"Getting my feet back on level ground"

I feel like I went through a clothes dryer. Like I have been tossed and turned and put through gyrations. I am finally starting to get things back in order, back to a livable peace. Thank goodness, work has been good. The first full weekend I was back I got 5 assignments, which kept me very busy. I had another assignment on Thursday, and two more Saturday. This keeps me occupied and contributes to the health of myself and my checking account. Without the work I don't know what I would do with myself.

I can say one thing, being out of school is the worst. School always gave me direction and a sense of purpose, something to keep me grounded. Picking up freelance assignments helps with this, but it isn't predictable or concrete. Being in school always gave me that nice security blanket, and something reliable to count on, day in and day out. Now it seems nothing is certain, and everything is up in the air, as if attached to a balloon filled with helium.

Robert Colter tests his depth-perception at the McClellan Aviation Museum Family Day on Saturday, Oct. 3, 1998. The day included a Bar-B-Q, airplane displays, and a chance for children to put their skills to the test in order to earn their "wings."

Shingle Springs Foursquare Gospel Church Pastor Jim Wells delivers his sermon to the congregation on Sunday September 20th, 1998.

Shingle Springs Foursquare Gospel Church congregation members join in a final prayer before the Sunday morning service ends on September 20, 1998.

If I didn't have photojournalism, I don't know what I would do. At the very least I am able to get out and explore things visually with the assignments I am getting. It gives me something to do and some goals to strive for. An issue I have been struggling with is the notion that I never will arrive in photojournalism. There will never be a point when I am content with my work, because it can always get better. I may be at a place where I am happy with how its progressing, but I will be constantly perusing this goal that is unreachable. That is a little hard to deal with. Then I was in a bookstore and I saw Dan Eldon's book. The title of the book hit me: "The destination is the journey." I will arrive when I don't arrive. The journey I am in now has only one destination, and that destination is the journey.

 

Whew, I thought I am supposed to be somewhere. Thank goodness I am here.

October 7, 1998

Joe Jaszewski

 

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Joseph Jaszewski
< joeja@ucdavis.edu >
Student
Davis, California
Other journals by Joeseph Jaszewski
358 April 17, 2000 Thank goodness for film
353 February 25, 2000 McCain in California
345 February 17 , 2000 Wrestling with the WWF
335 November 20, 1999 Trust your instincts
331 Is Photojournalism Dead? Joe Jaszewski Why be a student of photojournalism, if in fact its deceased?
315 September 12, 1999 It was one of the businest days
313 September 6, 1999 T-Ball days
300 July 10, 1999 "We'll Make This One Work"
293 June 30, 1999 105 degrees. 5pm. American Legion baseball, Rio American High School
289 June 2, 1999 Exactly Two Months Ago
287 May 31, 1999 One of my favorite subjects to photograph
275 May 1, 1999 How do you cover a demonstration when you are the target of crowds displeasure?
268 April 22, 1999 While out on assignment, I usually have some clue of what I should do, and when I should do it.
256 March 25, 1999 Hoop Frames
249 March 15, 1999 Perhaps those who should be most concerned about the future of photojournalism are students
220 February 9, 1999 Airlines are a Curious Thing
203 January 18, 1999 Last week I was asked to join the staff of The Sacramento Bee’s group of 7 community weekly newspapers, Neighbors.
196 January 4, 1999 The next step
187 December 13, 1998 Shoot with just one body, a 35mm f/2 lens, and a roll of 800 film.
177 November 21, 1998 Sometimes, things just have a funny way of working out and fate joins your side for a bit.
164 October 27, 1998 It sure feels good when someone in a management capacity notices the work you do and goes out of their way to acknowledge the quality of that work and compliment you.
154 October 7, 1998 Getting my feet back on level ground
148 September September Tom Hubbard Thoughts on being a freshman Guest Journal Thoughts on being a freshman Photos added 9/29
137 August 24, 1998 When formal assignments are running thin and I just have that itch to shoot, I rely on my family to provide a subject: themselves.
130 August 6, 1998 The bar keeps getting raised
119 July 24, 1998 I had no guarantee of selling the photos I was about to take. I figured if I couldn’t get anyone to buy them, then I would just chalk it up to experience.
114 July 17, 1998 . The best high school photojournalism program in the world
110 July 8, 1998 Redemption
103 June 25, 1998 Let’s go and knock on other people’s doors and meet them
91 June 12, 1998 This was a milestone for me, considering I had never had an assignment from a commercial newspaper
71 May 8, 1998 Why I chose Photojournalism as a Career
 
Contributor since 1998
  
   


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