As a professional news photographer, I have often jostled with others of my craft for the right position to shoot an image that would satisfy editors.
The situation usually reached its worst with prominent elected officials and heads of state. Fighting for position among a sea of photographers and television cameramen was part of the job. It wasn’t easy but it came with the territory.
Same for photographing celebrities. It’s hard to say which collection of shooters are ruder: News photographers or paparazzi.
Nowadays, as a shooter who primarily covers music, local news and high school sports in a rural area, such things don’t happen, right?
Wrong.
Now it’s a sea of smartphones held up by eager beavers that often block the view. They are often even more difficult to work around.
In a couple of weeks this madness will reach a peak during the five days of FloydFest. Everybody, it seems, is a photographer or videographer these days.
It this bad?
Not necessarily.
Is it a pain in the ass?
Yes, it often is.
The explosion of smartphones with both still camera and video capabilities has turned everyone into a paparazzi. All want to catch some of the action.
But, once again, it’s part of what I do and since I love what I do it’s worth it.