While there are some NPN members who are full time nature photographers, I suspect that the majority of us have a "regular 9-to-5" that pays the bills and enjoy photography strictly as a hobby or as an enjoyable part-time job that earns a small income.
So what do you do for a living - what "pays the bills" for you?
I earn my living as a product manager for a large manufacturer of valves and hot-water heating system components.
Before that, I did a LOT of different jobs in different places, but spent the last 15 years as a newspaper reporter, editor, page designer and photographer, the majority of it spent within the Knight-Ridder chain of daily newspapers.
I'm general office staff for a large factory that manufactures air compressors. Its thoroughly boring but offers plenty of time to cruise photographic articles and how-to's.
I had my mid-life crisis about 2 1/2 years ago and left a career that spanned 28 years servicing large format reproduction equipment (blueprint machines, lazer copiers, digital imaging systems & large format HP inkjet plotters).
I now work for my brother's company as the Business Development Manager. We provide outsource sales & use tax compliance services for major corporations, with a focus on telecommunications companies.
Retired cardiovascular surgeon, did lots of training and competing with dogs until I developed an inner ear problem a year ago. Photography of nature subjects is now a big hobby and passion.
In the past I worked as a pharmaceutical salesman but after two decades decided I just didn't need the money that bad, LOL! For the past couple of years I've been working for a national brokerage firm selling consumer goods (Bayer, Colgate, Kodak, Alcon, etc.) Every morning I get to pick where I want to work, mostly within a two or three hour circle of where I live. Lots of opportunity to take photos, which I like. They pay my gas.
I am an Engineer and have a company that develops and manufactures SCUBA equipment. I have designed and built equipment for just about every brand name in the SCUBA market. If you're a diver you are probably using something I've worked on. Photography is simply stress relief for me.
I have a sales/consulting business for security systems and automotive aftermarket-about 35 years now. Pays for my passions diving and photography. Hey Charlie, I have been an avid scuba diver for over 35 years now ( military certified in 1969), curious which company?
I co-own a staffing agency with 3 locations in Southwestern Indiana and Southeastern Illinois with my brother and father. I have a BA degree in Criminal Law and wanted to work in Federal Law enforcement when I got out of school in 1993, but things didn't work out. I like having a VERY flexible schedule and being my own boss now
Posted by Dan Baumbach on June 9, 2008 at 10:37 AM
I work during the night as a housekeeper (environmental services) in a hospital emergency ward. It can get hectic there. But I do my part for patient care.
Nature photography is an escape or a relief for me.
Joined the Canadian Armed Forces in '89. They paid for my degree in Mechanical Engineering ('89-'93). After university went through the pilot training program where I learned how to fly on the CT-114 (the Snowbird aerobatic team aircraft) and the Bell 206 helicopter. Got posted to 408 Squadron in Edmonton Alberta and went on to fly the 212 Huey and the 412 Griffon. Got out of the Air Force in '99 and have been a stay at home dad ever since. Best job in the world. The pay is bad but the benefits are huge Started dabbling in photography in '04 and started taking it a bit more seriously in '06.
I've been a fire fighter for 22 years and am currently a fire chief for our small department at Columbia College. I am also an adjunct faculty member at the same school where I teach fire chemistry and physics, incident management and technical rescue. I plan to retire next June and move on to other things.
One direection I plan to take is to grow my photography business, and also find a part-time job outside the fire service. I will likely continue to teach, also.
Retired last year after 24 yrs as a national account sales manager for a large food packaging firm traveling North America and, to some extent, the world. Everyone of you have eaten something packaged in a container I designed and sold.
A major camping/photography trip to Alaska upon retiring was the perfect way to make the transition.
I will not be as successful with photographyas with work, but will try. The difference now is that the success need not be measured in monetary terms. Bill
Posted by Ken Atkinson on June 9, 2008 at 11:48 AM
I have been in production management in factories for tooooo long! Early in my college days I mentioned to my parents I might like to work with computers. They said no, you don't want to mess with that--oh well!
Ken
Posted by Sharon Menke on June 9, 2008 at 12:08 PM
I am a legal secretary for 3 attorneys that represent hospital and water districts in Southern California.
I've been doing the macro nature photography full time for two years now. Its one of the toughest in photogrpahy to make a living at, but by spreading out in different directions (art shows, wholesale to stores, gallerys, workshops, presention for camera clubs,fine art clubs and trade conventions, image and article sales to magizines, stock sales, sponsors) you can get by. Not a life style of the rich and famous, but you have a lot of fun and satisfaction in what you do. My wife is a school teacher so the burden of health care is taken care of, which would make it much tougher for this business work. To make it in this business you have to market the hell out of yourself.
Posted by Lance Warley on June 9, 2008 at 12:28 PM
I manage a department of IT Architects for a large computer company.
Thanks for starting this thread, Jim. Very interesting.
independent freelance landscape photographers and parents of two daughters fulltime and all the way for the past decade (10 year anniversary of Popp&Hackner in November!). portraying the diverse landscapes of europe and the (wild and scenic) landscapes of this planet. yep, it's a tough job, but someone has to do it.
update (in case that is of interest for anyone):
In life before professional photography Verena worked for a software company and I, believe it or not, made my income playing professional basketball. (since both of these have been my main hobbies anyways and I'm not very good in doing things halfheartedly, I tell people I never had a real job in my whole life...)
The transition of our past existence to the one we are living today? Well, don't ask, it's a long story...
I'm a patrol cop/bicycle cop/SWAT cop/detective/community relations cop/traffic cop/narcotics cop. I say that only half-jokingly because in a small agency you are not assigned to any one division. We each do a little bit of everything. We carry our SWAT gear, fingerprint kit and first responder medical kit in the trunk and draw on whatever each situation requires of us.
I'm also a part-time pro photographer who provides guided excursions in Arches & Canyonlands NP, produces custom photo itineraries, leads workshops and sells a bit of stock here and there.
I'm a research ecologist with the Dept of Interior--31 years and counting. I get to travel a bit doing work all over the country but am usually too busy taking samples to shoot anything but work photos. I've been into photography since high school (year book, etc.) and have had hundreds of my photos published in articles I wrote for the hobby press (model railroading). Nature photography is something I've always been interested in but never really had the time to get serious about it. Now that I am approaching retirement I plan to refocus a little--Larry
14 Years: Nuclear Engineer/Radioactive Waste Disposal/Commercial Nuclear Power
10 Years: Oracle and Microsoft Database Administrator
2 Years: Portrait and Wedding Photography/Studio
The studio came off of life support ahead of the business plan, even in this down economy where discretionary spending is not so strong. I don't get out and shoot for myself as much as I used to, so I appreciate it even more when I do. The boat is in the shop getting serviced for the season, so I'll be hitting the barrier islands a lot this summer. I've had my fat ass in the gym since November, and lost almost 60 lbs, so I'll be more capable of getting out there where the action is.
Ken, my two most profound statements regarding computers:
I was talking to my boss, also a FORTRAN programmer, working on our IBM 370's and DEC VAX machines, and we agreed that these new personal computers were simply solutions looking for a problem. Surely they wouldn't last.
Fast forward a few years. I was doing some consulting work at Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, and noticed another engineer with a 286 machine that had something hoakie on the screen; there was a clock, a "window" of some sort, a notepad looking thing, and he seemed to drive it all with a mouse. I asked what all that nonsense was, and he looked up and said, "Windows." I scoffed and told him that no "real" programmer would ever lower himself to use such a thing...
I worked as a Radiographer for 35 years as of 2 weeks ago It still hasn't sunk in completely that I am retired. I plan on devoting more time to photography and whatever else that intrigues me.
I have what my wife refers to as a 'checkered' past:
Left home at 18 with a backpack and my life savings ($50) in '73. Haven't been back except to visit. Years of travel via thumb and odd jobs. @ years in mid/late 70's as a freelance artist (water color/airbrush fantasy illustration, custom show bikes and van murals - it paid the bills). Sailmaker/designer and off-shore racer for several years. Put myself thru some college courses in the early 80's, landed a systems analyst/programmer job (FORTRAN too! HP 1000 mini computers in manufacturing applications), switched to energy management in development R&D, finally in high end property management for the last 20+ years in NY City and finally Manahattan for the last 7 years. Finally 'respectable'. Please don't spread that last around, I have a reputation to maintain....
Photography is a hobby that seems to pick up where my love for the arts left off in the late 70's and fills the gap left when I retired from racing formula openwheel cars a few years ago. I plan on expanding into a retirement job in about 7-8 years.
I've been working as an Electronics Engineering Technologist in the Oil and Gas industry for the past ten years. My work ranges anywhere from circuit design, manufacturing, repairs, to working on computers - both hardware and software.
Photography full time for the last 2 years. Most of what currently brings money in is portrait and wedding photography. Before quitting my day job two years ago I'd been working in real estate (marketing or finance) for most of the last 38 years.
A 30+ year career as a chemist, a small part of which was spent evaluating alternatives to hydroquinone as a developer. That project got me an in-house photo lab and led to Ciba Chrome printing after work, which led to weekend selling at art shows. After a 4 year stint as the First Selectman (mayor, to non New Englanders) of Salem, CT, I am retired and getting back to doing the art show circuit as much as time allows. I have also started to do dye sublimation printing on various non paper media such as tile and other hard surfaces.
I've just received my MSc degree in molecular biology and am going to start "real" work soon. If things go as planned, I'll work in a research lab in Barcelona, Spain until the end of the year, and start a PhD project thereafter.
I work for a rental company that supplies the motion picture, television
and commercial entertainment with grip, lighting and expendables. I
am the purchasing agent for the retail sales division of the company.
Some of the current shows we supply are "Transformers 2" "The Closer"
and "Private Practice". I have been in the industry for 25 years, and
still am amazed by the creativity, special effects, lighting techniques
involved in making feature films. As a photographer I'm very lucky to
have talked with many of the best cameramen and DP's in the business
and they have passed along to me many tips to make my photography
both more enjoyable and better quality wise. I've been very fortunate to
go on the sets and watch the masters at work. This is what pays the
bills for me, somehow it gets into your blood and you just can't put it
down. Great thread, good to hear all the different vocations from the
members, we are a diversified group indeed with a common thread
that binds us together! Take care to all.
Jim Arvanitis
Granada Hills Ca.
Very cool thread!
I always wondered what people on NPN do besides photography or if they were doing anything else because they come up with so many great images all the time...
The next thread should be about how you all balance your day-job with your passion for photography - which is consuming - time and intellectual power.
I have a masters in chemistry (organic synthesis) and I work in the chemical industry. More specific, I work in an R&D-department of "Borealis Polyolefine" - a once scandinavian-based and now Austrian-based company that produces plastic-solutions (Polypropylene and Polyethylene) for your life
I am not aware about the market-share of Borealis in the States, most stuff is mabye covered by DuPont, Exxon mobile, Basell, but Borealis has one site in Rockport. Anyway, Borealis products show up in car-bumpers, dashboards, food packaging, water and sewage-pipes, even in capacitors, cable insulations...
The task in the R&D department is to improve existing products and provide the market with new product solutions.
I am doing this since one year, so am still a greenhorn. This is the reason why I had to go to Linz - the joboffer was attractive and something equivalent was not available in Vienna.(Actually the company's headquarter is in Vienna, even in the district I lived in, the 22nd, close to Lobau), but I am not an economics guy so I had to go to Linz, where they have the Research...)
Anyway, this is not a 9to5 job rather a 8 to 6 job and photography is reduced to a weekend or a vacation - which is the worst part of my job...
I have been teaching high school English for 23 years. I love it and cannot imagine doing anything else--except nature photography. Since photography isn't likely to pay my bills, I'll stick with teaching a while longer.
I am a part-time adjunct instructor at a junior college in the Office Technology Department and we team teach office skills as well as Microsoft Office to students. I worked at Michaels as a framer and did 'carry out' for our local grocery store when caught between jobs. I worked for 10 years as a unit secretary in the local emergency room... a stay at home mom before that and started out as a county wide art instructor on the elementary level. Looks like it did it backwards or resume format! Newest to oldest as we teach students how to write resumes!
I am a Software QA (Quality Assurance) Engineer for a software company. Our company make software that performs systems management for encryption. Basically what that means is that we manage different encryption technology. Right now we mainly manage SSL certificate lifecycles on internet hosting platforms. Sorry for all the technical mumbo-jumbo.
It is interesting, I heard a show recently on NPR that talked about the need that we feel fo produce something, and to be creative. Though I take lots of shots that I am proud of, I really do little with them. I believe that merely creating soemthing helps to give me that creative outlet that I need.
I am a Certified Public Accountant with my own accounting office. I have had a number of "professional" photograhers as clients over the years and they never seem to make much money, so it looks like I'll be keeping my day job to support my passion/obsession for photography and travel.
I just <celebrated?> my 25th anniversary working for Hewlett-Packard. My last job was making pizzas while in college. I've been in customer field support my entire career and for the past half dozen years or so have been a Storage/SAN consultant for HP's Business systems/enterprise storage systems.
And no, I don't have anything to do with PC's, printers, scanners.... for support, please call 1800..... :-)
Nice idea Jim. It's great to read about everyone's "real job."
I'm a civil engineer. I run a small consulting firm. My clients are responsible for the relentless encroachment of urban development into our natural landscape and wildlife habitat. I spend my spare time trying to save it in photographs before it's all gone.
My wife and I own and run the Hood River Coffee Co. We roast coffee for restaurant/coffee shop type accounts and also have a retail online store. http://www.hoodrivercoffeeco.com
My husband brings home the bacon in our family, which I really appreciate, because after 30 years in the computer industry he really, really hates it.... He is a Network Administrator for local government. I work part-time at a one-man credit union (the smallest credit union in Alaska), just two afternoons a week... that's my kind of job! (SMILE) I take pictures just about any time I want, and mostly use them for making my own greeting cards and for sharing with family and friends about my life in Alaska on my internet web pages.
Would love people to buy my photos, but I just don't have the drive right now to run a business, do marketing, etc, with health issues. I did home childcare for ten years a long time ago and I really, really hate paperwork! So for now I just enjoy the pictures I take and "share" them with all. I HAVE sold some things, but as a hobby only.... I got my Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology (a very long time ago), and have always loved nature and wildlife. I just never had the opportunity to work in that field.
Barbara
Up until 15 years ago I was a small animal veterinarian. Since then I've been a full time Dad and a part time photographer involved primarily in stock....good thing my wife is working.
I haven't decided what I want to do when I grow up, but I've been a commercial attorney in Fairbanks the last 33 years. I came to avian photography from a fairly serious birding habit. My spouse tolerates it because it is more likely to generate income some day than my other passion, fly-fishing... Great thread, Jim.
UPDATE: Moved to Boise, Idaho in August 2015. Unsuccessfully retired as a lawyer. More light, more birds, more fishing. But, alas, more people, too.
I'm a senior project manager for an electrical contractor. We specialize in industrial work mostly in the Pacific NW. At this point in my career I'm trying to figure out how to afford to retire so I can be a full time photographer!
I've been in the piping industry for 34 yrs.. Union pipefitter/plumber, really love it, I never get stuck in one spot for too long and get to travel when I want. Ron
Well,
For me it's 50 hrs a week as an area manager for a telecommunications contract company. My division handles all the back up power solutions for the major telecommunications company in the Southeast US, as well as a lot of smaller projects for them. The rest of my time is spent trying to be a good husband and father to our four furry kids (two dogs and two cats). I'm also a competitive Triathlete and Adventure Racer. And do my best to find the time to click a frame or two when I need some "me" time.
I've been employed as a geologist for 32 years - now have 14 paid working days left until full time retirement.
It's been a great profession - sometimes hard to believe that someone was willing to pay me to have so much fun!
I expect photography will keep from from getting bored.
My wife has allowed me to retire, as long as I leave by 8 AM and don't come back till after 5 PM.
I do non-routine analytical chemistry in an R&D department of a consumer products company. My job requires creativity, but it has to do with working within bounds as opposed to working without, which is why I enjoy photography.
I am the Plant Manager for a manufacturer of Geotechnical and Environmental Drilling Equipment.
Matt
Posted by Ned Fenimore on June 9, 2008 at 10:42 PM
I am a senior Headend engineer for a small telecommunications, (traditional telco, cable television and advanced voice and internet services), in Oregon City, Oregon. I'm the guy who maintains the antennas, tower, earth stations, (satellite dishes), and all electronics that feed a cable system. I've been in the industry since 1981 and have worked from a 12 channel system in rural Oklahoma to a state of the art facility that will soon make the transition to all digital / IP based technology. In my years I have had the pleasure of working with many pioneers in the field within I work. It's been a great ride! Photography is my passion when I am not working or spending time with my best friend Nicole and two beautiful daughters.
Posted by Richard Hahn on June 9, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Jim,
Good evening. This is a great thread. There is such a wide variety of professions that all linked together by the all might camera.
I have been a Fire Marshal with the Town of Brookhaven for 20 + years and a per diem dispatcher with the Terryville Fire District.
Just finished my 19th year of teaching high school biology, chemistry, and geometry in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Stanardsville, VA. I do have more time in the summer for photography with a few drawbacks: the spring wildflowers are gone, its blazing hot, and the black gnats will drive you crazy.
Medical doctor for 8 years & freelance photographer. After studying my butt off the past 13 years, including obtaining specialist exams, I've decided that nothing beats the satisfaction of creating a wonderful image that you can hang on your wall and be proud of. The next few years will be crucial to see whether I can really "make it" in the world of photography. I have a small photographic company with Kah Kit Yoong, another part-time doctor. (If you're bored at work, visit www.magichourtravelscapes.com.)
Great thread!
I was an Advanced-practice Nurse for about 25 yrs, before I retired about 8 yrs ago. Now, I'm an educator/consultant for a specialty surgery area, mostly online, and very part-time.
Very passionate about photography for the past 8 yrs, and much more so after the digital evolution. Got tired of throwing out so much expensive film!
Sandy Richards
Portland
Update May 2011
I have moved back to Northern CA to Case Manage my elderly, ill mother's complicated care. The economy has reversed my "retirement" and I'm working again as an RN and struggling to find any time left for myself. My photography is the only thing keeping me sane lately! What a great group of people here on NPN.
I had one of the most interesting and stressful jobs in existence... a legal secretary. Deadlines... deadlines... accuracy. Retired at the end of last year and have centered my photographic efforts on one man shows. Hope some day to make enough to travel the world before I get too old to get around.
Photography... most of income comes fro workshops... mine and for other groups ( National(GAPW) and International folks..... that's why I am up and out again today in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge at 5 am and out earlier over to the Palouse tomorrow---- beats the 25+ years in corporate America though!
JG
I retired as a Lieutenant from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department in December, '99. I was with the Dept for 34 years and worked 18 assignments. My wife retired around the same time from her position as an Administrative Assistant to a Broker/Dealer. We moved to Central Missouri and haven't looked back. We bought 10 acres of pasture land, built our dream home and are in the process of making the property into our own private paradise. I do most of my shooting within our local area and the majority of the shots I have posted in CSNP have been shot withing 500 ft of our home. Life is good.......
Very good idea Jim.
To "pay my bills" also for photographic gear I have to work in a photo shop as a sales assistant. I sell all the phantastic photographic gear I cannot afford
Greetings,
Bertl
Posted by Richard Wong on June 10, 2008 at 11:25 AM
I was an ad agency copywriter, and now I am a freelance copywriter at a newspaper for the past six months. The rest of the time I'm working on the stock imaging.
Freelance no matter what you do is stressful. Not stressful from a schedule aspect, but all the money management stuff and the need to constantly sell your services.
Posted by Marc Dilley on June 10, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Thirty years with Washington State University as a Research Technologist in the Apple Breeding Program. I'm going to move on in September and remodel old homes. I hope to spend more time with my passions: hardwood furniture building, climbing, and of course nature photography.
It's very pleasant to know better persons that we identify only with their names. Bravo Jim! I was a manager in some companies and after ritired five years ago I am an adviser in the personnel field. And five years ago I also came back to my youth passion: photography.
I work as a high-performance cluster filesystems architect, designing storage solutions for some of the fastest computers in the world. Our products are used predominantly in media post-production.
Now I work there only part-time, since I go to school full-time, working towards an MBA in finance.
Retired clinical social worker, 20 years in health care, working with surgeons at a medical center serving four States. Taught graduate students and was program director for practicum students at our hospital site. Recently became a lay minister in our parish and help with pastoral care for elderly and homebound parishioners. Gardening and groundskeeping projects put a trickle of coin in the wallet. Photography fits in everywhere else! More limited this year because of gas prices putting the clamps on road trips. If I could learn to photograph falling rain, I'd be in the pink. What a wet, gray year here in the PNW...
I'm a statistician and social science research methodologist working in the fields of public opinion and marketing research. Basically, I draw population samples, design questionnaires and analyze reams of data from quantitative research and plan and analyze the data from qualitative research. I've been doing all this since finishing grad school in the late 1980s, first as a research associate for a private pollster in Evanston, IL; then as a survey director for the National Opinion Research Center, a non-profit organization affiliated with the University of Chicago (where I attended graduate school); and since 1990 as one half of a two-person operation based in Chicago's western suburbs. While public opinion (I've been involved at times in extensive political and public opinion polling and exit polling during local, state and national elections) is what I find fascinating, it's overwhelmingly the marketing research that pays the bills.
I've done systems development in one capacity or another for the past 35 years - operator, programmer, systems analyst, data modeler, project mgr., program dir. I resigned from a 10 year position as a proj mgr and prog. dir with a large insurance company about three months ago to take some time off and do more photography. I discovered math in my forties, I guess it's photography in my fifties. Go figure ... My original plan was to teach philosophy or Latin. (smile)
Pat
Posted by David Sparks on June 10, 2008 at 8:40 PM
A most interesting thread. I retired in 2005 after a 40 year teaching/research academic career. I taught undergraduates, graduate students and medical students at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). My research area was neuroscience. In retirement I've spent most of my time sailing and trying to improve my photography skills. I spend one month each year in China working with a former student who has established a laboratory at the Kunming Institute of Zoology.
David Sparks
I have been in the legal field for 22 years, working my way up from legal secretary to paralegal at my current firm. I just recently passed a professional certification test and can now add "Certifield Legal Assistant" or "CLA" behind my name. It was a very tough test and required me to sacrifice photography time in order to study My dad got me started on photography at a young age when he gave me his old SLR (after buying himself a new one, of course) and I've been tinkering around and learning since about age 12. Photography is definitely a stress reliever for me. In my current position, I handle bankruptcy cases, which as you can imagine due to the stressed economy, is very busy. Always a lot of pressure and deadlines to meet. Photography keeps me sane...well, sorta.
