A day in the life of a photo journalist

[mchampio]

the link below gives an idea of what it takes to be a photo journalist in Washington.

http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=77435

[gstark]

What an interesting article.

A personal goal of mine is to actually attend a US Presidential Inauguration; I think the pomp and ceremony would be one of thus "must see" events in one's life.

I have a friend who has attended two, as a member of one of the marching bands.

[MHD]

ziplock bags and tape... hmm...

interesting article..

How does a freelance get passes I wonder... Acreditation? experience? Affiliation?

[JordanP]

Sounds like a great adventure to me. I would love to do photojournalistic work. I wonder what is the best way to make a move into that field. Any photojournalists on the forum?

[Glen]

I thought it was interesting to.

Gary, it should have pomp and ceremony at the estimated cost of US$32 Million or as many pointed out DOUBLE the initial US donation for tsunami victims. It was George Bush who when he was inaugarated had only travelled to Mexico and Canada wasn't it? "Asia, where's that?"

[birddog114]

Sounds like a great adventure to me. I would love to do photojournalistic work. I wonder what is the best way to make a move into that field. Any photojournalists on the forum?

I mentioned this into our forum many times:
- Try to make yourself available to some local paper and make friend with other PJs, they have heap of contacts and know where to point you, a part from it you have to have a "rich" portfolio in photography field, if you're so "well socialize".

Or thru school as TAFE & Uni or Private college with reference.

The short cut will take you there in between 2-3 months, that what I did 4 years ago and left off cos no time and lot of assigments which you have to engage without any prior notice same as in your working days, I was with AP (Associated Press) Sydney based, they can call you in the middle of the night for leaving Sydney on the first flight out of Sydney to other States or o/s, or in the middle of the day with some special incidents around town and you have to go.

Actually, I was interested in War Correspondence more than PJs

Lot of fun and free travelling but did not suit my main biz and my family commitments.

[gstark]

Glen

I thought it was interesting to.

Gary, it should have pomp and ceremony at the estimated cost of US$32 Million or as many pointed out DOUBLE the initial US donation for tsunami victims. It was George Bush who when he was inaugarated had only travelled to Mexico and Canada wasn't it? "Asia, where's that?"

I think that the US$32 Million (or a major part of it) was related to the Inauguration Ball. Certainly, that's where the controversy was (correctly IMHO) targeted.

None of changes the fact that it's a major world event, and one that I think would be interesting to attend.

Hillary, or perhaps Rudi, in 2009?

The other photojournalism event that I wanted to attend was the uprising in Tienamin Square. While that was going on, for some reason I felt that I wanted to be there, photographing the events of the day.

[MHD]

D70 Users meet in Washington?

[Glen]

Gary, Tienamin Square would have been amazing to be at, though honestly I don't think I would have the balls for it. First casualty of war being the truth, or in this case the bloke photographing the truth.

[gstark]

D70 Users meet in Washington?

For the next inauguration?

Cool by me, except make that the D70-3 Users meet.

I actually seriously considered attending this year's event. Had Lindy been available to travel through the relevant dates, it may well have happenned.

Glen, yes, precisely, and me too, but I that event certainly stirred up something in me ...

[MHD]

something closer to home to muscle in on... With just as strict security?
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/21- ... 67630.html

[birddog114]

If this is the case, I'll join in the march with people
And share "the fun" with other host countries in the past.

[dooda]

I thought it was interesting to.

Gary, it should have pomp and ceremony at the estimated cost of US$32 Million or as many pointed out DOUBLE the initial US donation for tsunami victims. It was George Bush who when he was inaugarated had only travelled to Mexico and Canada wasn't it? "Asia, where's that?"

INteresting, Bush never actually visited Canada during his first term. his handlers did manage to pry him away from Crawford TX to send him to Aus to thank your leader for all of the help. Canada isn't but a couple of hours drive to the north. You'd think that every so often he would have landed and waved...okay so he did...in Nova Scotia. Is that even part of Canada?

I may have made someone mad, oh well. Any Nova Scotians? Stan Rogers Fans? Doesn't get any more Canadian than Stan Rogers if you like Canadian folk.

[birddog114]

I don't think he was or will be welcomed here or Canada, that why last time he visited Australia same as a lurker

[MHD]

If this is the case, I'll join in the march with people
And share "the fun" with other host countries in the past.

Yes... no security restrictions with shooting the protesters... just safety!

Would make for some awesome dynamic images!

[gstark]

INteresting, Bush never actually visited Canada during his first term. his handlers did manage to pry him away from Crawford TX to send him to Aus to thank your leader for all of the help.

Dooda,

That scoreline looks like Canada 1, Australia 0 to me.

[Link]

Sounds like a great adventure to me. I would love to do photojournalistic work. I wonder what is the best way to make a move into that field. Any photojournalists on the forum?

