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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Keith Kountz makes the NY Times!!
Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 2:16 PM on 05.30.09 |
->> My good buddy, Keith Kountz, staff photographer for the Fresno State Athletic Dept. made the NY Times, at least on the website. Here's hoping it made the print edition too! Keith works like a Roman slave for FSU and I for one am glad he can now list the NY Times among the publications in which his work has appeared.
http://tinyurl.com/llwaww
Way to go my friend... good things come to those who wait.. and wait... and wait!!! |
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Jack Howard, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Central Jersey | NJ | USA | Posted: 9:01 AM on 05.31.09 |
->> Really? Five people marked this "huh?"
Perhaps Sportsshooter needs to include a basic reading comprehension section in the application process these days.
In a nutshell is what this all means:
Phil is giving a shoutout to a fellow member because said member has had several photographs published in what is still considered to be one of the top of the heap- A-listed, international news publications. The New York Times jumps off the pages of a resume much more than any 10 40K circ regional Gannett or McClatchey titles.
Congrats Keith!
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At first I was uncertain about this posting because of the headline, but headlines are allowed some flexibility of language. I thought maybe Keith got a job in a paper mill or the printing press to actually "make" the NY Times, but the words in the thread cleared it up for me! |
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Mike Brice, Photographer
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Toledo | OH | USA | Posted: 11:58 AM on 05.31.09 |
->> Jack,
No disrespect, but I don't think a couple file photos from the University archives really qualifies as a resume builder.
That's probably why the huh (I didn't).
If it was a featured assignment, or a special spread, sure, but I am sure many people view this as routine. |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 11:58 AM on 05.31.09 |
->> Thanks, Jack, I too was wondering what constituted a "huh" on my post. I will be more succinct in my descriptions of people's accomplishments in the future, seeing as how many people cannot discern what I'm saying. Interesting. No, Keith does not manufacture the NY Times. Wow, glad we cleared up that confusion.......
Perhaps a headline of "Keith Kountz has a photograph published in the NY Times" will dissipate any confusion amongst our learned readers.
I doubt if many people work as hard as Keith does for their school's athletic department. Regardless of the context in which it appeared, having a first or any shots published in the NY Times is something to note, I would think. Especially for a guy who slaves away in relative anonymity in Fresno. Keith and his wife Deborah (also a photographer) are great people; if anyone in town deserves success in this industry, as guaged by the willingness to work their butts off 7 days a week, they do. |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 12:21 PM on 05.31.09 |
->> Hi Mike,
Thanks for the response... But with all due respect, let me clarify; let's see... there are at least 5 people in Fresno who shoot free lance for FSU and hand over their work to the FSU Athletic Department. Fresno State probably sent a couple of shots. In addition, go to just about any on-line sports photo agency and you can find many shots of Fresno State athletics. The NYT probably did not want to pay for the shot, so they called FSU for a freebee.. but even then, there is much from which to choose from many different people who shoot for Fresno State.
I once officiated (participated as a referee for those who might be confused) a basketball game with Michael Jordan. It wasn't the NBA or the NCAA, but he played. It was a real, but nonetheless, fundraiser game, and I was on the officiating crew. I was and still am proud of it. Had a great time, and will never forget it. So, because it wasn't the NBA playoffs I don't deserve to be happy about and proud of it? Or even to brag a little?
Besides, I'm not saying it's a resume builder, he's not in line for a staff position at the NYT, and probably will not be considered for a Pulitzer for this shot; it's only my guess... All I am doing is trying to give a friend of mine who struggles with his position at Fresno State and works very very hard, a little accolade; routine though it may be. |
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John Middlebrook, Photographer
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Basel | Switzerland | Switzerland | Posted: 5:03 PM on 05.31.09 |
->> Phil,
Let me help you up from under that bus. It is sad that this forum has changed so much, IMHO (oh wait, can I say that). I could never say that I have been a major contributor but I earned my wings and have the rights to post. Sports Shooter has either gotten to big for it's own britches or people have just gotten more bitter. I am at the point now where I don't want to post news or questions in fear of getting ripped a new one or delicately told "your an idiot" by veterans or even newbies. Yes maybe sometimes we post something that may have been answered in 19-Prohibition but that is OK, some things change. It is OK to ask some of the same questions, maybe we want to see a thread that is fresh with new opinions. It should be OK to give accolades, we list obituaries. It is OK to ask a "stupid" question. I remember in school the teacher said "you can always ask a stupid question, chances are 10 other people had the same question but were afraid to ask it". Lighten up folks, life is too short and this is too good of a site to be a member of with useless hair-splitting. |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Maryville | MO | USA | Posted: 5:36 PM on 05.31.09 |
->> Don't take it personal. It's called news judgment. Not everyone is agreeing that your point of view is relevant.
It's great your friend got published. Hope he got paid. Was it in SI? Was it an awesome photo? Was it a book? It was none of the above. All three would be ideal.