Posted by Bruce Painter on June 11, 2008 at 12:16 AM
For the last 23 years I have worked in for a yarn mill in the carpet industry, the last 9 years ( I think ) as a shift supervisor. Shortly after starting there I also started working part time on my off days in the B&W darkroom in a local photography studio. I printed b&w studio work but most of the work was copying and printing old photos. I did that until about 8 or 9 years ago. Digital got me back into photographing for ME. I have always loved wildlife and the outdoors.
Though my wife and I together "make a living" with our cameras, only about 20% of that is purely nature photography. A much higher proportion is nature photography only if you count shots of people enjoying or working in nature or simply people in natural settings. Even so, the bulk of our photo income is from studio portraiture, weddings, events and senior portraiture (virtually all by my wife), industrial, ad, location and assignment (which we both shoot), and scientific and PJ work (which I do).
I put parentheses around "make a living" because each person has to decide on living standards and how hard they want to work. Yeah, my wife and I could live on what we are making with the cameras, but it would be a larger step down than we're willing to endure. To sustain the more comfortable lifestyle we prefer, we'd have to work a lot harder than we do now, and frankly we like travel and days off. We're able to do that rather than punching a lot more hours into our photo business because we double our photo income through retirement income (I'm a retired professor and she's a retired business manager), investments, agriculture and more.
I would agree that this is a great thread. I work as a CIO for a municipal government in North Carolina. I've been in the technology field in many capacities for the last 30 years and ha've been in my current position for almost 19 years. I did do a stint (5 years) as a professional photographer doing mostly product photography back in the 70's. I did my undergraduate and graduate studies in botany but have never actually worked in that field. I currently do most of the photography for my local government employer as well.
The variety of careers/jobs is amazing! So many are so different that I think very few of this group would ever have encountered each other if it hadn't been for the common denominators of photography and love of nature. I have been a surveyor (land surveyor, highway construction and industrial construction on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and Marine Terminal), an operations technician at the Valdez Marine Terminal (got a permanent job after I helped build it), an oil measurement specialist, an operations advisor, an operations manager, a power plant & Vapor Recovery System manager and currently a pipeline wide (Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, Ak) oil measurements supervisor and allmost all of it with the same company (31 years). Photography has been a dream since I was very young but only realized about 6 years ago when digital cameras surfaced. While I make enough money selling prints to pay for the hobby plus a regular profit I still only shoot for two reasons. The first was to share, with as many people as possible, my love for the natural scenery in the area I live in and the second is a very pleasant side affect of the first which is stress relief!
Thank you, Jim, for starting this thread! Its nice to have some insight on the other side of people's lives. It would be nice if you could keep this thread handy so that we can go back and reference it now and then.
Ditto on the 'great thread'!
I am a meteorologist/forecaster with the National Weather Service, which also involves my fascination with nature. 10 yrs ago i was a Public Defender/Criminal Defense attorney in NY, a fun job but i got tired of prisons and crack addicts, so i went back to school for 5 yrs in NY and WA (UW) to change careers. Its only a matter of time before i tire of sitting at a computer, so my next career will likely involve eating or drinking beer (adam richman's job would be fun...) When not out shooting, im playing the guitar (dba Alien Guitar Abduction)
Thank you, Jim, for starting this thread! Its nice to have some insight on the other side of people's lives. It would be nice if you could keep this thread handy so that we can go back and reference it now and then.
Done! It can now be found in Archived Topics as well.
From 1990 to 2004 I worked primarily in the Balkans with 7 years of it in Albania, 3 in Kosovo, and the other years in the neighborhood. During that time I started lots of different projects from job creation programs, remote air strips, eco-tourism, etc in some of the most remote and poor regions to establishing large refugee agencies and inter-agency cooperatives. It was a very rewarding and often exciting time. Since 2004 I've been in Colorado and just finished an Masters program in Organizational Leadership. I plan to do consulting for international non-profit organizations with it during the slow winter months.
That said, my full-time job and only income at the moment is from photography. I picked up a point and shoot camera at some point in 2003 and in 2004, primarily through the assistance of folks on the RMNP forum, I started to learn about photography. I now have a fairly successful gallery in Estes Park, Colorado. Last year Skyline Press released my first book. I'm also working on building relationships with consulting agencies and am pleased with the way this is going. Right now we live very simply, but having lived in some very poor areas of the world for many years this isn't such a hardship. My photography still has a long way to go to reach the level of many of you on this forum, but with the help of this group I look forward to continuing to grow. Thanks for creating such a great environment, where all can participate!
For eight months of a year I'm a civil engineering student, and for the other 4 months I work at a landfill. Two years ago I worked as a land survey assistant for about a year, and prior to that I was simply a student.
For now photography is just a hobby, but I'd like to make something more of it (along with my writing) in the not-too-distant future.
Posted by Adam Schallau on June 11, 2008 at 11:31 PM
What ever I can to pay for photo trips and equipment.
Actually, I run the camera shop in Taos, New Mexico, and I'm a freelance photographer creating work for travel publications, calendars, annual reports, environmental protection organizations, among other uses. I also teach photography and Photoshop, as well as printing photos for other photographers and artists in northern New Mexico.
Posted by Thomas Biggs on June 12, 2008 at 8:58 AM
I am a Thermagrapher (The Snell Group) working in several Appalachian mountain states, which allows for the use of my "other" camera So I make my living with a camera, at this point though the IR camera is what pays the bills
Posted by Wayne Jones on June 12, 2008 at 12:32 PM
What do I do for a living? NOTHIN’! But NPN may help me decide if I want to start working again.
I should explain: After 30 years as a wildlife biologist, (plus 9 years before that in entomology research) I retired 12 days ago. For about 20 years, I was also a part-time outdoor writer (mostly a hobby). I used my photographs in the magazine where I was a contributing editor, and occasionally for my State fish and wildlife agency job. Now I suppose I will have to decide if photography should remain a hobby, or if I should work on making it a part-time retirement business. I’ll be watching NPN to help me decide if trying to make money through photography will spoil the fun I have with it now.
Working for the fish and wildlife agency was a wonderful career that I loved. But it really was work – sometimes 80 hours or more a week, frustrated by staff cutbacks and hard decisions caught between battling factions of the public. With promotions and increasing responsibility, I found myself turning into a bureaucrat behind a desk. The last few years were a far cry from what I started out doing 30 years ago, but I would not trade the whole experience for anything. Still, I am ready for retirement, and reluctant to get into anything that will bring pressures, financial concerns and deadlines. I suppose that photography is a lot like being a wildlife biologist – sounds like all fun, but it can turn into a pressure-filled job. If you ask me in a year or two what I am doing for a living, I just hope I can say I am having fun ... and not behind a desk again!
Posted by Zack Schnepf on June 12, 2008 at 11:48 PM
Very interesting thread.
I've been a full time landscape photographer for a few years now, still trying to figuring out a very tough business. Now I'm a full time parent/photographer. My wife and I keep our costs pretty low, and both only have to work part time, our house is paid off and we don't have any debt which helps a lot. I'm certainly not getting rich, but my life is incredibly rich, being able to spend everyday with my daughter and photograph for a living is a dream come true.
I've recently switched careers from a Meteorologist to a Science Teacher in the great state of New Hampshire. In the past, I've worked as a meteorological consultant and a forecaster both in the private sector, and most recently as a weather observer at the Mount Washington Observatory, the location that helped me develop my love of, and talent for photography.
Teaching pays most of the bills, but as a first year I am finding myself increasingly enticed by the prospect of responding to Craigslist ads for general labor...
I hope to make photography a percentage of my income in the future, and am kinda stuck on the inertia required to make the next step...
I'm retired now for several years from university teaching - I finished up running a postgraduate course in Art Gallery and Museum Studies. Always had some interest in photography but now have the time to develop it into a proper hobby.
Nice through this thread to have a bit more flesh put on the folks who post on this marvellous site !!
Posted by WAYNESIMPSON on June 13, 2008 at 6:02 PM
I have been a graphic designer for about 7 years, and started teaching myself photography about 4 years ago. I work for an oil company in Calgary as half graphic designer and half event photographer. I also have a small portrait and wedding photography business on the side which caters to people who appreciate nature and preffer to have their pictures done in natural environments. I keep my landscape work on the same website because I think it adds to the feel of the site, and attracts the type of clients I want to work with. In a few months I plan to get out of the ugly corporate world of oil and gas and go full time with my photography. My wife and I will be moving to Stratford, Ontario to be closer to family and start one of our own. I feel that my strength is my diverse portfolio and am confident (and a little scared) that I can make it as a full time photographer in a new area. To feed my soul, I plan to continue doing landscapes and explore more great locations any chance I get.
According to the state of Texas I'm an Optometric Glaucoma Specialist practicing in a surgical ophthalmology practice in Houston. My boss can't trust me with sharp things or lasers but if medication will fix it I prescribe it. Actually, I do all the dirty work for the surgeons and they grab all the glory. Getting to work with and observe the magic of the human vision system for pay and then seeing the magnificence of the creation through my viewfinder are incredible blessings and confirm to me every day that God is alive and well and everything He created is very good. >=))>
Posted by Kent Mearig on June 14, 2008 at 12:48 AM
For the past four years (with different parts overlapping) I've been teaching high school mathematics in various capacities including, substitute teaching, instructing in a juvenile detention center, and most recently full time in the HS from which I graduated. Next year I will be helping to start a brand new HS (scary in a city that has had only one for so long), which is very exciting. I'll also be developing a curriculum and teaching one digital photography class next year with potential to expand to an additional course in landscape photography. Teaching HS students something they're interested in (even excited about) will be a pleasant change.
Gross income from photography related business has been essentially none, but I remain optimistic and have some plans to begin leading excursions through a local guiding company by next summer. When I'm not scheming was to fit photography into my life on more occasions, I'm getting ready to welcome my wife's and my first child (a girl) in to the world in about a month. Like Bill just mentioned, I'm profoundly aware of the ways God has blessed me regardless of the ups and downs we all face at some time or another. I also feel very lucky to have gained a connection to you all through NPN.
I am actually not a "9 to 5"er. I am a GM of an Old Navy in MA. So that means that I work a varied schedule of 40 hours a week. One good thing about working for that company is the amount of time off they give seasoned GMs. I have 5 weeks of paid playtime a year to go out and photograph.
I have also sold several of my images and appeared in magazines. But do not consider myself a professional by any stretch.
Don
Posted by Roger Rouch on June 16, 2008 at 12:20 PM
I've had two interesting careers. After college worked for several years as a fisheries biologist for various state and private concerns. Then spent 20+ years at the Coors Brewing Company in Golden, Colorado. My most recent position was as a brewing analyst in the quality control department. A few months ago I took "early" retirement and have been kicking back, fixing up the home, and travelling. And of course taking photos when time allows.
How great to read about the diverse careers for NPNer's...I was bookkeeper/salesperson/part owner (with husband) of a 3rd generation men's clothing business and family shoe store. Don't ask how a mens clothing and family shoes business went together Long story...after 28 years in the Mom/Pop business, my husband and I closed up the shop (our kids didn't want the business, Thank God). That was in 1999. I started my passion for photography that year and I haven't slowed down since. I've worked in the tax prep area (H&R Block) for 6 years now. From January 1st to April 15th, I'm swamped but then I'm retired for the rest of the year. I've sold some images and will never make a living out of it. That's okay...the joy I derive from photography is fantastic. I'm super lucky and happy
I was employed by IBM for 25 years managing IT centers and working as a marketing director for the Western U.S. I started my photography buisness in 1987 and accepted a retirement bridge program from IBM in 1991 and went full time with the photography.
We did many things at that time to include a gallery, stock, Art shows, freelance newspaper work etc.. We were doing approximately 18 shows a year which was the major part of our income.
Last year we retired our outdoor shows as my body started to wear out. We still sell out of 3 galleries, some stock, internet sales, and a few indoor shows. (Thank goodness for Social Security)
Its been and still is a great life!
Posted by Brad Mangas on June 20, 2008 at 12:54 AM
Industrial Maintenance Electrician for the last 20 years. A graduate degree from a Technical College in Electronic Technoloies 1985. Worked for 4 different companies in that time same roll, and now employed by Schlumberger http://www.slb.com in Lawrence Kansas for the last 2. Became serious about my photography only about 2 years ago.I have decided that photography whether it becomes profitable or not will be my journey into my golden years with as much enthusiasm and love as my life allows me to put into it.
Brad
Posted by Peter Conway on June 20, 2008 at 11:39 AM
I want to echo the "great thread" chorus.
I am President of a very high end office furniture company. In addition we have Conway Arabians run mostly by my wife. We breed raise and train Nationally competitive Arabian Performance Horses. We also breed an occassional litter of Collies and show them as well.
Photography is an escape and a creative outlet for me,
Peter Conway
Posted by Ted Griffith on June 20, 2008 at 12:36 PM
I retired from the Colorado State Patrol November 2006 after 21 years (12 as a road trooper, 9 as field sergeant) to start my own business as a certified financial counselor. Since that doesn't completely pay the bill yet, I also work as an assistant safety director for a trucking company.
I have "dabbled" in photography for over 40 years, starting with a Kodak Brownie camera. While not a professional yet, maybe someday.
Being a student counts, right? I'm a junior in college, but in 2.5 years or so I'm hoping to be a high school science teacher. Other than that I just pick up the odd job here or there if I feel like I need more money. Last summer I was a research assistant at the university (where I decided research wasn't the right field for me), the summer before that I helped my great aunt in her store in Door County, WI. I've managed to accumulate a few essentials for photography, but am looking forward to having a steady income to support this expensive hobby...
Wow
It has been a while since I have posted or been on the site (very busy) and I always miss it.
This thread is so cool.
I am a teacher in a high school in Montreal and have been for 30 yrs. I now teach Math and Phtography/Photoshop course as well. I am also a scuba instructor but am not active this year. Presently looking to find something (related to photography) to do after I retire.
Cheers
Rick T
I’ve taught middle-school science for the past 8 years. I’m two classes away from getting my Master’s in administration, but I am now in the process of trying to decide whether or not I will go back in the fall to teach. I love teaching science, but as the years progress I have been forced to do less teaching and more parenting (to my students). My wife and I have no children.
My passion in photography is starting to pay off and my wife has her doctorate’s degree as a pharmacist and she works at our local hospital.
Posted by Joyce Harman on June 25, 2008 at 12:46 AM
I am a holistic veterinarian who works on horses, a few cows and a few dogs for the last 20 or so years. Get to spend my days driving through beautiful countryside near the Shenandoah National Park, so can stop and take photos when i am not too late to a clients house. I also raise Scottish Highland cattle and sell meat off the farm (they are very photogenic). Am starting a part time nature photography business, would love to go full-time, but that is not yet in the cards. The vet business can buy a lot more lenses than the photo business right now :).
Enjoy life is my motto (my truck license plate says LV LIFE)
Joyce
Semi retired restaurant owner. Work took a toll on my back. Love to be outdoor and take photos. Live in Bend, OR. smack in the middle with the Central Cascade Mountains as a backdrop, with alot of rivers, lakes and wildlife. Hope to capture it all.
I'm a surveyor for the Dep't. of the Interior who works outside every single day, mostly on and around the Navajo Nation. This allows me to see some beautiful country that few non-natives get to see.
I am in love with my job.
Posted by Leann Greene on June 27, 2008 at 9:33 AM
I work for BASF "the chemical company"-old motto was "we don't make the things you buy,we make the things you buy better" The facility I work at makes powder paint coatings. Instead of a liquid solvent based paint we make a powder paint that is safer. I work 3-4 days in 12 hour shifts so I have long weekends for shooting
Well, hubby makes loads more than me but my income is from freelance photography, teaching photographer at the local arts center, and writing the photography section of About.com (http://photography.about.com)
I am a salesman for major appliance and electronics. My passion, however, is photography. I hope to someday make a living from it.
Posted by Brent Murphy on June 30, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Thanks for the interesting thread!
I've been an architect in Denver, Colorado for almost 10 years, after moving out here from Akron, Ohio. The scenery is much better out here. Nearly all of my work is in the healthcare industry, mainly in the Rocky Mountain region. It's nice to have both a job and a hobby that allow me to be creative.
What a cool thread! My full-time job is as a water operator for the county I currently reside in. It involves performing various testing and maintaining the quality of the water in some local schools and surrounding areas. I can retire in a little less than two years.
Then maybe full-time nature photographer with more than the occasional sale that I now make.
Great discussion thread, but... is there anything else but photography!?
I would say what I'm doing to "make a living" is in transition. I'm currently a web marketing strategist for a technology company in silicon valley transitioning to a career in photography. It's quite a ride.
Well for the past five years I've only been working as a half-serious landscape photographer with a web business though that has only shrunk my bank account haha. Actually I am going to have to get a real job again this month to reverse that flow for a few years again. Although when working I might have a title as a test engineer I don't have a degree. I've worked as a techinical peon assisting electronic hardware design engineers in Silicon Valley for over three decades. My specialty is debug of complex electronic hardware under engineering development and regularly write test code in C. Worked for several companies some of which were starts ups that went belly up while others are still household names. Products from video broadcasting gear, to UNIX computers, to routers, and more. A lot of the Internet packets moving bits across your screens right now are going through router products I once hung monstrous tangled logic analyzer setups atop. That said I'd rather just be a dirtbag with a camera about Bishop, Moab, or J-Hole.
Retired after 14 years from webmaster/designer for Tennessee Supreme Court. Also spent some 13 years as a professional musician.
Now I can spend more time than money on my hobby of nature photography (if Nikon stops putting out new models!)
Posted by Mary Dempsey on July 5, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Great thread!!!
I have been a RN working in Labor and Delivery for the past 30 years. 17 of those, I delivered babies at home working with Doctors in Chicago. I have also done stints of "School Nurse" , "Camp Nurse", "Office Nurse" and I started my own business as a Childbirth Educator. Now we live in the PNW and I am working at the local hospital and have been blessed to be able to "catch" 3 of my four grandchildren. I am also a Massage Therapist and a Proffessional Clown although I haven't done the clown thing in a few years. We love to camp and backpack and so photography was just the natural next step.
You are all a great bunch of people!!! It is an honor to get to know you.
Mary
Posted by Todd Liotine on July 5, 2008 at 12:52 PM
I have a screen printing business in the San Diego area (www.brandinkprinting.com). We do printing for some major action sports and MMA companies. Photography has always been something I really enjoy with my focus on landscape, travel, and nature with some portrait work. I also have been assisting on photography workshops in Death Valley, Sierras, and Costa Rica as well as doing assignment work here and there.
Drove big rigs for 27 years .
Then in sept 2005 I became a full time caregiver, for a ailing mother who had a stroke . The cost of keeping her in a 'NICE'' place was more than her income . So why pay a perfect stranger $$$$$$$ to do something i could and should do BETTER. Thought i am making 1/2 of what i was making driving , this is the most rewarding ( and hardest ) thing i have ever done. Very thankful for the opportunity to repay my mom for all her kindness . I also have a very understand and kind wife giving me support in this endeavor .
Photography , hunting and fly-fishing are a few of the things that keep me from going crazy !!!
I have had three careers. Law Enforcement( Homicide Detective)-eight years, Greyhound Bus driver-15 years, full-time photographer for high school/college yearbook company-22 years, and free-lance photojournalist-five years.
I've worked as a Radiologic Technologist for the last 16 years, splitting time between diagnostic radiology, CT Scan, and Nuclear Medicine. I took up photography almost 3 years ago after a divorce. Photography has turned out be a great hobby, and helped me through the low days after the divorce. I'd like to sell a few images, but I know it will never turn into more than that. I'm lucky to now have a very understanding wife who even will go out shooting with me on occasion :).
I am a corporate communication specialist (writer, editor, photographer, etc.) for an electricity generation and transmission cooperative. Got into this field after 15 years as a newspaper writer, editor, photographer.
Rick Moore
Bloomington, Indiana
Posted by Peter Woods on July 11, 2008 at 12:25 PM
I work for BT (British Telecom) with the title "Workflow and Allocation Complex Control Manager"
Posted by Jeff Hackett on July 11, 2008 at 5:50 PM
I am a masonry craftsman and an aquarius. I build anything that uses brick, block, or stone and have been doing so for the past 17 years. Also I make a SMALL income through sales to calendars, stock, and a few prints.
HI, interesting topic,
I am an electro techicien and work already 35 years for an electriciti distribution compagny (Eandis) in Belgium, most of these years i was on call one week a month, day and night to (try) solve customers problems, since two years i have another les demanding (no nights) job . Have always been interested in photography, took it up again more frequently at the begining of the digital age, and hope to go full time for it when retired
I am an Environmental Scientist working for the USGS, primarily involved with modeling future land-cover change, and working with partners to look at resultant effects on issues ranging from biodiversity, carbon, and climate.
I'm working at an adventure travel agency in Cusco, Peru. Before that I was working for 3 years in advanced Photoshop at a digital photo studio in Cape Town, South Africa. Before that as a flora/whale nature guide in the Gansbaai area of the Western Cape, South Africa. Have also done product photogaphy and co-ordinated mammal research in the Peruvian Amazon. All the while with a few publications of images and illustrated articles and now with stock at Gallo/Getty images. Now working hard to finally go digital after my Eos 3 (will ANY digital camera have eye control focus/exposure??) - I know it will cost a small fortune to get a new body & lenses! Would love to be able to concentrate full-time on my photography, but just don't have the bucks to go digital properly yet (picture libraries only accept images from a certain range of cameras) - when that happens there will be no stopping me! For now, I need to still buy film & send to Lima for processing as I'm living in Cusco, Peru with my wife who comes from this city. My website is www.mikeonlocation.com, would appreciate any comments.
Mike Langford
Cusco, Peru
url]http://www.mikeonlocation.com[/url]
Posted by Dennis Plank on July 18, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Extremely interesting thread! I started out as a research engineer at a large aerospace company and drifted into the patent world nigh onto 20 years ago. I spend most of my days keeping an eye on the attorneys who write our patent applications and assorted other psuedo-legal stuff. I get to see tons of fun new stuff, and it pays the bills nicely.
I work for a large school system as an Accounting Technician responsible for the employee benefits payments and budget statements. I've been with the schools for 20 years and am looking towards retirement. I hope to make photography part of it as it is my creative outlet. I sell some of my images through art galleries and festivals.
