This thread reminds me of the two times I just happened across newsworthy photo events, only one of which I had a camera with me. The Associated Press paid me a whopping $10 or so for the images which were transmitted nationwide.
That happened in 1961 or so while I was a photojournalism student at Ohio
State University. I was in my second year and all I could afford was a
measly Petri 2.8 rangefinder. The school provided us with Rolleis, but for a
carry-everywhere camera, I had my trusty Petri. It was actually a nice
piece.
In any event, one fine day while driving my dilapidated car down Lane
Avenue near the Ohio Stadium, I spotted a huge white bull lumbering down the road and passing slow traffic as it pretty much kept to the white line in
the middle. Then in my rear-view mirror, I spotted a motorcycle carrying a
rider and passenger, both wearing white lab coats, with the passenger
twirling a lariat. It was like something out of a Mel Brooks film, except
that was before Mel Brooks made any films.
Needless to say, as the cycle passed me and neared the bull, which by
then was ambling along the roadside, I pulled over and captured the
proceedings on my Plus-X and Petri.
The series of photos showed the cycle giving chase, the passenger trying
to rope the bull (which, by the way, had fled the nearby veterinary
college), the eventual capture and the roping of the beast to some nearby
construction equipment. The Associated Press bought the photos, which
positively thrilled me because it was my first-ever sale. If I recall, I had
to process the stuff, make the prints and even deliver it all to the AP
office downtown. And I was very happy to do it.
Years later, having left the photo end of journalism for a lengthy stint
at an editor's desk, I was enjoying lunch hour in downtown Cleveland where I
was news editor of the now-defunct Cleveland Press.
As I walked past Ninth and Euclid, I heard a yell, felt a thud next to me
on the sidewalk as a scaffolding missed by five feet or so, and heard
another thud seconds later as a window washer hit the concrete from eight
floors above.
I looked up. Directly above me, a second window washer was dangling by a
rope harness as some office workers were scrambling to get him inside. The
suspense and drama were palpable and were made to be photographed. I reached for my camera. Alas, it was not on me. I had gotten out of the habit of carrying one. And that, folks, is one of the last times I ever went anywhere without at least one camera within arm's reach.
Usually, I have an Olympus XA loaded with 800-speed film, or an Olympus
Stylus in a pocket somewhere. One of them, or something very similar, is
usually just a part of my wardrobe.
If I plan to actually take pictures as part of a walk, I carry any one of
a number of SLR and lens combos, depending on my mood. If I'm doing any
candid street shooting, my weapon of choice is a lightweight and handy Canon QL GIII rangefinder.
Quite often, however, the XA or Stylus is in a pocket somewhere.
If you have aspirations to have your breaking news photography published,
the first rule is to be able to take a picture.
Sorry for being a bit long-winded, but you have jogged some wonderful
memories here.
Ken
