occupations

[back alley]

anyone care to share what you do for a living?
i'm just curious to see what the diversity of our jobs might be.

i'll start-

i'm a group facilitator. i usually work for small social service agencies, not for profit.
for the past 5 years, i have been working with women who have survived spousal abuse.
i facilitate several modules, including, personal development and one called 'the dynamics of abuse'.
it's very satisfying work and i love what i do for a living.

next...

joe

[Oldprof]

I teach anthropology at a state university. I also do field research on native communities in Latin America. It's rewarding and enjoyable. I'm nearing retirement age and looking forward to continuing my writing and research without the demands of a university schedule.

[SolaresLarrave]

Another prof... not old yet, but longing for retirement. I teach Spanish language and Latin American literature at a state university in the Midwest, not too far from Chicago. I'm untenured but I really like my job, and enjoy the demands and challenges it poses. And hanging out with young people is a plus! :)

[Rich Silfver]

Born and bred in Europe. Worked for a larger company that insisted on sending me to quite a few countries. Left Europe in 1996 for what was supposed to be a year in the states. Now it's 2003 and still here. Worked in a number of states and lived in several.
Now in San Francisco. Joined a company as a 'full time employee' in 2001. Working in IT as a Senior Project Manager.

Hmm...and I wanted to be a cartoonist....

[MP Guy]

Im a software engineer for Intel. We make great kettle chips :)

[taffer]

A computer engineer wannabe (a bit more than a year to go) that works in the computer support area of a catalan university, mainly giving support to professors doing research there.

BTW, don't worry rsilfverberg, I wanted to be a biologist... :)

[Peter]

Hello Everyone! I am a Gerontology Nurse Consultant for a group of hospitals and community healthcare resources in Singapore. I am a registered nurse trained in Australia and photography is my way of de-stressing.

By the way, I wanted to be a photo-journalist when I was young.

:p

[jacemanuel]

Up till about a month ago I studied at the university - linguistics, sociology & literary history - right now I'm kind of wondering what I'm gonna do next, I'm really fed up with the academical sphere these days, so the future will probably more practical.

BTW I still haven't found out what I want to be when I grow up, and I'm 52.

Jacques.

[rover]

Jacques, stay in the academic world, the real world sucks.

I have spent the last 15 years in the once insurance capital of the world, Hartford, CT. I have been an Underwriter for the past 8. It has offered me a lot good experience, and is now forcing me to be grown up as my company is closing it's doors.

[Doug]

Hi -- Interesting to see the wide range of career types here. I had a former life in Mechanical Engineering at Boeing. For the past 30+ years I've managed my own apartments... during which time I've "moonlighted" as a police officer, computer type & publication designer and Mac support consultant.

I hear that more people now than ever before transition through more than one career in their working lives.

[wierdcollector]

Sounds like I'm perhaps the only blue collar worker in the group. Twenty Six years in the pulp and paper industry. Currently in pulp sector. If you've ever used Kodak paper, Bounty paper towel, Charmin toilet paper or read the Enquirer, you've used some of our product. Not exactly designing a better mousetrap, but I like to think at the very least I provide the daily necessities we've come to take for granted. :>)

[Oldprof]

Originally posted by wierdcollector
Sounds like I'm perhaps the only blue collar worker in the group ...

Absolutely nothing wrong with that. And you're right ... I use your products! :)

[Flinor]

Retired corporate burnout. I currently work part time in a camera store. That is if you can call standing around and talking photography all day working.

Gerry

[pshinkaw]

I'm an electrical lawyer. I put together deals and help build projects involving high voltage electrical transmission systems.

I woke up recently, realized that I was over 50 and concluded that it was too late to try an grow up.

-Paul

[oftheherd]

I have been hired in my last two jobs because I can spell computer correctly (at least 2 our of 3 times). But I am actually in a physical security related position now, and have been in police or security related positions for over 30 years. Now and in my investigator positions, I used photography in my job sometimes. I have been into photography as a hobby, more or less (sometimes much less), for over 50 years.

[jdos2]

I'm the DNS and DHCP administrator for a large Midwestern bank.

[Picture Guy]

I have done financial analysis is a wide diversity of industries, including oil field services, long haul trucking, advertising, and now aerospace industries.

I'd like to follow my bliss, which would be to open a chain of franchises called:

"Bikini Waxers to the Stars"

If you wanna get in on the ground floor, please call...

[SolaresLarrave]

Wow! We really are a diverse bunch... and not all of us have posted our occupation!

[thunderstick]

on the staff of a dental school for the past 12 years. prior to that was self employed in dental field. school doesn't pay as well but has amazing benifites and the working enviorment is second to none. i agree with francisco that hanging around young people is a real plus (wish i was a little bit younger).

[bmattock]

I'm a consultant for a software company that makes configuration management software (CM). I travel for a living, flying over 125,000 miles a year - I'm typically only home one day a week! I mostly travel inside the USA, but sometimes I go overseas, to places such as Beijing, Germany, South Korea, and Brazil. I collect vintage American wristwatches and rangefinder cameras from the 1940's, 50's, 60's, and 70's. I'm 43 years old.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[Oldprof]

Hey Bill, concerning your photo ... are you the one on the left? :D

[back alley]

Originally posted by Oldprof
Hey Bill, concerning your photo ... are you the one on the left? :D

there's one in every crowd...

:p

joe

[bmattock]

Originally posted by SolaresLarrave
Another prof... not old yet, but longing for retirement. I teach Spanish language and Latin American literature at a state university in the Midwest, not too far from Chicago. I'm untenured but I really like my job, and enjoy the demands and challenges it poses. And hanging out with young people is a plus! :)

My wife and I are currently planning to move from Albuquerque, New Mexico to the Kenosha, Wisconsin area. With my job, it doesn't matter where I live, I just need to be near a major airport - not a problem half-way between Milwaukee and Chicago! She says she misses winter (ugh), and wants to live in a bungalow. Hey, I'm on the road all the time, so if that's what she wants...

I'm working in Kansas City this week. Next week, North Carolina.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[bmattock]

Originally posted by Oldprof
Hey Bill, concerning your photo ... are you the one on the left? :D

My wife's uncle is a Catholic priest - former president of Fordham University in NYC. He just retired, and we were invited to the retirement ceremony at the Waldorf. My first time in a monkey-suit! It was cool, I got to pretend I was 'somebody' for a few hours. We met a few friends of Uncle (Father) Joe, including former Mayor Ed Koch. He was very kind to pose for a few photos with us. A nice man! My wife is a native NooYorkah, so we go east for vacations quite regularly.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[oftheherd]

Bill, do you get to Korea often? If so, and you have the chance to travel outside Seoul, there are some fantastic photo ops in Korea. Kyongju has a lot. It was the old Shilla dynasty capitol. There are some very picturesque temples. Of course, Seoul itself has a lot to keep a photographer busy.

[bmattock]

Originally posted by oftheherd
Bill, do you get to Korea often? If so, and you have the chance to travel outside Seoul, there are some fantastic photo ops in Korea. Kyongju has a lot. It was the old Shilla dynasty capitol. There are some very picturesque temples. Of course, Seoul itself has a lot to keep a photographer busy.

I've only been to Korea once so far, but may return. My company's customer is in Masan, about an hour's drive from Busan. I fly into Seoul, then from Seoul to Busan, then take a bus to Masan. Last time I was there, I did not get a great opportunity to take photos, but when I return, I am planning on taking some vacation days so I can enjoy a bit of the country!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[oftheherd]

You are closer to Kyongju from Pusan than from Seoul. I don't remember for sure, but I think Masan is more west than east of Pusan. If you are there in the spring, Chinhae has a lot of cherry trees in bloom.

But, although there are many interesting and photogenic sites in Korea, if you are in Pusan, that can be interesting, and Kyongju certainly is nice. In Pusan there is the fact you are close to the ocean, and there is a large tower in Yongdu San (dragon mountain) Park. There is an interesting market there too.