I'm in Business Continuity for a major hotel company. Focus is on Emergency Preparedness, Crisis Management, Disaster Recovery and Buseinss Resumption.
I'm always impressed with the people here. If oil shortages cause society to crumble, I suggest we form our own country. (With the ivory-billed woodpecker as national symbol, of course)
Currently, I've somehow become a record producer. My long-time job was owning a software company that designed and sold products for customer service. I also have a lot of education and experience in horticulture and organic gardening. I'm divorced with 3 kids. My girlfriend is terminally ill with cancer. This has kept me away from NP for the last 18 months. Probably more than you wanted to know......
Anyway, I've sold landscape photography at times over the years. I'm considering doing an art fair tour next year.
I´m a music teacher in our municipal music-school. I teach brass instruments and conduct one childrens windband and one municipal windband. Does this makes sense? My interest in landscape photography got a boost when I discovered this highly inspirational website!
Rune Hansen
Posted by Cliff Dodge on July 27, 2008 at 12:44 AM
Well i commercial fished in Chignik Lagoon AK. for ten years after i got out of school in '74, thats 1974....then played with carpentry and am now a civil servant working as a crane operator for the last 23 years for the navy. I operate both mobil and portal cranes. Yes sir, the riggers really look up to us! :)
Currently a web designer (past 13 years) and fast-food restaurant owner. I am transitioning into being a rancher and living on the ranch, where I will be able to walk out my back door to take photos. I am a very amateur photographer/birder and just "graduated" to a Nikon D80 (need to go back to college!!!).
In a previous life I was a national CADD trainer and technical support manager for an architectural/engineering firm.
Retired LPN, but for the first part of my life I devoted myself to being a mom. Then after a divorce, I became a drifter from job to job trying to support myself. Finally, I decided to return to school for my LPN license .Now I am married to a most wonderful man who supports me and my passonate photography habit, although I do sell enough to make most of my expenses. He enjoyes going to the shows as much as I do and is a great supporter of my work.
Biology student at Dundee University, I pay the rent by doing gardening in the summer. I've been photographing for about 18 months now. Hopefully one day I might make some money but I still have plenty to learn.
Posted by Fred Stearns on August 3, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Control System Engineer mostly associated with electric power generation. I get involved in other industries too. It does keep life interesting.
Posted by David Boston on August 5, 2008 at 12:36 PM
I live in Texas and work in dangerous goods regulatory compliance, specializing in explosives regulations. Photography is my escape from from the reality of that world.
I love landscape photography, especially in the mountains and also enjoy wildlife photography. I've been shooting most of my life, got very interested in 1981 with purchase of a Canon AE-1. I've progressed through various Canons and a Bronica ETRs until I finally settled on my Canon D-60, which was a 25th anniversary present from my wife (we're now up to 31 years).
Great thread. I've always wondered how everyone else paid the bills. I am the Disability Services Manager for two professional sports teams and their facilities. Don't tell anyone but I'm eligible for full retirement in September.
Guerry
Posted by Jay Martin on August 7, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Great thread Jim! It's pretty wild to read through the variety of careers - it's great. I've been lucky and have been able to make a living as a Wildlife Biologist in several areas of the country. I'm currently working in the incredibly diverse mountains of West Virginia and loving every minute of it.
Posted by chris hajee on August 8, 2008 at 3:54 AM
after a career in advertising I am for 12 years now a security officer
Posted by Mitch Moraski on August 9, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Prior to Sept of 2007 I owned my own photo lab and gallery here in Central VT for 15 years. It was great. My customer base was the best! I don't miss the long hours, but I do miss the smiling faces. I conducted numerous nature photography workshops. I had great success. The digital age came along, and I decided it was time to shift gears and work a 9-5'er. I now work for as an Imaging Specialist for the Vermont Forensics Lab. This entails working with stills, video as well as my contribution to the Latent Fingerprint Department in digital capture and PS applications. The down side...crime keeps me employed. A steady paycheck, bennies (pension!), vacation, sick leave, comp time ...WOW what could be better! Winning the lottery and doing my nature photography fulltime!! I am a single father of two wonderful children, Ryan, 17 and Hannah, 14. Both in HS.... and where does the time go! I want to get back to teaching, as well as inviting some of you great members to VT for some great photography. I look forward to this time together.
I am a marine/freshwater benthos biologist from the west coast of Canada. Just bought myself a DSLR a couple months ago and am really enjoying it.
Hi everyone. http://afearonwood.smugmug.com/
From twenty years I am Chest Physician in the Hospital of my town ( Livorno-Italy ).
Photography is a great passion and an effective cure against stress and ugly things I often observe.
Giorgio
Posted by Larry Fischer on August 19, 2008 at 8:47 AM
Taking a good digital photo often requires that one expose "to the right". In reading these varied fields of endeavor I find that most write well. To me that indicates people with more than a passing interest in photography are "to the right" on the bell curve... That's a compliment, guys and gals. Anyway, I've enjoyed looking at everyone's jobs and interests. I'm a veterinarian. Two years in the USAF (1971-1973) after graduation and private practice ever since. Would like to retire and delve into my many interests (golf, hunting, fishing, backpacking, woodworking, painting, guitar, etc.) but the midwest isn't the greatest for DVM income. Looks like I'll be working into my 70's. Went through the F1 to F3 Nikon SLR's and a Hasselblad but did not enjoy digital until recently. My D300 has rekindled my former interest and I have some "glass" to play with.. Sorry, but point and shoot digital cameras were/are not my bag. I'm looking forward to attaching the D300 to my Questar telescope. Again, interesting post. " Keep neither a blunt knife nor an ill-disciplined looseness of tongue."--Attributed to Epictetus, as quoted in The Harvard Classics, 1937, pg. 183
Lots of varied experience and occupations in this group. It has been interesting to read.
My husband and I have owned a concrete cutting company for almost 35 years now. About 20 years ago I started a graphic design company that is still going strong. Then about ten years ago I started an event planning business and a consulting business in tandem. So, you might say my life is never dull. I am either traveling for work or pleasure, with as many photography trips thrown in every year as I can physically manage. Since I can work from any location that I have an internet connection, it makes it easier to follow my love for photography. Event planning creates a wonderful side benefit for photography since I am able to travel to some unique locations with clients and of course, always have my camera by my side. So far this year I have been to Puerto Rico, Banff, Canada, Montana, Wyoming, California, Florida, and South Carolina. During the next six weeks I will be in Colorado again, Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Tetons. We live in a fabulous country with unbelievable scenery and I truly enjoy being outdoors with nature.
I would love to somehow start making even a small income from my photography, but have been hesitant to begin because of the lack of a solid business plan within that profession. It's a pretty elusive business unless you are willing to do weddings and portraits, which does not interest me at all. I have to be out in nature........and if there is a bear within my sites I am euphoric. So if anybody has any thoughts on the best route to take to at least give it a shot, I would be interested in your input.
My husband and I have been married for 35 years and have four children and 10 grandchildren who all live close by.
I am currently shooting with a Nikon D300 and have a variety of lenses from macro to a 400 for wildlife. I am in awe of all of your photographs you have posted and hope to learn a lot from each of you.
At the moment I'm a Senior Technical System Specialist at an IT company fo ra number of OS-es and applications. Until now this pays my photographic bills (and a lot of other things). May be some time I can earn some money with my pictures.
Posted by Varina Patel on August 29, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I am a pro photographer. My husband, Jay, and I travel about once a month for landscape photography. I teach private photography and photoshop classes in my home, and shoot for stock as well. We also teach workshops in National Parks across the US a couple of times a year, and photograph the occasional event for a little extra income. It's not an easy way to make a living, but I absolutely love it!
I recently completed my PhD in psychology and am now doing postdoctoral work with a specialization in geriatrics. While my graduate school is in upstate New York, I was fortunate to be able to spend a year in Colorado for my internship and now get to spend a year in Wisconsin for my postdoc work. Like my internship, my postdoc is at a VA Hospital and I'm hopping there will be a permanent job within the VA for me back on the east coast next summer. In former careers, I was a special education teacher, then spent two years in more research intensive psych doctoral program.
I picked up nature photography about 4 years ago and have been steadily developing my skills and my portfolio since then. I haven't made much of an attempt to make money from photography. I have done two art shows in the past, but its an investment into materials that I just don't have the funds for. Once I settle in one place for more than a year, I'll likely do some more shows. It is fun to watch people's reactions to photos and tell you what they see in the image.
I am an instructor fighter pilot on the Saudi F-15. But my first love is nature photography, as soon as I retired (2 years to go) nature photography will be my first option...cannt wait
My interest in photography started thirteen years ago, when I was studying Fine Arts at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain. Now I'm teaching Art at the High School.
Posted by Marc Adamus on September 7, 2008 at 3:29 PM
I am a full time landscape photographer, which I have been enjoying for the past 2.5 years. Before that I worked as a.....
Chef at three different restaurants
Bartendar at two places
Outdoor store sales clerk and then department manager
Photo lab technician
Photo store sales clerk
Wildland firefighter
Pool shark
Grocery store employee
Wilderness tour guide
Pizza resaurant employee
Competition pizza dough tosser
Landscaper
Barista
...and a few other things I'm probably forgetting and/or not going to mention here. I think I'll stick with my present profession for the forseeable future now.
Posted by Andrew Seibel on September 9, 2008 at 6:09 PM
I own and operate a Volvo repair shop in Austin, Texas. I have been in the automotive repair industry for 20 years. I recently got back into photography. I took classes in high school and college. I live on 10 acres of beautiful Texas hill country that I am slowly attempting to turn into my own private wildlife refuge. Wildlife photography, flyfishing and taking trips on my Goldwing with my wife are what keep me sane.
Posted by Arnab Banerjee on September 10, 2008 at 5:53 PM
Never noticed this thread before..great to know about others
I am a Management Consultant - develop strategies for companies about how they can make more money
Posted by Carl Battreall on September 11, 2008 at 1:26 AM
Full time Dad, part time professional photographer.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on September 14, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Software developer/database architect for a global semiconductor manufacturer. That means I'm VERY thankful to have photography as my main hobby/creative outlet!
Posted by GEOGAL55 on September 18, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Hi everyone,
I'm currently working as an Initial Attack/Fire & Aircraft Dispatcher for the Bureau of Land Management which has me traveling all over North America on fire assignments. I'm also an artist and planning to go back to college to finish my BS at University of Oregon. In my spare time (whatever that is) I'm working to get established with my stock/editorial, fine art photography business.
Posted by Gregg Waterman on September 19, 2008 at 11:21 PM
I'm a math professor at the Oregon Institute of Technology, a small four-year public university in southern Oregon. It is a great job, because it is intellectually stimulating and I get to hang out with young people all the time. The school is located in Klamath Falls, Oregon, with a number of great outdoor photo opportunities nearby. I have eyes only for landscapes, but a person who liked birds would be in heaven here as well, as we are right on the Pacific flyway and there are several refuges nearby. One thing that is very interesting about our university is that the main campus here in Klamath Falls is heated entirely by geothermal energy, and we are about to construct two power plants on campus to generate electricty from the geothermal resource. It is not certain exactly how much of our needs are going to be met, but the best case scenario will have us meeting 100% of our electricity needs and selling some back to the grid. We also have the only Renewable Energy Engineering degree program in the country!
I was going to start a new thread, but I may as well just put this here. The folks who use this site (at least the ones who post and critique on the Earth, Sea and Sky gallery) are incredible. Everyone is very nice and great at giving good, constructive feedback in a very respectful manner. (I used to post on another photo site, but got very tired of the "Oh, that's nice!" comments.) There are a very large number of talented and accomplished photographers, and it is great that they are willing to take the time to comment on work by the rest of us. Thanks to everyone!
Posted by Curtis Knight on September 24, 2008 at 7:14 PM
Software Quality Assurance Engineer for a major player in the computer security market. Everything from virus scanning to corporate compliance. I concentrate mainly on writing and maintaining test automation for the live virus lab.
I also spent 5 years as a freelance technical writer/editor.
before my high-tech career I spent 20yrs working in retail groceries. 4 years building cabinets, and several years work various construction-related jobs.
I really miss working outside, and the camera gets me out of the house.
Posted by Andreas Resch on September 28, 2008 at 6:43 AM
I'm unemployed at the moment and have to think about what I could do with my skills in the future. Before I worked as a 3D-artist and -animator for 8 years. But I don't want to do that any more now.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on October 8, 2008 at 9:16 PM
I really miss working outside, and the camera gets me out of the house.
Amen.
Posted by Phillip Noll on October 12, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Well, I figured I would study Geology in college because surely geologists spend most of their time outside.....right? I certainly enjoyed geology and received BS, MS, and PhD degrees in the field. I guess my first career was a college student. I also had jobs as a mine geologist, and exploration geologist, and a lecturer. Then I got a job at a National Laboratory doing Nuclear Chemistry (mass spec). This evolved over 7 years into a management position but then I moved over to the Ecology group (and, thankfully out of management) and had a wonderful time working with biologists, archaeologists, and environmental compliance professionals. I actually got outside once in a while too! After a few years of that I moved to environmental cleanup (once again in a management position). Somehow, and I'm still not sure how it happened, I ended up as a Quality Assurance specialist for the Environmental Protection division. It pays the bills (and isn't management) but my passion is landscape photography and I'm hoping to do that full time in the not too distant future (I can see the light of retirement at the end of the tunnel!).
I just found this thread in my wanderings through the vast NPN site. I hope I am not the last entry, and there will be many more to come. It has been fun to see the diversity of occupation, yet the strong shared interests of this group. It is a pleasure and a privilege (and a little intimidating) to belong to NPN.
First and foremost, I have been a forestry consultant in the Southeast since 1967. I made my living outdoors, both as a "ground grunt" and as an adviser to private and corporate individuals on their forestry and forestland investment. I have long since paid my outdoors dues, and have enjoyed both the good and the bad as it came along. I love the forestry community, which has been good to me and suits my makeup very well. I have been retired now for almost 3 years and am relearning photography as I go, with the only requirements I place on myself that it be fun and stimulating, and keep my brain occupied. It has been digital more than anything else that brought me back to photography after a 40 year hiatus.
My plans for the future are to grow as a photographer and take pictures of the nature that I love, and that I am proud to share with others.
Posted by Tim Zandee on October 26, 2008 at 8:11 PM
For ten years I was a Spanish teacher at private high-schools. I have been a full-time photographer for 5 years now. It is weird making more off one print than a month of teaching salary. --- But with that comes high expenses. That has been the biggest change for me. It has been very good but sometimes self absorbing and it is hard to turn off the switch in my brain of owning my own business. It is also challenging sometimes to find time to shoot. I do notice that when I find time to shoot, I work harder and smarter.
Posted by Ian Beatty on October 27, 2008 at 9:28 AM
Bush pilot. I get to see, and occasionally even photograph, some amazing sights in my day to day work. Lots of variety too, it is never the same day twice.
Posted by Kurt Budliger on October 28, 2008 at 8:07 AM
I'm currently full time stay at home dad to two wonderful little girls and professional photographer. Prior to making the move to full time photographer I taught middle school science for 8 years in VT. I've got a BS in Natural Resources from Colorado State and a MS in Education from Plattsburgh State. I spent about 4 years working as an outdoor/environmental educator for various state agencies and non-profits before becoming a teacher. I love teaching and continue as digital photography instructor with the VT state college system and a workshop leader. Unfortunately I don't yet derive my sole income from nature/landscape photography. The bread and butter currently is coming from wedding photojournalism, portraits, commercial assignments and I'm also a staff photographer for Vermont Magazine.
Posted by Jay Patel on October 29, 2008 at 9:16 AM
I am a program manager and manage very large SW programs for wireless access points. If you ever tired to connected wirelessly to internet in any major hotels, starbucks, airports, restaurants and were unable to do so...it is most likely my SW team's fault.
Between Varina and myself we have 6 kids ages 5 - 11. In between, school, score games, timeouts, swiming class and clarinet practices, we (Varina and I) also run landscape photography workshops and shoot for stock photography sites in our spare time.
Musician, which also means developing ringtones and similar content for mobile phones, part time photographer, mostly photojournalism. Nature photography is most of the time a hobby, but recently we (me along with some people that run a site down here in Argentina) started organizing workshops given by some pretty good argentinian photographers and giving some basic courses ourselves.
But the guitar (and bass and mandolin) and the ringtones pay the bills...
Posted by Sandy Young on November 2, 2008 at 12:09 AM
What used to be called a Game Warden. Now Offically called a Natural Resources Law Enforcement Officer for 27 years.
Posted by Toni McMillen on November 9, 2008 at 8:51 AM
Accounts payable clerk for an auto dealership. I would love to work at home and be able to spend more time developing my photography skills but for now this is the way it is. In these times, I am glad to have what I do though.
Posted by Toni McMillen on November 9, 2008 at 8:59 AM
Accounts payable clerk for an auto dealership. I would love to work at home and be able to spend more time developing my photography skills but for now this is the way it is. In these times, I am glad to have what I do though.
Posted by David Rogers on November 10, 2008 at 9:33 AM
O.K. - I'll play along here. I am a primary patent examiner for the United States Patent & Trademark Office. For the past year now I have had the pleasure of being able to work from home. No more daily commuting to and from the office every day. Woot!
Posted by John Williams on November 20, 2008 at 7:48 PM
Since graduating from Colorado State University in 1988, I've been a small animal veterinarian in Arizona and Washington (State). I'm a hobbyist who uses photography to get away from it all. Although I only get out occassionally now, I hope to be more consistent after my youngest finishes high school this year.
(That doesn't mean I hope to transition out of the hobby end of photography. While I wouldn't complain if someone wanted to pay me for a photo, I hope to avoid actually having to work at photography like the plague ; work would take a bunch of the fun away.)
Posted by Hans Breuer on November 20, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Howdy, I'm new here.
I work from home, running a translation/localization company specialized in video games. Anything to stave off the onslaught of old age I'm fortunate to live just inside a beautiful National Park in Northern Taiwan, so whenever the urge strikes and the weather plays along, I'll head out the door for some shutterbuggin'. (Hey, anyone else here based in TW? Drop me a note!)
And since I'm yakking away, let me congratulate y'all to a fantastic forum. The helpfulness, friendliness and relaxed attitude prevailing here (not to mention the heap of talent amassed here) is certainly very rare among Internet forums of any kind.
Posted by Sarah Marino on November 22, 2008 at 4:59 PM
I'm new to NPN, too, so hello! I am a nonprofit consultant, which means I help nonprofit organizations improve their effectiveness and sustainability, with more of a focus on sustainability these days. One of the huge benefits of my job is that I get to travel across Colorado for work on a regular basis. I frequently write about nonprofit management topics (I should be writing an article on grantwriting instead of messing around here, actually!), so I am hoping that I might be able to eventually write about photography once I learn more and have something to share. I also finish up grad school (MPA) in a few weeks, which means I will have more time to develop my photography skills - yeah!
Posted by allan elliott on November 27, 2008 at 8:51 PM
I'm a forester and a petroleum landman. Lots of good opportunites for photography.
Posted by Trym Espeseth on December 2, 2008 at 3:30 AM
I am computer engineer working with insurance software. Been doing that for the last 20 years. Photography is for me a way to combine travel, nature into an interesting hobby. In july my heart suddenly stopped two times. I was lucky to survive thanks to qualfied people around me and a heart starter. I am slowly recovering. It certaintly gives a new perspective on life , universe and everything. What work I will do in the future depends on health condition. I hope at least I can continue to be outdoors and photograph.
I am a professional biologist. And an amateur photographer and writer. I have had an adventurous life including raising horses [and children] (and photographing them) for almost twenty years. Photography has been an integral part of my life and now I wish to pursue this passion with....a little more passion. My dad offered me a 126 format box camera when I was very young. I switched to digial in 2005 and am currently contemplating an upgrade to a am/prof DSLR.
Posted by Rob Drummond on December 5, 2008 at 12:34 AM
G'day all,
I've been a geography and biology teacher for 26 years in rural Victoria and 2 years in Zimbabwe. I have been photographing birds for about 20 years and the passion developed from a serious birding past. It doesn't pay the bills but it does supply a little bit of pocket-money to help cover the costs.
I'm a full time nature photographer and I lead photo workshops and tours to destinations all over the globe.
In my previous career I was as an art director and later a creative director in advertising, and owned my own ad agency. I used to run the creative department, teaching the creatives how to improve their ideas and their creative thinking process, and I now do more or less the same thing in my workshops.
Posted by Ralph Kerr on December 6, 2008 at 10:07 AM
What a great thread.
I am a self employed Certified Public Accountant. Photography is a stress reliever and restores my sanity. Fortunately my wife recognizes the stress relief value and supports my "hobby" and says she does not fear me being in the house underfoot when I retire. I love the out of doors. I started making wildlife calendars as Christmas gifts for my siblings and friends. I sell a few also. Otherwise at this point it is a hobby for me.
Ralph Kerr
Coeur d'Alene, ID
While I am not a 100% full time Nature Photographer, I am a Full time photographer. More accurately I am a Full time Photo Journalist for a CBS Affilliate here in Colorado Springs. Yup I lug around a $30K Camera Shooting the news all day. But generally when we get a chance Im the guy they send out to get the Pretty Scenic shots for the weather and vacation segments.
Posted by Charles Opper on December 9, 2008 at 12:18 PM
I am currently a software developer for Hypercom working on a high performance payment processing web service called SmartPayments Payment Server. Hypercom is a maker of payment processing devices such as PINpads, receipt printers and POS solutions for merchants. Prior to working for Hypercom, I worked for VeriFone doing similar work. I've been doing this for 8 years now since graduating with a computer science bachelors. I have always been into photography in a casual sense, mostly taking pictures of family and places that I've been. Within the past year I've been getting more involved in developing it into more of serious hobby and trying to learn how to make images that reflect what makes me happy and getting satisfaction in learning more every day. Now I find that I enjoy this creative outlet and always find myself striving to learn everything I can and ultimately putting it to use. Now, I have my first DSLR, a Canon XSi with a simple kit lens. Given that this is only my second post on NPN, I hope to have more to offer down the road.
Posted by andy puttbach on December 10, 2008 at 2:11 PM
my résumé looks something like this. pre digital revolution:
AAS in photography
camera shop
visual and speech support for business meetings
custom commercial photo lab tech. (my favorite job of all time) post digital revolution:
property surveyor's assistant
part time custodian
maintenance man
and the number 1 job of all- Father of 4 (my current favorate job)
I retired in 1994 as an administrator with the NYC Board of Education. Prior to that a Principal of an elementary school also in NYC.
