Photojournalist Neal Menschel – Tips from His Career in Photojournalism

Nelson Mandela. Photo copyright Neal Menschel

In the latest episode of “Advancing Your Photography,” Marc Silber sits down with famed photojournalist Neal Menschel to discuss his career as a photographer, as well as his tips and techniques on how to improve your own photography.

With a career that spans over 25 years, Neal Menschel has photographed some of the most important world events of the last few decades. He captured the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, photographed Nelson Mandela when apartheid ended in South Africa, and has covered half a dozen different presidential elections. He was director of photography at the Christian Science Monitor for 13 years, and his clients have included Newsweek and the New York Times.

Neal’s images capture the depth and emotion indicative of a master photographer. His experiences working as a photojournalist and teacher of photography have given him insight into what it takes to capture incredible photos, and he is unique as an artist in how effectively he is able to teach these techniques to others.

Watch the interview and you’ll learn all about:

1. The Importance of Anticipation — In Neal’s line of work, you never know when the unpredictable will happen. That’s why you always have to be on top of your game and ready to shoot at the drop of a hat. Watch Neal discuss how he keeps himself prepared for any situation.

2. Creating a Rapport with Your Subject — Many of Neal’s photographs manage to capture an emotional depth in his subjects because he has spent the time to get to know them before he even lifts a camera to his eye. Watch as he describes the importance of developing a rapport with the people he is shooting, and how this relationship turns into a “collaboration” that is essential to great photography.

3. How to Capture a Heart-Grabbing Image — From composition and lighting suggestions to the importance of using Sandisk cards (“in ten years I’ve never had one fail,” he says), Neal offers specific tips and tricks on what you can do to create moving, heart-wrenching images.

To see more of Neal Menschel’s tips and techniques on how to improve your photography, be sure to watch the latest episode of “Advancing Your Photography” with Marc Silber. Also, check out more of Neal’s amazing work over at www.nealmenschel.com.