Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/05/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi there, Given it's the end of the week and I'm closing off I thought I'd leave you folks with this as one of hundreds of assignments since September 17, 1951! "REAL LIFE NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER MOMENT!" "being a photographer!" And some of you have no idea what these kind of assignments can do to you over the course of 60 YEARS? Been good to know many of you face to face and in company or on screen! cheers, Dr. ted =========================================== SITUATION: Phone rings, you are quickly given instructions by the news editor! "BIG FIRE WITH FAMILY...SOME DEAD!" You arrive, the fire is out and firemen are inside looking for victims?????? Now without a clue of what's going on nor what's happened you see firemen emerging with three stretchers, bodies covered. You start shooting and it's late evening so the attached strobe on your 4X5 Speed Graphic begins flashing every time you "CLICK!" You are completely innocent up to this point as you do not know who the victims are? Just another news assignment on the night shift! When all of a sudden a man is screaming, yelling all kinds of obscenities at me as he runs toward me to stop taking pictures. I mean this man was completely out of control! As well as crying unbelievably so! While yelling..... "STOP TAKING PICTURES OF MY GIRLS!" THE VICTEMS !! His three young daughters! :-( I'm dead in my tracks! The camera dropped loosely in my hand by my side and I left the scene immediately!!!!! Both crying in fear of the fathers' wrath and my emotions! How could I possibly continue? I cried and cried as I sat in my car trying to regain my composure before returning to the paper. You see this occurred on my second night shift working for a newspaper as an absolute rookie! Some assignments you just never ever forget! :-( But most certainly you learn about "compassion and when to stop taking pictures!" What the years have taught me is to use common sense and look at the situation if it were reversed???? And you were being photographed? Oh there's been times you walk away without a "click!" Wishing you were back home with your wife and children! This "LUG photographer" discussion without question? Can go on forever. But the answer lies in the heart and soul and emotions of the photographer! "Real photographers." And certainly not by the concepts of others! "CERTAINLY IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN THERE UNDER FIRE!" cheers, Dr. ted --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.com