Posted by Ed Cordes on December 12, 2008 at 10:12 AM
I am an optometrist. My wife is an optician. We had a solo private practice from 1977 to 2002 at which time we sold the practice to a large multidisciplinary meidcal group. We are now on staff with the group. After 25 years i private practice the new situation is great. I see a large number of complicated patients and handle the non surgical medical treatment for the group. Our eye surgeon concentrates on surgery I do all the other treatment.
Best part is that we see patients and go home. No billing, receivables, payables or staff issues.
Interesting thread indeed! I work as a software architect for a major information technology company in Bangalore, India. All my bills (including all my photography related ones:) are paid my job as a software architect. I would like my nature photography efforts to pay my bills but I think selling images and making images are two different unrelated fields :) I am yet to develop skills/interest in selling my works in nature photography. Surprising to know for majority of folks here day job is different !
Posted by Malcolm Castro on December 20, 2008 at 3:22 PM
Now all we need is for someone to put all this info into a database so that we can reference it quickly! Just kidding. I am fairly new to NPN. I make my living as a Financial Printer in NYC. For the past 14 years I've taken a 1.5 hour train commute each way along the Hudson River. I started watching the birds along the river several years ago, which led me into the photography. This June I started selling at craft shows with some success. I've been told by other vendors in my area that business was great until May, of course I started in June!
Posted by Ellen deBoer on December 21, 2008 at 8:34 AM
What a great tread this is, I never saw this before!
Since 8 years I am working as a Proces manager within a bank and my area of expertise is the International Payments area. It is quite interesting, but sometimes stressful, especially in this time of crisis, take-overs and bankruptcies. The job pays for the bills, some photo equipment and our travelling.
I have always loved nature in al its aspects and I started serious photographing in 2004. I completely relax when I am out there shooting!
I really love to be a part of the NPN community, it gives me so much inspiration, thanks to you all!
Posted by May Haga on December 28, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Have been meaning to add to this list for some time so here goes. Started my career as an x-ray technician, had three kids, went back to Univeristy to do a history degree. But prior to retiring 7 years ago I worked in the medical research area for over 20 years coordinating a study of rheumatoid arthritis. This was a multi-center study and was based out of Stanford University. We also worked with centers in Wichita, Nashville, Cincinatti, Arizona and over the years many other Canadian and American Centers. Four years ago I got involved in photography and have been hooked ever since. May
Posted by Don Woodmancy on December 29, 2008 at 6:53 PM
What a great thread!
I'm a certified old guy, retired now for about 5 years. I'm in the process of executing a very precise retirement plan. I split the money I have available for retirement into two pieces. I'm spending the first half on wine, women, and song. Once I've completed that, I'm going to waste the rest.
I'm one of those folks who couldn't hold a job. I've had semi-careers in the Air Force, law enforcement, computer design and development, and finally, real estate. Along the way, I had a side career as a freelance writer and photographer with about 100 nationally published articles and many photos sold to go along with my articles or as stand-alone. For the ten years or so before I retired, I did studio and outdoor photography specializing in models, dancers, and actresses. It never paid the bills but it did pay for my equipment and travels.
Since I retired, except for traveling, I laid my camera down and have been very busy volunteering with our local police department as well as with the state Office of Emergency Management. In the past few months, I've gotten interested in photography again but find my skills have atrophied, not to mention I didn't even know how to spell digital or post-processing. So right now, I'm on the south end of the learning curve but hoping to improve quickly.
Sorry for writing a small book but no one ever asked before!
I work as a surfaces scientist for an aluminum company in Kingston, Canada. I have a PhD in Physics by training and hope to make some useful comments at work every now and then. I did my postdoctorate at Washington State University from 2001 to 2004. I guess I always liked the outdoors, but the fantastic surroundings there, the Palouse, Idaho, Montana, and the Pacific coast made me realize how much the outdoors actually do for me. I also realized that research, as well as the 9 to 5 life, simply ain't for me. Research is interesting and stimulating, but it takes up all your time, and the 9 to 5 existence is simply too meaningless for me.
I always liked to shoot landscapes, but I only would do so during vacations or trips, and they were nothing other than snapshots. During 2004 I started developing an interest in photography and by the end of 2004 I was regularly looking at websites and trying my hand at some photography. I bought my first serious camera, a digital SLR, in May 2006 and have never looked back. I love it, I am obsessed and I hope one day to make a living out of it.
My end goal: Live somewhere like Banff or Whistler, take photographs of landscapes and especially people in context, such as skiers, mountaineers, etc,and go on expeditions with them. Will it happen? Who knows. Its a hell of a lot of work to get started and I always have to fight with self doubt. It is better to try than to stop and no longer have a dream.
Great Thread. I'm now a free-lance photographer for College and High School yearbook publisher. Previously, 15 years Greyhound bus driver, 8 years Homicide Detective ( where I got my start in photography as crime scene photograher) Also making an attempt at novel writing( police procedural, or course)
Posted by Sven Bernert on January 4, 2009 at 6:54 PM
I run my own company as a Business Consultant for nearly 20 yrs. now, currently being into Risk-/ Program Management for Railroad Freight Car Procurement / Manufacturing.
I retired from the NYC Board of Education at the end of May, 1994. I am now living in Southern California, which allows me to get to the many National and State parks here in the west.
I photograph for the fun, relaxation and the beauty of nature. There have been many photos lost to my awe of what I was observing. I suppose the mental picture will have to do in those instances.
Posted by JAMES SCANNELL on January 25, 2009 at 12:52 PM
I have been a science teacher and science supervisor on Long Island for 28 years. I have dabbled with some writing and some adjunct work here and there.
I got into photography 35 years or so ago when my grandfather, who worked for Rosenfeld and Sons (pretty famous marine photographers) would take me to the boat show to carry his equipment. I have never used my own work to pay the bills.
Posted by Rakesh Malik on January 28, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Wow... it seems like there are people from nearly every field and all over the world here!
Anyway... I write software for the tiny little company that brought you Steamboat Willie. My non-work time is largely split between photography and martial arts. I'm one of the oddballs that still uses a wooden film camera.
I'm not really a professional photographer yet; my first show is about to come down at the end of this week (it's going up again in March); no sales yet, but a lot of positive feedback. And living in the Pacific NW means that I'm out every chance I get to hike and photograph... and since I'm the athlete in my group, I tend to wind up doing triple duty as sherpa, chef, and photographer... which would be much easier if I used a smaller camera, but that's life.
Posted by Lydia Dotto on February 14, 2009 at 2:45 PM
I've been a freelance science writer and author for about 30 years, working in newspapers, magazines, television, books and the Internet. I also teach an environmental communications course at a local university.
I got into photography about four years ago and have been semi-pro for about a year now. I'm increasingly integrating my nature/wildlife photography with my science/nature writing -- they're a good match. I'm starting to make good progress selling my pictures; it's frustratingly slow but I'm hoping to make photography about three quarters of my "job" over the next couple of years.
I retired in 2006 after 33 years working in the Defense Electronics industry as a Metallurgy, Materials, and Process Engineer. I selected the materials and manufacturing processes used to build avionic hardware used on-board military aircraft and space systems.
IMy interest in photography was whetted fron doing my own darkroom work producing x-ray diffraction patterns and photomicrographs of metallographic cross-sections. A love of animals, plants, and wild places led my to try my hand at nature photography. I look forward spending my retirement trying to get better at it.
This is a wonderful group and a precious resource.
Posted by SKIPPER3454 on February 15, 2009 at 3:12 PM
I am a retired mechanical engineer from GM. I worked on cad-cam in the GM tooling center for 34 years. I have been retired 3 years July 1. Photography was a craft that I learned in college working on the yearbook. I started out with Honeywell Pentax gear that the school provided, worked my way up to OM gear after school, and now shoot Canon EOS digital.
Posted by Serge Joosten on February 16, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Hi, I`m new here, all the way from Holland
I work in Law enforcement as detective in environmental projects such as illegal wastedump and trade in endangered species etc.etc.
I was graduated in Forestry and agriculture development but my drive for catching the bad guys and being right was the door to another job.
I`m hoping to become semipro since I draw a lot of attention in my country and will try to work less and do more in photography.
check; www.enjoynature.nl if you want.
Nice place here, NPN, I mean. Greets Serge Joosten, Nijmegen, The netherlands
Posted by Serge Joosten on February 16, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Hi, I`m new here, all the way from Holland
I work in Law enforcement as detective in environmental projects such as illegal wastedump and trade in endangered species etc.etc.
I was graduated in Forestry and agriculture development but my drive for catching the bad guys and being right was the door to another job.
I`m hoping to become semipro since I draw a lot of attention in my country and will try to work less and do more in photography.
check; www.enjoynature.nl if you want.
Nice place here, NPN, I mean. Greets Serge Joosten, Nijmegen, The netherlands
Posted by Roger Moffatt on February 18, 2009 at 5:57 AM
I'm new too ... from London. Work, gosh, various. Never been a full time photographer although I've been lucky enough to have had some work published by the American Institute of Architects. My jobs have included software engineering, film editing, running a post-production facility, running a tech company working in digital media and at present, heading up a consultancy operating largely in the online world.
Just finished off a personal photography site that you nay have seen on another forum, but if not, feel free to have a gander at www.golden-hour.com
Posted by Ed Dubois on February 22, 2009 at 3:27 PM
I'm an 'old' member back on NPN after a long absence. Years back I tried my hand at being a freelance photographer specializing in sailing. Got published lots but just wasn't a good enough businessman to get ahead financially.
Went back to school for a Master's and became an instructional designer which provided an interesting career developing curriculum and all types of training materials. I got to develop course materials in computing, CNC machining, instructor training, Fire Officer training, supervisory skills and a myriad of other things. From there I got into computer department management at an educational TV station where we were working on computer based training resources which was pretty new stuff at the time.
Then my arthritis got more severe and I had to go on long term disability which is where I've been for almost 20 years now. Luckily my limited mobility combines well with staying still and waiting for birds to acclimatize to me and have their pictures taken.
Posted by Steve Robinson on February 26, 2009 at 2:49 PM
I'm a retired air traffic specialist, former flight instructor and charter pilot, and photographer. I've taken up photography seriously again although I'm just posting on web sites like this for now and relearning the craft.
Retired after 40 years in wildland watershed management (Forestry, hydrology, soil science) for both private industry and the Dept of Interior. Moonlighted a stream restoration consulting business that I continued into retirement. In full retirement now.
I'm a research biologist with a not-for-profit biological field station. I'm head of the Avian Ecology Lab and supervise research on the population biology and behavioral ecology of endangered birds native to the Florida oak scrub. I do what I love, which includes photography, but I probably spend more time in front of a computer than I like. Being outside in nature keeps me fresh!
i'm an advertising copywriter/concept developer for over 20 years, been freelancing for the past 10 years.
Posted by Jonathan Lent on March 12, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Hi everyone I own a tractor trailer hauling gasoline throughout CT,RI, and MA. I get to see beautifull places everyday. It definetly has inspired me to love nature and landscapes. I hit the road at 2-3am everymorning and can't wait for that sunrise. Ilove it.
I'm a staff writer, (techncial field), freelance writer, photojournalist, photographer. An avid outdoormans I put aside the hunting gear some year agos and pulled out the camrea gear. I still get my trophy, and they get to keep their hides. I'am also a avid scuba diver and underwater photographer.
Since graduating from college almost 35 years ago, I've never worked for anyone but myself. Left school armed with the always lucrative degree in Studio Art and became a potter. Met my bride at a crafts fair... she was a potter also. We bought an old grocery store and turned it into a studio and gallery. Fast forward to the early 90's and the gear head in me started helping other potters build kilns and burners. The universe obviously wanted me to do that. I now own Ward Burner Systems which manufactures combustion equipment for a wide variety of process heat applications. Everything from testing concrete for "Harrier Jump Jets" to Fire Breathing Dragons. We've built combustion systems on every continent on the planet on all sorts of private and government projects . My wife stopped making pots and built up the Gallery business (Spirit of the Hand Gallery) which carries the work of over 100 artists... and I get to be the featured photographer!
Before I emigrated to Canada in late 1975, I was a Solicitor in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Since coming to Vancouver, B.C. I've been running an Investment Holding company. I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to represent Malaysia in amateur golf team tournaments and resumed competitive golf at the senior amateur level in North America when I turned 55. I was always a photographer - skiing, landscapes, people, travel - but since bird photography kicked-in in late 2003, the golf game has gone to pots! I guess it's one or the other, but I am happy to be able to still do both.
Although I do post at other sites from time to time, NPN is still The Forum for me - thanks to Jim and the hard working Moderators.
Really neat to browse through here and see what everyone does for a living, very diverse crowd!
I'm in my first year of a PhD program at Caltech in Control and Dynamical Systems, working on insect inspired flight control. It's great because I have my own funding, so no one can tell me what to do, and I can travel fairly often provided I spend enough time in the lab to accomplish something exciting and useful. I think my future holds some sort of combination of robotics, probably UAV's (unmanned air vehicles) and photography in one way or another.
Posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 23, 2009 at 6:41 PM
I am a bit late here, but better late than never.
I am a professional avian research biologist. I have worked for a few state agencies including the Indiana Dept. of Nat. Resources (4 years) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (16 years). Birds are my passion, especially waterfowl, and I have been working with Florida's mottled duck (Anas fulvigula fulvigula) for many years trying to get a better understanding of its habitat use, movement, and survival patterns and doing genetics work to determine how much damage introduced mallards have done to the mottled duck gene pool over the years. My overall goal is to write a book on the mottled duck in Florida.
Plant ecologist working in Alaska national parks. Gets me to good locations, but my current project, landscape mapping in Yukon-Charley, doesn't really allow me to carry much camera equipment beyond something small since we helicpter to sites than hike with packs pretty full of field gear (I got some 1/2 decent shots in Yukon Charley and Kodiak with my little Olympus Stylus Zoom, though, in 2008). Previous work in Denali and Glacier Bay was more convenient for having a modest kit available for a few different situations.
Posted by Eva McDermott on March 27, 2009 at 10:38 PM
I am a scientist - a PhD chemist workining in an electronics company selecting materials and developing processes for cutting edge, high efficiency power converters that supply power to super computers and servers, other devices that protect our country. Prior to this I was a "rocket scientist" working for a well known Space and Military contracter. An unlikely suspect in the world of photography I think......
Posted by Rudy Ruberti on April 2, 2009 at 6:41 PM
I've been an engineering geologist for over 25 years. I'm part owner of a geotechnical consulting firm in Southern California. Basically, if you build it, we make sure it's safe, at least from the foundation down. We specialize in landslide mitigation and stabilization, fault rupture avoidance, liquefaction, etc. We also do environmental site assessments and remediation, as well as storm water pollution prevention and testing. My background as a geologist has a strong influence on my photography, as I enjoy arid, barren landscapes with lots of rock. My daughter and I went to the desert the other day to photograph wildflowers. She came back with a lot of nice flower photos, I came back with more photos of rocks.
I am a business consulting company owner, and currently Interim-CEO of dept. within a hospital. Degree in Psychology; lived in France for 7 years.
I have always put a LOT of emphsis on travel -- 45 countries so far -- to study and explore other cultures and environments. The typical 2 weeks of vacation per year given in the US... let's just say that didn't cut it for me. I had to start my own company!
I'm an urban forester working for local government in northern Virginia for the past 20+ years. My main responsibilities have been regulating the development and building industry (same industry Buck Ward works in) by trying to minimize the destruction of our local forests and wildlife habitats (not too successful in that as the develoment industry has the upper hand), improve the quality of man-made landscapes, and on the flip side lately I've been involved in reforestation projects along disturbed streams and waterways.
Photography gives me a way to showcase the glory of God in creation while I work in an industry where so many disregard it.
Posted by Carlos Molina on April 30, 2009 at 9:23 AM
Hi all,
I'm a Sales Manager for a global shipping company (containerized cargo). We handle anything from anywhere to anywhere (as long as it is legal). I'm located in Miami, Florida. I'm responsible for business south of Tampa and Orlando all the way to the beautiful Florida Keys and have 3 sales reps. reporting to me. strange thing here is my college degree is in Theology and Psycology, not sure how I ended up in shipping, but have been doing this for the last 18 years.
I love to watch and capture the beauty of God's creation and convey that through my images.
"The heavens tell of His glory"...Pslams.
wow, that's a pretty diverse crowd! Late as ever ...
I work in conservation in Africa - currently living and working in Mozambique but I spent the 17 years of my career in Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda. I moved from research (and conservation ecology PhD) to species-focused conservation (Grevy's zebras and Ethiopian wolves) to working on protected areas and protected area management. More specifically, of late, I work with African governments to develop and improve effectiveness of their protected area systems (i.e., from policies and legislation, to capacities, to financing, to on-the-ground effectiveness and monitoring and evaluation). This has led me from working primarily in the field for the first ten years of my career to one that is desk-based: the reality of conservation in Africa, at least, is that it is mainly about people, politics, finance and capacities!
My career has taken me to some of the most astonishing places in Africa and i have seen some extraordinary things. while i did occasionally take photos through this time, i confess to retaining a focus on the work during this time and now i do regret not spending more time and energy photographing the places and things that i have seen. i also regret not knowing what i now know about photography - much of which has been learnt in my little time as a member here!
Well we seem to be able to cover just about every profession between us!
I work as an environmental health officer with a local authority. A pretty diverse job as I am part of the reactive team dealing with food, nuisance, drainage, you name it really! Unlike Stuart above, my job has taken me to some of the most disgusting holes imaginable Houses with rubbish up to the door tops where wiping your feet when you leave is very much advisable!!
One bonus is that I do get to drive around a large ditrict all day so if i happen to be near a local wildlife trust site at lunch time
Scott
Posted by Eric Vaughan on June 8, 2009 at 12:27 AM
I am a Customer Service Rep/Technician for the company I work for in their Technical Gas & Chemical Management division. Our company is a resident contractor at a semi conductor fab here in Utah. I work four tens so that gives me a few days a week to spend on my photography. I just recently moved here from Oregon were I spent photographing the Pacific NW for the last 8 years. Now I look forward to exploring and shooting Utah, Colorado, Wyoming. I have mostly started photographing the Southwest which is all new to me, but a very nice change..
I'm still pretty young (27 at the moment) and I'm still figuring out where my life will lead me. I currently work for a small internet service provider in Portland Oregon answering phones but am currently looking for something a bit more exciting. Before that I worked in the cellar at a brewery in Northern California which was actually quite fun at times, I like working in a hands on environment. I am currently going back to school and plan on transferring into the Fisheries and Wildlife Management program at Oregon State University. My dad was a wildlife biologist and I could see myself doing the same thing, when he wasn't working out in the field he was working from his home office, I would love that kind of freedom. Plus I would be able to take some photos while I was out in the field .
I am retired from the U.S. Air Force, and now work for a local park district as a nautralist. Photography is a small part of my job ( and I wish it were a larger part, but the boss keeps coming up with other things for me to do.)
Posted by Dan Borzynski on June 14, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Skip -
I was wondering what happend to you. I haven't seen you or your name in a while.
I'm moving to the Dayton area starting next weekend for a job at Speedway/SuperAmerica working in their customer loyolty program. Lots of programming, stats work and marketing. Yeah!!!
I also run a nature photography business on the side which I can finally get back to seriously once I finish my move.
Posted by Dan Borzynski on June 14, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Skip -
I was wondering what happend to you. I haven't seen you or your name in a while.
I'm moving to the Dayton area starting next weekend for a job at Speedway/SuperAmerica working in their customer loyolty program. Lots of programming, stats work and marketing. Yeah!!!
I also run a nature photography business on the side which I can finally get back to seriously once I finish my move.
Well I guess I'll go last I'm a news photographer. Been in the newsroom for going on 28 years. Shot sports for 18 then general assignments and now I'm covering national politics in D.C. I love shooting politics because its makes me appreciate even more the birds I’m around on the weekend!
I'm an executive director for a non-profit social service agency that serves the homeless and people of poverty in the Albuquerque area. The organization works primarily with the mentally ill and individuals with substance abuse issues. It's actually the state's largest provider of services for the homeless.
I backpack/hike/and photograph to maintain my sanity.
You probably have not heard this one! I am a horse breeder, so I have a full portfolio of all my "crazy" colt and filly shots. Young horses do the most amazing (and stupid) things--all worthy of a photo.
I got my Masters in Geology and worked for an oil company until I had my daughterr, who is now 22.
Been takeng photos since my Dad put that first Brownie in my hand. I was very lucky after that. My dad was an attorney and NOT mechanical. Plus he went to New York every year to see the latest Broadway plays. Every time his camera died, he threw it in a drawer, then got the next, latest and greatest, camera in New York at Ritz Camera.
It wasn't long before I figured out that the only thing wrong with all the cameras in that drawer was that they needed new batteries! So, all my life, I've gotten a new camera every year!!!---until my Dad died.
He never got into SLR, so I had to buy them myself. But my Dad was crazy about photos---he even carried one all across Europe after landing at D-Day. He even has some graphic pictures of Dachau.
Senior Engineering Manager for "The" largest defense contractor. Photography gives my creative side (right side) of my brain what it desperately needs! Besides, I can just begin to see the potential for retirement on the horizon. Of course, being 51 and having 2 daughters, 15 and 6, does make the horizon a bit dim. I'll be 63 when the youngest graduates from high school! Already counseling the youngest on how to get a part-time job...
Posted by Murray Feist on July 17, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Currently at 37 yr old, I am a Ruminant Nutritionist for Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture. I have my Masters of Science in Ruminant Nutrition studying cattle, sheep, elk, deer and bison diets. Lately been playing a role in production extension to farmers and ranchers, so travel around Saskatchewan is sporadic and often involves back roads :)
My background for the nature/wildlife craze mostly started with documenting and spotting for deer and elk hunting expeditions, with a strong emphasis on the photography end.
Finally, we recently started a off with a new member of the family (now 15 months old) who will be the cause for wearing out a shutter or two - but shows signs of being a great bird watcher!
Posted by Jim Kernicky on July 20, 2009 at 3:25 PM
I got laid-off 1.5 yrs ago, so this time last year I started a Dog Walking business. So I am a "dog Walker".
