Hometown

Protesters speaking out against police brutality in Albany, OR. June 2nd, 2020

New wheelchair seating at the Waterfront Stage, Albany, OR.

Environmental Portrait

Josh Yoder is a Registered Nurse at the Salem Hospital Medical Telemetry Unit. In addition to this, he also teaches at Western Oregon University. During Corona Virus, his job has been a lot more difficult and dangerous. He is often around people who are infected, and a lack of medical supplies only makes his job more difficult. Before pursuing a medical degree, he was a carpenter at Yoder Cabinets. He enjoys spending time with his kids, which he has been able to do more lately. 

"It's What I Do" Book Report

          “It’s What I Do,” is an autobiography that tells the story of Lynsey Addario, a war photographer who travels the world, documenting the action of the battlefield. It describes in great detail the difficulties and risks of a photojournalist during conflict. To me, the most compelling part of the book is when the group Addario is traveling with is ambushed, leaving two soldiers injured and one dead. This shows just how dangerous war photography can be. Even after she was almost killed in the ambush, she continues to document the aftermath of the attack.
          Lynsey Addario’s work is different from the work of other photojournalists because while most photographers would focus on the midst of the war zone, she concentrates her energy on showing the world how civilians are affected by the conflict. In chapter nine, the picture she struggles to get published is of a child wounded in a bombing. While she does end up with the soldiers, taking pictures of their lives, the book mostly describes the struggles of those left in the aftermath.
          Also throughout the story, she shows a sense of duty to follow the action of the world. Many times she leaves her life at home to photograph the lives of others. This decision leads to a large distance from her friends and family. Her work seems to drive many people away, and even causes her family to slowly drift apart. However, during her time in battlefields across the globe, she finds photographers in the same position, struggling to balance a life and a career. These people soon become her closest friends and the only people who understand why she chooses to gather stories from the most dangerous places in the world. At the end of the book, she has to make a choice. Her son is growing up and she is on the other side of the planet. She ends up choosing to spend more time at home. Her determination to photograph and see the world is something that all photographers feel at least once in their lives.
          Beginning photojournalists can learn a lot of lessons from this story. It encourages people to be more bold while photographing difficult stories, as well as how to make sure you are safe and how to know when you should leave. Within the pages are many amazing pictures of the wars. They show the lives of people who are affected by the wars, as well as the soldiers who fight in them. One image shows several soldiers carrying something through a smoke-filled forest. One of them is looking up at the camera, while the others seem downcast and are staring at the ground. The smoke is so thick, that the entire sky appears grey, and the sun is blocked. Around the troops, the remnants of charred trees lay scattered across the soil.

          “Many smiled back, calling me by my title: ‘Sahafiya.’ Journalist. It is who I am. It’s what I do.” This quote is one of the most memorable of the book. While many people may not think much about being called a journalist, Addario actually thinks about the word and connects it to who she is.
          This book reveals the true life of a war photographer. It inspires journalists to get out in the world and document the events that go on around them.

Photo Story

Black Lives Matter protesters hold Hundreds of  homemade signs following the death of George Floyd. Albany OR, June 2, 2020.

Businesses closed early on the day of the protest, meaning some workers got to watch the protest from the buildings. June 2, 2020, Albany OR.

Police officers watch the protest from the courthouse steps. June 2, 2020, Albany OR.

Around Town 2

A frog gazes out of the water in Talking Waters. May 17th, 2020.

Oliver (left) and Miles (right) Yoder walk on the many paths that cover Talking Waters. May 17th, 2020.

A view of Talking Waters. May 17th, 2020.

Free Shoot

Josh Yoder lighting a firework, May 14th, 2020

Miles (Left), Lily (Middle), and Oliver (Right) Yoder watching TV, May 15th, 2020.

Jodi Yoder in a Zoom meeting, May 15th, 2020.

Daily Life

Max Yoder working in the garden for Mother's Day, May 10th, 2020.

Jodi Yoder (Left) and Oliver Yoder (Right) take a break from gardening to pet the dog.

Oliver Yoder taking a break from digging in the garden.

Jodi Yoder (Left), and Oliver Yoder (Right) gardening for Mother's Day.

Week Three: News and Feature Photos

May 9th, 2020
Josh Yoder (left), and Jodi Yoder (right) at Coach Jim Luster Track in Albany Oregon, jogging for Ahmaud Arbery, who was murdered in February.

Lily Yoder, (back) and Oliver Yoder (front) taking a break after jogging.

Josh Yoder Jogging at Coach Jim Luster Track at West Albany High School.

Week 2

April 10th, 2020
A hand drawn poster outside Albany General Hospital, thanking healthcare workers.

April 15th, 2020
Oliver Yoder (grey sweatshirt), Lily Yoder (green and pink sweatshirt), and Miles Yoder (red sweatshirt) accompany their father (not pictured) to Western Oregon University to pick up equipment for work.

April 15th, 2020
A deserted corridor in Western Oregon University.

Assignment 2: humans of LBCC

As I mentioned earlier, one of the things I enjoy is art. This time of social distancing has been difficult, but it has given me more time to practice my creativity. I also recently got some new art supplies which I have little experience using, so I have more to work on.

Life as a college student has not actually been very different from high school. The classes are harder and more strict, but other than that it is very similar. I do not have a major yet, because I am technically still a junior in high school. I think when I do graduate, I am going to major in photography.

These past few weeks have been difficult, as most of photojournalism involves walking around near people. I am curious to see how I find ways to overcome these new challenges, while staying safe during these difficult times.

First Post

My name is Jake Yoder, and I am taking a photojournalism course at LBCC. I have been interested in photography for about a year, but I also enjoy art and writing. 
I am a Junior in high school, and am working from home. I also have five siblings who do not have school, so that's ... fun.

My three goals for this class are to learn more about rules for photojournalism, to improve my photo-editing skills, and to improve my photography skills.