Variety Pack-POD 194

Just got home from the gym. Did another 10,000 meters and set a PR. I am really feeling it, but glad I worked as hard as I did. In a twist of cruel irony, when I got home and turned the TV on, the Olympics was broadcasting rowing. Ouch. Otherwise, I’m pretty boring. Been spending a lot of time reading about photography and looking at street pictures. I guess I must really be liking photography again. I’m actually pretty stoked about that. Even better (as I’ve said before), no editors that think they have a clue about photography. It’s not that I don’t like feedback about my work. I absolutely cherish it and wish I had more. Especially the constructive criticism that helps me grow in my art. Unfortunately, you don’t usually get that type of feedback in the publishing world. You need to get it right every time. It’s all about money, not the art.
In my 20 years of journalism, I only worked with one editor that really respected and understood photography. That doesn’t mean that we didn’t have some real “knock-down, drag-out” battles about pictures. But he listened and respected what I and other photographers had to say. We stay good friends today, largely because of the respect we have for each other.
If the picture looked remotely different, the other editors I worked for didn’t have a clue. They were more concerned about making money versus putting out a good product. The two issues aren’t mutually exclusive. It can be done. But with inch count/space battling it out with advertising, the bean-counters usually won. Unless there is a strong presence representing the newsroom. Again, I only saw that with one editor. Yep, same guy.
Unfortunately, I see a day in which we may have no more newspapers. At least in their current form. Until somebody finds a way to make money selling newspapers online (which isn’t happening with too many publications), the days of print could be coming to an end. The journalist part of me will hate to see that day. The teacher part of me will continue to talk to kids about the importance of journalism/photojournalism and hope that we will continue to be blessed with the “grey lady.”

Photos of the day are a bit of a mix. I have some more street shots from Chicago. Stay with me, I have a few more days of street work. I shot pretty well, so I have a few to display. So I’ll have some iPhone and X100 photos. I also have a weird little photo that I took today. My son has more in his series of Chicago architecture and iPhone effects.

Twin Towers