Thoughts About My Failed Photography Career

Thoughts About My Failed Photography Career

A Story About A Washed Up Has Been

Not going to name names in this article. Its best that way. Sometimes, life is best, left a mystery.

Some Truth

I’ve been into photography for a long time. The last few years, have been pretty rough; and, I have not picked up a real camera in more than two years now. This is some of my story; about what I’ve done in my short life as a photographer.

Early Starts

My journey began in high school, taking photography in my freshman year. It was really exciting. Learning black and white photography. I enjoyed it. Wasn’t really very good when I started out.

A change in things in life; and I was going to a different school. I still wanted to do photography. The only option was the journalism class, taking photos for the school paper, and yearbook.

Then when I least expected it; had to change schools again. Only now, the school paper didn’t want a photographer, they wanted me to write. I was so lost. Got through the year, as a writer, i guess.

The next year, signed back up for photography classes; and continued through my senior year doing photography, and aced that class with A+ work, for the whole senior year.

After high school, I attended a local community photography school in the area. And after showing my work to one of the instructors, I was asked to display my work; in the feature of the year for the school; The Halls of Excellence.

So i worked for a few months to prepare some twenty or so images, for that project. And it went fairly well.

At this time, I was working as a pressman, running offset printing presses. My boss knew that I was into photography pretty heavy, and one of his clients was a Speedway motorcycle race track. With a little effort, I got to do Speedway motorcycle racing photography for them.

What I will say; that was one of the most exciting jobs i ever had. I was down on the track with these motorcycles, going fifty and sixty miles an hour; less than ten feet from my head, and camera. I enjoyed that a lot.

With some real effort; I was able to get into some publication for motorcycles and was published. That was pretty neat.

After those days ended, I wanted to do some other things; I was able to do a photoshoot for a radio host, live on the air; and, the photograph was published in the New York Times, on the front page; (below the fold.) They didn’t give me a photo credit for it. It was however a success that I had.

Then, there was another opportunity with some radio hosts, to photograph them live on the air. I won’t go into the details; other than to say; it was a total shock to me. You should have heard me freeze up; on live radio. They said it was funny; so maybe people laughed about it? Maybe.

I met a now famous singer, and took her picture (before she was totally famous); however the film didn’t turn out; and that was my loss. But anyways; I remember her well, and still listen to her music.

And there were some other photoshoots, that I did; but nothing major. After having fallen down, and damaging my brain; i took classes for a while. But never really did anything with it after that. I’ve played with making photographs, but that is all they are now these days. Just play.

You can see my portfolio here: Adobe Portfolio

Doesn’t look like I’m going to do much else with photography in this life. I’m thinking about going back to some classes; but it remains to be seen if there will be any actual taking photographs for me.

In this economy and saturated market; I wouldn’t want to be a photographer. And, about the only good that has come from it; was that year in journalism, where i learned to write. Because I’ve done more with my writing, than i ever did with my photography. That however, is another story for some other day.