THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EYE

Variations
Mixed in with these general categories
are numerous photographic specialties:
scientific, sports, underwater,
travel, architectural, art reproduction,
etc. Matching your skills and interests
to one of these niches may be
the most satisfying career path of all.
By specializing in one particular
aspect of photography, rather than
competing in a broader category, you
have a good chance of establishing a
clear identity and of focusing in on
a steady market. Word-of-mouth recommendation
is always a photographer's
best advertising. You stand
to benefit most from it if you earn a
good reputation for a specific set of
skills.
If you enjoy photographing buildings,
for example, you can make a
career of it, hiring yourself out to architectural
and construction firms or
to design magazines. If you're very
precise and detail oriented, you might
get into photographing art for
museums. If you like flying, you
might consider aerial photography. If
you prefer swimming, consider
underwater photography.
There are career opportunities in
photographic processing as well.
Here again, developing a specific set
of skills is recommended. Some photographers
specialize in a photographic
style that requires certain
processes, such as antique style sepiatoned
or hand-tinted prints. When
someone needs that particular style
for a magazine illustration or corporate
annual report, a specialist will
generally be selected. The same rule
applies to those who offer processing
services to other photographers.
Retouchers, for example, are paid
handsomely to fix mistakes or otherwise
alter a photo's appearance.
Skilled darkroom techicians, specializing
in black and white or color, are
highly regarded and well paid.
Finally, there are many other jobs
that don't require regular use of a
camera or darkroom but can, nonetheless,
keep a photographer "in
touch." These include selling and
repairing cameras, maintaining
photographic libraries or stockagency
files, curating in photography
galleries or museums, or even helping
to develop new designs, formulas
and processes for cameras or film.
Looking Ahead
In virtually any photography-related
field, the key to getting started is to
put together a winning portfolio —
an elegant, professional collection of
your best work. Your portfolio will
tell a prospective employer or client
what you can do, so it should be of a
consistently high standard — right
down to the details of excellent print
quality, good mounting technique
and slick presentation. If you are
fortunate enough to have some of
your photographs published (by a local
newspaper, for example, or even
in a school publication) these -
called tear sheets (as in a torn-out
page) — should be included as well:
Cut out the full page on which your
photograph appears and mount it as
you would a standard print, or slip it
into a plastic sheet. (Use part of a
page if the whole thing is too big to
fit the size mat you're using for your
prints, but be sure to include the running
head or foot that indicates the
name and date of the publication.)
Your portfolio should also be tailored
to the kind of work you're
seeking. If you hope to be hired as a
lab technician, emphasize print
quality. If you want to cover local
news events, include some good
action shots. If advertising interests
you, try to create some still-life photographs
that have the "look-andfeel"
of studio composition and
lighting. If you'd like to pursue fashion
photography, you might team up
with a friend who aspires to a career
in modeling — working together to
produce some fashion shots that you
both can use. And, of course, if you
hope to sell your work as art, then
your portfolio must show that you've
attained a high level of skill and creativity.
As you progress through this
course, it is a good idea to keep your
long-range goals in mind. It's never
too early to begin preparing for
them. Even if you have no interest in
a photographic career, your portfolio
is your own record of achievement.
And you never know when it
may come in handy, so you may as
well do it right.
Effective presentation (and attention
to detail) is vitally important in
any line of work. Mastering photographic
technique and preparing a
good portfolio will teach you valuable
skills which will serve you well,
no matter what career you ultimately
choose.
From Blurs to Big Business 31