Jim Kernicky
Posted by Mike McNeill on July 30, 2009 at 8:43 AM
Methods Planner, which is nothing more that a Manufacturing Engineer without the degree, for a jet engine manufacturer. Hoping for early retirement this October so I can do those things that I enjoy doing, Hiking, riding mt motorcycle, enjoying my second home in Colorado, and of course photography!!
Posted by Julie Roggow on August 9, 2009 at 4:56 PM
I've owned Thompson Travel & Tours for the past 25+ years. I take all the photos that appear on the travel agency website. I love my job because it allows me to combine my two favorite hobbies, travel & photography. When we travel, I take the still photos and my husband takes HD video which he uses to produce travel destination DVDs. I also write articles for magazines and sell photos to the general public and to magazines.
I configure IBM mainframe computers for a large insurance company.
Posted by David Frye on August 21, 2009 at 7:04 AM
I am an interim pastor for Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Beatrice, Neb., and I operate a freelance business, WideSky.biz, offering Web design, business communications, and photography (mostly of rural Nebraska).
Posted by Katja Rosvall on August 26, 2009 at 6:26 AM
I'm a Project Manager for a small translation company.
I'm a part time hairstylist, retired singer with big dreams of doing only photography. All of my previous jobs have been of some kind of art form including a landscaping job for 9 years and singer songwriter. I am at home out in the field and that's where I am truely happy and serene at a whopping 47 years young!
I can tell you what I do for a living as a magazine photojournalist, and what an 'average' day for me is like - if you have time to read it.
Barry Ashenhurst
Posted by Marcy Ugstad on September 10, 2009 at 1:41 AM
Hi everyone,
I'm a returning member to NPN - so will just update previous info.
I've worked many years for the federal government - US Forest Service and BLM - working in Silviculture, Timber and Fire. The past several years I've been working as a Fire/Aircraft Dispatcher and have traveled all over the US during the summer months, including spending a lot of time in various regions of Alaska.
Between my photography business and returning to school to finish a Geology degree, I keep busy preparing for the arrival of 3 (yep, 3!) grandsons to be born between Oct 1 and Nov 30!
Posted by Lee Sacrey on September 21, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Hi All,
I am part owner of a small accounting firm here in northern Canada. I dream of not working on any job other than Photography but, with my current job paying the bills it will be tough to change. I will keep the dream alive for as long as I can, lol.
Posted by Lee Sacrey on September 21, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Hi All,
I am part owner of a small accounting firm here in northern Canada. I dream of not working on any job other than Photography but, with my current job paying the bills it will be tough to change. I will keep the dream alive for as long as I can, lol.
I am PhD student finishing its thesis in behavioural ecology of fish (will defend it the 10th November 2009).
Next, I am thinking about signing in an association for scientific education as chief of program, where I work since April. I'm also searching for a post-doc position somewhere around the world
After numerous years educating myself in economics and IT, I decided that really wasn't for me at all. It was the mathematics that really destroyed that career for me.
I was lucky and got a position as a graphic design trainee (at 26) at a local company which I've been with for the past two years. Two more years and I'm a fully educated graphic designer. I mostly do work for print (both offset and digital) as well as building business profiles for various companies. Love my job, I really do. The best thing to happen to me since, well forever I guess. The only downside with this business is the constant deadlines... Thats why it's great to be able to venture into the great outdoors to do what I love the most. Landscape photography.
Lots of variety in people's backgrounds here at NPN. Great diversity.
Posted by bill meikle on October 8, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Retired from HP in 2005 and now full time doing nature photography, a whole new career! One day I'll be good!
I`m an Exploration Geologist and has been for the last 32 years. Although it might sound conflicting I`m also a qualified Botanist and Environmental Manager.
I`ve worked in South Africa, Namibia, Sudan, Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo (which incidently is not democratic), Canada within the Arctic Circle, Turkey, Philippines and now Guinea.
I can't say that I read every single entry in this thread, but you are a really diverse bunch knit together by a passion for nature and photography.
Adding a bit to the diversity, I am a medical scientist specializing in medical imaging and mathematical modeling. My avocation of landscape and nature photography has only grown with the advent of digital cameras and desktop printing.
I have just joined. I am beginning to contribute to the discussions. Many times I am struck by the artistic skill and geographic diversity of the group.
I thought I'd update my earlier entry from June of '08...
I retired from the fire service and teaching on June 30th of this year. I continue to work part-time as a 'retiree' at Columbia College as an administrator.
I am in the process of building a print portfolio, marketing my work, continue as a moderator here at NPN/CANP, and shooting primarily large format. I am heavily engaged in my music (I am a long-time acoustic guitar player) and plan to cut an instrumental album next year.
Seems a bit fitting that I post just after seeing Preston Birdwell's entry here. Both of us belong to the CANP group as moderators and shoot primarily large format as he also mentioned.
I do have him beat now by almost three years of retirement. After 45 years in the working world and 37 of those years in the telecommunications industry, thankfully it was time to finally remove my vehicle from the crowded freeways on a daily basis here in So Cal.
Being so involved with photography many years prior to retirement it was also fitting to say there was no vacuum of time for me to fill once I left my employment days. In fact, it seems as though there is still not enough time to do everything we photogs like to do, but I hope to keep as active as possible at it.
I edit what I am doing for a living.
I am now a fresh doctor (PhD, since yesterday) in behavioural ecology, and begin a 2-years position in Switzerland in december.
Back in Alpes moutains... My dream !
I just recently subscribed to NPN and haven't formally joined the network...yet. I am an English Professor at a community college. I love it...all of it. My students are 16-60 years old, come from all walks of life, and are getting a very reasonably priced education. I love helping them develop communication and critical thinking skills. And, let's face it, I love being able to tweak my schedule from quarter to quarter & having summers off along with winter and spring break. Both of my parents were teachers as were all of their friends, so I never had an adult role model who had to work in the summer ;->. Of course, the drawback is that we get [b]paid [b]like we work 8 months of the year, so I really scrimp and save to satisfy my photography hobby. The 40D and Canon 100-400L were very guilty pleasures at the time.
I would love to make a living at photography, but I am a security nut and love being tenured and having a predictable paycheck regardless of the economy. Having photography as my hobby is probably for the best since I'm not yet good enough to make a living at it anyway. I would love to retire a little on the early side and supplement my retirement with photography, and by then, I'm hoping I'll be good enough!
Posted by Ron McCombe on November 22, 2009 at 5:30 AM
I am a professional guide and fly-fishing instructor salmon, trout and grayling on the famous River Tweed in Scotland. I am a member of the Game Angling Instructor Association in Scotland and a member world renowned of the Hardy Grays fishing academy
My photography takes up about three days a week. I am a canon user I own twp bodies 40D and 50D, my lenses are 10-20 zoom, 17-85 zoom, 300mm f2.8 L IS USM lens, 500mm f4 L IS USM lens and occasionally us a 1.4x converter.
I sell some of my images in local shops and galleries and usually hols 2 exhibitions a year. I have started tting pictures published in some photography magazines in thr UK. I enter competition an have has some success this year winning a few
Posted by robert john on December 23, 2009 at 4:50 AM
Hi, I am a computer programmer and enjoys photography a lot. I likes traveling around the world. Currently I am working on http://www.camera-recovery.net
Robert
Posted by Reno DiTullio on January 3, 2010 at 6:06 PM
I'm retired 6 years after 37 years with CALFIRE as fire chief on the central coast of California, http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/fire_protection.php I've been involved with photography almost as long as my fire service career and still enjoy it tremendously. In my "spare" time I do a lot of fly fishing, photography, and my wife and I love to travel, do it every chance we get. Love the NPN site, a very talented group of photographers.
Posted by Mark Jenkins on January 4, 2010 at 11:27 AM
I am an ophthalmologist or eye surgeon in the Conroe-Woodlands area 40 miles north of Houston. I've been in practice over 30 yrs. and still enjoy what I do. I've enjoyed getting into wildlife photography over the last few years, especially birds. The NPN has helped me to become a better photographer, no doubt. It's a fabulous website that I've recommended to many.
Posted by Jimmie Fata on January 5, 2010 at 8:51 PM
I am a Assistant Professor who researches breast cancer and breast biology at the College of Staten Island, which is part of the City University of New York. Obtained my PhD from University of Toronto, and did a postdoctoral fellowship at Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, California. I also teach Physiology, Developmental Biology, and Cancer Biology.
Posted by Paul Zimski on January 12, 2010 at 10:40 PM
I do product marketing in the information security industry. I learned how to break into systems years ago and have been marketing, selling and designing enterprise security software ever since. Outside of work I'm an avid telemark skier and mountain biker.
Posted by Nancy Elwood on January 16, 2010 at 4:13 PM
Well, I guess I will go next. My job that pays the bills has been, for the last 20 years, a nurese anesthetist. It has given me the opportunities to travel and develope my nature photography, which I became very interested in 15 years ago. Several years ago my husband encouraged me to do art shows, which we started with him making my mats and handmade hardwood frames. This past year my husband, who is a retired engineer, invented, with my encouragement a long lens support call The Quick Action Harness. We have received a great response to the prototypes and this past week it has gone live, so to speak. In fact several weeks ago a lady who saw me use it out in the field came up to me and bought it off my back . I also have started to do photography workshops, which I really enjoy. I love seeing a persons face when they finally take a picture they love and I have had the pleasure to help them get it! I will be doing my anesthesia for awhile yet, but it is nice to have time to work at maybe having a retirement career with my photography.
Posted by Bob Davis on January 22, 2010 at 5:00 PM
Photography pays for my toys, but my "day job" pays the bills. Hi All, I'm Bob - new to NPN. My "day job" is as a Park Ranger / Police Officer for CA state parks. I've worked all over California from San Diego County to the Oregon Boarder. Working for parks has given me some great opportunities for photography (off duty of course) and has even put some change in my pocket; however it's not the glamorous "bay watch" job most people imagine. I spent ten year of my career working street gang enforcement. Now I work patrol and search and rescue. The SAR work is rewarding but the nightly drunks makes me look forward to retirement. 2 years to go then you'll find me with my camera or fly rod somewhere in "gods" country.
In addition to my Photography Business I have a Carpentry Business. I operate as a sole proprietor so I work alone 85% of the time. I usually get in some picture taking before and after my day's work as a carpenter. BUT, with this economy I'm making more $$$ as a photographer than I'm making as a carpenter, and we know what photographers make
I still enjoy the carpentry work but as I'm getting older it's taking a tole on my body. As for the photography, I hope to continue adding more quality images and over time I can do more photography and less carpentry. But if it never gets to that point I think it will be OK
I sell chemicals to the personal care and pharma industry. I also spent 5 years owning a charter fishing business. I am always fighting those crazy urges to turn this hobby into a business.
Posted by David Bostock on January 26, 2010 at 9:10 PM
Not what I want to do, which is photograph all day long!
Posted by Greg Smith on March 19, 2010 at 12:11 PM
Formally in Law Enforcement in So. Cal. Currently I'm operating heavy equipment for a large gold mining company in northern Nevada. My location affords me the opportunity to Photograph a lot of Historical locations which I love to do. I wish to sell my work one day, I only wish that I was good enough to do this full-time.
Software Engineer/Programmer with major in theoretical math.
When I retire I wouldn't mind running a small business with high-school senior photography or even some weddings.
Myself, I'm retired military, 3 yrs Navy and 18 Army. Retired back in 98. Nope, not enough to pay the bills and raise two boys. I am a Lt. at one the Sheriff's Offices in Virginia. I am part of the admin of the jail, I oversee booking and I am and in charge of our immigration office which is part of the (287g) program, so I wear 3 hats "sort of speak". Started there in 2000. I would like to make it to 2015 and then retire for the second time.
I have always want to do photography, now is my chance. Hopefully I can do this on the side to make a little additional income after I retire for good!
I'm a retired electronics engineer thoroughly enjoying my new labor love photographing nature-in-general and landscapes. Belonging to NPN helps to make it all worth while. The hardest part is trying to make it a self supporting hobby. Best of luck to one and all.
Don
I'm a building inspector for a small municipality in WA state. While not a lucrative profession, it's a consistant 40 hr week that allows me time to explore my new hobby most weekends with ample vacation time.
I'm failry new to NPN and just ran across this thread, so thought I would add my two cents to the pile. Since Oct. 30 of last year, I've been officially retired. So various pensions are now paying the bills. My real job had been as a regional wildlife biologist for the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (23 yrs+) then a switch to being an endangered species biologist/supervisor for the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Sacramento, CA (17+ yrs.). I've dabbled in photography for years but mostly with lousy equipment. Now I have the good equipment but not the job to get me to those special places. Guess I'll get there anyway. Being a scientist, I look at this as my creative outlet although many images tend to be more documentary: old habits die hard. Glad to be a part of this group.
I'm an editor of academic books for a New Jersey-based publisher (to which I commute from my considerably more photogenic place of residence in Orange County, NY). It does allow me to work with cover designers and occasionally even to get some of my own photos on the book covers.
Posted by Jack Johnson on July 8, 2010 at 10:19 PM
I've been a self-employed IT consultant for small-to-medium businesses for nearly 20 years now... Time flies!
I've been working as a database developer for the past 7 years. Prior to that I worked as a contractor in the legal industry for 10 years, taking long periods of time off to travel the world--boy do I miss that!
I am a rheumatologist with a full time practice, intravenous therapy center and conduct medical research specializing is systemic lupus and rheumatoid arthritis......and then in my spare time :)
Posted by Rense Haveman on July 23, 2010 at 11:33 AM
I work as a biologist for the Dutch ministry of defence. In daily practice, it means I do vegetation mapping and plant species inventories in the training areas.
I spent almost 30 years doing first word processing and then system administration in law firms, and since 2001 I've been doing freelance transcription (general, legal and medical). Most days I can go out in the backyard for a bit at any time of day to see what photo ops I can find.
I have a B.A. in Biology. I worked as a bookkeeper for a construction firm until last October when I lost my job due to downsizing. Currently unemployed, recovering from back surgery, and anxiously looking for a job! Thankfully, I have a working husband and we are just squeaking by right now.
I started taking nature photos (and long, sometimes 8 or 9 mile hikes) a few years ago now after several traumatic deaths in my family and another one impending at that time (cancer). I didn't really think about why at that time, but I guess it was a way to focus on the life and beauty and color all around, instead of thinking about death all the time. That plus my last job was incredibly stressful and it was a way to get away from it all.
Posted by Daniel & Loana on September 7, 2010 at 4:41 PM
Well, we are both chemists. Organic chemists. Loana works as researcher at University and Daniel in a small research company in the medicinal chemistry field.
But we NEVER talk about chemistry at home. Only photography!
D&L
Posted by Kurt Bowman on September 16, 2010 at 5:59 PM
I need to visit this forum more often....what a great thread!
I am a Project Manager and manage mostly software releases for a large telecommunications company. Before this position, I designed and developed computer based training (using mostly Flash and Dreamweaver) for the same company.
A little over two years ago, I put down my pool cue (my other passion) and purchased my first SLR. I have been hooked ever since. Currently, ALL my free time goes into photography and I hope to make something out of it one day.
Posted by Håkon Iversen on September 30, 2010 at 9:23 AM
I am a Spot Market Shipping Charterer for a small reefer vessel operator in Sortland, Norway. I sell sea freight on reefer vessels, mostly from Norway and Iceland to Baltics/St Petersburg.
Photography is purely a hobby for me, for now. I am only 29 years old, so we'll se what the future will bring.
Posted by Bryan Hix on October 3, 2010 at 10:43 AM
After graduating with a BS in Biology from Central Michigan University, I became a medical sales rep for an oncology/hematology infusion company covering the Midwest, then I changed gears and opened and ran 2 Quizno's Subs shops in the Chicago area for 5 years. After a fun, but exhausting time with that (without a lot of money to show for it), I went back to Medical Device where I am currently a Regional Director managing 10 reps in the Midwest for Conceptus, Inc.
I bought my first SLR, a Pentx K1000, when I was 11 years old with the money from mowing lawns and I have been hooked ever since.
Posted by Jason Kim on November 2, 2010 at 5:29 PM
I own a manufacturing business (aquarium filters) that I started in the late 90's, around the time I was finishing up my degree in evolutionary biology at UCSD. I became interested in marine aquariums as a teenager, and I was lucky enough to turn my hobby into a business and career. But as most people will tell you, once you've made the transition from hobby to business, things do change. I have no complaints, but it's one of the reasons why photography is strictly a pursuit of pleasure!
Hi everyone, my sister and I retired last summer to be full-time caregivers for our mother who is 90. We live in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina and for me, photography is my escape, although that may not be the best word. I love my mother but I need my time away from our daily challenges. I find that when I go out for a few hours I come back recharged and ready to face anything. Before I retired I worked for the Nashville Public Library Foundation where our goal was to raise funds to support the library system in Nashville, Tennessee and then before that I worked in the Marketing Department for Bank of America.
Life is good here for us now. I continue to work on my photography and our situation now allows me to do that. Paying the bills??? Haven't figured that out yet.
I work as Engineer for Thai major petroleum company.
Posted by Ron Huff on November 17, 2010 at 12:12 AM
I am a branch manager for Ferguson Waterworks in Lewiston, Idaho.
Ron Huff
Culdesac, Idaho
Posted by Krunal Janani on November 17, 2010 at 2:35 AM
I joined my dad's business (manufacturing of fashion jewelery) 8 years back & have to handle more then 200 employees everyday
that explains my hair loos at an age of 27
Posted by Elise Wormuth on November 25, 2010 at 1:27 PM
I'm an English professor and Director of the Writing Program at a Bay Area university. But I am actively planning my escape and am looking forward to devoting myself to photography as soon as I can retire!
I am a "Leisure Travel Consultant" basically I share with people how to "Travel for Free" . (if interested just send me a email)
This is also allowing me to be that, "National Geographic Photographer" I always wanted to be.
I also raise Morgan Horses, and give riding lessons to kids, and adults. I am a local 4-H volunteer when home, and not travleing. I have always enjoyed photography, and now finding myself building a real, portfolio for stock photography.
Nice meeting everyone ;)
Posted by Vlad Sadovsky on December 4, 2010 at 6:46 PM
Cool topic - would be even more useful if somebody tabulated all of the replies.
I am a software architect with education in comp sci/applied math (hadn't finished my PhD though), work with hi tech since '85.
PS and 9-5 doesn't really apply to modern times , it is more like 8-7 on good days :( .
Posted by Austin Booth on December 20, 2010 at 2:30 AM
I am a full time student at Oregon State University and I am majoring in Natural Resources with a focus in Fish and Wildlife.
Posted by Jagdeep Rajput on December 20, 2010 at 10:49 AM
I work in a bank, to help me survive in this wild-wild world.
Jagdeep Rajput
I am very new to this website. This is a great thread, and its funny but I actually recognize a few people on here! I am a tox-ecologist with a few biology degrees, mainly focusing on damaged ecosystems. I work in western Canada and the north. I specialize on various contaminants; heavy metals, salts, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxides, etc, in combinations and from various sources. I have also been lucky enough to work on several wildlife projects over the years and in wetlands. I am actually a lichenologist, which is somewhat obscure, I guess. I own a small research consulting firm, and I have been working "for myself" for 32 years and very near retirement. My travels and subjects have let me use various forms of photography in my work, including space imagery and aerial photography. I pretty much write for a living about the plants, soils, groundwater and wildlife that I am paid to study in the field.
Wish I could have afforded the camera I have NOW back THEN.
I havent put and avatar or anything else on here. Our company website is
www.delphiniumholdings.ca if anyone is interested in what I actually DO.
I just love photography with a passion, but I dont have any illusions about trying to quit my day job.
HI. I just found this thread. I really enjoyed reading through all the diverse backgrounds!
I run a small manufacturing company in Northeast Indiana. The best part of the job is that I get to travel around the world a lot. The worst part is the same thing because I'm usually required to work when I'm there..
I'm planning to retire later this year and spend much more time with my retirement dream which is to photograph nature in all its splendor.
Posted by Richard Teller on February 10, 2011 at 3:24 PM
My official title right now is retired. For thirty years I was a pastor and colporteur and before that I owned my own construction business.
Posted by Bob Wyatt on February 23, 2011 at 8:05 PM
I have been a practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist for nearly 30 years. This has afforded me JUST enough time and money to become hopelessly addicted to a hobby that I can never do justice to.
Posted by Mark Seaver on February 23, 2011 at 10:45 PM
I have 30+ years experience as an optical physicist, the last 25 for the US Navy. I started shooting slides in 1980 because I didn't want to spend hours in a dark room smelling chemicals. I switched to digital 5 years ago, and now find that I'm spending more time processing (and reprocessing) my images than I am outdoors making those images. I expect to retire in the next couple of years, which will allow me to devote more time to being outdoors with my trusty camera and 20+ pounds of gear.
Posted by Andy Richards on February 24, 2011 at 1:17 PM
I have been "hanging" around NPN for several years,now. Don't think I have ever posted here. I am attorney in private practice. My expertise is in Business Transactions, Succession and Estate Planning. I also do a fair amount of Charitable Foundation and Non-Profit Corporation work. I have a keen interest in Intellectual Property, particular as it relates to photography.
I have been photographing since 1976 and photography is one of my great passions. NPN is a great place and I make almost daily visits here. Thanks to Jim (and all the volunteers) for giving us this place!
I am a semi-retired lawyer. My practice is insurance regulatory law in California. I now volunteer with a couple of programs at UCLA, my alma mater. I also volunteer teach photography and photoshop to high school seniors at a local high school 2 afternoons a week. I love the process of photography, the challenges it poses and constantly learning new things.
I am an RN. My current role is Director of the Emergency Department, Medsurg, ICU, and Cardiopulmonary Departments for a hospital in northern Michigan. I am brand new to NPN. Photography is a hobby I have had for several years although my day job prevents me from having the time I would really like to devote to my hobby. I shoot with Canon products and almost exclusively shoot nature photography. I am consistently amazed at the level of photography produced by the members on this site and look forward to learning from everyone.
Back in 2007 I went full time in photography with the backing of a business partner to do fine art landscape galleries, but with the economic collapse, that dried up real quick. Prior to that, I drove school bus part time to supplement the photography business and had huge chunks of time off to work on landscape, including living in an RV with my wife and two dogs at scenic locations during the summer (like the Oregon coast). After the Vegas set back of 2007-2009 (to which I did a variety of odd driving jobs ending with school bus) I finally got back to full time photography status this year, selling prints, doing a lot of post production work for some high profile fine art gallery clients, teaching photoshop and photography and also leading a variety of scenic photography tours in the SW, NW and a variety of other locations. Prior to getting my skills up I mainly drove school bus 30 hrs a week and did photography the remaining 50.
