Re: [Leica] Definition of a Professional

[Ted Grant <tedgrant@islandnet.com>]

Alan Ball wrote:

>I admire the professional photographers, especially PJs, who are
>successful in such conditions but do not feel that the professional
>choice as such deserves any more respect or protection than similar such
>choices in other fields.
>
>If it is money that is the motor, then professional photography is a
>very bad choice.>>>>>>>>

Hi Alan,

A couple of things in how a professional career can develop.  And making
huge amounts of money isn't one of them.:)

1/ My wife bought me a camera for my birthday, May 1950, because I always
wanted one.

I lived, ate, slept photography! My wife became a "photo widow" due to my
passion for this wonderful medium.  Every waking moment (after my regular
day job) I was shooting something and or taking pictures of friends
families, weddings, reading magazines. Learning lighting, timing and
everything I could read, I tried. I shot portraits of our relatives and
each one sat patiently while I set lights and tried everything page by page
outta the book.  There was always a driving force inside to be better, to
be like those LIFE photographers.

I shot 25 or more rolls a week, doesn't sound like much these days when
sometimes you shoot 50 rolls a day!  Sure lots went down the tube, but
that's how you learn and "you learn by doing!"

2/  I loved car racing and got into the local stock car track by giving the
owners action pictures taken while I stood on the side of the track as the
cars whizzed by.  Had to jump out of the way a few times, but hell the
action  was right in your face! :)  Talk about filling the frame!:)

First ever published picture, a car crash "17 September 1951" and the
creditline was.... "Ted Grant photo". WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

And I was out of the shell and on my way, have never looked back. That
creditline and published pictures was all I ever wanted after that. (notice
I didn't mention anything about "money" I was paid $3.00 dollars.) I
submitted pictures to all kinds of magazines and got more rejections than
acceptance. The rejections only made me more determined to work harder and
with each picture published creating a greater desire to get another.

A train crash near by and I was first there and first to leave with the
early pictures  (the reverse of what a good PJ should always try to do
which is, ......."Be first there and LAST TO LEAVE!")

But I was in and out before the regular news photographers arrived and got
a break from this one situation that opened the door and an offer to work
for the paper as a fulltime news photgrapher.  Hell I was still so wet
behind the ears I hadn't even handled a Speed Graphic, the news camera of
the day. Let alone the zillion other things it takes to be a successful
professional beyond just taking pictures

I kept my mouth shut, eyes and ears open, listened well and tried every
photographic technique I could. There was no such thing as "sorry I can't
be there, no I'm not working it's Sunday, No I don't do that kind of
picture taking.  You shot everything that came in your direction and you
never whined!! But you sure learned a bunch! Retained what you needed and
discarded the rest!

During my three years at the paper I won a number of awards for the work
and each one of these raised the level of my position in the photo
community and associations. But more important, the pictures were being
admired by my peers and they were the most encouraging bunch to have around.

Each accolade drove me to "make the next shoot better!"

I believe the quality of your photography, how hard you work at it, the end
results and recognition by peers and publishers all go hand in hand with
making you a pro.  Desire to succeed and sacrifice of many things; family
life, physical well being and health, unfortunately take their toll, if you
put your desire to succeed in the wrong perspective. Close a couple of
times, but never to loose it all, as some PJ's have had the misfortune.

As a photojournalist you have to have a "compassionate killer instinct of
respect for your fellow human beings to truly make you successful!"

Am I the quintessential professional photographer?  Heck no, I just love
taking pictures like the rest of you and damn fortunate I receive some
income for doing something I'd do as an amateur. Why, you can have the
greatest fun possible and get paid for doing it.:)

All the organizations, licencing, initials after your name don't mean
anything if you can't put images on film, as those images are what truly
sort you out as a pro.
ted

Ted Grant
This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler.
http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant