot of the families have been out in the community because they have been hiding from the media.

Knowing that they had become extremely weary of the media, I walked over and asked if I could take their photos. Right as I began shooting, along with their tears, came mine. I looked at them and said I am sorry. After they blew out the candles, I came up to them and told them, “I know we haven’t had access to each other these last couple of days, but I want to say I am so sorry. I can imagine that it has been so hard and I speak for the media when I say we wish the best for your families.” Then Amanda his daughter said thank you and gave me a hug.

Soon after, a woman from the community came up to me and thanked me. She said, “Thank you for covering this. We all really appreciate you being here.” Surprised, I responded, “Really? Most of the time I don’t feel that way so thank you.”

It was then I had to chose what my priority was at that moment, to be sensitive to the families or take advantage of the situation and ask them questions. It was obvious they didn’t want to answer any questions, so I let them have a couple minutes in peace without cameras in their face.

During my time covering the mine disaster, I think more than anything, I have learned a lot about the decision as photographers we make in order to retain or destroy the dignity and humanity for our subjects. Tonight it was smacked in my face. Do I make a story or do I take a couple photos and walk away. I walked away.

Mine Disaster - Community

We have been reporting on the community that has been hit with a double disaster in the last two weeks. First, the Crandall Canyon mine collapsed trapping six miners. Then, Thursday, the mine collapsed again killing three and injuring six rescue miners trying to find the trapped. We have been in the community for the last couple days reporting on the hope and the response of the community. Throughout the community, despite frustration and exhaustion, funds have been raised for the families of the nine miners. At football games, vigils, car washes and rodeos throughout the county, people showed their support for mining and their miners.

Crandall Canyon Mine - Rescue Effort Tragedy

Tonight was yet another sad night in Huntington, Utah. While trying to reach six miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine, another cave in occurred injuring six and killing three rescue workers.

I was just returning from the office to prepare to go back down to the mine the next day when I received a call from my mom. Actually three calls. I knew on the third call I should pick it up. “Something bad has happened,” she says. “They don’t know but there are helicopters and ambulances outside the mine in Huntington.” I quickly called my boss and said I would leave then. Two and a half hours later I was in Price outside of the hospital where some of the rescue workers were transported after the accident.

On my way in I saw a group gathering, starting to light candles. While my coworker was waiting for word about any of the rescue workers, I went back to the roadside vigil. They were mourning the death of a cousin and other community members. Azure had just lost her cousin, Dale, a mine rescue worker, and was still waiting to hear about her father’s cousin, Kerry Allred, one of the miners trapped in the mine.

Photo Intern - Parades & Festivals

Today I decided to look through some of the photos I have taken over the summer. This is my first time shooting for a daily newspaper. I am used to diving into a subject and spending a long time getting to know the people and the subject itself. The thought of going to a parade or a festival wasn’t my idea of fun. But I have to admit, now it is a breathe of fresh air - people having a good time. Taking photos of a parade makes you step away and try to do something creative. Here are some of those photos.

Crandall Canyon Mine - Third Drill Hole

Today I covered the press conference where Bob Murray revealed the video they were able to get by drilling a hole into the mine. It didn’t seem too conclusive to me either way. I mean you could see the fact that the ceiling had not caved in completely but there were no signs of the six miners still trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine. You can go on Deseret Morning News and see the video tomorrow morning.

Like I said, in my earlier post, today was a game of waiting. I didn’t want to leave my post for fear of missing the press conference and any information Bob Murray and his gang had for us to share. So here are some images of Bob Murray at the press conference.

Crandall Canyon Mine Update

I am up near the entrance of the Crandall Canyon Mine waiting for the afternoon press conference. It is a game of waiting  so I thought I would update my blog in the meantime. Here is a photo of all the media waiting. My little car is in the bottom right hand corner. It has been my sleeping quarters and now my office. This car has treated me well this summer.

The media surrounds the corner in front of the entrance to the Crandall Canyon Mine waiting for any information to pass on about the six miners still trapped in the mine. Photo taken on Aug. 13, 2007. Photo by Jennifer Ackerman/Deseret Morning News

Crandall Canyon Mine

I am told there is always news in Utah. This summer, that statement did not disappoint me. I have been down in Huntington, Utah, covering the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster where six miners are trapped.

I have only been here for two days now, but I sense the frustration throughout the town. People continue to have hope that these men are still alive. Some of the family members say that their faith and hope that they are alive is just as strong today as it was the first day, but other community members are starting to think the worst. Of course, they hope that these men are alive after being trapped for eight days now, but the reality, they say, is the impact of the collapse, despite where they were at that exact time, would seriously injure them.

The families have not been willing to talk and understandably so, so getting anything intimate has been hard. My post has been the junior high about 15 miles from the entrance of the mine. This is where the families have been stationed. So I have been trying to show their hope, frustration, fear, etc. This has been a bit difficult as there is a fence that acts as a barrier to the family with the sheriff’s office guarding the mile perimeter.

Tonight I have moved to the entrance of the mine, to what they refer to as headquarters. I relieved one of the staffers that has had this post for a couple of nights, meaning he hasn’t really slept in a couple of nights. Apparently, we have to stay up just in case Murray makes an appearance. He has been known to do that at 3:30 or 4 in the morning. The risk of that happening tonight is slim but I have to be ready to go when his team arrives.

Interning for the Deseret News this summer, I been able to taste my fair share of spot news and I guess what you would call disaster news. While I am still soft, I have learned to take the elbows from other photographers that “really” need the photo. It has been interesting being surrounded by tons of media. You learn when and when not to fight for an image quickly. And when I mean fight, I mean try to get in the pack of 10-15 videographers and photographers trying to get 2 inches of space to squeeze into. You can see in some of my images, I was actually able to get in there and get something. Most of the time I have been feeling like the paparazzi using a 400 with an extender and standing at least 100 yards from my subjects.

Here are some images from the last two days.

Members of the Huntington community wait at the Canyon View Junior High to hear any news of the six men trapped in the Crandall mine on Aug. 11, 2007. Photo by Jenn Ackerman/Deseret Morning News

Joe Jensen, a member of the Huntington community, was a miner for more than two decades. “I think of the worst and pray for the best,” he says. Photo taken on Aug. 11, 2007. Photo by Jenn Ackerman/Deseret Morning News

“God Bless Our Miners” hangs in the window of Joe Jensen’s home in Huntington. Jensen was a miner for more than two decades. “I think of the worst and pray for the best,” he says. Photo taken on Aug. 11, 2007. Photo by Jenn Ackerman/Deseret Morning News

Elizabeth Hanson, left, and Dorr Hanson, right, members of the Huntington community pray and fast at the fast service at Huntington LDS Stake Center on Aug. 11, 2007. “I wake up at night in a warm bed and I think of what conditions those miners must be in and I start crying. It breaks my heart,” she says. Photo by Jenn Ackerman/Deseret Morning News

A member of the Mission San Rafael Catholic Church in Huntington pauses in front of the cross outside of the church after mass. During the twice a month service, they prayed for the six miners still trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine on Aug. 12, 2007. Photo by Jenn Ackerman/Deseret Morning News

Photo Intern - Deseret Morning News

Here are some photos I have taken recently for the paper.