We own a gas station and auto repair business that is 3rd generation. My husband and I bought it 3 years ago from his father. that Keeps me busy. www.wilmotautoservice.com I also have a small coop art gallery in town with 13 artist that is open Thur-Sun. www.wilmotartisanmarket.com We all work the hours at the gallery.
Posted by Dennis Tungate on September 14, 2011 at 3:24 AM
I was a test engineer in silcon valley for a medical equipment manufacturer. I became a technical trainer literally by accident. 12 years ago when one of the machines, big buggers used for x-ray therapy for cancer, brok its rigging while being moved. It hit me and broke my back in many places. After recovery I couldn't return to my old job but the company needed tech trainers and I became one. Loved it! I also became interested in photography while recupperating, got a copy of a photo magazine in the hospital and never looked back.
All in all not so terrible an accident.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on October 19, 2011 at 8:40 AM
Update
Our youngest child is now a full-time ICU nurse and is fully self-supporting. Having grown tired of the long hours, commuting combat, stress, responsibility without authority, and general BS of working in the corporate world, I have returned to being 100% self-employed. I will finally have the time to pursue other interests and opportunities, including NPN, training and consultation, and any other entrepreneurial opportunity that looks interesting!
It will no doubt present some fiscal challenges, but getting my life back is priceless!
Posted by Buck Ward on October 21, 2011 at 10:41 PM
I have earned my living, all my life, as a civil engineer. For the last quarter century I've been modestly successful with my own small consulting business. As I near retirement age, the Great Recession has robbed me of my livelihood. A few days ago I completed my training and now I work for a nationwide portrait company. I will now be earning my living (I hope) as a full time photographer, working on a commission basis.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on October 26, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Buck, sorry to hear you had to shift gears at this point in your life. Good luck, I'm sure you will do fine!
Posted by Tom Hilton on October 26, 2011 at 12:59 PM
I'm a teacher... and have been (at the same Catholic HS) for 40 years...
I have been a football coach (at every HS level) for 30+ years.
When 2 of my boys started playing football in college (and 1 in the NFL) I gave up the HS coaching to watch them on Saturdays and Sundays.
That was about 10 years ago.
I have been a part time pro photog since 1972 doing mostly team/sports weddings and portrate related images..
I currently teach 3 sections of Physical Education and 2 sections of Digital Photog. ... which must be the strangest combination ever.
This year will be my last full time year...I might teach Dig Photog in the Spring Semester, but I want to do what I really enjoy for most of the fall... travel and shoot beautiful and interesting spots...
Thanks (sorry this was so long .. but I'm old
Tom H
Posted by Harry Lichtman on November 21, 2011 at 10:28 PM
I've been a full time Physical Therapist Asst. in seacoast NH for 16 years, prior to that I worked as an a Environmental Sampling Technician for an engineering firm for 6 years. I squeeze my photography in the spaces in between. I currently freelance my photogrpahy. Pretty busy overall balancing job, home life, and the many outdoor pursuites I enjoy.
Posted by Chris Grabski on January 8, 2012 at 1:40 PM
What a great idea to share who we are. I am a secondary school teacher. That's what pays my bills. Photography is my hobby, but boy what a hobby it is. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Kevin Pepper on August 3, 2012 at 4:40 PM
I am a sales manager at a daily newspaper with boat loads of holidays that are used being a P/T pro running photo tours and workshops... I figured its good to kepe the day job to pay the bills while the tour business and photography business grows... i guess some day we will have to decide to take the leap...
After spending 30 years in the mining business (the mineral processing side) I took a 10 year break. Now I'm back in it, this time in Newfoundland.
Sucker for punishment ?
Posted by Ed Williams on September 14, 2012 at 12:34 AM
I work for the California Department of Food and Agriculture in Sacramento, CA, coming up on 30 years this month.
I became more interested in photography (other than vacation, kids, holidays) in 2003 when we bought my son, now Dr. Kevin Williams, entomologist, a Nikon Coolpix P&S because we thought he would want to take photos of his velvet ants (one day I hope to get a decent photo of one that I will post here). He left the camera at home when he went off to Utah State for his phd. So dad picked it up and started shooting indiscriminately at everything. In 2005 I broke down and bought a Canon EOS XT and then started to learn how to use a camera for real. Well, I got lucky and got a few decent shots that I was able to get published in several California Ag Resource Directories and Department webpages (because it saved a bunch of money they used to spend on real stock photography).
This site is an incredible resource for learning.
Posted by Rick Turner on September 30, 2012 at 11:16 AM
What a great thread. After 6 months as a NPN member, connecting faces and now bio info to the beautiful work displayed here brings things into focus .
I have been a professional photographer in Houston and Dallas since 1972 shooting architectural interiors and exteriors, portraits, annual reports, golf course landscapes (played professional golf for a few years) and at times anything that would pay the bills. I was a single parent to 3 kids and and when my youngest son went off to Texas A&M (I am a University of Texas grad in Radio, Television and Film) I moved to Dallas to live with my wife.
We live across the street from Turtle Creek which has become my outdoor studio and starting shooting birds and flora when the real estate economy killed my architectural clients. I began selling my wildlife to interior designers two years ago and have several big projects keeping me busy.
There is so much to learn at NPN and thanks to one and all.
God bless Texas.
Posted by David Graham on November 8, 2012 at 1:09 PM
Retired Veterinary Pathologist, Professor of Veterinary Pathology, researcher and diagnostician of wildlife diseases, photographer since 1947.
Dave Graham, East River, SD
Classes and small group workshops and individual workshops/tutorials
www.davidleegraham.biz
www.davidleegraham.com
Posted by John Clulow on November 26, 2012 at 5:54 PM
One cannot help but appreciate the great diversity in occupation that so many others have noted. (I'm sure the "Where do you life?" thread must only underscore that, though I haven't yet read it.) Photography appears to have the potential for unification of a broad spectrum of folks.
I've been a chemist my entire career, though I have training and experience in other areas. For the past 34 years, I've been involved in engineered composites in one way or another, with fuel cell related applications constituting most of the past 12 years.
Posted by JOHN SLONINA on December 21, 2012 at 12:51 PM
I am a professional nature photographer. I lead photo workshops and tours across North America. I am incredibly lucky to follow my dreams but I also miss the steady paycheck.
Posted by Bill Bean on January 6, 2013 at 11:12 PM
I'm a Financial Advisor with a mutual fund company in Colorado. I spent 20 years in the photo biz in Denver, managing custom labs and shooting anything that would pay a buck before jumping into Corporate America in 1999.
Posted by Karl Buiter on March 26, 2013 at 11:45 PM
30+ years Game Developer, from the early days of Electronic Arts; to owning development studios; to consulting mobile for Disney Parks and HBO Games; to now full-time engineering with Bally Technologies, a gaming manufacturer in Las Vegas Nevada.
But my first love was Photography and I'm on my way back home.
Hmm. I stared out as an assistant wedding photographer when I was still in school. Eventually managed to make money as a freelancer. Started working for travel companies and kind of moved into full time travel. Established and built my own business running small group adventure holidays around the world. That lasted about 20 years and for that period almost all my photography was Africa/Middle East related. Made a slow transition from film to digital. As the industry started to change I became disillusioned with it and sold the business. With time on my hands I decided to go back into photography full time and set up Wildlife Photography Africa, running photographic safaris in Africa. It lets me spend time being where I want to be and doing what I want to do. I'm also writing a book; but I started that 5 years ago and have been struggling to write the last chapter for a couple of years now. One day.
Posted by Toni Lankerd on September 23, 2013 at 8:14 PM
Not exactly a dream job, but this summer I started working at a non-profit agency that helps people who are disabled to live independent lives. The pay isn't much, but the rewards are great in being able to help others. Before I finally found this job, I volunteered at Job Seekers (more or less a satellite office for Michigan Works) for the last year Again, the greatest reward was being able to help others find jobs while I was looking also...and learned much in the process!
Hey everybody, i am new here and would like to post in this 5 years thread.
I am a civil engineer and few times i am a freelance photographer, paid very small amount for my photography since 4 years ago, hoping to find a job as a full photographer, but until now i am just a civil engineer inspector in a local governmental department in my town, not enjoying the job at all so that looking for another job if possible or available.
Lucky many of you here to have full time photography or even those who are managers and have high position in their jobs, no wonder why you can travel around and affording gear you want too
Posted by Howard Cheek on December 5, 2013 at 5:24 PM
My Life So Far (short version)
I joined the Teamsters Union, and worked at a grocery distribution warehouse right out of high school.
Was married at 21 & became the father of two sons shortly thereafter.
In my mid thirties I shifted to the commercial printing industry, and operated a sheet-fed heidelberg printing press for many years thereafter.
During the last decade I’ve returned to college, and have nearly four years of study completed.
A proud grandfather of three boys whom I love very much. Two in Texas, one in Virginia.
My wife contracts as a medical records auditor/manager from our home office.
We’ve been married 19 years now.. She says it feels like more
As with most others here, I make a small income from my photography.
But it’s never been about the money.
It’s about the part of us that’s rooted deep inside every human being.
That child like wonder that’s in a perpetual state of amazement, at the natural world all around us.
After LPN nursing, I wanted a fun job, so I became a head cake decorator in a large Supermarket chain, which was basically a part time job, which allowed me to study art. Now I have my own art school and teach oil painting. Having, most of my life loved photography, I sill carry a camera with me at all times. I paint many of my captures and teach students how to use a DSLR Camera. Most folks still just buy and use a point and shoot. I also have workshops, where I teach, Photoshop, gardening, how to make large boulders, and other interesting workable projects.
Posted by Zack Clothier on March 31, 2014 at 9:20 PM
Currently I am a full time landscape photographer. I have also recently started my own small business called Silver Gate Antlers. We supply folks with all natural dog chews made out of Elk and Deer Antlers.
Hello,
I worked as financial analyst and trader for 10 years.
Since 2005 I returned to more calm seas....and now I'm working with satisfaction as teacher in a good public school.
I studied (and I was also, but nothing special) as pianist, and now I teach music.
All the best,
sandro
Posted by Dennis Plank on May 14, 2015 at 12:12 PM
Update:
Chief Cat Herder and Nag is how I sign myself. I'm the chairperson of a small and rather informal group of prairie restoration volunteers. We spend most of the year removing invasive plants and planting natives, but once a year when the prairie bloom is at peak (we hope) on the Saturday before Mother's Day, we put on an event called Prairie Appreciation Day. That's when I have to dig back into my working day organizational skills, though we're small enough that I do plenty of the heavy lifting and work parking as well. Other than that, I'm retired for nigh onto three years, and it hasn't slowed down yet.
Posted by Brian Murphy on November 26, 2015 at 9:54 AM
I am an industrial maintenance electrician.
Posted by Jim Zablotny on January 10, 2016 at 1:14 PM
I work for USDA APHIS PPQ as an Identifier. My job entails identifying exotic insects, plant pathogens, and exotic snails that are harmful to America's agriculture and natural resources. I do quite a bit of photography at work using some nice cameras and microscopes. I have a PhD in entomology and a Msc in zoology. Nature photography is done more for fun, but I do sell a few prints every year......................................Jim
Seven years ago I retired after 32 years as a hydrologist for the US Forest Service (30 years) and the Montana Division of Forestry (2 years). I've worked out of Missoula, Mt., Mountain View, Wy., Coeur d' Alene, Id., Mt.St. Helens Wa., and since 1984, Dillon, Mt.
Most of the work involved being involved in the planning and execution of timber sales and grazing allotments to make sure that the aquatics were protected. The last 25 years were spent trying to keep cows out of streams in SW Montana - a somewhat thankless task. I also taught hydrology at University of Montana - Western here in Dillon, and taught photography for the Yellowstone Association. Now, my wife and I lead Road Scholar trips in Yellowstone. I served two terms on the council of the Montana Wilderness Association.
I worked with a guy on the Flathead Forest (Danny On) who got me interested in photography, and have since gone through the hobby/passion/obsession progression. Along the way I've backpacked and floated throughout much of the northern Rockies and Colorado Plateau, and some in Alaska. When the Forest Service moved me to within three hours of Yellowstone, it was like throwing B'rer Rabbit in the briar patch. Looking forward to the next fifty years...
I am now working for Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures since 11/2012. My principle responsibilities are to manage 12 programs in Pest Exclusion (quarantine, nursery, phytosanitary certification) and Produce Quality (farmers markets, organics, eggs) and all the employees that go with them. Pays the bills and helps to support my travels and photography habit. I continue to have some photos printed in several agricultural publications.
Moving from Northern to Southern California has taken some re-calibration on nature photography, including finding birds and flowers and landscapes wherever I can find them. Fortunately, my sons were/are in great places like Florida (now back to Northern California) and Portland, OR areas. Also fortunately, I was able to upgrade to a Canon 5DIII recently (amazing camera) with pretty decent lenses.
update, Nov 2016 :
Hard to believe I've been an NPN member for more than 13 years!
Lots of changes in the last few years, especially 2016, for me, many unexpected. My photography has been about the only stable thing, and likely what kept alive what sanity I have left. Still, I had almost no time for photography in 2015, and barely posted an image here.
I fled the traffic, congestion, and "attitude" of Northern California in 1994, and mostly retired in Sandy, Oregon. I was there for 15 yrs before my mother developed Alzheimers and, as a Advanced-Practice RN, I returned to California to help care for her. I really disliked having to be back in California, but found a very special guy which made it all worth it. Mother mercifully passed on after 6 years, only 2 weeks before Jim and I were married in October 2015.
After 25 years single after an early divorce (and saying I would never ever EVER EVER EVER marry again), I learned to never say "NEVER". Jim is a retired Environmental Sciences/Biology/Embryology Professor Emeritus at the University of San Francisco, and we share a great many things.
After mother passed on, We quickly sold our California houses and moved to a spectacular beach in the sleepy southern coastal town of Brookings, Oregon. The trickster angels intervened with joy, and a few months later, both my father (95) and stepmother (94) in Florida took a health nosedive and my sister and I alternated 2-week periods in florida for months. I missed the entire first 3 summer months in our new house, and Jim flew back and forth to Florida for support and help. Stepmother passed on in July, leaving my elderly father alone with only caregivers.
We got him moved (mercy flight) to California 3 miles from my sister (and 4 miles where Jim and I lived before we moved to Oregon) and now are on round 3 of caring for elderly, failing parents. I fly back to CA for long weekends about every 6 weeks and am trying to direct his care long distance. We have an excellent Case Manager, thankfully, as my sister there has no medical training.
Despite all this, Jim and I have continued to travel - 6 weeks in Africa in 2014 on our own, 2 weeks in the SW National parks in October 2016, a trip to the Catskills for my nieces' wedding, and lots of 3-4 day trips. He is the BEST spotter, sherpa (gladly carrying the 500mm and tripod throughout Africa ) and patient driver. ("Please pull forward about 6 inches so that branch is not across the Bateleur's face")
Argh. Life sure throws us some twists and turns! And, once again, photography is saving my sanity.
Sandy
Posted by Richard Hahn on January 9, 2017 at 6:37 PM
I am a Senior Fire Marshal for the Town of Brookhaven where I have been for 28 + years, which is my full time job. I also work part time as a Fire Protection Assistant for the Medford Fire District for 6 + years. While at the moment I have limited time for photography, it is my stress release, it saved me from a terrible divorce and it drew my younger on & I together.
Posted by Bill Chambers on January 12, 2017 at 9:50 AM
I've done several things over the years. Was a stockbroker for 20+ years, then ran a manufacturing plant for 8 years. After my wife was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy in 2008 I took a less stressful job as Program Director with the Pensacola location of Volunteers of America. It's a very rewarding job that I enjoy greatly and it allows me a great deal of family time too. Sadly my wife, Sharon, passed away in July 2016 from MSA and now my job at VOA is helping me continue on without her. Here in P'cola we have three programs - housing the mentally ill, housing homeless veterans, and helping homeless veterans find employment. As I mentioned, it is a very rewarding career and I work with wonderful, caring people. In addition, I'm a member of a local art cooperative and sell prints through them and several different locations on Pensacola Beach, but it seems I have precious little time for photography lately.
Posted by Rajiv Chopra on January 20, 2018 at 12:36 AM
I was a full time corporate executive for many years. When I quit, I decided to become a full time photographer. It is, in India, considered to be a strange thing to do at my age.
However, I realized that building a personal brand as a photographer takes a long time. So, what I have started to do, is to build my consulting/business advisory business until I can build my brand as a photographer.
In short, I want to split my ambition into two phases: make money on photography so that my photography pays for itself until the photography can pay for the family.
Until then, the day job of business consultant will have to stay. A pity, really!
I am a mediator, and I work with individuals coming out of addiction treatment centers' and halfway houses trying to get their lives back. Great job, sometimes difficult. Photography is my way of decompressing, and enjoying the world around me.
I have worked in IT for many, many, many years. Until tomorrow that is, as I am taking a month or two career break and planning to take a lot more photos during this break.
Discussion
346 repliesSo what do you do for a living - what "pays the bills" for you?
I earn my living as a product manager for a large manufacturer of valves and hot-water heating system components.
Before that, I did a LOT of different jobs in different places, but spent the last 15 years as a newspaper reporter, editor, page designer and photographer, the majority of it spent within the Knight-Ridder chain of daily newspapers.
I now work for my brother's company as the Business Development Manager. We provide outsource sales & use tax compliance services for major corporations, with a focus on telecommunications companies.
I need something for my sanity and this is it!
Kent in SD
- Dan.
Nature photography is an escape or a relief for me.
Will
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
One direection I plan to take is to grow my photography business, and also find a part-time job outside the fire service. I will likely continue to teach, also.
-PB
A major camping/photography trip to Alaska upon retiring was the perfect way to make the transition.
I will not be as successful with photographyas with work, but will try. The difference now is that the success need not be measured in monetary terms. Bill
Ken
Thanks for starting this thread, Jim. Very interesting.
update (in case that is of interest for anyone):
In life before professional photography Verena worked for a software company and I, believe it or not, made my income playing professional basketball. (since both of these have been my main hobbies anyways and I'm not very good in doing things halfheartedly, I tell people I never had a real job in my whole life...)
The transition of our past existence to the one we are living today? Well, don't ask, it's a long story...
verena & georg
I'm also a part-time pro photographer who provides guided excursions in Arches & Canyonlands NP, produces custom photo itineraries, leads workshops and sells a bit of stock here and there.
Great thread, Jim!
10 Years: Oracle and Microsoft Database Administrator
2 Years: Portrait and Wedding Photography/Studio
The studio came off of life support ahead of the business plan, even in this down economy where discretionary spending is not so strong. I don't get out and shoot for myself as much as I used to, so I appreciate it even more when I do. The boat is in the shop getting serviced for the season, so I'll be hitting the barrier islands a lot this summer. I've had my fat ass in the gym since November, and lost almost 60 lbs, so I'll be more capable of getting out there where the action is.
Ken, my two most profound statements regarding computers:
I was talking to my boss, also a FORTRAN programmer, working on our IBM 370's and DEC VAX machines, and we agreed that these new personal computers were simply solutions looking for a problem. Surely they wouldn't last.
Fast forward a few years. I was doing some consulting work at Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, and noticed another engineer with a 286 machine that had something hoakie on the screen; there was a clock, a "window" of some sort, a notepad looking thing, and he seemed to drive it all with a mouse. I asked what all that nonsense was, and he looked up and said, "Windows." I scoffed and told him that no "real" programmer would ever lower himself to use such a thing...
Pam
Left home at 18 with a backpack and my life savings ($50) in '73. Haven't been back except to visit. Years of travel via thumb and odd jobs. @ years in mid/late 70's as a freelance artist (water color/airbrush fantasy illustration, custom show bikes and van murals - it paid the bills). Sailmaker/designer and off-shore racer for several years. Put myself thru some college courses in the early 80's, landed a systems analyst/programmer job (FORTRAN too! HP 1000 mini computers in manufacturing applications), switched to energy management in development R&D, finally in high end property management for the last 20+ years in NY City and finally Manahattan for the last 7 years. Finally 'respectable'. Please don't spread that last around, I have a reputation to maintain....
Photography is a hobby that seems to pick up where my love for the arts left off in the late 70's and fills the gap left when I retired from racing formula openwheel cars a few years ago. I plan on expanding into a retirement job in about 7-8 years.
Larry Reitz
Salem, CT
Basil
and commercial entertainment with grip, lighting and expendables. I
am the purchasing agent for the retail sales division of the company.
Some of the current shows we supply are "Transformers 2" "The Closer"
and "Private Practice". I have been in the industry for 25 years, and
still am amazed by the creativity, special effects, lighting techniques
involved in making feature films. As a photographer I'm very lucky to
have talked with many of the best cameramen and DP's in the business
and they have passed along to me many tips to make my photography
both more enjoyable and better quality wise. I've been very fortunate to
go on the sets and watch the masters at work. This is what pays the
bills for me, somehow it gets into your blood and you just can't put it
down. Great thread, good to hear all the different vocations from the
members, we are a diversified group indeed with a common thread
that binds us together! Take care to all.
Jim Arvanitis
Granada Hills Ca.
I always wondered what people on NPN do besides photography or if they were doing anything else because they come up with so many great images all the time...
The next thread should be about how you all balance your day-job with your passion for photography - which is consuming - time and intellectual power.
I have a masters in chemistry (organic synthesis) and I work in the chemical industry. More specific, I work in an R&D-department of "Borealis Polyolefine" - a once scandinavian-based and now Austrian-based company that produces plastic-solutions (Polypropylene and Polyethylene) for your life
I am not aware about the market-share of Borealis in the States, most stuff is mabye covered by DuPont, Exxon mobile, Basell, but Borealis has one site in Rockport. Anyway, Borealis products show up in car-bumpers, dashboards, food packaging, water and sewage-pipes, even in capacitors, cable insulations...
The task in the R&D department is to improve existing products and provide the market with new product solutions.
I am doing this since one year, so am still a greenhorn. This is the reason why I had to go to Linz - the joboffer was attractive and something equivalent was not available in Vienna.(Actually the company's headquarter is in Vienna, even in the district I lived in, the 22nd, close to Lobau), but I am not an economics guy so I had to go to Linz, where they have the Research...)
