Ed Lallo on Assignment
I have some issues with the young photographers of today. Correct me if i am wrong, but I just don’t see the passion for, or in, their work. While watching them covering different events, I wonder where their mind might be, because they seem more like automated robots waiting for a good photo to be programmed into their camera.
The men are afraid to get their designer jeans dirty, and the women wear heels and skirts. Photography is a dirty business. Great shots don’t happen, you have to dig for them. I guess I have just gotten used to living my life with mud on my shoes and dirt on my jeans.
As I have gotten older, it has become harder for me. I am questioning myself more if it is really worth all the trouble to crawl around on the ground just for one photo. When I sometimes take the easy way out, it bothers me for hours why I didn’t do it. I keep envisioning what the photo would have looked like I will know when I am over the hill when I fail to have those seconds thoughts.
A great photographer is like the Star Trek starship Enterprise, willing to explore places other photographers are afraid to venture.
We were just talking about this yesterday as the owner of the Inn Casie is getting married at said the best photo would probably be from the barn roof and we wondered who would do that!!!
I can’t speak for any one else, but I know better than to wear nice clothes while shooting ’cause invariably I find a way to ruin them! And I only use a tripod when absolutely necessary as I find that not being able to move around (and roll around on the ground, climb the tree, etc. etc.!) impedes my creativity.
Reminds me of the time you, one of the film crew and I fell knee deep in mud shooting at the Mississippi. Talk about dirty jobs.
Hi, stranger! Stumbled across your website and blog. Long time since I was a mere college student staying in your house in Bartlesville. Nice column. Hmmm. You talking about being dirty and photo of you on your back! You aren’t getting old, seems like not much has changed since those days!
-Craig
Ed,
Having worked with you on assignments around the world for nearly 20 years, I can testify that you get hot, sweaty, dirty and you put yourself into impossible positions … but, man, do you capture magnificent images!! Few photographers are in your league.
David