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Careers... |
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Photographers tend to specialize in one field of work. This is the trend followed by most, but not all, photographers. Press photography pertains to the vibrant world of journalism. The work is difficult and strenuous. Generally press photographers have to work in a hurry without much time to pause and think. Clicking has to be spontaneous and instinctive or the crucial moment may pass. Press photographers have to be on the move all the time, covering a variety of events. They have to be versatile in shooting all sorts of subjects and happenings. Hours of work are irregular and they have to be discerning enough to choose the best shorts of an event or subject. Photojournalism is essentially story-telling through pictures. The work requires journalistic ability combined with technical skill. There is a great variety of subjects and locations and the timings may be irregular. Photojournalists may cover various subjects such as the life of prison inmates or drought conditions in a state or schools at work in different places and so on. Portraiture is practised by photographers in studios, photographic studios prefer their subjects, say, men, women, children or pets to be brought to the studio for portraits so that they may get the benefit of proper lighting and background. Photographic studios are very busy with portraiture work, especially for social as well as official purposes. Sometimes, if people express a desire to be photographed under natural conditions and in a familiar environment, photographers from studios may take on such outdoor assignments. They then visit the clients in their homes or any specific spot to do their portraiture. The photographer dealing with portraiture work should be able to draw out the best likeness by combing professional skills with an understanding of human nature. Photographers working on portraits have to attempt to capture the most natural expression. Advertising photography requires good technique and sophistication. Advertising photographers are given certain instructions before a 'shoot' and they have to keep these in mind when they are deciding an angles and effects. Originality within the bounds of instructions is the hallmark of a good advertising photographer. Advertising 'shoots' are organized by the creative departments of advertising agencies which may be employing full-time photographers or hiring them from studios or taking on freelancers. Other branches of photography include fashion, industrial, scientific, medical, motion picture and wildlife. Most fashion photography is done by specialist studios or freelancers who are commissioned by magazines, fashion houses or advertising agencies and are guided by fashion experts. Industrial and scientific photography is varied and covers the cinematographic progress reports in industrial processes or laboratories. These photographs are used by scientific, research and industrial journals and by house magazines. Research organizations and departments of science and technology may employ full-time photographers or may hire them from studios. Medical research centres and hospitals require photographers to compile records of cases. The work is not at all hectic and needs persons who are not squeamish as they may have to cover operations and other surgical processes while they are being conducted. Wildlife photographers may be freelancers with specific interest in wildlife, nature and the environment. The work atmosphere is the natural one and they have to tackle vagaries of nature and the capriciousness of wildlife creatures. There is great challenge and sometimes danger associated with trying to capture on film wild animals in their natural habitat. Wildlife photographers need to be extremely patient and skilled in order to be successful. Their photographs re used by specialized wildlife journals, by the departments of forests at the centre and in the states, and also by magazines and publishing houses. Many photographers prefer to do the processing of the films themselves. Developing of black and white films is a mechanical process, while the processing of colour films is a specialized technique requiring special photolaboratories. The actual printing of black and white photographs requires great skill, while colour photographs undergo many chemical processes before the printing stage and the latter is easier as compared to black and white photographs. Setting up a photographic processing unit is expensive. Regular practice and experience are very important for any photographer. It is important for a photographer to know why he/she is taking a picture and what he/she actually wants. After that it is important to analyse a good or a bad result. It is not necessary to posses a very expensive camera but it is important than the person handling it is familiar with all the technicalities so as to achieve the best results. All photographers, irrespective of their area of specialization, should possess certain traits in varying degrees; perfect colour vision; artistic sensitivity; visual imagination; originality; an eye for detail and composition; good powers of observation; ability to work quickly even under pressure; self-confidence and the judgement to catch the right look; creativeness; patience; aptitude the interest; alertness; good health; and the willpower to do sustained hard work. Press photographers and fashion/advertisement photographers should have the ability to persuade subjects to hold the correct posture or angle and provide the right motivation and atmosphere for the most appropriate expression. Medical, scientific and industrial photographers need a scientific bent of mind and some manual skill. Wildlife photographers should have sufficient knowledge and understanding of nature and wildlife. They should be prepared for long stretches of waiting for the right shot.
Professional courses in photography vary in duration between three months and two years. There are certificate courses and diploma courses available at polytechnics, universities, Industrial Training Institutes ITIs, and in many private institutes set up by established professionals. Photography is a part of the course in mass communication (journalism and electronic media training) and it offered as a branch of specialization in most art colleges in their five-year BFA programmes. Some institutes and universities specify minimum eligibility while others prefer to train interested and motivated people with an aptitude for photography. Polytechnics and the it ITIs set a minimum eligibility of completion of plus two or equivalent level of education. Training in photography provides familiarization with all technicalitites such as right exposure, height, angles, filters, lenses, type of film to be used for various types of photographs and the developing and printing process.
Photographers have several options, such as: freelancing; working in studios; being attached to advertising agencies, government organizations, research institutes, industries, fashion houses and other specialist organizations such as newspapers, magazines, news bureaus, news agencies, publicity departments, and tourist development corporations. The emoluments vary with the nature of employment and the type of organization on works for. The most competitive and lucrative branches are advertising and press photography. Photographers involved in advertising work may earn between Rs. 5000 and Rs.10.000 a day. Other fields of photography have good but limited prospects and are mostly taken up as freelance work with some other sideline. Many aspirants also pursue photography for getting into the electronic media. To become established in the profession, along with technical training, one requires aptitude, interest and self-confidence.
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