Anyway, this is not a 9to5 job rather a 8 to 6 job and photography is reduced to a weekend or a vacation - which is the worst part of my job...
Interesting to learn about all your occupations!
-Dietrich
Most interesting thread!
I am a Software QA (Quality Assurance) Engineer for a software company. Our company make software that performs systems management for encryption. Basically what that means is that we manage different encryption technology. Right now we mainly manage SSL certificate lifecycles on internet hosting platforms. Sorry for all the technical mumbo-jumbo.
It is interesting, I heard a show recently on NPR that talked about the need that we feel fo produce something, and to be creative. Though I take lots of shots that I am proud of, I really do little with them. I believe that merely creating soemthing helps to give me that creative outlet that I need.
Nathan
And no, I don't have anything to do with PC's, printers, scanners.... for support, please call 1800..... :-)
Nice idea Jim. It's great to read about everyone's "real job."
Lon
Debbie Hernandez
Alamogordo, NM
Would love people to buy my photos, but I just don't have the drive right now to run a business, do marketing, etc, with health issues. I did home childcare for ten years a long time ago and I really, really hate paperwork! So for now I just enjoy the pictures I take and "share" them with all. I HAVE sold some things, but as a hobby only.... I got my Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology (a very long time ago), and have always loved nature and wildlife. I just never had the opportunity to work in that field.
Barbara
UPDATE: Moved to Boise, Idaho in August 2015. Unsuccessfully retired as a lawyer. More light, more birds, more fishing. But, alas, more people, too.
I'm a senior project manager for an electrical contractor. We specialize in industrial work mostly in the Pacific NW. At this point in my career I'm trying to figure out how to afford to retire so I can be a full time photographer!
P.S. Good thread, Jim.
For me it's 50 hrs a week as an area manager for a telecommunications contract company. My division handles all the back up power solutions for the major telecommunications company in the Southeast US, as well as a lot of smaller projects for them. The rest of my time is spent trying to be a good husband and father to our four furry kids (two dogs and two cats). I'm also a competitive Triathlete and Adventure Racer. And do my best to find the time to click a frame or two when I need some "me" time.
I've been employed as a geologist for 32 years - now have 14 paid working days left until full time retirement.
It's been a great profession - sometimes hard to believe that someone was willing to pay me to have so much fun!
I expect photography will keep from from getting bored.
My wife has allowed me to retire, as long as I leave by 8 AM and don't come back till after 5 PM.
Pete D.
Matt
Good evening. This is a great thread. There is such a wide variety of professions that all linked together by the all might camera.
I have been a Fire Marshal with the Town of Brookhaven for 20 + years and a per diem dispatcher with the Terryville Fire District.
Rich
I was an Advanced-practice Nurse for about 25 yrs, before I retired about 8 yrs ago. Now, I'm an educator/consultant for a specialty surgery area, mostly online, and very part-time.
Very passionate about photography for the past 8 yrs, and much more so after the digital evolution. Got tired of throwing out so much expensive film!
Sandy Richards
Portland
Update May 2011
I have moved back to Northern CA to Case Manage my elderly, ill mother's complicated care. The economy has reversed my "retirement" and I'm working again as an RN and struggling to find any time left for myself. My photography is the only thing keeping me sane lately! What a great group of people here on NPN.
JG
To "pay my bills" also for photographic gear I have to work in a photo shop as a sales assistant. I sell all the phantastic photographic gear I cannot afford
Greetings,
Bertl
Freelance no matter what you do is stressful. Not stressful from a schedule aspect, but all the money management stuff and the need to constantly sell your services.
Now I work there only part-time, since I go to school full-time, working towards an MBA in finance.
I also run Shutdown Day (http://www.shutdownday.org), a non-profit organization.
These days school is taking up most of my time so photography happens when I have more time than is officially required to take a nap
Pat
David Sparks
Bruce
I put parentheses around "make a living" because each person has to decide on living standards and how hard they want to work. Yeah, my wife and I could live on what we are making with the cameras, but it would be a larger step down than we're willing to endure. To sustain the more comfortable lifestyle we prefer, we'd have to work a lot harder than we do now, and frankly we like travel and days off. We're able to do that rather than punching a lot more hours into our photo business because we double our photo income through retirement income (I'm a retired professor and she's a retired business manager), investments, agriculture and more.
Thank you, Jim, for starting this thread! Its nice to have some insight on the other side of people's lives. It would be nice if you could keep this thread handy so that we can go back and reference it now and then.
I am a meteorologist/forecaster with the National Weather Service, which also involves my fascination with nature. 10 yrs ago i was a Public Defender/Criminal Defense attorney in NY, a fun job but i got tired of prisons and crack addicts, so i went back to school for 5 yrs in NY and WA (UW) to change careers. Its only a matter of time before i tire of sitting at a computer, so my next career will likely involve eating or drinking beer (adam richman's job would be fun...) When not out shooting, im playing the guitar (dba Alien Guitar Abduction)
Thanks again to all for posting!
That said, my full-time job and only income at the moment is from photography.
For now photography is just a hobby, but I'd like to make something more of it (along with my writing) in the not-too-distant future.
Actually, I run the camera shop in Taos, New Mexico, and I'm a freelance photographer creating work for travel publications, calendars, annual reports, environmental protection organizations, among other uses. I also teach photography and Photoshop, as well as printing photos for other photographers and artists in northern New Mexico.
I should explain: After 30 years as a wildlife biologist, (plus 9 years before that in entomology research) I retired 12 days ago. For about 20 years, I was also a part-time outdoor writer (mostly a hobby). I used my photographs in the magazine where I was a contributing editor, and occasionally for my State fish and wildlife agency job. Now I suppose I will have to decide if photography should remain a hobby, or if I should work on making it a part-time retirement business. I’ll be watching NPN to help me decide if trying to make money through photography will spoil the fun I have with it now.
Working for the fish and wildlife agency was a wonderful career that I loved. But it really was work – sometimes 80 hours or more a week, frustrated by staff cutbacks and hard decisions caught between battling factions of the public. With promotions and increasing responsibility, I found myself turning into a bureaucrat behind a desk. The last few years were a far cry from what I started out doing 30 years ago, but I would not trade the whole experience for anything. Still, I am ready for retirement, and reluctant to get into anything that will bring pressures, financial concerns and deadlines. I suppose that photography is a lot like being a wildlife biologist – sounds like all fun, but it can turn into a pressure-filled job. If you ask me in a year or two what I am doing for a living, I just hope I can say I am having fun ... and not behind a desk again!
I've been a full time landscape photographer for a few years now, still trying to figuring out a very tough business. Now I'm a full time parent/photographer. My wife and I keep our costs pretty low, and both only have to work part time, our house is paid off and we don't have any debt which helps a lot. I'm certainly not getting rich, but my life is incredibly rich, being able to spend everyday with my daughter and photograph for a living is a dream come true.
Teaching pays most of the bills, but as a first year I am finding myself increasingly enticed by the prospect of responding to Craigslist ads for general labor...
I hope to make photography a percentage of my income in the future, and am kinda stuck on the inertia required to make the next step...
Lisa Wiesbauer
Broken Arrow (Tulsa), OK
Nice through this thread to have a bit more flesh put on the folks who post on this marvellous site !!
Gross income from photography related business has been essentially none, but I remain optimistic and have some plans to begin leading excursions through a local guiding company by next summer. When I'm not scheming was to fit photography into my life on more occasions, I'm getting ready to welcome my wife's and my first child (a girl) in to the world in about a month. Like Bill just mentioned, I'm profoundly aware of the ways God has blessed me regardless of the ups and downs we all face at some time or another. I also feel very lucky to have gained a connection to you all through NPN.
Thanks for the great thread.
I have also sold several of my images and appeared in magazines. But do not consider myself a professional by any stretch.
Don
We did many things at that time to include a gallery, stock, Art shows, freelance newspaper work etc.. We were doing approximately 18 shows a year which was the major part of our income.
Last year we retired our outdoor shows as my body started to wear out.
Its been and still is a great life!
Brad
I am President of a very high end office furniture company. In addition we have Conway Arabians run mostly by my wife. We breed raise and train Nationally competitive Arabian Performance Horses. We also breed an occassional litter of Collies and show them as well.
Photography is an escape and a creative outlet for me,
Peter Conway
I have "dabbled" in photography for over 40 years, starting with a Kodak Brownie camera. While not a professional yet, maybe someday.
It has been a while since I have posted or been on the site (very busy) and I always miss it.
This thread is so cool.
I am a teacher in a high school in Montreal and have been for 30 yrs. I now teach Math and Phtography/Photoshop course as well. I am also a scuba instructor but am not active this year. Presently looking to find something (related to photography) to do after I retire.
Cheers
Rick T
My passion in photography is starting to pay off and my wife has her doctorate’s degree as a pharmacist and she works at our local hospital.
Enjoy life is my motto (my truck license plate says LV LIFE)
Joyce
Love and respect nature
I am in love with my job.
I've been an architect in Denver, Colorado for almost 10 years, after moving out here from Akron, Ohio. The scenery is much better out here. Nearly all of my work is in the healthcare industry, mainly in the Rocky Mountain region. It's nice to have both a job and a hobby that allow me to be creative.
Then maybe full-time nature photographer with more than the occasional sale that I now make.
Ed
I would say what I'm doing to "make a living" is in transition. I'm currently a web marketing strategist for a technology company in silicon valley transitioning to a career in photography. It's quite a ride.
Well for the past five years I've only been working as a half-serious landscape photographer with a web business though that has only shrunk my bank account haha. Actually I am going to have to get a real job again this month to reverse that flow for a few years again. Although when working I might have a title as a test engineer I don't have a degree. I've worked as a techinical peon assisting electronic hardware design engineers in Silicon Valley for over three decades. My specialty is debug of complex electronic hardware under engineering development and regularly write test code in C. Worked for several companies some of which were starts ups that went belly up while others are still household names. Products from video broadcasting gear, to UNIX computers, to routers, and more. A lot of the Internet packets moving bits across your screens right now are going through router products I once hung monstrous tangled logic analyzer setups atop. That said I'd rather just be a dirtbag with a camera about Bishop, Moab, or J-Hole.
Now I can spend more time than money on my hobby of nature photography (if Nikon stops putting out new models!)
I have been a RN working in Labor and Delivery for the past 30 years. 17 of those, I delivered babies at home working with Doctors in Chicago. I have also done stints of "School Nurse" , "Camp Nurse", "Office Nurse" and I started my own business as a Childbirth Educator. Now we live in the PNW and I am working at the local hospital and have been blessed to be able to "catch" 3 of my four grandchildren. I am also a Massage Therapist and a Proffessional Clown although I haven't done the clown thing in a few years. We love to camp and backpack and so photography was just the natural next step.
You are all a great bunch of people!!! It is an honor to get to know you.
Mary
T
Then in sept 2005 I became a full time caregiver, for a ailing mother who had a stroke . The cost of keeping her in a 'NICE'' place was more than her income . So why pay a perfect stranger $$$$$$$ to do something i could and should do BETTER. Thought i am making 1/2 of what i was making driving , this is the most rewarding ( and hardest ) thing i have ever done. Very thankful for the opportunity to repay my mom for all her kindness . I also have a very understand and kind wife giving me support in this endeavor .
Photography , hunting and fly-fishing are a few of the things that keep me from going crazy !!!
Rick Moore
Bloomington, Indiana
I am an electro techicien and work already 35 years for an electriciti distribution compagny (Eandis) in Belgium, most of these years i was on call one week a month, day and night to (try) solve customers problems, since two years i have another les demanding (no nights) job . Have always been interested in photography, took it up again more frequently at the begining of the digital age, and hope to go full time for it when retired
Mike Langford
Cusco, Peru
url]http://www.mikeonlocation.com[/url]
www.hvolleyball.com
I work for a large school system as an Accounting Technician responsible for the employee benefits payments and budget statements. I've been with the schools for 20 years and am looking towards retirement. I hope to make photography part of it as it is my creative outlet. I sell some of my images through art galleries and festivals.
Currently, I've somehow become a record producer. My long-time job was owning a software company that designed and sold products for customer service. I also have a lot of education and experience in horticulture and organic gardening. I'm divorced with 3 kids. My girlfriend is terminally ill with cancer. This has kept me away from NP for the last 18 months. Probably more than you wanted to know......
Anyway, I've sold landscape photography at times over the years. I'm considering doing an art fair tour next year.
I´m a music teacher in our municipal music-school. I teach brass instruments and conduct one childrens windband and one municipal windband. Does this makes sense? My interest in landscape photography got a boost when I discovered this highly inspirational website!
Rune Hansen
In a previous life
I love landscape photography, especially in the mountains and also enjoy wildlife photography. I've been shooting most of my life, got very interested in 1981 with purchase of a Canon AE-1. I've progressed through various Canons and a Bronica ETRs until I finally settled on my Canon D-60, which was a 25th anniversary present from my wife (we're now up to 31 years).
Guerry
Hi everyone. http://afearonwood.smugmug.com/
Photography is a great passion and an effective cure against stress and ugly things I often observe.
Giorgio
My husband and I have owned a concrete cutting company for almost 35 years now. About 20 years ago I started a graphic design company that is still going strong. Then about ten years ago I started an event planning business and a consulting business in tandem. So, you might say my life is never dull. I am either traveling for work or pleasure, with as many photography trips thrown in every year as I can physically manage. Since I can work from any location that I have an internet connection, it makes it easier to follow my love for photography. Event planning creates a wonderful side benefit for photography since I am able to travel to some unique locations with clients and of course, always have my camera by my side. So far this year I have been to Puerto Rico, Banff, Canada, Montana, Wyoming, California, Florida, and South Carolina. During the next six weeks I will be in Colorado again, Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Tetons. We live in a fabulous country with unbelievable scenery and I truly enjoy being outdoors with nature.
I would love to somehow start making even a small income from my photography, but have been hesitant to begin because of the lack of a solid business plan within that profession. It's a pretty elusive business unless you are willing to do weddings and portraits, which does not interest me at all. I have to be out in nature........and if there is a bear within my sites I am euphoric. So if anybody has any thoughts on the best route to take to at least give it a shot, I would be interested in your input.
My husband and I have been married for 35 years and have four children and 10 grandchildren who all live close by.
I am currently shooting with a Nikon D300 and have a variety of lenses from macro to a 400 for wildlife. I am in awe of all of your photographs you have posted and hope to learn a lot from each of you.
Cass
Varina Patel
I picked up nature photography about 4 years ago and have been steadily developing my skills and my portfolio since then. I haven't made much of an attempt to make money from photography. I have done two art shows in the past, but its an investment into materials that I just don't have the funds for. Once I settle in one place for more than a year, I'll likely do some more shows. It is fun to watch people's reactions to photos and tell you what they see in the image.
Nice thread Jim!
Chef at three different restaurants
Bartendar at two places
Outdoor store sales clerk and then department manager
Photo lab technician
Photo store sales clerk
Wildland firefighter
Pool shark
Grocery store employee
Wilderness tour guide
Pizza resaurant employee
Competition pizza dough tosser
Landscaper
Barista
...and a few other things I'm probably forgetting and/or not going to mention here. I think I'll stick with my present profession for the forseeable future now.
I am a Management Consultant - develop strategies for companies about how they can make more money
I'm currently working as an Initial Attack/Fire & Aircraft Dispatcher for the Bureau of Land Management which has me traveling all over North America on fire assignments. I'm also an artist and planning to go back to college to finish my BS at University of Oregon. In my spare time (whatever that is) I'm working to get established with my stock/editorial, fine art photography business.
Marcy Ugstad
Redmond, Oregon
www.highcascadesphotography.com
http://members.photoportfolios.net/mugstad
I was going to start a new thread, but I may as well just put this here. The folks who use this site (at least the ones who post and critique on the Earth, Sea and Sky gallery) are incredible. Everyone is very nice and great at giving good, constructive feedback in a very respectful manner. (I used to post on another photo site, but got very tired of the "Oh, that's nice!" comments.) There are a very large number of talented and accomplished photographers, and it is great that they are willing to take the time to comment on work by the rest of us. Thanks to everyone!
I also spent 5 years as a freelance technical writer/editor.
before my high-tech career I spent 20yrs working in retail groceries. 4 years building cabinets, and several years work various construction-related jobs.
I really miss working outside, and the camera gets me out of the house.
Amen.
First and foremost, I have been a forestry consultant in the Southeast since 1967. I made my living outdoors, both as a "ground grunt" and as an adviser to private and corporate individuals on their forestry and forestland investment. I have long since paid my outdoors dues, and have enjoyed both the good and the bad as it came along. I love the forestry community, which has been good to me and suits my makeup very well. I have been retired now for almost 3 years and am relearning photography as I go, with the only requirements I place on myself that it be fun and stimulating, and keep my brain occupied. It has been digital more than anything else that brought me back to photography after a 40 year hiatus.
My plans for the future are to grow as a photographer and take pictures of the nature that I love, and that I am proud to share with others.
Between Varina and myself we have 6 kids ages 5 - 11. In between, school, score games, timeouts, swiming class and clarinet practices, we (Varina and I) also run landscape photography workshops and shoot for stock photography sites in our spare time.
-Jay
But the guitar (and bass and mandolin) and the ringtones pay the bills...
(That doesn't mean I hope to transition out of the hobby end of photography. While I wouldn't complain if someone wanted to pay me for a photo, I hope to avoid actually having to work at photography like the plague
I work from home, running a translation/localization company specialized in video games. Anything to stave off the onslaught of old age
And since I'm yakking away, let me congratulate y'all to a fantastic forum. The helpfulness, friendliness and relaxed attitude prevailing here (not to mention the heap of talent amassed here) is certainly very rare among Internet forums of any kind.
I've been a geography and biology teacher for 26 years in rural Victoria and 2 years in Zimbabwe. I have been photographing birds for about 20 years and the passion developed from a serious birding past. It doesn't pay the bills but it does supply a little bit of pocket-money to help cover the costs.
cheers Rob
In my previous career I was as an art director and later a creative director in advertising, and owned my own ad agency. I used to run the creative department, teaching the creatives how to improve their ideas and their creative thinking process, and I now do more or less the same thing in my workshops.
I am a self employed Certified Public Accountant. Photography is a stress reliever and restores my sanity. Fortunately my wife recognizes the stress relief value and supports my "hobby" and says she does not fear me being in the house underfoot when I retire. I love the out of doors. I started making wildlife calendars as Christmas gifts for my siblings and friends. I sell a few also. Otherwise at this point it is a hobby for me.
Ralph Kerr
Coeur d'Alene, ID
pre digital revolution:
AAS in photography
camera shop
visual and speech support for business meetings
custom commercial photo lab tech. (my favorite job of all time)
post digital revolution:
property surveyor's assistant
part time custodian
maintenance man
and the number 1 job of all- Father of 4 (my current favorate job)
Best part is that we see patients and go home. No billing, receivables, payables or staff issues.
Since 8 years I am working as a Proces manager within a bank and my area of expertise is the International Payments area. It is quite interesting, but sometimes stressful, especially in this time of crisis, take-overs and bankruptcies. The job pays for the bills, some photo equipment and our travelling.
I have always loved nature in al its aspects and I started serious photographing in 2004. I completely relax when I am out there shooting!
I really love to be a part of the NPN community, it gives me so much inspiration, thanks to you all!
I'm a certified old guy, retired now for about 5 years. I'm in the process of executing a very precise retirement plan. I split the money I have available for retirement into two pieces. I'm spending the first half on wine, women, and song. Once I've completed that, I'm going to waste the rest.
I'm one of those folks who couldn't hold a job.
Since I retired, except for traveling, I laid my camera down and have been very busy volunteering with our local police department as well as with the state Office of Emergency Management. In the past few months, I've gotten interested in photography again but find my skills have atrophied, not to mention I didn't even know how to spell digital or post-processing. So right now, I'm on the south end of the learning curve but hoping to improve quickly.
Sorry for writing a small book but no one ever asked before!
I work as a surfaces scientist for an aluminum company in Kingston, Canada. I have a PhD in Physics by training and hope to make some useful comments at work every now and then. I did my postdoctorate at Washington State University from 2001 to 2004. I guess I always liked the outdoors, but the fantastic surroundings there, the Palouse, Idaho, Montana, and the Pacific coast made me realize how much the outdoors actually do for me. I also realized that research, as well as the 9 to 5 life, simply ain't for me. Research is interesting and stimulating, but it takes up all your time, and the 9 to 5 existence is simply too meaningless for me.
I always liked to shoot landscapes, but I only would do so during vacations or trips, and they were nothing other than snapshots. During 2004 I started developing an interest in photography and by the end of 2004 I was regularly looking at websites and trying my hand at some photography. I bought my first serious camera, a digital SLR, in May 2006 and have never looked back. I love it, I am obsessed and I hope one day to make a living out of it.
My end goal: Live somewhere like Banff or Whistler, take photographs of landscapes and especially people in context, such as skiers, mountaineers, etc,and go on expeditions with them. Will it happen? Who knows. Its a hell of a lot of work to get started and I always have to fight with self doubt. It is better to try than to stop and no longer have a dream.
What a great thread Jim!
All the best from snowy Germany,
Sven
I photograph for the fun, relaxation and the beauty of nature. There have been many photos lost to my awe of what I was observing. I suppose the mental picture will have to do in those instances.
I got into photography 35 years or so ago when my grandfather, who worked for Rosenfeld and Sons (pretty famous marine photographers) would take me to the boat show to carry his equipment. I have never used my own work to pay the bills.
Anyway... I write software for the tiny little company that brought you Steamboat Willie. My non-work time is largely split between photography and martial arts. I'm one of the oddballs that still uses a wooden film camera.
I'm not really a professional photographer yet; my first show is about to come down at the end of this week (it's going up again in March); no sales yet, but a lot of positive feedback. And living in the Pacific NW means that I'm out every chance I get to hike and photograph... and since I'm the athlete in my group, I tend to wind up doing triple duty as sherpa, chef, and photographer... which would be much easier if I used a smaller camera, but that's life.
I got into photography about four years ago and have been semi-pro for about a year now. I'm increasingly integrating my nature/wildlife photography with my science/nature writing -- they're a good match. I'm starting to make good progress selling my pictures; it's frustratingly slow but I'm hoping to make photography about three quarters of my "job" over the next couple of years.
IMy interest in photography was whetted fron doing my own darkroom work producing x-ray diffraction patterns and photomicrographs of metallographic cross-sections. A love of animals, plants, and wild places led my to try my hand at nature photography. I look forward spending my retirement trying to get better at it.
