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11/04/2004 02:36:29 AM · #1 |
Just got in from a long night. Someone on DPC was wondering what the life of a stringer is like, so i posted some shots from tonight. I call it SUV vs 3 bedroom, 2 bath. The AP will love this stuff.
PS: I posted this quickly, no edits, everyone is ok, but the driver is looking at 6mo to a year.
ten minutes old EXCLUSIVE. Random 26 exposures out of 400.
//homepage.mac.com/ajschmidt/PhotoAlbum6.html
Careful Shooting,
Adam
Message edited by author 2004-11-04 02:41:26. |
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11/04/2004 02:49:27 AM · #2 |
Scary stuff! I must admit though, I didn't know what a 'stringer' was. In case anyone else doesn't, here's the definition...
"A part-time or freelance correspondent for the news media."
How do you go about submitting the photos to the AP? Personal contacts?
Message edited by author 2004-11-04 02:50:01.
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11/04/2004 02:51:04 AM · #3 |
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11/04/2004 03:06:51 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by ajschmidt:
I work for the ap. |
That would help wouldn't it :D
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11/04/2004 03:49:34 AM · #5 |
Thanks for posting, Adam. Very insightful.
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11/04/2004 04:02:16 AM · #6 |
Thanks for posting.
Two quick questions though; I realize these are not edited, but how much editing will be done before submitting? ... and, am I correct in assuming the SUV lost since the house seems to have prevented it trom going all the way through?
David
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11/04/2004 08:19:55 AM · #7 |
Now here's a thread that piques my interest!
Adam, could you give us more info as to what you do? I would love to be a "stringer" and I'm wondering how you got to where you are.
Also, can you give me some other tips? I took these photos in Montreal when a cable broke on a window-washer platform and covered a busy street with glass...I didn't know what to do with these photos but I now wonder if I should have contacted the newspaper or somebody after I took them...
2 of many:
 
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11/04/2004 09:49:11 AM · #8 |
Also, how did you happen upon this event. Were you dispatched by your organization? Did you happen upon it randomly? Do you have a police/fire scanner that you respond to?
Also, do you get paid by the photograph or are you on retainer/salary. How does your organization deal with freelancers or those who wish to become freelancers? (or in other words, how do I get published by a news organization assuming I have newsworthy photographs?)
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11/04/2004 09:53:15 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by TooCool:
Also, how did you happen upon this event. Were you dispatched by your organization? Did you happen upon it randomly? Do you have a police/fire scanner that you respond to?
Also, do you get paid by the photograph or are you on retainer/salary. How does your organization deal with freelancers or those who wish to become freelancers? (or in other words, how do I get published by a news organization assuming I have newsworthy photographs?) |
Yeah, what he said. |
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11/04/2004 10:14:26 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by ajschmidt:
I work for the ap. |
No wonder you have so many and varied cameras. I was wondering if you either were lying in your profile (a D2X *and* a 1D Mk II?!?!) or were a multimillionaire who was into photography and tech. :) |
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11/04/2004 11:27:48 AM · #11 |
Come on all, you treat me as some type of celebrity, which I do not deserve. Right now I am out at work so I will respond to this thread when I get home tonight at 9pm PST. I wish you all the best and will address all your questions in detail.
Good luck shooting,
Adam |
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11/04/2004 11:42:33 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by ajschmidt:
Come on all, you treat me as some type of celebrity, which I do not deserve. Right now I am out at work so I will respond to this thread when I get home tonight at 9pm PST. I wish you all the best and will address all your questions in detail.
Good luck shooting,
Adam |
Thanks...and can I get your autograph? Just kidding!
I look forward to your input...
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11/05/2004 01:04:01 AM · #13 |
Adam, could you give us more info as to what you do? I would love to be a "stringer" and I'm wondering how you got to where you are.
Also, can you give me some other tips? I took these photos in Montreal when a cable broke on a window-washer platform and covered a busy street with glass...I didn't know what to do with these photos but I now wonder if I should have contacted the newspaper or somebody after I took them...
I am not a stringer. I have a salary that I am payed even if I am not published. I used the word because the accident photos have many stringers in the shots, and some corporate news. It illustrated the type of photos stringers take and the subject matter that photojournalism deals with. I started out as a video stringer in SF. A news tv station would call my cellphone late at night, I would grab my gear, and fly out to a news worthy story. They would pay between $300 and $500 a story; just about there cost of doing it themselves. One day I was at a school that was infested with mold (common in the Foggy City). I noticed another photographer there. He was with the AP and he was shooting photos for a AP story that a staff writer was working on. I commented on his photos, and asked if the AP's Video News service needed a camera man. He took my card and asked his boss. I gave him my demo tape as well. They said that they had filled there video dept but needed a camera man to work nights and weekends on call stringing. I said yes, went to gassers photo in SF were I had bought my video gear, and walked out with eight grand of gear. Nikon D1x, 15mm fisheye, 28-70 f2.8, and a 80-200 f2.8, CF cards and cases. The very next night I was called to the SF orchestra, shot so so pictures, but they impressed the SFAP editor, and he gave me a full time job. That was January of 2002.
We just got new D1s Mii (ap payed, but it is my cam) about a month ago so I am moving over to Canon lenses. I have two that I recommend. Main lens is a 50mm f1.4, and a 70-200 f2.8 IS. Some of the other lenses I have used kind of were disappointments. The 24mm 1.4 is soft and slow.
The Ap pays very well. just shy of six digits. I still keep a video cam (gl2) with me at all times incase video illustrates a story better. I have a BA in broadcast communications, a MA in cinema, and a MA in journalism. I thought I would be a documentary film maker. I guess this is the same thing, but with a steady income. Plus I just got a D2x from nikon to "test" out. I like it, and the suv was shot on the d2x with my 28-70 f2.8. I just had my canon 580 flash with me so the lighting is very bad shooting with a manual flash. Yes I put my SB 800 in my bag.
The window washer shots: Even if you are not press, act like press and get close to the action. Stand just on the inside of the yellow tape. Shoot PEOPLE. They are your focus. Don't worry about noise so crank up your iso to a useful 800 setting. Run up to the tenth floor, bust into an office and shoot the scene from the close up. Don't worry, they will all be looking out the window with you. Get names and contact information for news media. Call a paper or two. Tell them that you have a story. Give them the gist, and ask for a job. If you don't make your self known, you will not make it. Oh, and buy nice glass.
Also, how did you happen upon this event. Were you dispatched by your organization? Did you happen upon it randomly? Do you have a police/fire scanner that you respond to?
Also, do you get paid by the photograph or are you on retainer/salary. How does your organization deal with freelancers or those who wish to become freelancers? (or in other words, how do I get published by a news organization assuming I have newsworthy photographs?
I was driving home, and saw a fire truck speed past me and make a right hand turn down the next street and stop. I pulled over. Flashed my press card, and started to talk to people. I do not cover this stuff on a dally bases. I am usually assigned to a writer, and travel to cover the story. I refuse to cover Iraq, even with 3 times the pay being offered. I have a 2004 Passat wagon w8 with 55,000 miles on it, and I drive everywhere up to 300 miles to get a story. I have 140,000 frequent flyer miles this year, and a very understanding woman at home. I love this type of work, but sometimes i wish to be with a local paper. The AP is very demanding.
TooCool: I would just make a portfolio of human interest shots, or some americana and set up an appointment with HR at the local paper. California Roll, and Zero HP work.
Britannica:
Two quick questions though; I realize these are not edited, but how much editing will be done before submitting? ... and, am I correct in assuming the SUV lost since the house seems to have prevented it trom going all the way through?
I do not edit my shots. I submit the raw files to the art dept. They give me raw and jpeg files back over the AP network to keep. Art cleans up the files. Frame 1492 was leveled and brightened up before going out on the wire. The SUV is 15 feet long and was 110% inside the house. A brick wall gave it some bounce and sent it flying. The family had just cleared the dining-room table, and was in the kitchen just 5 feet away. I just dropped off some prints with a neighbor down the street on my way home tonight for the insurance people. The family is staying with friends, and the house is now boarded up.
Well, it has been nice talking to you all. Oh, my DPC stuff is taken at home in my time off. I don't want to tick off my editor. Anyway, I am flying to france in the morning to cover the international view of the bush election. night all,
Adam
Message edited by author 2004-11-10 23:46:11. |
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11/05/2004 01:11:07 AM · #14 |
Thanks for answering the questions.
David
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11/05/2004 11:11:26 AM · #15 |
Yes, thanks for the answers...if you have more tips to keep adding, I would love to hear any advice you would have!
I don't say this often, Adam:
I want to be you.
Message edited by author 2004-11-05 11:11:37.
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