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After reading the posts about professional photographers and
professional railfans, then reading more about how everybody takes all
this stuff so seriously, I thought it was time to chime in.
The word "professional" is one of the most over-used words in the
dictionary, especially when it comes to describing photographers. Yes,
there are some among us who make their living taking pictures, in
electronic form or on celluloid. But I would argue that a good many of
the folks on this list could be called professionals simply because of
the time and energy they expend taking pictures and learning about
railroads and picture taking. It is a continual learning process and
anyone who looks at it as such certainly is well above "amateur"
status in my book.
In my circle of professional image makers, there are those who think
they have done it all and shot it twice, and have no room to grow. We
generally refer to them as "hacks"...and it is painfully obvious of
their status when the open their portfolios or mouths.
Professional train photographers? Let's consider two books that came
out about the same time eight or nine years ago...the late Gary
Benson's "Rolling Thunder" and Danneman and Dolzall's "Spirit of
Railroading." Both are great coffee table books about railroading.
Benson was a full-time photographer who, subsidized by a publisher and
his other business of shooting equestrian competition ("horse shows"
to you folks in Rio Linda), traveled the US shooting some exceptional
photos of railroads and their environment. It's a great coffee table
book, and the photos are exclusively his.
Then look at Danneman and Dolzall's book. The photographs are
gorgeous, and one would expect them to be the work of "professionals"
in the same standing as Benson. Look at the photographer credit lines,
in addition to the ones shot by authors Danneman and Dolzall. What you
don't know about these other guys is pretty amazing...one guy is an
investment banker, another is a 727 captain for an airline, another is
a lawyer, a liquor salesman, a minister, a railroad engineer, a PhD, a
grass cutter...you get the idea. All these folks made "professional"
quality images doing photography for the love of it, in their spare
time.
So, by the very nature of your reading the postings on this list,
consider yourself worthy of the title "professional"...whatever that
means.
It means that you appreciate and enjoy good photography...regardless
of camera brand, film type or subject matter. And it means that there
are no right and wrong ways of approaching photography, because
everyone has the "right" answer.
So keep those questions and answers coming. Tell us your war stories,
whether it involves a trip halfway across America or a walk down the
street...true "pros" love to hear the stories behind the pictures. And
ask questions without any fear of sounding stupid...because you'll get
postings of about a dozen "experts" who all are certain they are
"correct."
And keep shooting, good weather or bad.
I'll shutup and sit down.
--David R. Busse,
SPORRS reader and contributor
Diamond Bar, California
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