This is a wonderful group and a precious resource.
I work in Law enforcement as detective in environmental projects such as illegal wastedump and trade in endangered species etc.etc.
I was graduated in Forestry and agriculture development but my drive for catching the bad guys and being right was the door to another job.
I`m hoping to become semipro since I draw a lot of attention in my country and will try to work less and do more in photography.
check; www.enjoynature.nl if you want.
Nice place here, NPN, I mean. Greets Serge Joosten, Nijmegen, The netherlands
I work in Law enforcement as detective in environmental projects such as illegal wastedump and trade in endangered species etc.etc.
I was graduated in Forestry and agriculture development but my drive for catching the bad guys and being right was the door to another job.
I`m hoping to become semipro since I draw a lot of attention in my country and will try to work less and do more in photography.
check; www.enjoynature.nl if you want.
Nice place here, NPN, I mean. Greets Serge Joosten, Nijmegen, The netherlands
Just finished off a personal photography site that you nay have seen on another forum, but if not, feel free to have a gander at www.golden-hour.com
Went back to school for a Master's and became an instructional designer which provided an interesting career developing curriculum and all types of training materials. I got to develop course materials in computing, CNC machining, instructor training, Fire Officer training, supervisory skills and a myriad of other things. From there I got into computer department management at an educational TV station where we were working on computer based training resources which was pretty new stuff at the time.
Then my arthritis got more severe and I had to go on long term disability which is where I've been for almost 20 years now. Luckily my limited mobility combines well with staying still and waiting for birds to acclimatize to me and have their pictures taken.
Since graduating from college almost 35 years ago, I've never worked for anyone but myself. Left school armed with the always lucrative degree in Studio Art and became a potter. Met my bride at a crafts fair... she was a potter also. We bought an old grocery store and turned it into a studio and gallery. Fast forward to the early 90's and the gear head in me started helping other potters build kilns and burners. The universe obviously wanted me to do that. I now own Ward Burner Systems which manufactures combustion equipment for a wide variety of process heat applications. Everything from testing concrete for "Harrier Jump Jets" to Fire Breathing Dragons. We've built combustion systems on every continent on the planet on all sorts of private and government projects . My wife stopped making pots and built up the Gallery business (Spirit of the Hand Gallery) which carries the work of over 100 artists... and I get to be the featured photographer!
Although I do post at other sites from time to time, NPN is still The Forum for me - thanks to Jim and the hard working Moderators.
Best regards,
I'm in my first year of a PhD program at Caltech in Control and Dynamical Systems, working on insect inspired flight control. It's great because I have my own funding, so no one can tell me what to do, and I can travel fairly often provided I spend enough time in the lab to accomplish something exciting and useful. I think my future holds some sort of combination of robotics, probably UAV's (unmanned air vehicles) and photography in one way or another.
I am a professional avian research biologist. I have worked for a few state agencies including the Indiana Dept. of Nat. Resources (4 years) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (16 years). Birds are my passion, especially waterfowl, and I have been working with Florida's mottled duck (Anas fulvigula fulvigula) for many years trying to get a better understanding of its habitat use, movement, and survival patterns and doing genetics work to determine how much damage introduced mallards have done to the mottled duck gene pool over the years. My overall goal is to write a book on the mottled duck in Florida.
I have always put a LOT of emphsis on travel -- 45 countries so far -- to study and explore other cultures and environments. The typical 2 weeks of vacation per year given in the US... let's just say that didn't cut it for me. I had to start my own company!
I'm an urban forester working for local government in northern Virginia for the past 20+ years. My main responsibilities have been regulating the development and building industry (same industry Buck Ward works in) by trying to minimize the destruction of our local forests and wildlife habitats (not too successful in that as the develoment industry has the upper hand), improve the quality of man-made landscapes, and on the flip side lately I've been involved in reforestation projects along disturbed streams and waterways.
Photography gives me a way to showcase the glory of God in creation while I work in an industry where so many disregard it.
I'm a Sales Manager for a global shipping company (containerized cargo). We handle anything from anywhere to anywhere (as long as it is legal). I'm located in Miami, Florida. I'm responsible for business south of Tampa and Orlando all the way to the beautiful Florida Keys and have 3 sales reps. reporting to me. strange thing here is my college degree is in Theology and Psycology, not sure how I ended up in shipping, but have been doing this for the last 18 years.
I love to watch and capture the beauty of God's creation and convey that through my images.
"The heavens tell of His glory"...Pslams.
I work in conservation in Africa - currently living and working in Mozambique but I spent the 17 years of my career in Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda. I moved from research (and conservation ecology PhD) to species-focused conservation (Grevy's zebras and Ethiopian wolves) to working on protected areas and protected area management. More specifically, of late, I work with African governments to develop and improve effectiveness of their protected area systems (i.e., from policies and legislation, to capacities, to financing, to on-the-ground effectiveness and monitoring and evaluation). This has led me from working primarily in the field for the first ten years of my career to one that is desk-based: the reality of conservation in Africa, at least, is that it is mainly about people, politics, finance and capacities!
My career has taken me to some of the most astonishing places in Africa and i have seen some extraordinary things. while i did occasionally take photos through this time, i confess to retaining a focus on the work during this time and now i do regret not spending more time and energy photographing the places and things that i have seen. i also regret not knowing what i now know about photography - much of which has been learnt in my little time as a member here!
I work as an environmental health officer with a local authority. A pretty diverse job as I am part of the reactive team dealing with food, nuisance, drainage, you name it really! Unlike Stuart above, my job has taken me to some of the most disgusting holes imaginable
One bonus is that I do get to drive around a large ditrict all day so if i happen to be near a local wildlife trust site at lunch time
Scott
I was wondering what happend to you. I haven't seen you or your name in a while.
I'm moving to the Dayton area starting next weekend for a job at Speedway/SuperAmerica working in their customer loyolty program. Lots of programming, stats work and marketing. Yeah!!!
I also run a nature photography business on the side which I can finally get back to seriously once I finish my move.
I was wondering what happend to you. I haven't seen you or your name in a while.
I'm moving to the Dayton area starting next weekend for a job at Speedway/SuperAmerica working in their customer loyolty program. Lots of programming, stats work and marketing. Yeah!!!
I also run a nature photography business on the side which I can finally get back to seriously once I finish my move.
I backpack/hike/and photograph to maintain my sanity.
Lee Pattison
I got my Masters in Geology and worked for an oil company until I had my daughterr, who is now 22.
Been takeng photos since my Dad put that first Brownie in my hand. I was very lucky after that. My dad was an attorney and NOT mechanical. Plus he went to New York every year to see the latest Broadway plays. Every time his camera died, he threw it in a drawer, then got the next, latest and greatest, camera in New York at Ritz Camera.
It wasn't long before I figured out that the only thing wrong with all the cameras in that drawer was that they needed new batteries! So, all my life, I've gotten a new camera every year!!!---until my Dad died.
He never got into SLR, so I had to buy them myself. But my Dad was crazy about photos---he even carried one all across Europe after landing at D-Day. He even has some graphic pictures of Dachau.
Lucy
My background for the nature/wildlife craze mostly started with documenting and spotting for deer and elk hunting expeditions, with a strong emphasis on the photography end.
Finally, we recently started a off with a new member of the family (now 15 months old) who will be the cause for wearing out a shutter or two - but shows signs of being a great bird watcher!
Jim Kernicky
Barry Ashenhurst
I'm a returning member to NPN - so will just update previous info.
I've worked many years for the federal government - US Forest Service and BLM - working in Silviculture, Timber and Fire. The past several years I've been working as a Fire/Aircraft Dispatcher and have traveled all over the US during the summer months, including spending a lot of time in various regions of Alaska.
Between my photography business and returning to school to finish a Geology degree, I keep busy preparing for the arrival of 3 (yep, 3!) grandsons to be born between Oct 1 and Nov 30!
I am part owner of a small accounting firm here in northern Canada. I dream of not working on any job other than Photography but, with my current job paying the bills it will be tough to change. I will keep the dream alive for as long as I can, lol.
I am part owner of a small accounting firm here in northern Canada. I dream of not working on any job other than Photography but, with my current job paying the bills it will be tough to change. I will keep the dream alive for as long as I can, lol.
I am PhD student finishing its thesis in behavioural ecology of fish (will defend it the 10th November 2009).
Next, I am thinking about signing in an association for scientific education as chief of program, where I work since April. I'm also searching for a post-doc position somewhere around the world
I was lucky and got a position as a graphic design trainee (at 26) at a local company which I've been with for the past two years. Two more years and I'm a fully educated graphic designer. I mostly do work for print (both offset and digital) as well as building business profiles for various companies. Love my job, I really do. The best thing to happen to me since, well forever I guess. The only downside with this business is the constant deadlines... Thats why it's great to be able to venture into the great outdoors to do what I love the most. Landscape photography.
Lots of variety in people's backgrounds here at NPN. Great diversity.
I`ve worked in South Africa, Namibia, Sudan, Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo (which incidently is not democratic), Canada within the Arctic Circle, Turkey, Philippines and now Guinea.
I can't say that I read every single entry in this thread, but you are a really diverse bunch knit together by a passion for nature and photography.
Adding a bit to the diversity, I am a medical scientist specializing in medical imaging and mathematical modeling. My avocation of landscape and nature photography has only grown with the advent of digital cameras and desktop printing.
I have just joined. I am beginning to contribute to the discussions. Many times I am struck by the artistic skill and geographic diversity of the group.
I retired from the fire service and teaching on June 30th of this year. I continue to work part-time as a 'retiree' at Columbia College as an administrator.
I am in the process of building a print portfolio, marketing my work, continue as a moderator here at NPN/CANP, and shooting primarily large format. I am heavily engaged in my music (I am a long-time acoustic guitar player) and plan to cut an instrumental album next year.
It's all good!
-P
I do have him beat now by almost three years of retirement. After 45 years in the working world and 37 of those years in the telecommunications industry, thankfully it was time to finally remove my vehicle from the crowded freeways on a daily basis here in So Cal.
Being so involved with photography many years prior to retirement it was also fitting to say there was no vacuum of time for me to fill once I left my employment days. In fact, it seems as though there is still not enough time to do everything we photogs like to do, but I hope to keep as active as possible at it.
Do you have many alluvial fans? Are they gneiss? Hopefully, they don't take you for granite.
Welcome to NPN, Hendrik!
-P
I am now a fresh doctor (PhD, since yesterday) in behavioural ecology, and begin a 2-years position in Switzerland in december.
Back in Alpes moutains... My dream !
I would love to make a living at photography, but I am a security nut and love being tenured and having a predictable paycheck regardless of the economy. Having photography as my hobby is probably for the best since I'm not yet good enough to make a living at it anyway. I would love to retire a little on the early side and supplement my retirement with photography, and by then, I'm hoping I'll be good enough!
My photography takes up about three days a week. I am a canon user I own twp bodies 40D and 50D, my lenses are 10-20 zoom, 17-85 zoom, 300mm f2.8 L IS USM lens, 500mm f4 L IS USM lens and occasionally us a 1.4x converter.
I sell some of my images in local shops and galleries and usually hols 2 exhibitions a year. I have started tting pictures published in some photography magazines in thr UK. I enter competition an have has some success this year winning a few
Robert
I still enjoy the carpentry work but as I'm getting older it's taking a tole on my body. As for the photography, I hope to continue adding more quality images and over time I can do more photography and less carpentry. But if it never gets to that point I think it will be OK
When I retire I wouldn't mind running a small business with high-school senior photography or even some weddings.
I have always want to do photography, now is my chance. Hopefully I can do this on the side to make a little additional income after I retire for good!
(couldn't let this one pass)
Don
I started taking nature photos (and long, sometimes 8 or 9 mile hikes) a few years ago now after several traumatic deaths in my family and another one impending at that time (cancer). I didn't really think about why at that time, but I guess it was a way to focus on the life and beauty and color all around, instead of thinking about death all the time. That plus my last job was incredibly stressful and it was a way to get away from it all.
But we NEVER talk about chemistry at home. Only photography!
D&L
I am a Project Manager and manage mostly software releases for a large telecommunications company. Before this position, I designed and developed computer based training (using mostly Flash and Dreamweaver) for the same company.
A little over two years ago, I put down my pool cue (my other passion) and purchased my first SLR. I have been hooked ever since. Currently, ALL my free time goes into photography and I hope to make something out of it one day.
Photography is purely a hobby for me, for now. I am only 29 years old, so we'll se what the future will bring.
I bought my first SLR, a Pentx K1000, when I was 11 years old with the money from mowing lawns and I have been hooked ever since.
Life is good here for us now. I continue to work on my photography and our situation now allows me to do that. Paying the bills??? Haven't figured that out yet.
Have a great fall and early winter.
Ron Huff
Culdesac, Idaho
that explains my hair loos at an age of 27
This is also allowing me to be that, "National Geographic Photographer" I always wanted to be.
I also raise Morgan Horses, and give riding lessons to kids, and adults. I am a local 4-H volunteer when home, and not travleing. I have always enjoyed photography, and now finding myself building a real, portfolio for stock photography.
Nice meeting everyone ;)
I am a software architect with education in comp sci/applied math (hadn't finished my PhD though), work with hi tech since '85.
PS and 9-5 doesn't really apply to modern times , it is more like 8-7 on good days :( .
Jagdeep Rajput
Wish I could have afforded the camera I have NOW back THEN.
I havent put and avatar or anything else on here. Our company website is
www.delphiniumholdings.ca if anyone is interested in what I actually DO.
I just love photography with a passion, but I dont have any illusions about trying to quit my day job.
I run a small manufacturing company in Northeast Indiana. The best part of the job is that I get to travel around the world a lot. The worst part is the same thing because I'm usually required to work when I'm there..
I'm planning to retire later this year and spend much more time with my retirement dream which is to photograph nature in all its splendor.
I have been photographing since 1976 and photography is one of my great passions. NPN is a great place and I make almost daily visits here. Thanks to Jim (and all the volunteers) for giving us this place!
All in all not so terrible an accident.
Our youngest child is now a full-time ICU nurse and is fully self-supporting. Having grown tired of the long hours, commuting combat, stress, responsibility without authority, and general BS of working in the corporate world, I have returned to being 100% self-employed. I will finally have the time to pursue other interests and opportunities, including NPN, training and consultation, and any other entrepreneurial opportunity that looks interesting!
It will no doubt present some fiscal challenges, but getting my life back is priceless!
I have been a football coach (at every HS level) for 30+ years.
When 2 of my boys started playing football in college (and 1 in the NFL) I gave up the HS coaching to watch them on Saturdays and Sundays.
That was about 10 years ago.
I have been a part time pro photog since 1972 doing mostly team/sports weddings and portrate related images..
I currently teach 3 sections of Physical Education and 2 sections of Digital Photog. ... which must be the strangest combination ever.
This year will be my last full time year...I might teach Dig Photog in the Spring Semester, but I want to do what I really enjoy for most of the fall... travel and shoot beautiful and interesting spots...
Thanks (sorry this was so long .. but I'm old
Tom H
Sucker for punishment ?
I became more interested in photography (other than vacation, kids, holidays) in 2003 when we bought my son, now Dr. Kevin Williams, entomologist, a Nikon Coolpix P&S because we thought he would want to take photos of his velvet ants (one day I hope to get a decent photo of one that I will post here). He left the camera at home when he went off to Utah State for his phd. So dad picked it up and started shooting indiscriminately at everything. In 2005 I broke down and bought a Canon EOS XT and then started to learn how to use a camera for real. Well, I got lucky and got a few decent shots that I was able to get published in several California Ag Resource Directories and Department webpages (because it saved a bunch of money they used to spend on real stock photography).
This site is an incredible resource for learning.
I have been a professional photographer in Houston and Dallas since 1972 shooting architectural interiors and exteriors, portraits, annual reports, golf course landscapes (played professional golf for a few years) and at times anything that would pay the bills. I was a single parent to 3 kids and and when my youngest son went off to Texas A&M (I am a University of Texas grad in Radio, Television and Film) I moved to Dallas to live with my wife.
We live across the street from Turtle Creek which has become my outdoor studio and starting shooting birds and flora when the real estate economy killed my architectural clients. I began selling my wildlife to interior designers two years ago and have several big projects keeping me busy.
There is so much to learn at NPN and thanks to one and all.
God bless Texas.
Dave Graham, East River, SD
Classes and small group workshops and individual workshops/tutorials
www.davidleegraham.biz
www.davidleegraham.com
I've been a chemist my entire career, though I have training and experience in other areas. For the past 34 years, I've been involved in engineered composites in one way or another, with fuel cell related applications constituting most of the past 12 years.
But my first love was Photography and I'm on my way back home.
I am a civil engineer and few times i am a freelance photographer, paid very small amount for my photography since 4 years ago, hoping to find a job as a full photographer, but until now i am just a civil engineer inspector in a local governmental department in my town, not enjoying the job at all so that looking for another job if possible or available.
Lucky many of you here to have full time photography or even those who are managers and have high position in their jobs, no wonder why you can travel around and affording gear you want too
I joined the Teamsters Union, and worked at a grocery distribution warehouse right out of high school.
Was married at 21 & became the father of two sons shortly thereafter.
In my mid thirties I shifted to the commercial printing industry, and operated a sheet-fed heidelberg printing press for many years thereafter.
During the last decade I’ve returned to college, and have nearly four years of study completed.
A proud grandfather of three boys whom I love very much. Two in Texas, one in Virginia.
My wife contracts as a medical records auditor/manager from our home office.
We’ve been married 19 years now.. She says it feels like more
As with most others here, I make a small income from my photography.
But it’s never been about the money.
It’s about the part of us that’s rooted deep inside every human being.
That child like wonder that’s in a perpetual state of amazement, at the natural world all around us.
I worked as financial analyst and trader for 10 years.
Since 2005 I returned to more calm seas....and now I'm working with satisfaction as teacher in a good public school.
I studied (and I was also, but nothing special) as pianist, and now I teach music.
All the best,
sandro
Chief Cat Herder and Nag is how I sign myself. I'm the chairperson of a small and rather informal group of prairie restoration volunteers. We spend most of the year removing invasive plants and planting natives, but once a year when the prairie bloom is at peak (we hope) on the Saturday before Mother's Day, we put on an event called Prairie Appreciation Day. That's when I have to dig back into my working day organizational skills, though we're small enough that I do plenty of the heavy lifting and work parking as well. Other than that, I'm retired for nigh onto three years, and it hasn't slowed down yet.
Most of the work involved being involved in the planning and execution of timber sales and grazing allotments to make sure that the aquatics were protected. The last 25 years were spent trying to keep cows out of streams in SW Montana - a somewhat thankless task. I also taught hydrology at University of Montana - Western here in Dillon, and taught photography for the Yellowstone Association. Now, my wife and I lead Road Scholar trips in Yellowstone. I served two terms on the council of the Montana Wilderness Association.
I worked with a guy on the Flathead Forest (Danny On) who got me interested in photography, and have since gone through the hobby/passion/obsession progression. Along the way I've backpacked and floated throughout much of the northern Rockies and Colorado Plateau, and some in Alaska. When the Forest Service moved me to within three hours of Yellowstone, it was like throwing B'rer Rabbit in the briar patch. Looking forward to the next fifty years...
This too has been several years coming.
I am now working for Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures since 11/2012. My principle responsibilities are to manage 12 programs in Pest Exclusion (quarantine, nursery, phytosanitary certification) and Produce Quality (farmers markets, organics, eggs) and all the employees that go with them. Pays the bills and helps to support my travels and photography habit. I continue to have some photos printed in several agricultural publications.
Moving from Northern to Southern California has taken some re-calibration on nature photography, including finding birds and flowers and landscapes wherever I can find them. Fortunately, my sons were/are in great places like Florida (now back to Northern California) and Portland, OR areas. Also fortunately, I was able to upgrade to a Canon 5DIII recently (amazing camera) with pretty decent lenses.
Hard to believe I've been an NPN member for more than 13 years!
Lots of changes in the last few years, especially 2016, for me, many unexpected. My photography has been about the only stable thing, and likely what kept alive what sanity I have left. Still, I had almost no time for photography in 2015, and barely posted an image here.
I fled the traffic, congestion, and "attitude" of Northern California in 1994, and mostly retired in Sandy, Oregon. I was there for 15 yrs before my mother developed Alzheimers and, as a Advanced-Practice RN, I returned to California to help care for her. I really disliked having to be back in California, but found a very special guy which made it all worth it. Mother mercifully passed on after 6 years, only 2 weeks before Jim and I were married in October 2015.
After 25 years single after an early divorce (and saying I would never ever EVER EVER EVER marry again), I learned to never say "NEVER". Jim is a retired Environmental Sciences/Biology/Embryology Professor Emeritus at the University of San Francisco, and we share a great many things.
After mother passed on, We quickly sold our California houses and moved to a spectacular beach in the sleepy southern coastal town of Brookings, Oregon. The trickster angels intervened with joy, and a few months later, both my father (95) and stepmother (94) in Florida took a health nosedive and my sister and I alternated 2-week periods in florida for months. I missed the entire first 3 summer months in our new house, and Jim flew back and forth to Florida for support and help. Stepmother passed on in July, leaving my elderly father alone with only caregivers.
We got him moved (mercy flight) to California 3 miles from my sister (and 4 miles where Jim and I lived before we moved to Oregon) and now are on round 3 of caring for elderly, failing parents. I fly back to CA for long weekends about every 6 weeks and am trying to direct his care long distance. We have an excellent Case Manager, thankfully, as my sister there has no medical training.
Despite all this, Jim and I have continued to travel - 6 weeks in Africa in 2014 on our own, 2 weeks in the SW National parks in October 2016, a trip to the Catskills for my nieces' wedding, and lots of 3-4 day trips. He is the BEST spotter, sherpa (gladly carrying the 500mm and tripod throughout Africa ) and patient driver. ("Please pull forward about 6 inches so that branch is not across the Bateleur's face")
Argh. Life sure throws us some twists and turns! And, once again, photography is saving my sanity.
Sandy
However, I realized that building a personal brand as a photographer takes a long time. So, what I have started to do, is to build my consulting/business advisory business until I can build my brand as a photographer.
In short, I want to split my ambition into two phases: make money on photography so that my photography pays for itself until the photography can pay for the family.
Until then, the day job of business consultant will have to stay. A pity, really!
I will then decide what comes next.
John