It's still cool he got published, but the barriers to publication weren't explained in your post so hence you got the wrath of HUH? Who cares about the ranking? It's just not all that important.
At least your friend is covering D1. Try getting a D2 photo published nationally! That's scarcity for you. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 9:58 PM on 05.31.09 |
| ->> "Much Ado About Nothing". |
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Ric Tapia, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 10:27 PM on 05.31.09 |
| ->> Congrats Keith! |
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Andrew Link, Photographer
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Sheldon | IA | USA | Posted: 11:04 PM on 05.31.09 |
->> @ Darren,
I have had photos published in the NYT for the Winona State men's basketball team back in 2007. They are D2. I was randomly lucky as a student to be working for the city's daily paper covering most home games. My photo editor sent them my photos. It was quite a surprise. :-D |
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Mike Dembeck, Photographer
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Halifax | NS | Canada | Posted: 8:23 AM on 06.01.09 |
->> The NY Times might be considered by some a decent newspaper, but they don't act like a leading newspaper. The freelance money they offer for assignments is some of the lowest around, with day rates that are laughable.
The NY Times USED to be a leader in newspapers. Having something appear in that paper, with no disrespect to the photographers who do appear there, does not carry the weight it used to, particularly with majority of professionals within this industry.
My guess is that the paper will cease to print within five years. Offering low freelance rates and using handout photos is a clear sign the direction the paper is moving in. |
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Kevin Leas, Photographer, Assistant
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 8:49 AM on 06.01.09 |
->> Mike - if I may ask, what is NYT offering for freelance rates?
You want laughable: my old newspaper's freelance rate, regardless of assignment length, is $25. Yep.
Phil, congrats to your friend. I'd be pretty happy to see my own work in the Times. One of these days... |
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G.J. McCarthy, Photographer
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Dallas | TX | Lower 48 | Posted: 9:13 AM on 06.01.09 |
| ->> Don't hold back now, Mike -- tell us how you *really* feel about "The Gray Lady" ... |
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Wesley R. Bush, Photographer
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Nashville | TN | U.S. | Posted: 10:51 AM on 06.01.09 |
| ->> I think it's a little arrogant to dismiss someone else's accomplishment because it is routine to you. We need to celebrate and encourage each other's successes. |
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Keith Kountz, Photographer, Assistant
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Fresno | CA | USA | Posted: 12:43 AM on 06.02.09 |
->> I want to thank Phil for starting this and if it was not for him and another friend Ryan, I would not have known about this photo being published. I have been shooting for Fresno State for four years now and have had numerous photos published all over the world, without my knowledge, web and print, the difference in this case is that I finally got the photo line with my name and not just the university or gobulldogs.net (the schools website) were most of these publications "grab" my photos and others to use in there stories.
Being paid for my photos going to publications like the New York Times or the numerous SI and ESPN photos would be nice but to quote an administator of Fresno State,
" We will not charge or accept payment for a photo of our student athlete used in any story that shows this school (fresno state) in good light."
As a Staff photographer there is no way for me to control where and how my photos are used, I have battled with the school on this subject since the beginning and I know it will go on forever until this administrator leaves the school, until then I guess I will have to grab all the money I can, and try to head of the photo request so that I can get paid and keep my equipment repaired (God forbid the school does not pay for my repairs) and make a living doing what I love!!!
Thank you everybody! |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 8:49 AM on 06.02.09 |
->> Keith, I'll bet if you pointed out to this administrator how much money the school and you might make by charging the market rate for photos they would have a change of heart. With budgets being cut by school's across the country this seems like a pretty ridiculous stance on the part of the administrator. In fact if I remember the NYT story your photo
was used in was about students balking at paying extra fees so NCAA competition sports can be funded. And also in the statement does that mean you guys will charge if the article "shows this school in a BAD light". Just wondering. We have a lot of members on this site who do what you do for colleges...maybe they can point you in a direction to help out the revenue stream at your school. |
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Keith Kountz, Photographer, Assistant
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Fresno | CA | USA | Posted: 12:44 PM on 06.02.09 |
->> Chuck-
you are so right even if they charged $5 per image they would not have to take a pay cut up to 15% this year. Also the student intern would get paid. The University is looking at a 36 million dollar budget cut for the next year and the "extra" money that the athletic department is going to get with this fee hike will not make a difference because they are still go to have to take a budget cut of at least 25%, I feel bad for the students. The silver lining in this, if there is one, is that I just renewed my contract for the next year and they did not even bother fighting me on my demands for anything including less events for the same money as I have received in past years.
On a side note this is the polices for photos in the Athletic department at Fresno State:
If a student athlete wants photos of themselves all they have to pay is $10 for a CD of Full res images.
If a publication wants a photo of a student athlete they will get it for free!!!
If anybody has any ideas on how to WAKE UP these university's on the money that they are just giving away please let me know. |
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