Gersh Photo Post | Max Gersh | Multimedia Photojournalist

My paper has started a project called 20 under 40. Citizens under 40 years old were nominated for profile pieces that would appear in our paper.

Each one needs a storytelling portrait.

It has presented a unique opportunity to really think on my feet for a good environmental portrait for so many different professions. We are only half way through the project and I haven’t shot every single one that has been published. Here are a few of my favorites thus far.

Each portrait delivered a new set of challenges. For this portrait of Jerry Ingalls, senior pastor at First Baptist Church, I had to find a location that focused on him but still had a churchy feel. When he told me about how he really likes to interact with his congregation, I thought it would be best to sit him in the pews near some stained glass.

I try to pay a little extra attention to the details with portraits. For example, I didn’t want a big highlight from my strobe (I used my DIY beauty dish on all of these) on the stained glass so I had to angle it just right. Also, I positioned myself so the pew on the right hid an electrical outlet on the wall.

Jerry Ingalls came to New Castle in January of 2010 to lead the First Baptist Church as senior pastor. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

For some of these portraits, I had very little time to work with the subject. For example, I met up with Dr. Damion Harris at his work during his clinic hours. Needless to say, he wanted to be in and out. He mentioned that he could pull up an x-ray on his computer and we went with it. Within five minutes, we were done.

Dr. Damion Harris is an orthopedic surgeon at the Forest Ridge Medical Pavilion. Harris came to the New Castle facility about seven months ago and specializes in shoulders. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Reflections were again a huge issue while photographing Adam Bowman in Myers Furniture and Appliance. The light had to be just right to minimize huge glares. It was also interesting trying to balance the exposure on him and on the surrounding HDTVs in a very dimly lit room.

Adam Bowman is head of electronics at Myers Furniture and Appliance in New Castle. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Weather was the tricky factor for Lindsay Brown’s portrait. It stormed very heavily the morning of the shoot. I wasn’t sure what was going to be happening by the time of we met up. The clouds broke and we had sun. Lots of sun. So much sun that I had to shoot at ISO 50 and f/8 to get my shutter slow enough to sync with my flash  (1/250th sec) which I needed to fill in shadows.

Lindsay Brown has been working at Henry County Hospital for almost five years, currently working in the emergency room as a nurse. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

For Seth Stevens, the biggest challenge I thought I would be facing was the location. When I heard banker, I immediately wanted to shoot by or in the vault. I was almost certain they wouldn’t allow it for security reasons. But it never hurts to ask.

Seth Stevens is the business development officer for Citizen's State Bank in New Castle. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

I still have more portraits to shoot in the coming weeks so I look forward to seeing what kind of fresh ideas I come up with.

For as small of a town as New Castle, Indiana is, we sure do have a lot of skateboarders. There has been a recent push to install a skate park at Baker Park, the park in the center of town.

I went out looking for some skater kids to photograph for our story on the possible skate park. I went to Baker Park where they often congregate. Jackpot.

Alex Chamberlin practices a 360 kickflip in a Baker Park parking lot Wednesday evening. "This is the only place we really don't get in trouble for skating," said Chamberlin. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

After taking a few shots there, they headed north to skate in the city. I followed. They started jumping down a flight of six steps in front of a local consignment shop.

I rarely take out my fisheye lens but for skateboarding, it often adds a nice look so I gave it a whirl. The lighting in the background was just right but I needed a little fill flash to illuminate the skater.

Ethan Jester does a kickflip down a set of steps in front of Fashion Trends Consignment Shop in New Castle Wednesday evening. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

I was happy with the results. Nice light. Nice framing. Nice action. I can’t ask for too much more.

I was going through my May clips yesterday picking out my favorites for potential contest entry. Here are a few that stood out to me for one reason or another.

I hate working around film crews. I can’t take pictures while they are recording. Their mics will pick up my camera shutter noise. When they aren’t filming, the scene is often times less interesting. I felt like this shot of a TV crew filming “Savor Indiana” turned out nice showing the entire scene with nice lighting and at a somewhat interesting moment.

Dean Wilson, host of "Savor Indiana," licks his fingers after tasting Durham's crab bread Tuesday afternoon. Rosie Shank, left, Durham's kitchen manager, talks with cameraman Greg Williams, seen in the mirror. Also pictured is Keith Jackson, production assistant at right. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Sometimes the action isn’t in front of you. I try to remember that when I’m photographing stage performances such as concerts or plays. At this Duke Tumatoe concert, the crowd began to interact with Duke. It turned what would be a mundane concert photo into a fun and funny piece of art for the page.

Dan, left, and Beth Conway of New Castle sing along at the Duke Tumatoe concert Friday night at the Arts Park. Tumatoe repeatedly yelled "Let's get loose" and requested that the crowd respond by yelling "Loose" back. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

This time, I had to hunt for what wasn’t in front of me. On primary election night, I snapped this photo of one of the Sheriff’s candidates as the numbers were coming in. Needless to say, they weren’t in his favor.

Kim Cronk, a candidate in the Henry County Sheriff's race, reacts as results are projected on a screen Tuesday night in the Henry County Republican headquarters. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Because of privacy laws, it can be a little tricky to photograph inside a hospital, let alone inside a hospital room. After gaining the trust and permission from the supervisors, I was granted permission to follow a couple of nurses into a patients room to illustrate a story on national Nursing Services Week.

Anita Reinhart listens to the heart and lungs of a patient Wednesday evening in the Progressive Care Unit at Henry County Hospital. Dianne Stephens, left, assisted Reinhart with an IV change. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

It’s not often I get to photograph wiffle ball let alone a double play during a wiffle ball match.

After making a diving tag at home plate, Jake Nicholson turns to throw the ball to second base for a double play during a students vs. teachers wiffle ball match. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Chasing a train around town can be tedious. If you don’t get where you need to be before the train does, you might be stuck on the wrong side of the track. Timing is essential.

A train engine blocks part of A Avenue Friday morning as it connects with train cars that have been stored on New Castle tracks for over two years. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

You never know who you will meet on assignment. Wayman Hoots is quite the interesting character. Hopefully I’ll have an opportunity to do a story on his fishing techniques.

Indiana Conservation Officer Zach Walker, right, talks with New Castle resident Wayman Hoots Wednesday, May 19 in Memorial Park. Walker was checking on Hoots' catch for the day to make sure he was within the legal limit. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

A level of sensitivity is required when photographing a tragedy. After loosing most of their belongings in a fire, they were still gracious enough to let me in to see a slice their past salvaged from their house. As they sorted through the now dirty photographs, I gave them tips on  how to safely clean the prints.

Juliana, left, and Brooke Hughes sort through salvaged photographs Wednesday afternoon. A fire broke out Wednesday morning in their shared closet while they were at school. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

If you’re not expecting it, it will happen. Just after the Memorial Day parade, a Winnebago burst into flames relatively close to my office. Instead of fighting traffic and driving there, I sprinted down the sidewalk. The responding fire department was from out-of-town. They drove an engine in the parade. While they had no fire protection gear, they still broke out their hoses and extinguished the fire.

New Lisbon firefighter Eric Keesling finishes extinguishing a Winnebago that burst into flames Monday shortly after the Memorial Day parade in New Castle. Keesling and other members of the New Lisbon Fire Department were headed home when they saw the RV on fire. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

What do you call a 50 lap race on Big Wheel tricycles?

In Henry County, Indiana, they call it the Titan 500.

Tri Elementary School in Straughn, Indiana hosts the event every year. Kids in fourth, fifth and sixth grade form teams to compete in the event.

It may not be the most important race in Indiana but to these kids, wining secures a year’s worth of bragging rights.

Once the wheels start spinning, it is mass chaos. Spectators are screaming. The racers are struggling. Bikes are falling apart. All elements that make a photo rich environment.

The No. 5 Puma team repairs their Big Wheel tricycle with duct tape Wednesday, May 26, 2010 after it fell apart on the track during the first lap of the Titan 500. (AP Photo/The Courier-Times, Max Gersh) ©2010

I focused much of my attention on last year’s winning team, No. 23 Dr. Pepper. This year, they won with at least six laps separating them from second place.

