Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/02/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Congratulations on the job!! Work on getting photos in to Alamy, too, if you can. Best wishes, Tina On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 5:07 PM, Phil Forrest <photo.forrest at earthlink.net>wrote: > Ted, > Thanks for your e-mail which put a few things into perspective for me. > My glass is half full, not half empty or more. > Looking back to 2000 when I made up my mind to become a photographer > for the Navy, no one said it could be done because I was in an > undermanned specialty and I had a few unique qualifications that the > community wanted to keep. I began putting in requests to become a > photographer in 2000, partially out of spite, partially out of desire > to really do this. My third request was granted and then I was off onto > the rest of my life. > Come 2005 when I left the Navy, started applying for jobs everywhere, > even working for Stars and Stripes right back where I had been, in > Iraq. > Since then, I've "given up" once every few years. Maybe that is more > like a reset button during a time of funk where I was just sick of the > hustle. I have sold all my gear (except my dear M4 and my DR Summicron) > several times over. Last year I was going to become a paramedic but > decided that it wouldn't be good for my psyche since I tend to take > work home with me. > Then I was working the temp job in New Mexico and got inspired again, > this time by the abject poverty I saw in South Dakota on the Sioux > reservation. The faces of the children there were almost the exact same > faces of the children I saw in Iraq and I was stunned that such > conditions exist here in "the richest country on earth." I shouldn't > have been but seeing things first hand is different than reading about > dire conditions. > So I keep winding up at this same place after a few months > with the old Leica, back to being stubborn enough to only do one thing > that I want to do most in life. And to be consumed by it during this > time when I pretty much know that work is going to be slim but I'm more > stubborn than most. > If I were to really quit I would have done it a long time ago. I think > you saw this but I didn't. Many thanks to you Ted and to all the LUG > community. (And this comes only very shortly before my first good > paying day-rate photo job with a network here in the Hudson valley.) > > Sincerest regards to all, > Phil Forrest > > > On Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:38:04 -0800 > <tedgrant at shaw.ca> wrote: > > > Phil Forrest TOLD US: > > Subject: Re: [Leica] Slightly OT > > > > Hi Phil, > > I'm not going to repeat your post. But I am going to give you great > > praise for baring your life and the fortitude of still fighting for > > what you believe in and want to do! LETTING IT ALL HANG OUT? That > > takes guts to continue trying for the job of your heart....... never > > easy, even when times are good. > > > > Unfortunately it's always easy to second guess later in life what > > seemed to be the best choice at the time earlier. > > > > Like who in the photographic world would've considered or even > > thought it possible "photojournalism" and other factors of > > photography would be in the "RAT'S NEST MESS" it is today compared to > > only a few years ago? > > > > It's even more admirable of you, a veteran of your military > > forces......... "Still having to fight for a job after hanging ones > > life on the wire in the name of your country." Yes job wise is tough > > all over regardless of ones background. But I've always felt those > > who put their lives at risk in the name of their country should get > > first shot for the opportunity to get a job. > > > > Not sure what the answer is to correct your situation as I don't > > believe there's an easy fix! > > > > But as hard as you've told us what life has been. Obviously you have > > the heart, mind and soul to stay the course and fight the good fight > > to win! My gut feeling? You will! No it's still not going to be a > > cake walk in the park! But you the person writing your post isn't a > > quitter and I'd put money on you kicking ass and coming out a winner. > > Nope, still not going to be an easy task. But within your words and > > explanations of the past, underneath it all is a winner. > > > > Lot's of folks in the crew are cheering and saying a prayer on your > > behalf. You maynot see us but we are here giving support as much as > > we can. > > > > Good on you lad for hanging tough and fighting on. You will win! > > Simply because I don't see a quitter in your words no matter how > > tough a time you're having. > > > > All the best. > > cheers, > > Dr. ted > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > -- > http://philipforrestphoto.wordpress.com/ > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/philforrest > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > -- Tina Manley, ASMP www.tinamanley.com