Getting Out

[whatsatripod]

Well In three weeks I will no longer have the title of Photojournalist. I have decided for my family's sake to leave the business. It has been fun. This short 5 year career has seen a lot. Gubenatorial Reelections with JEB Bush. The Pres himself to major disasters like Katrina. I have Cat launched off an aircraft carrier, and seen so much crime that I know where to look for clues that a fresh detective wouldn't even begin to look. Yes, it has been full of excitement and wonder.
The problem is I feel as though this crazy business is leading down a path that I don't want to take. So in three weeks I am jumping from the broadcast business to the spin business. I am becoming a PIO. It's a bit scary I will admit. I think I will miss a slew of things about the business. Then again, there are many more I won't miss.
I guess this long discourse is leading me to the main question. I have been hearing many people getting out, is it a trend or is the business just getting to be too much for many?
My reasons are simple, I want a life back. The call outs and long hours for little pay was getting old. How about everybody else.
I will be on from time to time seeing if Shaky's anton bauer charger looses it's battle to a breast pump again. Ivan's rants, and of course checking up on the big debate, if VJ's are the wave of the future. I could present my oppinions but that is for another forum. Although, you can gather what I think from my saying at the bottom of my posts.
Good luck to all stay safe out there and fight for good video. I think that is what is truely beginning to lack in this business. Great visual storytelling. It's become fill a hole with anything!

[Lensmith]

whatsatripod,

I applaud you for taking the skills and experience collected over time and applying them to make a better life for yourself.

I would hope you do not feel like you have to make excuses for making a change in jobs and that, somehow, you are doing something "lesser".

On the contrary, you are setting a good example for all. Taking control of your life and directing it in a way to better your conditions given the area you are working in.

Reading your words brought back memories for me as I made the choice to try freelancing. We all get bored or frustrated over our situations and many are more inclined to "wait and see". Like a deer in headlights, that can be fatal. It takes courage to make a change.

The skills we develope doing this job can translate into many other areas of emplyment. In a very general sense, it's like being in the military, working under stressful conditions, making decisions, reading people, then taking what we've learned and successfully doing other jobs related to our field of interest.

I would hope you'd still visit and contribute here. As has been seen over the last couple of years, B-Roll Online membership has grown dramatically with many valuable, non-photographer members, who have valuable contributions to offer us all.

Each of us has an obligation to do what we can to make our lives better with an eye towards the long term. You have often been one of the good examples of B-Roll members, "sharing information" that make this board a valuable resource and, not to mention, entertaining.

I wish you the best with your career and know that having someone in a a PIO position who has real world experience "doing the job", like yourself, will be an asset to those who come in contact with you in your new job.

Best of luck!

[ September 26, 2005, 06:08 PM: Message edited by: Lensmith ]

[Mighty Dyckerson]

You're a sellout, and I for one will not miss you.

[LongTimePhotog]

good luck to you...this business has changed so much. Godspeed fellow photog.

[Run 'n' Get 'em]

Good Luck...PIO? Don't know if I should say "Congrats!" :P

[A Step Above Productions]

Bloodgood... Good luck.

[Latin Lens]

Dun, Dun, Dun...another one bites the dust!

[TightShot]

good luck. I'll move on eventually. Enjoy having your life back, almost all of the time.

[Lenslinger]

Lensmith said it best (as usual). TV news photojournalism IS a young man's game. That's not to say those long in the tooth can't do the job; many older pros on this message board prove that every day. I just know that I don't run and gun as hard as I used to, nor do I really want to. Many folks I thought would die with a logo on their back have since left the business and done very well for themselves. Most of them quickly scoffed at the demands of our gig once they escaped the clutches of some nefarious assignment nerd. More power to them, I say. I just hope I can get this whole writing thing going, before I'm packing Geritol in my run-bag and boring colleagues with musty war stories (wait - I'm already doing that!).

As for you, whatsatripod, you've been a valued member of our on-line community for as long as I can remember. Don't be a stranger around these parts just because you no longer respond to drive-by shootings at four in the morning. Good luck.

[TV dude]

Originally posted by Mighty Dyckerson:
You're a sellout, and I for one will not miss you. and when he is spending more time with his family, I doubt he will miss you too.

Good luck to you, future PIO.

[Shaky & Blue]

I'm always glad to see another one come to his senses.

Good luck, and enjoy sanity.

[for whom the bell tolls]

congrats. i definitely admire your ability to move on to a new career. i wish i had the guts to cut bait and move on. but i guess when it comes down to it, i am too comfortable. good or bad, it is what it is. best of luck...im sure you will look back on the tv thing with some fond memories. but in the end you have to do what is right for you and your family.

[danesch]

Don't forget to make a tape first before you leave. You never know what the future brings. You may decide you miss it too much and decide to get back in. Or may want to apply for a different videographer gig.

Peace brother!

[soonershooter]

You're a total sellout.

Where do I sign up?

Best of luck.

[BluesCam]

Congratulations whatsatripod. It will be an interesting change I'm sure.

I'm looking around too. I have been in the biz for 22 yr., 15 yr. as a freelancer.

It has gotten old and so have I. I understand your
desire for a more reasonable life.

A friend of mine who was an independent producer, got out last year and went to work at the local Red Cross. He has already been promoted to a VP position and is very glad he got out. There is life after TV!

I hope your new job is to your liking.

Good luck with the PIO position!

[CHIEFPHOTDOG]

As a ex-photog, you can at least understand why it's better to interview you in a corresponding enviroment as opposed to an air conditioned building. Congrats.

[Curves Ahead]

Can i come?

[Smitty]

Congrats.

Best of luck.

Don't be a stranger!

[Deaf and Blind]

Well keep us posted I am sure many of us will find your experiences outside of the industry interesting.

Hope everything works out well for you.

cheers

D&B

[TheBluesisStill#1]

good for u. ive been trying to get out for some time now with no clear idea of where to go. i want to stay in the same geographic area, just want to make a comfortable living now that I have a family good luck to you

[PhotogFromFL]

Hey Bloody---when you decide to come back to news just remember our motto from WINK, "Don't f**k up!"
Good luck to you.

[exassignedphotog]

Good luck. Remember turn the scanners off, those metal items next to your plate are a knife, fork and spoon you use them to eat with and the people sitting at the table with you are your family. If this is a hard concept to get use to take your dinner slap it on a couple slices of bread, and go eat in the car while doing 80 in a few months you can slowly wean yourself off that.

If you see an accident don't feel the urge to pick up the phone and call the assignment desk. If you do feel so desired then at least call the competitions desk where they don't know you. This too will pass in a few months.

If you wonder what to do with all your free time, have your wife give you a shopping list with multiple stops, make sure there are stops on opposite ends of town at the same time and both are VERY important to her. Be sure she calls you with a list of other stops to make just as you are getting finished. She should also call you ever few minutes for a status

Better yet, loose all the phone numbers you had from the station. You'll thank me for this one, really.

Anyway best of luck

[High Contrast]

danesch
Don't forget to make a tape first before you leave. You never know what the future brings. You may decide you miss it too much and decide to get back in. Or may want to apply for a different videographer gig.

this is smart advice......a safty net of sorts.

[DERF]

Been out for almost two years and loving it. I still freelance during football season but other than that...I ain't going back! I eat meals with my family, I am my 9 year olds soccer coach, I don't fret about call-ins, and I can schedule vacations and doctor's appointments without worrying if I am not going to get it because I am too far down the totem pole.

I didn;t make a tape when I left (but I still work in a video field), but that might not be a bad idea.

Congratulations and best of luck.