In this May 26, 2010 photo, Corbin Pew, No. 23, leads the pack of Big Wheel tricycle racers behind pace car driver Ken Gregory Wednesday afternoon during a warm up lap at the Titan 500 in Straughn, Ind. This is Pew's third year racing. (AP Photo/The Courier-Times, Max Gersh) ©2010

In this May 26, 2010 photo, Grant Jessup, number 23, pedals past his competition during the Titan 500, a 50 lap Big Wheel tricycle race at Tri Elementary School in Straughn, Ind. (AP Photo/The Courier-Times, Max Gersh) ©2010

In this Wednesday May 26, 2010 photo, Jordan Rhodus lets out a scream as teammates Grant Jessup, left, and Travis Isaacs give him a push start out of the pit during the Titan 500 at Tri Elementary School in Straughn, Ind. Their team, No. 23 Dr. Pepper, went on to win the race. (AP Photo/The Courier-Times, Max Gersh) ©2010

In this May 26, 2010 photo, members of the No. 23 Dr. Pepper team and winners of the race, from left, Jordan Rhodus, Grant Jessup and Travis Isaacs kiss the chalk-drawn bricks at the Titan 500 while teammate Corbin Pew lifts his head at the end of the Big Wheel tricycle race at Tri Elementary School in Straughn, Ind. (AP Photo/The Courier-Times, Max Gersh) ©2010

Here is how we packaged the story on A1.

The Courier-Times ©2010

I’m looking forward to photographing this again next year.

To see a few more photos from the race, check out the photo gallery on The Courier-Times’ website.

Every photojournalist has gone through a period where they think they are too good for a story. They think nothing photogenic will happen or even if it does, it wont be a great moment.

It only takes one good editor to set you straight.

Luckily I learned early that a great picture can be made in unexpected situations. I do my best to take every assignment with a positive attitude and capture the peak moment.

Here are a few recent examples.

I was headed to a high school to photograph inside of their greenhouse. The soft lighting, lines and color made for a nice picture package.

Tri High School senior Kirk Black pulls back the flowers to reveal a budding eggplant growing in Tri's greenhouse. (C-T photo Max Gersh)

Zach Henderson, junior at Tri High, ties up a tomato plant in Tri's greenhouse Wednesday afternoon during Dan Webb's horticulture class. Henderson says tying up the plants gives them more room to flower out. (C-T photo Max Gersh)

Aaron Cummings, senior at Tri High School, hangs plants in the Tri greenhouse Wednesday afternoon. (C-T photo Max Gersh)

Zach Henderson, junior at Tri High, waters various plants in Tri's greenhouse Wednesday afternoon during Dan Webb's horticulture class. (C-T photo Max Gersh)

Another example was when I had to photograph story time at the library. Many photographers would think this would be an ideal assignment. However, I find it hard to be the “fly on the wall” among a group of toddlers. It seems like they have a magnetic attraction to my camera.

Even in this environment, patience does indeed prove to be a virtue. If you have time, wait for the right moment to happen. And so I did.

Jennifer Hood, left, holds Ezra, one of her 2-year-old twins, while the other, Eli, sits in the lap of Hood's mother, Jan Masengale, center. Also pictured is Gerald Darling holding his 2-year-old grandson, Jacob Specht. The children were attending a toddler story time session on April 8, at the New Castle-Henry County Public Library. (C-T photo Max Gersh)

My last recent example is from a little league baseball game. I love shooting sports but sometimes the little guys just aren’t exciting to photograph. Their peak action isn’t always very…peak. On the other hand, their reactions can sometimes be over the top.

The Giants celebrate around Titen Bennett in the third inning after he hit a home run bringing in two runs for the team. (C-T photo Max Gersh)

Every photojournalist will look at assignments differently. Some may look down on sports while others may dislike feature shooting. For me, I thought that these stories might produce lackluster photos. I stayed the course and worked the scene until I found something interesting.