The pictures we take for ourselves

During a recent conversation at the VCNB office, the observation was made that our reporters have to be Swiss Army knives — a multi-tool with versatility and a little bit sharp and pointy when necessary.

Even though we have our assigned “beats” we regularly cover, we also get the chance to frequently cover topics and situations well outside what’s typical.

For instance, while I spend most of my time covering the county commission, a village council and a school board, on Monday, I found myself in district court listening to a protest about the eligibility of a candidate.

We don’t have what you could call a “political” reporter on our staff of four, so I folded out a different tool and forged ahead into kind of unknown waters.

In addition to being able to cover a myriad of topics, we are also called on to perform several different tasks for the paper to make sure the news gets to you. We write articles, columns, re-write press releases and proofread each other’s articles. (Some days are more successful than others in the proofreading department, I’ll be honest, but we’re only human.)

We also handle our own web content — every story, news brief and slideshow is created by one of us. Our social media channels are 100 percent run by the four of us. For the most part, any photo published or posted comes from us.

Community members and groups submit photos to us for publication regularly and we’re extremely grateful for that. There just aren’t enough hours — or us — in the day to get to every single event we’d like to cover.

With all this going on, I think it’s natural to have a favorite part of the job or to gravitate to what feels the most “fun.” Conversely, there’s also the tendency to have one aspect be your least favorite. For me, that is definitely the photography part.

I’m least comfortable taking pictures. Even though it’s an integral part of my job, and an expected one by both my editor and the public, it still feels intrusive.

From a parade down Main Street to an artist in their studio, I still at some point feel qualms about framing up the shot and pushing the shutter button.

Take this past Sunday, for instance. It was the Tomé Fiestas, a day of fun and celebration on the church plaza. It sounds easy but there was still a part of me that thought, ‘Do I really need to go intrude on these folks?’

The answer is yes, yes I do. Not out of malice but because it’s a great thing happening in our community and people like to hear about it — well, rather see about it? You know what I mean.

Something like the Fiestas is objectively easy to cover. Other newsworthy events are much, much harder.

Candlelight vigils, for instance. You are in a space filled with grief and pain, where people are still mourning a loss. While you’re there, you try to find the balance between respect and the job, between restraint and capturing the moments. It isn’t always easy and sometimes we aren’t successful.

Making these images, regardless of the type of event, can become rather overwhelming, at least for me. My brain and eyes need a break, need some space, so I find myself looking for something just for me. A flower or shadow. Someone’s hands. A pair of interesting socks peaking out from under an otherwise benign pair of trousers.

PHOTOS: The pictures we take for ourselves

On almost every assignment, at every event, I come back with dozens if not hundreds of frames, most of which are in contention for publication. There are also some just for me, a half dozen I know aren’t going in the paper for one reason or another. It doesn’t tell a story, it’s a bit out of focus or the lighting isn’t just right.

They are my pauses in whatever the storm was that day. A reminder that I get to see things others may never get the chance to, or particularly want to see.

Small things that are part of a bigger picture and moments that remind me there are so many aspects of life and so many different ways to view the world.