Hi Bobbie and all I understand completely. However, I have risked my neck and my life more times than I can count for God and country, my photography and sometimes just for the fun of it. I have been shot at, jumped from airplanes (yes perfectly good ones <vbg>) and worked more fires than I care to count. Not really giving a darn nor a thought about what "may" happen. I have had friends die in a plane, 5 in one shot. Others maimed or broken due to sports or war photography. Most are now between a rock and a hard place financially. My wife and I agreed that if I was to continue doing something other than shooting flowers I needed to get more money worth the risks, insure like all hell to cover us, our stuff, and most of all the surviving mate. I don't know if you are married, or not but if you have someone special in your life how will they survive if you croak during a shoot? Or even worse if you never save for the day when you can no longer hold your camera. Currently it costs $5500 per month to be in a convalescent home for the aged or infirm. How are you going to pay for that? I am not ready to go by any means but if I fall out of an airplane and survive only to be a quadriplegic who is going to take care of me and who will take care of my wife? I cannot impress upon you younger photographers what it takes to be a success - It's not just the byline and the check. That's just the gravy. Doing business the tough way will always cost each of you some jobs. Those are the bottom of the barrel gigs that are always floating in each type of photography. But one thing this business has taught me, the only thing tougher than getting gigs to pay a fair wage, is getting bottom feeders to pay more the next time they call. Les Baldwin ----- Original Message ----- From: "BB" <stopbarking@earthlink.net> To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students" <photoforum@listserver.isc.rit.edu> Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2003 11:15 AM Subject: Re: magazine publishing rights help > Perhaps for you Les. > > Retirement is not on everyone's 'to do' list. > > Each of us has our own definition of success. > > I mean no offense, this just caught my eye. > > Regards, > Bobbie > > > ".........It's not really about the romance of travel and taking > pictures. It's more > about being able to have some sort of retirement when you grow older. > Everyone here loves the creation aspect of photography. Nobody relishes > the > biz side. But you cannot be successful without both. > > Good luck, > > Les (another leslie) Baldwin"" >