I mentioned this into our forum many times:
- Try to make yourself available to some local paper and make friend with other PJs, they have heap of contacts and know where to point you, a part from it you have to have a "rich" portfolio in photography field, if you're so "well socialize".

Or thru school as TAFE & Uni or Private college with reference.

The short cut will take you there in between 2-3 months, that what I did 4 years ago and left off cos no time and lot of assigments which you have to engage without any prior notice same as in your working days, I was with AP (Associated Press) Sydney based, they can call you in the middle of the night for leaving Sydney on the first flight out of Sydney to other States or o/s, or in the middle of the day with some special incidents around town and you have to go.

Actually, I was interested in War Correspondence more than PJs

Lot of fun and free travelling but did not suit my main biz and my family commitments.

Birddog, that sounds very interesting! AP, Reuters, and AFP are giant agencies and I always wondered how one starts doing photography for them... Did you turn up with a portfolio or had previous experience shooting for a newspaper? Or was it mainly networking, knowing the right people, etc?

I'm also curious on the more sensitive topic of the $$$ arrangement - did they pay you a monthly income or was it more like getting a specific fee for each shoot? And is it accurate that the agency keeps the copyright of the pictures you took?

Thanks,

Link.

[birddog114]

Birddog, that sounds very interesting! AP, Reuters, and AFP are giant agencies and I always wondered how one starts doing photography for them... Did you turn up with a portfolio or had previous experience shooting for a newspaper? Or was it mainly networking, knowing the right people, etc?

I'm also curious on the more sensitive topic of the $$$ arrangement - did they pay you a monthly income or was it more like getting a specific fee for each shoot? And is it accurate that the agency keeps the copyright of the pictures you took?

I've gone in with AP, thru a couple reference of War Correspondences base in the US and of course I have my own portfolio to submit to them in my relevant of photography, not neccessary you hadn't shoot for some newsagency, network contacts was my priviledges and I was offered to based in SoCAL at first, then I requested to transfer to Sydney based, if I don't run my IT biz and have a heavy family commitments, I perhaps follows my buddies footsteps into few recently war zone.

Talking about $$$, you get pay very cheap at start, "not my case cos I would like to have fun" and money is not my object, second the wife did not want me to go back to the "fighting game". Your pay will be counted on contract term with more juice into pay packet, you can choose to get pay on each assignment as contractor but won't get much benefits and priviledges for the agencies, including camera gears and other tools needed for the jobs, lot of variation.

They normally cover all the expenses as travelling, tools, accomodations and sundries while you're on the jobs with them.

Your photos will be credited to you but the agency has the rights to own them as their copyrights, unless you're a freelance photogs, you don't work for a specific agency, everything is funded by yourself then you'll own your copyrights and you have the right to sell it to any agency who's offer you a high dough.
I knew few guys work as a freelance photography, they have their own business and their own team, they have to arrange their pass to access into any venues and games and they sold 1 photos as US$30k to the paper, but it's not everyday, they often has few ranging from $2-3k.

I also knew one of the guys, who's a real paparazi in Beverely Hills, CA, driving a nice SUV with equipped all the radio and radio scanner, computer, internet access and such of zoom lenses above 400mm with other top ends lenses from Nikon, his job is driving around Beverly Hills after 11:00am, hunting and stalking celebrities, if he got one nice shot then he transmit to few agencies for view and tender pricing, he sells celebrities photos and doing jobs like that for many years, he's not the only one, there are several guys are doing that, nice jobs but not in my source.

P.S: If I have no job here, then I may think of going back to SoCal and do paparazi works

[Link]

Thanks Birddog for taking the time to write a detailed account

I don't think PJs are in for money, but I would feel bad if one of my photos was published all around the world - and the only $$$ you see is the original fee the agency paid. I mean, I've heard in SE Asia that {AFP Reuters AP} can buy photos from freelancer from as low as 50 USD and put it on the wire!

That said, if the agency was to pay for all your travel and equipment in first instance, it would be a good way to gain more experience in photojournalism...

By the way, have you actually done some war correspondence in the past?

Link.

[birddog114]

Thanks Birddog for taking the time to write a detailed account

I don't think PJs are in for money, but I would feel bad if one of my photos was published all around the world - and the only $$$ you see is the original fee the agency paid. I mean, I've heard in SE Asia that {AFP Reuters AP} can buy photos from freelancer from as low as 50 USD and put it on the wire!

That said, if the agency was to pay for all your travel and equipment in first instance, it would be a good way to gain more experience in photojournalism...

By the way, have you actually done some war correspondence in the past?

Link.

Yes, I did more than 30 years ago (not a fulltime job, it was also my hobby) while I was serving in the Republic Of South Vietnam Airforce and fulltime "jockey job" with VNAF.