Dangers of the Job

May 6, 2011 photog blogs
It’s no secret that the life of a photog can be a dangerous one. Chasing down forest fires, tornadoes, gangstas and nudists comes with its risks, which helped bump the career to #4 on this year’s 10 Most Stressful Jobs list. Some may call us heroes, others… perhaps less than flattering adjectives (my personal best was “F’ing cockroaches!”), but it’s all in the name of journalism. Just doin’ my job, ma’am.

But one of the more hazardous elements to the job requires a skill that few have mastered, mostly because it’s impossible to master… the infamous backwards-run-down-the-street-after-a-subject. Yes, a big-ass bulky camera leaves you with many blind spots, and not having eyes in the back of your head doesn’t help, so you must be cautious when attempting this maneuver. But even the best in the biz have their off days… Gavin Maloof, co-owner of the Kings, provided one unfortunate professional with just such an incident…

So next time you see a courageous photojournalist running backwards down the street, feel free to give a shout if they’re about to slam into something (you people are usually honking and shouting at us anyway). You just might get a hug for it.