On 31/7/03 9:01 am, "Swapan Mukherjee" wrote:

> Michael Wilkinson wrote on 30th July,2003 in response to Paul's posting:

>> Sit back and enjoy your image making. If its taking 20 minutes instead of 10
>> do some yoga or relaxation therapy and enjoy living a bit longer.

 
> Thank God , there are some sane people on this list ! Have often wondered
> reading the post of some of the most prolific writers on this list: they are
> all seem to be in a great hurry to achieve results. Where is the rush ? Is
> life that short ?

Many of us are professional image makers, who work extremely hard off-list,
and have little time to contribute on-list. Hence sometimes, we write things
in a hurry, while trying to help out others. We are all different people
with different lifestyles, I often forget that myself.
 
> Six weeks ago I acquired my first digital camera, Minolta's Dimage 7Hi, for
> doing my personal art-photography. Got a card reader, not because it would
> give a faster transfer rate than transfering directly from the camera but,
> simply because the camera is a battery guzzler. Also, the idea of the cells
> dying during a transfer, causing possible damage to the card, isn't very
> appealing. Oh yeah! As of now I have USB 1.0. Seems fast enough for me for
> now. Added an 80GB HD to cope with the 70MB+ panaromics I am doing. Will
> have to upgrade my old faithful P3 to a P4 soon, but I am not in a
> tremendous hurry. Right now, I am getting to know the little 'black beauty',
> which is certainly feature rich for its class.

Swapan 

I'm on best behaviour, and will try my best to not be impolite. Michael and
yourself seem very happy at your casual photography lifestyle. As you say,
you are taking "personal art-photography" I can't remember what Michael
shoots. Bear in mine though that we do not all shoot for our "personal"
needs. I'm a professional fashion photographer, I shoot for a clients needs.
A client who is paying me a lot of money to get the job done, not for my
pleasure. Often times I'm being paid to get the job done in a very limited
amount of time. A normal day, studio wise has 8-9 hours shooting time, extra
time is charged at expensive overtime rates. I can't charge overtime, I get
a day rate, no extras. Often when shooting fashion for one of my clients,
the Daily Mail, they want the job started at 9am and have the pictures in
the office by 2am at the latest. Usually shooting 10 pictures or more. A
normal shoot can be anywhere between 4-50 shots per day. Usually 30 max if
its fashion. If you do the maths and calculate how long it takes a model to
get changed have her makeup changed/hair changed between shots, it doesn't
allow much relaxation time. Though I often have a yoga stretch while they
are getting ready  :-)

So, when the Mail requires their pictures by 2pm, what would you suggest I
do, as a professional photographer. Sit back and relax, download my pictures
via USB, use a Powerbook G3? No, I have a fast firewire card reader, I have
two digital camera bodies, I have two G4 powerbooks, one of which is the
fastest currently available. I get the job done, each and every time. I get
booked therefore on a regular basis. I'm not saying that we all need such
speed in our lives, BUT some of us do. I consider part of me being a
professional photographer is having the equipment to do the job. At the end
of the day, the equipment is extremely cheap compared with my time, which is
not. Therefore please accept, that although you may be very happy with
"taking your time", not all of us are so lucky to have such time on our
hands.

My mistake the other day, with my response to Karl, regarding USB, was that
I automatically presumed, that all the other people on the list are
professional photographers, doing the same high pressure work that I do.
Hence, my amazement that a fellow professional was still using USB when a
�50 firewire card reader could be used. I have been reminded by the list
mom, that this is not the case, there are all sorts of people on this list
from all walks of photography and imaging and I apologise for forgetting
that fact. At the same time, though, please remember that some of us are
professionals in high pressure jobs and "time does matter".

Regards Paul
-- 
Paul Tansley
Fashion & Beauty Photography
London
+44 (0) 7973 669584
http://www.paultansley.com


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