Street Photography Magazine Podcast Episode #3: Photojournalist Lisa DeJong
It was a real pleasure meet award winning photojournalist Lisa DeJong recently. She has been a local news photographer for the past 20 years has been on the staff at the Cleveland Plain Dealer for the last seven. Before that she worked for the Flint Journal in Flint, Michigan and the storied St. Petersburg Times.
We’re very fortunate in the Cleveland market to have a staff of excellent photographers at our local newspaper. For years I’ve been following their work and in the process have learned so much about working with available light, composition and capturing the moment.
As part of my daily ritual of catching up on the news I’ve admired Lisa’s work by seeing her publish one brilliant photograph after another. Yet she takes it in stride describing it as another day at work. Like most true professionals, she makes it look easy. It’s not.
A local newspaper photographer has a very difficult job. They’re responsible for covering many stories every day. Not only do they have to deal with traffic, bad weather, uncooperative subjects and bad light, but they are under constant pressure to “get the shot” every time. They don’t have the luxury of coming back another day when the light is better…they have deadlines…every day. It doesn’t stop. But they’re artists too, and creativity on a time schedule, under pressure isn’t easy.
Lisa is a perfect example of this. She tells us in order to be successful in her field you have to do the work every day with you feel like it or not. It’s important to be detached to become invisible and not be part of the story. To capture the story and not be part of it.
Street photographers have much to learn from photojournalists. They work fast, in the moment, make the best use of available light and work in the moment. Many of Lisa’s photographs that we show in this article are not considered street photography. But we felt it was important to show the depth and breadth of Lisa’s work in the types of photographs she has to make every day.
This is the first time that I had an opportunity to sit down with my interview subject face-to-face and have a real conversation. It was a true pleasure to meet one of my influences in person. I hope you enjoy it too.
– Bob Patterson
A Selection of Lisa’s Photos
Beyond Rape: A survivor’s journey
David Francis grew up in a violent home in crime-ridden Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston, around the corner from this street scene. COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
Phillip Francis weeps as he says that he doesn’t want to die in prison inside the sex offender jail in Massachusetts. He is the brother of David Francis. Date shot: Oct. 22, 2007. COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
Pastor Anthony Singleton preaches at Emmanuel Christian Center in Cleveland, attended by Laura Wills, one of David Francis’ sisters. COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
Page 1 of Beyond Rape: A Suvivor’s Journey – COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
Pages 2-3 of Beyond Rape: A Survivor’s Journey – COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
Page 16 of Beyond Rape: A Survivor’s Journey – COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
To get the full impact of Lisa’s photos this story is best viewed on the original newsprint. Absent that the story can be read in it’s entirety on the Cleveland Plain Dealer website. Here’s a link to the article
Feature Photos
Stiltwalker Julia Pankhurst makes her way down Murray Hill Road, practicing her stilt walking. Pankhurst, who has walked on stilts for years, says that these particular stilts make her about ten feet tall. Pankhurst is seen often at local parades.
COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
Charris, left, and Boomer carry the front of their mother’s casket on nearly a mile journey through creeks and meadows on the way to Marilyn Myers’ final resting place. About 100 mourners formed a procession behind them singing songs from Carole King, James Taylor and Simon and Garfunkel. COURTESY ST. PETERSBURG TIMES
“Obama! Obama! Obama!” shouts a star-struck Maria Alvares, 85, of Cleveland as she sees President Barack Obama for the very first first time as he walks on stage at Cleveland State University on Oct. 5, 2012. COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
Zion Roberts, 10, of Flint, Michigan, gets a little help from a stool while practicing for the Junior Olympics at the Joe Byrd’s Boxing Academy on the north side of Flint, Michigan. COURTESY THE FLINT JOURNAL
Family and friends gather hold a candle-light vigil where Latasha Jackson and her daughter Chaniya Wynn were murdered on E. 71Street near Union Avenue in Cleveland during a vigil. COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
Mikaela Clark of Cleveland tests out her wings while inside her “Fire Bird Mystical Mirage” costume near the Cleveland Museum of Art just before she steps into the parade line-up for the twentieth annual Parade the Circle in University Circle. COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
A secret service agent checks the plane stairs that will connect to Air Force One at Atlantic Aviation in Cleveland. The stairs were sitting on the tarmac awaiting the scheduled arrival of President Barack Obama. COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
Ed Schmitt, 56, of Cleveland, takes his umbrella down that shaded his yet-to-be-named masterpiece on the huge grassy area of Mall C, on top of the Cleveland Convention Center, on Monday, May 19, 2014. COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
“Buffy” the Pig weathers a lightning storm in Dixie County, Florida. Owner Jennifer Bellot is raising the pig as a part of the Future Farmers of America for the Suwannee River livestock Show in Dixie County. COURTESY ST. PETERSBURG TIMES
Portraits
Giovanni Zoppe paints his own face of make-up for every show as he performs as “Nino” the clown. Giovanni is a sixth-generation circus performer. COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
Connie, who is legally blind, uses her white cane while walking near her home in rural southern Ohio with her 3-year-old grandson, Maddox. The shooting that destroyed her face stole most of her vision, too, making it impossible for her to read, drive or work. COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
In the immortal words of Ethel Merman, there’s no business like show business – and no one like Danny Windsor, who’s spent the last 30 years imitating her in drag shows. COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
“Don’t pull its legs off,” Arlene Burch says to her son Dusty, holding a grasshopper in his fingers. Inspecting the grasshopper’s bright yellow stripes, Dusty, 8, discovers that it is already missing a back leg. COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
You may see Ryan Kurpik, 9, of Parma, jumping out from behind a tree wearing this vintage Russian gas mask at “The Haunted Yard” covering three back yards in Parma. COURTESY THE PLAIN DEALER
Fading Middle Class (portrait series)
Jonell Sayles, 54, has worked for Delphi Corp. for 36 years and is in danger of losing her pension. She is a third-generation union worker. COURTESY FLINT JOURNAL
Dean Braid, 47, was employed as a mechanic and worked on this very site for Buick City. Buick City was torn down after being named one of the most efficient factories in the world. COURTESY THE FLINT JOURNAL
Al Bodette, 90, who worked for GM for 44 years. He helped start the union when he lead co-workers through the historical sit-down strike of 1936 in Flint. COURTESY THE FLINT JOURNAL
Lisa’s Influences
Lisa’s Awards
Ohio News Photographers Association
- 2008 Photographer of the Year- Ohio News Photographers Association
- 2010 Photographer of the Year
- 2011 Photographer of the Year
- 2007 Photographer of the Year – runner-up
- 2013 Photographer of the Year – runner-up
Associated Press
- 2008 AP Photographer of the Year
- 2010 AP Photographer of the Year
- 2007 AP Photographer of the Year – second place
Ohio Society of Professional Journalists
- 2008 Best Photographer – Ohio Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)
- 2009 Best Photographer – Ohio Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)-second place
- 2011 Best in Ohio: Body of Work – Press Club of Cleveland
- 2008 Best in Ohio: Body of Work – Press Club of Cleveland-second place
Pictures of the Year International
- 2008 POYi ( 66th Annual-International)
First – Feature Picture story (Survivor’s Journey, Beyond Rape) - 2009 Picture Editing awards – Best of Photojournalism
Newspaper Special Section – 2nd place- “Survivors Journey, Beyond Rape” - 2009 Society of Newspaper Design- Photography/Multiple photo series category
- 2011 Society of Newspaper Design- Special New Topics: International-Award of Excellence
Miscellaneous
- 2008 James R. Gordon Understanding Award
- 2009 Dart Award- ‘Beyond Rape’
- 2009 Editor and Publisher Award- First Place
- 2010 Headliner Award- Third Place
- 2012 Clip Contest Winner – Ohio News Photographers Association
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Lisa’s Gear
- Canon 5D Mark III with 16-35mm f/2.8 lens
- Canon 1D Mark III with 70-200mm f/2.8 IS lens