Bumped into a Pro, a real one i think.

[Rick M]

Something unusual happened in my neighborhood of 22 years, a real serious crime. A few nights ago a Sheriffs car ran by and stopped around the corner. I pretty much ignored it as a traffic stop. Seeing many flashing lights about a half hour later, I went for a walk around the corner. Three houses down was a crime scene, a man was stabbed by another neighbor. I'm happy to say that is unusual for my neighborhood and also that he is OK. The suspect was later arrested and charged with attempted murder.

As I approached the taped off area, I was delighted to see a local newspaper photographer waiting for a shot. The Syracuse Herald Journal has downsized significantly over the past 10 years (as all they all have) I was very surprised (and delighted) that they actually still had a staff Photographer.

He was an older fellow with a straggly beard and a bit weathered. He had 2 cameras draped on him, A brand new D4s and a D7000. Naturally, I proceeded to ask stupid questions. My questions followed by his answers-

Wow! how do you like that D4s? - "It's ok, but it under exposes everything, although the histogram looks correct ".

I'd think a $6k Camera would be perfect- "wow, they bought it, I have to use it, I guess I should read the manual if it cost that much".

I'm kinda surprised you use the Nikon strap- "It came with it"

How do you like the D7000, I'm assuming you use that for more reach? "It's great, better than this new one".

The D4s had the most beat up 70-200 2.8 I had ever seen. It was almost brown from dirt and both rubber rings were twisted half off and torn up. Couldn't tell what was on the D7000, but it was in rough shape too.

It was an interesting encounter with what appeared to me to be a real old school photo journalist. A very nice guy who really didn't seem to care as much about the gear as getting the shot.

 

[Bill16]

And here I thought you bumped into a hooker! Lol But great story buddy, even though it turned out less racey than I thought it might be!

Sorry my friend I just couldn't resist! I'm so ashamed of myself!

 

[gqtuazon]

That is pretty much a common behavior for Pro journalist. They care less about the condition or cosmetic appearance of their equipment. As long as they get the shot for the publication, then it is all good. They get their money's worth with their equipment unlike amateurs such as myself.

 

[Scott Murray]

Something unusual happened in my neighborhood of 22 years, a real serious crime. A few nights ago a Sheriffs car ran by and stopped around the corner. I pretty much ignored it as a traffic stop. Seeing many flashing lights about a half hour later, I went for a walk around the corner. Three houses down was a crime scene, a man was stabbed by another neighbor. I'm happy to say that is unusual for my neighborhood and also that he is OK. The suspect was later arrested and charged with attempted murder.

As I approached the taped off area, I was delighted to see a local newspaper photographer waiting for a shot. The Syracuse Herald Journal has downsized significantly over the past 10 years (as all they all have) I was very surprised (and delighted) that they actually still had a staff Photographer.

He was an older fellow with a straggly beard and a bit weathered. He had 2 cameras draped on him, A brand new D4s and a D7000. Naturally, I proceeded to ask stupid questions. My questions followed by his answers-

Wow! how do you like that D4s? - "It's ok, but it under exposes everything, although the histogram looks correct ".

I'd think a $6k Camera would be perfect- "wow, they bought it, I have to use it, I guess I should read the manual if it cost that much".

I'm kinda surprised you use the Nikon strap- "It came with it"

How do you like the D7000, I'm assuming you use that for more reach? "It's great, better than this new one".

The D4s had the most beat up 70-200 2.8 I had ever seen. It was almost brown from dirt and both rubber rings were twisted half off and torn up. Couldn't tell what was on the D7000, but it was in rough shape too.

It was an interesting encounter with what appeared to me to be a real old school photo journalist. A very nice guy who really didn't seem to care as much about the gear as getting the shot.

I am thinking that if its not his then he doesn't care.

 

[Rick M]

I think when you handle work tools, you tend to be less careful. I know my staff likes to break things! Overall I think it is a combination of that and many years of use, was definitely an older 2.8.

 

[BackdoorArts]

I've obviously got my fair share of advice and opinion from my brother, who has been shooting news as a pro for over two decades. What I get from him is this...

• It doesn't matter what name is across the top, it matters that the people behind the name support the product, and one company is head and shoulders above the other in that regard (which is why I can't borrow his equipment).
• The equipment has to work well and produce results straight out of the camera. News photographers are shooting JPEG 90+% of the time (most 100%), so color, noise, and exposure need to be spot on because photos are meant to be sent in, not tweaked for hours when you're on a deadline. I suspect Rick's guy should have read the manual, if only to learn how to set that thing to get properly lit shots SOOC. Every camera has its idiosyncrasies, and my brother spends hours learning his equipment so it does exactly what he needs it to.
• Newspapers do not replace equipment, they repair it until it no longer functions.
• Photographers do not baby their stuff. The bulk of his newspaper gear lives in his trunk (which has 2 extremely thick chains and locks bolting it shut should the car's own lock be pried open), because it would take him 20 minutes to unload and another 20 to reload every day, and "who the hell wants to do that".
• Combine the two points above and you know why that 70-200mm looked like it did.
• Older guys are slower to adapt, so when they get used to one thing they like to bitch a lot when they get something new to learn.
• News photographers like to bitch a lot anyway even when they don't have something new to learn.

I could go on, but suffice it to say that the equipment we obsess over make up the tools that these guys use to do their jobs. They obsess and know all the stuff we know, and more (or at least should), so they know when something new does something they haven't been able to do. But they could care less what DxOMark says about it if it doesn't deliver the way they need it to.

 

[traceyjj]

Its nice to find a helpful/polite pro!
One of my cousins got married a couple of years back and asked if I would do her photos for her. As her and her now-husband were very active in a local football/soccer team the local paper sent a pro to get a couple of shots. He took one look at my Olympus 610 and told me I ought to "stick it on A for Amateur love" and not worry about any other settings! What an ass!