Opportunities!
Since i left home to live with my girlfriend in Arica, i’ve been working (…) as a freelance. I’ve reading, too, how to be organized, brave, and visionary enough to work as a freelance and not to die trying. Honestly, i came here prepared to do anything i could do to make a living… filled with ideas: selling cool refrigerator magnets, webdesign, print, photo, figures in clay, heck, anything.
Well not everything has worked on wheels, we’ve had or good and bad weeks. But i’ve had my lucky shots, and i’ve done my best to mark my spot. I begun working in several projects, and even went on an expedition to shoot the ancient paintings of El Medano, several archeological photoshoots and got a job at the pre-press dept. at the local newspaper, La Estrella (The Star) of Arica. cool!
This very week, i received a phone call asking me to replace a dude in the newspaper, taking photos. I said yes without thinking it, I sure would not let this opportunity go. It was difficult at the beginning, to hit the street with a borrowed really expensive camera & accessories and not a clue of what it was going to happen next… People around me showed their willing to help at every minute, at any situation, but the real challenge was to manage the camera to get a good shot. I went for auto settings at first, but the second day i downloaded the camera manual from the canon website, so i could feel a little more familliar with the machine. It worked, but i really think that go from a semi-pro to a pro camera just like that is a little challenging for anyone. And the flash unit was no piece of cake either. So i’ve downloaded that manual too. cool.
But experience is vital in this, so at the middle of the third day i was capable to say ‘throw me the best you have’! sadly that was the limit for my temporary replace. But it was a good experience, i get to shoot a live audience celebrating Chilean’s clasification to a world cup, a few social meetings, a three ceremonies and a couple of context pictures and i might say i was good; but i could have been better. The coolest feeling was to grab the paper and actually see my pics on the pages with my name on them. WOW. BIG WOW.
Photography was always very important for me, even when i don’t actually go for it a lot… and lately has become into a real chance to broaden my resume and really open new professional opportunities. Now I get to see the big picture in the newspaper being in two areas, pre-press and press photo; i became more aware of the whole that implies to get the edition running on the streets at sunrise everyday.
Now I look forward to start freelancing in photography; i’ve been reading tips, tutorials, a lot of info about theory, and a lot also about gearing up: filters, backpacks, equipment, power and storage.
Sure its going to be a fun ride!
