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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Best gig in the world
Adam Vogler, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Kansas City | Mo. | USA | Posted: 11:56 PM on 09.27.09 |
->> A recent thread regarding the pay at a small newspaper got me to thinking and I though I'd expand a bit on the thoughts I expressed there.
I'm the photo editor at a suburban daily in the Kansa City area. By editor I mean only photographer, which means I tend to work ungodly hours and have little to no social life and I don't get the benefit of overtime.
I think I'm the luckiest guy in the world.
Why?
Because I'm a photojournalist and that puts me among some of the finest people in the world. I can't count the number of selfless acts I've benefited from during my short career. I would never be here if it wasn’t for the help and encouragement of other PJ’s who went out of there way to help me.
My first introduction was my college advisor who was always available any time day or night for help. Something that still holds true over four years after I graduated.
I was fortunate enough to be a student at one of the Sportsshooter Academes and I challenge anyone to name another profession where it is a regular occurrence for the "big" names to take the inexperienced under their wing and help them become there own competitors. This happens in the photojournalism community time and time again.
More experienced shooters are always offering me help and advice. I even had a photographer for competing newspaper offer me the use of his 300mm lens at an event. He was shooting video and I had only my 70-200. We had met about 30 minutes earlier and he offered me several thousand dollars worth of equipment to help me make my images better.
A fellow classmate at SSA even offered me his second camera when the shutter on my 20D blew (thanks again Dan, still owe ya a beer or ten)
There are also the countless words of advice and encouragement offered by the members of this community, many of whom I’ve never communicated with directly but their influence upon my photography and how I strive to carry, myself as a photographer is there nonetheless.
I can’t think of a better group to be a part off and only hope that I’m able to continue do for other photographers a fraction of what was done for me.
We have the greatest job there is but it isn’t great because of what we get to see or shoot, its great because of the company we get to keep.
How lucky are we? To be among a group of professionals who have the overwhelming opinion that we are all in this together and will do what they can to see you succeed.
To all of my fellow Sportsshoters (even the ones who are wrong, lol)
Thank you. |
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Erik Markov, Photographer
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Kokomo | IN | | Posted: 12:17 AM on 09.28.09 |
->> Thank Adam. I've thought some of these same things over the past couple years.
Sometimes you forget that there are other people who have these same thoughts. it's always nice to hear someone else voice them.
Name me another job where you "go early, stay late, and sit still." (Photosynthesis) And you do it because it means that a miracle could happen. We might complain about getting up early or the long hours or the long periods of inaction for one small moment. But then we always make the effort to do it again the next day. |
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Rafael Agustin Delgado, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Orange currently | Ca | USA | Posted: 2:31 AM on 09.28.09 |
->> "I have learned that the best way to lift one's self up is to help someone else." Booker T Washington
From my experiences in this field, I have found nothing else to be more a reality through out this community. I too believe this is a pretty sweet gig and am thankful for all that have contributed to my growth. |
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Nick Morris, Photographer
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San Marcos | CA | United States | Posted: 2:36 AM on 09.28.09 |
->> Well put Adam. I have to agree that we do have the best damn job in the world. No other job I know of spans so many different scenarios. From funerals the to the Final Four. We cover such a variety of experiences and emotions. How could anyone ever become bored with this job. I look forward to every assignment I have because each one no matter how many times I've shot it in the past is never the same. My neighbors and friends always tell me how jealous they are of my job and the people I get to work with. I am very thankfull for the veterans that I work with and that were kind enough to take me in and allow me to shadow them and learn from them. I am especially thankful for one particular photo editor who hired me and gave me my shot. My only regret is that I started so late. I'm proud to have served my country for 8 years and then go into law enforcement but had I known back then how cool this really is I'd be a 25 to 30 year veteran now instead of a 10 year newbie. I found SS less than a year ago and to date I have learned so much from this site that I can put to use immediately. It is truly amazing how many of you will go out of your way to help others with problems no matter how big or small. Other industries people would feed off a situation like that and eat the person alive. Although I must say we do tend to feed on on another occasionally but it's no where near the rest of the work place. I was shooting last night at a HS football game and there was a couple of students from the school paper struggling with their camera. They asked if I could show them what they were doing wrong and I felt I had all the shots I needed for the paper so I spent the rest of the time helping them along and showing them how to operate their camera. I gave them my card and made myself available to them anytime. They thought I was the coolest photographer in the world and I told them "No actually all of the really good ones are like this and I'm just trying to be like them" True story.
It feels good to be able to help up and comers and show them the tricks that have been passed down to me by those who took a couple minutes to show me. This really is for the most part the best job in the world. |
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Daniel Putz, Photographer
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Jefferson | MD | USA | Posted: 5:23 AM on 09.28.09 |
| ->> Cheers, Adam! :D |
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