Saluting diversity...and ability

Hi All

What an interesting and varied week it’s been.

It was one of the things I liked about my old job at The Advocate…the diversity. Working on a regional newspaper you don’t have the opportunity to specialize…you need to be good at everything (that’s if you are worth your salt as a photographer). And everything is what was usually served up…sport, portraits, hard news, scenic and manufactured news. All require a different set of skills…but if your practical knowledge of the photography basics is good, it is possible to be good at it all. Obviously, there will be things that you are naturally better at … usually the stuff you enjoy…and I guess in a way, these become a pseudo-specialty. But, working to become good at the stuff you don’t particularly like shooting, is a great way to make yourself a better shooter.

The key to all this is your knowledge of photographic principles. If you know your stuff…why this happens when you do that etc…you can shoot anything. It all becomes an exercise in problem solving.

One thing I haven’t mentioned yet…and it is something I don’t think can be taught…some people just have it…is THE EYE. The intangible “something” that some people just have…the ability to “see” … I think this may be a topic for a later date.

What a surprise…I’ve started to waffle and got completely sidetracked.

Thanks to Darren Brumby for the pic. Not sure if it is a smile or a grimace.

Ok…my week.

Sunday…riding backwards as a pillion passenger on a motorbike while photographing competitors in a 10 km running race.

In case you are not aware…motorbikes are not designed for this to happen. One of the problems is that the foot pegs end up behind you…so are no use at all for taking any weight or providing stabilization. Their only use is to keep your feet off the hot exhaust pipes.

So the sole means of maintaining some stability (can’t use your hands as they are holding a camera) is to clench the bike seat firmly between your thighs…this gets very uncomfortable…believe me!

Holding the camera steady is also a challenge…no resting your elbows on the back of the bike…unless you want to introduce maximum vibration into your pics (not ideal).

I hope this gives those of you that haven’t had the experience, a little insight.

Wednesday…hiking around a lake trying to find fly fisherman while trying not to find snakes.

The Australian Masters Games are being held in our area and I was contracted by The Mercury Newspaper to get a few shots. This was all good. But, by the time I had arrived at the venue, all the fisherfolk had dispersed to all points of the compass. I had no option but to go hiking in an attempt to find someone to photograph. The scenery was stunning…so it wasn’t too much of a chore…but it was serious snake territory…and I was solo and no-one knew where I was and there was no phone signal…Oh well :)

And today…I was photographing trucks of the prime mover kind. Big white trucks.

And tomorrow…food and chefs and wine…

They all require a special skill set to be done well…

Here’s to 30+ years of photographic problem solving and the skills it has endowed me with.

I’m not a specialist…but I’m special.