Again, there's the assumption that because I work in such a job, that I live in a rural area. I work at the state capitol-- the gov't complex. I actually have an assigned parking space--I get that for $10.00 a month, deducted from my paycheck. This is in an area with almost no public parking, and local decks charging upwards of 100 a month. This is one perk I'm expecting to eventually lose as parking is such an issue. As I said, I could walk to work...the walk home would probably longer, as I would feel inexplicably drawn to--ahem--perhaps a bar or two along the way, but nonetheless I could walk, or ride the bus.
Now, again--I'm lucky somewhat. I used to live in another county actually--not a rural one, but one of those liberal college towns...my commute was about 90 miles round, and took me down a congested interstate. My cars at the time were my faithful 1977 toyota corona with the busted odometer stuck at 200K, and a 10 yr old mazda pickup. I liked the college town, as I lived near a lake that I sailed on--and would often work a half day during the week and go sailing when few were out. I didn't like the commute.
Since I don't feel like I need a huge home, and I never actually had ammenities like dishwashers that some people see as an absolute neccesity- I was able to look at small, older houses and see them as something I could live in--not as something that needs to be torn down, as is now happening in the neighborhood I eventually moved to. Where someone absolutely cannot bring themselves to live in a 800-1500 sq ft house--instead they have to tear it down and build a 5000 sq ft box in it's place, with no room left on the lot. Now, no, I probably couldn't afford to buy a house as the property values have skyrocketed. Otoh--I wouldn't be buying a huge one anyways, or buying something more than I could afford or being strapped to debt. So it's a bit of a moot point anyways.
Which brings me to my last comment--David keeps referencing the "needs". I do some freelance work as well, when it comes my way & when I feel like it. I turn 99% of it down, because I want to make money when I do it--and for reasons I suspect are very similar to the ones voiced by the freelancers here--as I said I consider myself a pro, and like to be paid a fair wage. I have billed out at $1000-2500 a day, used all my own gear, and used no assistants--even when I had to rent spaces to shoot. Sometimes I am able to work out of my domke bag, other times I have to haul all my stuff using my pickup and it's a long day, that's a lot of work.
My cameras aren't the latest & greatest. I did a job once using a Graphic View II and shot the product on my driveway at night so I could do multiple pops with the strobes. My neighbors must have thought I was insane--my client never knew the difference and this is on a product that can be purchased to this day in any large bookstore. I see it in the bins all the time. I could have done a shot like that at work, in about an hour--it took me about four times that at home, because I had to rig a set out in my driveway at night.
If I had to work freelance now--as in today--I would probably opt out for a D3, since I use a D2x at work and am pretty familiar with them. I own a D70 though--bought it new when they came out. Again--I have shot jobs with it. I don't feel like the pauper if whoever hired me sees me with it. I shot professionally for years with N90s, and never felt that way either. I think it's a trap really--to see your equipment as the thing representing you. I know many pros think they have a clientele that expects no less than the best, whatever that may be--but guess what? I don't feel that need...
so as to this salary? what I find slightly offensive is the idea that whoever takes this sort of a job must be a young person, just out of school, living at home. Well--it's very close to my position to be honest. I have worked with an old timer who was in a position like mine--same grade even--for 30 yrs. So long, he actually maxed out the salary in the grade. He was in the PPA--considered himself a pro, worked his time and retired. This notion that these are "entry level" gateway positions are again--just an assumption on your part. In my experience, they're not. One reason why they're not posted often, isn't because they don't exist. It's that the turnover is so low.
so off to work for myself--my opinions only, even from home.
