For me it's a combination of career and the fact that I'm getting old and fat.
Would You Go On An Unpaid Internship To A War Zone?!
(42 posts) (26 voices)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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warprints said:
Why do so many of us say we'd go, or at least consider it, if we were still much younger? Willing to take riskes before we've invested decades in life experiences? Acknowledgement that we're kind stupid when we're younger? Interesting.Isn't that normal? I would have thought that most of us would say we have got wiser with age (experience)?
Also my bones creak a lot more now! :-)Posted 2 years ago # -
warprints said:
Why do so many of us say we'd go, or at least consider it, if we were still much younger? Willing to take riskes before we've invested decades in life experiences? Acknowledgement that we're kind stupid when we're younger? Interesting.Not so fast! I'm pretty young and I decided against it. I haven't even finished undergrad yet.
Part of the reason why is because I've decided against being a photographer anyway, so the experience probably won't help me in the long run. The other thing is the unpaid thing. If I need to supply my own gear, etc. then no way will I do it even if it could be Joe McNally I'm following here. Even Chase Jarvis hires his own interns.
elvishefer said:
For me it's a combination of career and the fact that I'm getting old and fat.I've decided on a career, and it's certainly not photography. I'm not old yet, but I can be considered slightly fat. :D
Posted 2 years ago # -
For me, having become old(er), somewhat busted up (back, knee), and having invested in a career other than photography, and now having a family, I would not take the same risks I took when I was younger and much more agile.
On the flip side, if it weren't to a war zone, I might be willing to be a gopher for Joe McNally or someone of his caliber, without being paid. That would be a vacation for me.
Posted 2 years ago # -
What is the biggest font I can use to say .... NO
Work for free in a WAR ZONE ! .. no freaking way baby ... no freaking way
Posted 2 years ago # -
Like Mike G,over 40 years ago, I was given a request by my government that I couldn't refuse....an all expense paid one year tour of beautiful South East Asia.
I went,I saw,I puked,I left, but at least that's where I first discovered my love of photography.
These days,unless I'm dragged kicking and screaming,I won't enter a combat zone,with or without pay,with a camera OR a rifle....NADA....no way!......bugs and flowers don't shoot back ;>)
Posted 2 years ago # -
A few years ago James Nachtway even offered an unpaid internship at his studio in New York. There was a huge uproar about that too. Many felt that Nachtway was taking advantage of young and dumb students.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hi again,
The big misunderstanding I seem to be getting from those who would go is that they think they would get 'something' out of it besides the 'honor' of carrying $hit and the sore muscles one would get from it.
Why on earth would the guy 'advertise'? There are plenty of young folks who come by to volunteer for the chance to help (assuming they could learn something) - even I get those misguided souls - a dozen or so a year.
This is a loser's bet. All you'd have to show for it is how foolish you've been.
My best,
Mike
Posted 2 years ago # -
The thing is, isn't this just the photographer's version of an internship? Most internships aren't paid and you're at your employer's bidding to do everything they tell you to. Oftentimes internships are done through the college- you pay for the credits so you can actually have the "honor" of interning at the company. My cousin did that for Versace.
Posted 2 years ago # -
True, most "real" unpaid internships do offer credits at least.
Mike Gunter said:
Why on earth would the guy 'advertise'? There are plenty of young folks who come by to volunteer for the chance to help (assuming they could learn something) - even I get those misguided souls - a dozen or so a year.I'm going to take a wild guess and say he advertised because no one locally would take his offer. Even the misguided souls.
He actually did end up "hiring" someone. He was another combat photographer who had been to Afghanistan before. For some people the thrill of death and adventure is more valuable I suppose.
Posted 2 years ago # -
NikoDoby said:
A few years ago James Nachtway even offered an unpaid internship at his studio in New York. There was a huge uproar about that too. Many felt that Nachtway was taking advantage of young and dumb students.I agree with some of you above. No-pay internships used to be the way most trades were learned. I find that too many (especially young) people feel some sort of entitlement to being paid, even if they are being taught something. Crikey, even the young secretaries we hire at the office get mad when they don't get a raise, even though they've expressed to others in the office (including telling my daughter) that they aren't going to do *&%^ unless they're told it's ablsouteley necessary and has to be done now.
This particular offer to go to a war zone doesn't appear to be a learning experience (learning photography that is) as much as just a non-paid job as a gopher.Posted 2 years ago # -
I"ll do it. My cell phone number is (810) 282-5135 call me and tell me when we are leaving and about how long we will be gone.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Like Mike Gunter I have been drafted. Actually Vietnam is a beautiful place. Wars though do not improve places at all. Granted though that sometimes they are necessary. At least this gig is optional. I personally would NOT take this opportunity. Volunteering for internship is one thing. Volunteering to go to a war zone is quite a step up in the risk department.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'd be more than happy to go to a warzone, but I'd want to be sent and paid for by Reuters or AP.
Posted 1 year ago # -
to a warzone no and certainly not for free
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hi all,
During the war in Vietnam I work as a combat photographer for the US Army.While I wouldn't trade the experience for anything, I couldn't in good conscious advise anyone to go though a combat photography unit as I did.
When I taught, businesses activity sought students as robo-slaves with their professors as implicit accomplices in the unfair labor practice. I took such an internship program over that was riddled with violations of state law in my last teaching job. Fortunately, the coordinator and I were able to put in place a program that enforced learning goals, rather than 'get me a dough nut goals'.
Which, in the far-fetched case of an internship in a war zone. There would be no insurance for the intern, no meal program, no ombudsman to ensure any rights (for there would be no rights to seek), and only a $hitee creek and nary a paddle in sight.
Interns are students. They deserve mentors who can guide them in their journey in their professional growth, either by nurturing their technical competence or professional standards of conduct.
Telling them where to carry a goddamn bag doesn't cut it.
For more on this see:
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=3525
My best,
Mike
Posted 1 year ago #
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