What makes a press 'tographer?

markta

markta

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Hi all,

Just wondered (other than the ability to have the knowledge to operate a 1D or D3 etc.) whether they must have other abilities, such as compositional skills.

I haven't as yet formed an opinion and am open minded, but it strikes me that the either attend meetings etc. or just sit down at press conferences and shoot away..

Opinions most welcome :woot:

Cheers, Mark :)
 
Crap photos and getting them in before anyone else? Sounds easy enough. I could do that!

*gives The Scum a ring, asking for a job*
 
I worked with a press photographer a few weeks ago. I found that you have to be very creative and make a half decent shot out of something quite crappy. Depends what job you have been given though
 
The Guardian does the best photographs tbh, far more effort than all the other papers put together.
 
What makes a press photographer ? Being published in the press is the simple answer.

Right place, right time, right take on the scene but most importantly not getting usurped on the day by Liz Hurley's fanny hanging out.

The rest is down to luck, effort and saying yes when the phone rings.

95% of the pics submitted to the press don't get used. 96.5% of photographers submitting pics to the press do get used.

The pay can be rubbish but your Mum will be pleased and have something to brag about at the WI/bingo.
 
snappyt said:
The Guardian does the best photographs tbh, far more effort than all the other papers put together.
Click to expand...

I have to agree with this. I like the way they will take a bog-standard press situation like a press conference, then use a photo of the main protagonist of the story from an unconventional angle. Always makes me read the blurb to see what the photo is about.

The big picture that appears in the centre pages is generally very interesting as well!
 
Before you diss the press togs, have a look here:

http://www.gettyimages.com/Editorial/News.aspx

Ask yourself, would you have got the same shots given the same opportunity? I look at the Getty pics of current news stories regularly and I'm constantly impressed with the quality and variety that they produce under immense pressure and most often in a very short timescale. Yes, there are some "average" pics, but by and large they are really jolly good.
 
I know a few press photographers .. life aint that easy... one of the things they can do that i cant (see my earlier post) is setup cheesy shots.. I go to a few events same as them and i do candids where they setup shots.. i wouldnt know how and wouldnt have the cheek to ask people to pose like idiots :)
 
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