Fortunately for both of us, I have been doing quality work at Neighbors, if I do say so myself. My work this weekend was particularly sweet. It marked the first time the photo editor (or in this case the interim photo editor) made a specific point to compliment me on my photographs.

I had a full day of work on Sunday, covering the Sacramento Senior Games. In addition to running in many of the weeklies Neighbors puts out, the photos and story will be on the cover and the main story in Spectrum, McClatchey Newspapers’ (the owner of Neighbors and the Bee) tabloid-sized newspaper marketed to area seniors-citizens. I was the only photographer covering the event for Neighbors and Spectrum, and was expected to get 4 images from the track-and-field events in the morning, then the three images from the tennis competition in the afternoon. Having been inspired by the National Press Photographer’s Association Flying Short Course in San Jose, CA, the day before, I tried some new tricks and ways to approach the two sports assignments. I came away from the day feeling good, and that feeling would prove to be accurate as I processed by 8 rolls of film and scanned the best pictures the next day.

Senior Games Long-Jumper Teddy Walton, 51, of Sacramento flies through the morning air at Cordova High School during the track and field events on Sunday October 25, 1998.

George Ball, 54, of Reno Nevada, participates in the shot put event in the track and field portion of the Sacramento Senior Games at Cordova High School on Sunday, October 25, 1998.

I always go into the office to process and scan early, so I can get on with my day and my classes. Sometimes that means the photo editor isn’t present, and that was the case Monday morning. So I chose my own images to scan, and put the laser-proof-prints on the editor’s desk.

I have been complimented before on my work by the editor and other photographers, but it was always in passing, as I was about to leave, or on the light-table. Today I got a nice surprise on my answering machine. I came home this evening and played the message and it was the interim photo editor (the regular one is on vacation) and she just wanted to thank me for the effort and the “wonderful job” I did. She added that the editors all loved the pictures, and thanked me again.

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. The editor ended with this: “No need to call back, its pretty slow here...there should be something at the end of the week...”