[Leica] Be a photographer

[Sonny Carter]

Having paid my dues in the trenches of news photography, I can agree with much of what you say, Ted.

However, I'd never disparage the guys out there shooting for the love of shooting.  

I know astronomers, radio producers, hunting guides, naval officers, the list goes on and on of people who have a day job and spend "time off" out there shooting.  

No paycheck. Our LUG is full of them.  I'm just happy to have had the chance to get paid for it for awhile, and even today to get an occasional assignment.

Little of my work can be called Street, but most of Jim's, Lluis', and Tina's can be.  I look at lots of photography, and there's so great stuff out there, and I often see stuff I wish I had sot.



Sent from my iPhone

Sonny Carter
http://www.SonC.com/look


> On May 6, 2015, at 5:34 PM, Ted Grant <tedgrant at shaw.ca> wrote:
> 
> Sonny Carter OFFERED: 
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Be a photographer
> 
> "Documentary photography and journalism is a thing which goes way back."
> When I got my first job taking pictures (1965), we were called "news
> photographers."
> 
> Did not matter if we were shooting for a newspaper, wire service, or TV.
> Sometimes "news cameramen"   (that went away when more women came into the
> job.)
> 
> They like to call themselves "Photo-Journalist" these days.
> 
> I do believe there's a fine but perceptible difference between a "Street Photographer" and a "News Photographer"
> 
> It is called "paycheck."<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
> =======================================================
> 
> Hi Sonny,
> When I began "shooting for a newspaper, Sept. 17/ 1951 first news photo published front page of the Ottawa Citizen newspaper in Canada's capital. I was always "VERY PROUD" of being called and calling myself a... "NEWS-PHOTOGRAPHER"! I saw and felt it was a kind of badge of honour to be called one for quite a number of years and working for and being paid by the "NEWSPAPER!"  YOU BELONGED TO A NEWS ORGANIZATION AND WERE BEING PAID FOR WORKING AS A NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER!!   
> 
> Then somehow that wasn't good enough for some of the news lads and they became.... "PHOTOJOURNALISTS!" Even though their assignments maybe a few  daily news paper shoots each day and rarely any in-depth assignments. 
> 
> Oh well to each his own moniker!  By then my career had moved a major step or two in relation to owning and operating my own company and shooting for a great number of clients. So not working for newspapers any longer. I became a "Photojournalist!"  
> 
> "As in someone who shot month long or longer documentaries and magazine type photo essays, short documentaries and many major sports events, OLYMPICS, summer & winter, Commonwealth Games, Pan-Am Games involving North & South America continents. And an endless number of well paying clients in many many avenues of the required photographic world!
> 
> But those today and during the past few years whom refer to themselves as "STREET PHOTOGRAPHERS?" are a joke! Most have never ever shot a "PAYING ASSIGNMENT IN THEIR LIVES!" Quite simply because they're not real photographers in the first place! And pure dumb luck that they catch a good photo moment let alone being paid for same! If it ever happens?
> 
> By the same token as this topic is evolving into a babbelfest really going nowhere. However interesting in a historical vain. I thought I'd throw in "A real life story" in the real world of being a news photographer! Or photojournalist. Certainly when it was marvellous to be a photog and working! BUT most importantly .......... "BEING PAID, BECAUSE YOU WERE A "REAL PHOTOGRAPHER!"  ;-) 
> 
> cheers,
> Dr. ted  :-)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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