Virtual Expert: Pamela Henderson

Pamela Henderson of Farm Journal media an honorable mention in the Portrait/Personality category in the 2006 AAEA Photo Awards Program.

What was your initial goal when taking this photo?

I was in a foreign land (Brazil). It's probably easier to take pictures there because everything seems new and exciting. But I knew I was going to be trying to illustrate a story about cotton.

What was your thought process and what procedures did you follow in approaching and/or setting up the photo?

I was uncertain about what I would find, but was thrilled to see workers hand hoeing in the field. In these days of Roundup Ready, I knew photos of hoeing cotton would set this story apart from photos we'd take today in the U.S. I was basically shooting on location and they were found photos. I did want to give some feeling of a sense of place with the photo too. The workers were not used to having their photos taken and began to exhibit signs of that as soon as they realized what I was doing. They also did not speak English. So I had to take photos rather rapidly.

What elements of your photo make it exceptional?

Probably more of the subject than execution. It's the person that's interesting more than the photo.

What advice can you offer to young photographers in pursuing a photo like yours?

Shoot a lot. Spend time with the subject. The best photos are those that are not staged.

How did you begin your career?

Field editor for a state agricultural publication

What advice do you have for those just graduating in agricultural communications?

Be open to all kinds of assignments. I am a writer, not a photographer, by trade. But as much as I like words, they say photos are worth a thousand words. I'd say today they are worth far more than that. We are very visual society and farmers are no different. Good illustration of an article is critical. With today's limited staff, being able to be a writer and a photographer are very important.

What does it mean to be a member of AAEA? How do you maintain a high standard of ethics in your writing and your career?

In my early career AAEA was a way to get to know the people within my industry. The awards programs offered by AAEA have been a way to both improve my work and prove my abilities. The communications clinics are excellent professional improvement opportunities.

I try to provide the farmer with what he needs to know in an objective way. Often that means delivering both sides of a story so the reader can make up his or her mind.