This year was starting to get a little confusing for me. At the start we were asked what industry we wanted to pursue and told if we did not know yet, we need to figure it out. I know for a fact that I would enjoy being a photojournalist. We have been told to research our industry and to take photographs which essentially fall into the chosen industry. Being interested in photojournalism and taking photographs of what I actually want to take photographs of would probably involve press passes, travelling round the country/world, being available whenever and having a camera on me at all times which is impossible because I don’t own a camera, I work so my availability is somewhat limited, I have no funding for travelling or the access to press passes. So putting what I want to do aside, I thought about what I could presently do, which effectively will help my career in photojournalism. Taking into consideration that my photography has generally been documentary, it was pointed out that I need to stop taking ‘aftermath’ images and focus on taking pictures of the action.
As someone not particularly confident in taking pictures of people this was quite a step, but it makes sense, if I actually want to be a photojournalist I have to learn how to walk around with a camera and snap away. Essentially I got lucky, I met some people who needed a photographer, at the time with no notice I only had a basic digital camera available to prove myself, but they gave me an opportunity. Eventually I found myself photographing some organised events, for Night/Style promotions. That first day I found myself waiting for the evening event to begin, I was dreading it to be honest and expected catastrophe. Initially I was pretty withdrawn, I started by taking a couple photographs of people I knew, then I realised I had to take pictures of everyone else too. I started to scan the room looking at the people, mentally predicting whether they would tell me yes or no and the result of my prediction directing me towards who I should ask. I was being irrational and I came to realise that very same night. As the night went on, the atmosphere was merry and most people wanted their picture taken and were asking me where the images were going to be uploaded, suddenly I was asking most people really. I realised how simple it was, ‘do you want your photo taken?’, and for the most part the people got together to pose for the image. And although the actual imagery is basically futile, the job was fun.
Unfortunately the night/style promotions at the lamb and packet weren’t doing so well, the number of people attending declined, so taking pictures of the five customers in the room would just make things worse and the weekly event was cancelled all together. The guy running the event teamed up with someone else to promote a less frequent party event in a different venue, this time Dance Deluxe was to be promoted in Persian Palace. It took a while before everything could get started and any dates confirmed. To my good fortune, the promoter I worked with suggested me as a photographer for the Dance Deluxe promotions and asked me if I wanted to take the pictures, I obliged. The event took place and I took the pictures, with results they were happy with. Interestingly I was contacted by the manager at the lamb and packet who knew I took pictures because he seen me photographing for the live events. He asked me if I could take a couple images of his pub for some advertisements he needed to put together, so I did. I also was asked if I wanted to photograph parties at Forum cocktail bar over the weekends, they offered me no pay but a free bar. It broke my heart, but I had to say no. Unfortunately my weekends are consumed by my actual job as a bartender and there is no way of taking the time off at weekends.
I never really thought about nightlife photography, it’s not particularly a reputable line I suppose, however I suddenly recognised its potential. I am 24 years old and have been studying my entire life, I have some of the most futile qualifications in side courses I have taken over the years, but I always loved learning and I always loved learning because I always took on subjects which interested me, like Photography and not something like Business management which is the kind of subject likely to increase both my chances of suicide and employment post University. Because I have always been studying I have never really taken my actual future occupation into serious and realistic consideration, because I never had to, because next year I would always be in either college or University with a side job as a bar tender to keep me going. This year is for the first time different, because next year I don’t know what’s happening and as comfortable as bar tending may be at the moment I’m not keen on doing it for the next forty years. So I say I want to be a photojournalist when I leave University and I do, but throughout the past year I have always known that the chances of me walking out of university and becoming a photojournalist are beyond slim. So I considered my options, for a while I’ve figured I would head somewhere else and work as a bar tender again while attempting to pursue a photojournalist career. However now I feel as though nightlife photography may be a key to opening up a sensible door for me.
My idea is to spend this year working on nightlife photography whenever I get the opportunity. It has surprised me how one opening has lead itself to another. I have no intention on dedicating the rest of my life to nightlife photography, however, this is an opportunity to keep me photographing when I leave University and not get lost in some other job along the way. The idea is that I will work as a nightlife photographer in the evenings, this will have the potential to lead to other events, perhaps more prestigious ones as I develop a decent portfolio. This photography will be my income while I to develop a career as a photojournalist. Through interviews I have conducted with photojournalists, it has come to my attention that breaking into this industry is extremely difficult and many have advised me to work as a commercial photographer on the side to survive financially. Personally I dread the idea of having to work in a studio and if I am honest I don’t like working with a large group of people anyway. I prefer to work on my own, often when I am involved in working within a large groups, I find I get lost and feel alienated and hopeless throughout the production. Photojournalists have also told me that they have produced a lot of unpaid work along the way, with organisations such as NGO. This helps the photographers develop a competitive portfolio for future paid employment. Another benefit of nightlife photography which I have considered is the fact that you don’t have to talk a lot. Furthermore, once I leave University I don’t know where I am heading. I am willing to go to most places. At the moment I have restricted myself to Europe, taking finances into consideration. The problem with working abroad tends to be the language, I am hoping such an occupation would not depend so greatly on how well you can speak a country’s language, additionally learning basics language skills of a certain country if opportunity arises should not be a problem, particularly if it the languages are Spanish or Italian.
So my plan is to focus both on photojournalism and nightlife photography. My passion may lay within photojournalism but nightlife photography is a means to an end. Not only has this photography advanced my confidence, but it’s also a fun thing to do, but just for a while. Fortunately from the primary research I have conducted so far it seems much of the equipment used by photojournalists and nightlife photographers are similar, which means the equipment I eventually buy along the way will be suitable for both keeping me in line with both career options and not deviating me from photojournalism.
No comments:
Post a Comment