Time.

Don Winslow’s recent journal on the state of photojournalism was very interesting indeed. And I was put in the middle when the photojournalism professor from my Alma mater posted a rebuke.

But over these last two weeks, I just didn’t have the time to add a thoughtful response . I have that staff job with the benefits that everyone seems to want. And I have been running so ragged that I just don’t have time to think.

I’m not exactly complaining. I’m know I’m lucky to have this job. But we have fewer photographers than when I started here 15 years ago and we have far more assignments. I was promoted to senior photographer 10 years ago which means I am not eligible for overtime but I am responsible for making sure that our features sections are covered. So I have to run out on Saturday morning, after already putting in about 50 hours this week, to shoot a quick assignment because we have no one else to shoot it. Simply put, I don’t have the time right now to think about it all. And that makes me worried. And cranky.

Tom Burton
< twburton@aol.com >
Senior Staff Photographer
The Orlando (FL.) Sentinel
Other journals by Tom Burton
347 February 18, 2000 Love
341 January 6, 2000

Baby, Baby Baby

333 Is Photojournalism Dead? Tom Burton My comments today will reflect both my love for photojournalism and my respect for its basic tenets.
327 November 8, 1999 Roller Coaster
319 September 19, 1999 The headline on Tuesday’s newspaper was direct. PREPARE YOURSELF
301 July 15, 1999 Burton Rosevear
280 May 10, 1999 I am a certified platypus. It's time to confess.
262 April 16, 1999 "Thank Mr. Burton"
258 March 30, 1999

A "Typical" Day?

 

238 February 27, 1999 Time
227 February 14, 1999 And by the way; the subject - Zora Neal Hurston - has been dead for almost 40 years.
209 January 29, 1999 Ok, I’ll answer the most-asked questions first:
200 January 9, 1999 Could there be a photo-columnist?
186 December 12, 1998 The Nutcracker
167 October 29, 1998 The launch of Discovery and STS-95
166 October 28, 1998 Huber is one of a handful of photographers who has been setting remotes since the very first shuttle launch in 1981.
156 October 9, 1998 The waiting is the hardest part
147 September 15, 1998 When we edited the film, this last photo kept jumping up at us. It was far less planned than any cover we’ve done - in fact, it was probably the least calculated photo of the entire shoot - but it had that certain "ooomph" we wanted.
139 August 28, 1998 A firefighter returns
128 August 4, 1998 How to be a Model - or Just Look Like One!
124 July 30, 1998 I recently did something I’ve never done before. I went to a press conference without my cameras.
123 July 29, 1998 Some of the newest members of our staff were surprised at the persistence of the British press. They just won’t stop and they want everything. It is quite the clash in cultures when this kind of story goes global.
108 July 6, 1998 For more than a month, it hasn't rained much more than a spit in Central Florida
106 June 30, 1998 Yesterday I was part of the pack, looking for the celebrity of the moment and facing Armageddon.
105 June 27, 1998 At my newspaper, we run photography-based illustrations to illustrate stories that don't lend themselves to documentary styled photojournalism.
94 June 14, 1998 "I'm on vacation..."
81 May 29, 1998 When I decided to shoot a figure drawing class, I knew that I’d be up against some newspaper taboos.
75 May 22, 1998 An open letter to Joe Jaszewski
69 April 30, 1998 The Last Word
61 April 16, 1998 Femme Fatale
55 April 5, 1998 Finding "life" in photojournalism
38 March 15, 1998

Spring Fashion - The Printed Page

March 6 , 1998 Spring Fashion - a final editWhich photo do you think would make the best cover?

February 27, 1998 Spring Fashion - the fifth day As a photographer, I try to

anticipate anything that can go wrong. February 26, 1998 Spring Fashion - the fourth day The shoot went very well and there may be one or two more contenders for the cover

February 25, 1998Spring Fashion - the third day...the most debated, discussed and sometimes over-thought decision is which photo will be on the cover.

February 24, 1998Spring Fashion - the second dayBut during a fashion shoot like today, I shoot Polaroids proofs on everything

February 23, 1998Spring Fashion - the first dayThe phone rang at 6:30 a.m...The obvious question was, "what's going on?"

20 February 19, 1998 While photojournalists seek to document the reality of their world, fashion photographers conspire with beautiful models and clever stylists to create a fantasy.
10 February 1, 1998 Last night, I had a dream
8 January 28, 1998 I’ve found that my best work happens when I surprise myself
 
Contributor since 1998
 
   


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Behind the Viewfinder - A Year in the Life of Photojournalism
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