Photojournalism module #14 mike dooley presentation
1. Mike Dooley: A Photojournalist’s
Profile
By: Greg Smedberg
2. Image By & Source: Mike Dooley.
This seascape image by Dooley really captured my attention with the quality of light
through this sunrise. The light is so engaging with how the sky is illuminated with the
colors and clouds of the morning sun. The sky is the first thing to catch your attention,
but then your eyes catch the random piece of sea wood that drifted onto the beach.
This just makes you take in the full picture and view of a perfect Rhode Island beach.
3. Career Path
• Mike Dooley is a self-employed photographer.
He specializes in landscape and seascape
photography within the state of Rhode Island.
Dooley’s photographs are disseminated
through his own website, a blog that is kept
up to date, his public portfolio, a newsletter,
as well as contacting him personally.
4. Era
• Dooley is an active photographer, currently in
business. The state of photojournalism
currently, I believe, is still growing as the
digital age of cameras and technology is
constantly getting better with new products. It
is an exciting time to be involved.
5. Image By & Source: Mike Dooley
This is one of Dooley’s landscape pictures rather than a seascape. What draws me into this
picture is how the clouds cover the top of this bridge. The angle Dooley took the picture at
shows the full bridge and how clouds do indeed cover the full top of the bridge. I thought
it was important to get the whole subject (the bridge) focused and into the picture
because without that, I feel, the picture would not feel right otherwise and you would not
get that initial attraction to the picture from your audience.
6. Motivation
• “It is the chance to be see the start of a new day
full of hope, promise and beauty. To catch the
colors dancing across the sky as the sun begins to
peek over the horizon. To feel the oceans breeze
across my skin and to smell the salty air. I love to
hear the oceans waves crash upon the shore, and
then the gentle sounds of the small rocks collide
as the water retreats back into the ocean. For me,
there is nothing else in the world like this
experience.”- Mike Dooley.
7. Technology
• Dooley is a modern day photographer, all his
pictures are clearly taken by a digital camera.
The digital camera era clearly affected Dooley
by giving him the ability to travel around the
state of Rhode Island and New England, and
the ability to take top quality pictures on the
go and upload them to his website or reach
his clients sooner rather than later.
8. Image By & Source: Mike Dooley
Dooley is getting back to his roots here with this seascape image. I believe this picture
encompasses exactly what Dooley meant in the quote I included as his motivation.
Waking up early in the morning to find that perfect picture. The subject in focus is the
sunset, which is great. But what I enjoy is the docks on either side which essentially lead
your eyes into the sun. This use of lines is very clever and definitely does its job in
attracting your attention to the sun.
9. Ethics
• The only ethical dilemma Dooley could
encounter, as a photographer in the modern
era with digital technology, is whether or not
to edit or change his images using this
technology to make the image come to life
more.
10. Bias
• I do not believe Dooley could use any bias he
had in life towards photographing pictures of
the land or sea. He states that he wants to
make what he sees in front of his camera a
reality. Whatever seems breathtaking about
the Earth in that moment, he will photograph.
11. Image By & Source: Mike Dooley.
Initially, I did not even know how to begin to describe this image. It is so ominous to me,
the black rocks and image of the land on the horizon is very dark and scary. Like coming
upon this in a horror movie. The contrast between colors is what gets my attention. How
it goes from such a dark horizon and rocks, to a lighter ocean, and finally a bright and
illuminating sunrise with the orange and pink colors.
12. Impact
• Dooley’s photographs definitely define the
New England, but specifically the Rhode
Island, lifestyle. His seascape and landscape
images truly capture how beautiful the area
we live in truly is.
13. My Major
• I , Greg Smedberg, am a communications
major here at AIC. The digital aspect of
Dooley’s career directly relates to me as all I
do in class is learn and perfect these new
technologies.
14. Viewpoints
• Dooley includes customer feedback on his
website, and of course all the comments were
positive. But no matter what you do in life,
whether it has to do with photojournalism or
not, someone will disagree with you. I am sure
he has had his fair share of critics, but what
truly matters is the feedback that helps you
rather than hurts you.