From left to right, A.J. Wisniewski, 10, Nathaniel Logan, 11, Chris Johannsen, 11, and Joey Walsh, 11, wait to play "Frere Jacque" as a round at the annual Solo and Ensemble Festival at Cary Junior High School on Saturday. Over 240 students from Cary and Fox River Grove schools performed instrumental and vocal ensembles.
Sidenote: I got a few letters that were not too happy with this photo. Here was my response to one of them:
Dear Dorothy,
Thank you for your feedback on the band instrument photo that ran a few weeks ago. I am sorry to hear you did not like the photo, but I am glad you told me your opinion on it so I can better explain the thought process that went into taking that particular picture.
The photo ran in the Northwest Outtakes section, which is a place we run feature photos that tend to be "outside the box," hence the name "outtakes." The photos in that section are usually artsier and not as literal as ones that run in the news sections, i.e. the Local and Region section. If you saw the story that ran with other photos from this event, there were photos with the boys faces and instruments, and also a photo slideshow on our Web site. Here is a link to the slideshow:
http://ssm.nwherald.com/northwest-herald/photos/20100220soloensemble/solo-and-ensemble-festival/
With the picture you wrote to me about, I took a different approach with it in covering this event. The photo was taken before the quartet played and I thought it interesting how the boys expressed their nervousness by fidgeting with their instruments; I also thought that applied to how other children at the Solo and Ensemble event that day were feeling. I also liked the repetition of the boys' instruments and outfits- the ties, black pants, white shirts, black shoes. I took the photo as I saw it. I felt it summed up what was going on that day, without pinpointing just one child. On the otherhand, some parents may be upset their child was not included in some of the photos taken.
I did not exclude faces out of disrespect, it was more an artistic approach at a news assignment that I thought would fit our Outtakes section in the paper. Thank you for reading the Northwest Herald, and please let me know if you have any other thoughts or comments.
Best,
Amanda
Amanda Schwengel
Photojournalist
Northwest Herald
Nathaniel Logan, 11, concentrates playing the trombone during his quartet performance of "Frere Jacque" at the annual Solo and Ensemble Festival.
Neal Edwards, 13, checks out the time he performs his baritone solo.
Neal Edwards, 13, checks out the time he performs his baritone solo.
