Friday, September 26, 2008

The Things We Do for Money

I was answering some questions from a college student the other night about what sparked my interest in photography and it reminded me of a picture of me with my Uncle James.

Chris Young with Vid Cam sharp

Uncle James had brought this new fangled video camera to town with it's umbilicaled recording deck. In the picture, there I am with hand on hip in my knew high striped tube socks, taking in all the 1984 technology hoping to get my hands on it.

Flash forward 19 years to 1994...I'm a 1 year rookie News Photographer...getting to do things people pay to do...and they're PAYING ME TO DO THIS!

flying with redbarrons

I was flying front seat in the open cockpit stearman with the Red Barron demo team on a media flight to preview a local airshow...and help them sell pizza. I was living the high life. A local still photog took the picture from the other plane and we traded video for photo.

Funny thing is...the only thing that stands out for me that day was that a package of stickers flew out of my pocket. The were neon orange photo mailing stickers that said "Photos, Do Not X-Ray".

That was the first of the many special experiences for me that make up the life of TV News Photographers everywhere.

I have gone on to do a lot of things you can't even pay to do in airplanes, racecars, motorcades and more.



I don't really know what sparked my interest in Photography, I just know I love it, stills and TV, and that it may not pay like a banker, but I'm the richest guy in the world for the things I get to see and do.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Weaver!!!!! If I could trade in all the cool things that I have done In the last 15 years as a photog, I would do It just for a chance to fly with the birds!

You are one lucky photog In my book.

AK