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07/15/2005 04:12:12 PM · #1 |
...the continuing chronicles of my freelancing...
today (fri, 07-15-05), around 11:30, i got a phone call from the Richmond Times-Dispatch photo desk. they wanted to know if i was 'available'...
they needed a photo to go along with a story about how the Va Dept of Transportation (vdot) is shutting down two of three lanes of Interstate 95 where it crosses the Potomac River just south of Washington DC this weekend. traffic there is bad enough when all the lanes are open--this should make for an absolute nightmare for those travelling north.
vdot has highway message signs throughout the state, and the paper wanted a picture of one of them to illustrate the story. well, there's one sign about 5 miles from my house, and another one about 20 mile up the road. so, i said, "sure. when do you need it?" and the answer was, "ASAP, or by 3pm." thanks to all our dpc-speed challenges, i felt up for this...
...until i got to the closest sign and it was not turned on. so i drove up to the second sign, and it was not turned on. so i called the paper and told them that nothing was on, but that i would call vdot to find out what the deal was.
so, i called information, got through to vdot, got through to their public relations department, who conferenced me in with the person responsible for the highway messaging units...and they were unaware that the signs were turned off! they thanked me for the heads up and told me they would call me back as soon as they had them turned back on. [note: thank God for cell phones!]
oh, did i mention i had my kids with me? they didn't have camp today, so they had to accompany me on this goose chase. we killed some time at one of those fine scottish restaurants, macdonalds, and then rode around a bit more, waiting for the call.
finally, just after 2, vdot called to say they had the signs back on, and they thanked me again. i made the 10 mile loop to get back to the sign (it was almost halfway between 2 exits), pulled off, and got my shots. no sooner had i gotten turned around heading south, back towards richmond, than the bottom dropped out, slowing traffic to about 15 mph. i looked across the median and saw that the northbound traffic was at a complete standstill--evidently due to an accident that had occurred just after we had passed by. oh, was i feeling lucky to have made it up there at all!
we got home, i got the image processed and sent to the paper, and now, i have a little breather before i have to go shoot the next assignment--a harry potter street party hosted by a bookstore that will release the new book at midnight!
sometimes the images are glam and exciting, sometimes not, but it's always a thrill to be shooting.
and sometimes...they make the front page!
Message edited by author 2005-07-16 22:00:05. |
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07/15/2005 04:30:34 PM · #2 |
Boy, you weren't kidding when you said you had to run!! :-) Glad you got the shot. I'm sure you'll have a blast tonight with all those Potter heads. ;-P
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07/15/2005 04:33:11 PM · #3 |
| Nothing better than an active photographer. When you get the assignment for cheerleaders just call me. lol Keep up the good work. |
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07/15/2005 05:06:36 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by graphicfunk:
Nothing better than an active photographer. When you get the assignment for cheerleaders just call me. lol Keep up the good work. |
thanks, dan! yep, cheerleading season is just about upon us!
heyah, jen, thanks! i'll try to get an answer for ya in a bit--it's starting to get nuts around here ;-) |
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07/15/2005 05:15:23 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
sometimes the imags are glam and exciting, sometimes not, but it's always a thrill to be shooting. |
I think you just summed that up perfectly. I couldn't agree more.
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07/15/2005 05:25:28 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
sometimes the imags are glam and exciting, sometimes not, but it's always a thrill to be shooting. |
My feelings exactly. One of my photo friends said "doesn't it ruin the fun to do photography as a job?" Are you kidding? I get to DO it...that's the fun!
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07/16/2005 06:51:54 AM · #7 |
YIPPEE!!!
it made the front page!!
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07/16/2005 07:14:17 AM · #8 |
Nicely done Skip..good when a plan comes together.
Front page too.... megabucks! :)
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07/16/2005 07:16:54 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
YIPPEE!!!
it made the front page!!
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WOW! They charge $.75 for a paper! =o
;-) jus' kiddin'
Congrats, Skip! Must be nice to wake up to that sort of news! |
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07/16/2005 07:21:31 AM · #10 |
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07/16/2005 07:47:34 AM · #11 |
Wow man, congratulations!!! That was an interesting story.
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07/16/2005 08:37:15 AM · #12 |
Congrats Skip! It sure looks like beautiful country where you live despite the traffic delays. At least the scenery alone beats being anywhere on the Dan Ryan in Chicago!
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07/16/2005 09:05:09 AM · #13 |
hey, hey, ha, ha, and thanks!
no, peecee, no megabucks ;-)
and kadi, it's only 75cents on sat, 50cents daily, buck-half sunday
now, i just gotta finish editing the harry potter party shots--what a trip that was... |
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07/16/2005 09:07:45 AM · #14 |
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07/16/2005 01:20:17 PM · #15 |
one more thing i'd like to throw in here about this shot...
this is a great example of the fact that somebody has to take all the photos you see, and there's no reason that that somebody can't be you or me. not every image needed is sitting in a stock site, and not every type of publication subscribes to stock agencies. there is still a lot of opportunity for this type work. the pay isn't going to make you rich, but it's fun, and you can't beat the exposure.
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and a thank you to you, too, bob! |
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07/28/2005 10:13:33 PM · #16 |
Hey Skip, I'm really enjoying reading about your adventure as a newspaper freelancer. It's inspiring and educational.
Thank you for taking the time to share.
Keep on shooting!
Jeff
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07/28/2005 10:51:12 PM · #17 |
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07/28/2005 10:59:02 PM · #18 |
That's is what DPChallenge is all about. New challenges, in a defined time frame. We don't have the stress like a newspaper photographer might for a emergency shot needed a 10 P.M. to get it in by midnight press printing times. Great shot and cool.
Message edited by author 2005-07-28 22:59:31. |
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07/28/2005 11:02:52 PM · #19 |
Skip, thanks again for the interesting story of life as a starting news photographer.
I still think you need to get your blog going. Then you will have all your material ready (and easily accessible) to write a book with these experiences. I am serious. Your writing is good and the experience will be interesting to many people. Maybe you should see if you can line up a publisher and get a contract (and an advance). Might even pay more than the freelance assignments.
Edit. Fixed typos. I never said my writing was good ;)
Message edited by author 2005-07-28 23:03:33. |
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