In Kyongju, there is just too much to see to do it all in a short time. There is a lake with a pavillion, an old ice house in the ground, many earth-mound tombs (tumuli), one of which has been excavated so you can go inside. There is an old tower that is thought to have been used for astronomical observation, a museum, and a lot more. There is one tomb from a later dynasty that has two caucasian stone guards as well as Korean. The king's court was known to have to have ties to Persia.

As I said, a very interesting and photogenic place. Hope you can get there and enjoy the sites with a camera in hand.

[That Guy]

I'm a wireless engineer for Verizon Wireless. My real title is a bit techno-geeky, but suffice it to say, I'm that guy (no pun intended) you see on the television saying "Can you hear me now?" Although I don't actually say that. I'm 29.

And Bill, I live in the Metro-Milwaukee area and am starting a vintage American watch collection myself. I've got a Waltham in for an overhaul just now!

[Kim Critchfield]

This is really interesting.

I'm a photographer. Did my first paid wedding in 1973.
I own a studio in Twin Falls, Idaho.

I've always liked rangefinders. I started with a Yashica electro 35. went to a Yashica mat 124G and then through the Mamiya RB67 and Hasselblad phase.

Now days in the studio I use Pentax 67s, and for weddings Mamiya c330s.

My favorite cameras are my Canonet QL17, my leica m6 ttl, and my Arca Swiss view camera.

I guess I'm a dinosaur: no digital yet.


This looks like it's going to be a fun forum!



Kim Critchfield

[r-brian]

I am an environmental regulator for the New Mexico Environment Department. I am the technical specialist for the liquid waste program, i.e. septic systems and the like. I have a BS in Forestry and Wildlife from Virginia Tech, 1975. Accidently got into the wastewater field 20 some years ago and can't seem to get out of it. HELP.

[Scarpia]

I am a recently retired training and development manager and also at the age of 28 a retired opera and concert performer (baritone). My very poor memory forced me to retire from the latter as the ability to memorize music quickly is very important.
It was during my tours of Europe that i bought some of the rare cameras that I own. I was out photographing a historic area of Queens County (NYC) yesterday with one, a direct view non rangefinder Agfa Silette. Today it is just too cold.
Kurt M.

[Mike Richards]

Satellite communications engineering. Lease and manage commercial satellite bandwidth. Lots of techie fun with neat equipment to play with. It keeps me busy while I decide what to do when I grow up. In fact, I've procrastinated on that decision so long that I'm eligible for social security this year. ;)
BTW, that's my grandson on the left.

[mfs]

I am an ophthalmologist, and I guess that specialty is no surprise since I have been a photographer for many years. My first camera was an Argus C-3. Used that for a long time , and then upgraded to a Contax II A after getting too many burns from the Argus flash!!
I used the Contax for many years. Along the way I purchased a Rollei 35, but stupidly sold that little gem for $ while in medical school to pay bills.
Little activity after that (too busy with the med school curriculum, and post graduate training). Just typical family pictures.
Eventually got back and now use Canon SLR, Leica RF (M-5). Just started in digital 5 years ago (D30), and now shoot about 70% digital, and 30% film.
Both techniques have their advantages, and disadvantages.
We really need a digital RF - SLRs too big, and heavy!!! Looked at the Leica Digilux 2, and well it looks, and smells like an RF, but wow what a price!!!!! (Especially since it is built by Panasonic, and will have a typically poor resale value for digital cameras since there is a very rapid rate of improvement.)

[fcg]

art teacher / hs level dealing with / multiply handicapped students.

artist; sculptor; painter;; metals& design ; started age 7-8; in the arts; with a lifelong interest in photography.
often got jobs becouse my photographic abilitys;
looking forward; will be a tutor in the arts; and photography;
possibly teach in night programs and jr college.
currently in the 27th small works exhibit/ 80 washington sq. gallery- nyu
one of my model/works; <a sculpture>"the white sketchbox"; is on display for 2 months. fcg

fcg

[Stu :)]

I'm a final year photography student at UNITEC here is Auckland NZ, who's just decided to go suicidal next year and applied for post-grad qualifications in photography.

Before that I also worked in the IT sector, started out has a phone support jock and finally ended up as a storage systems know-it-all (NAS, SAN, RAID, etc etc).
...And before that I was at the University of Auckland studying a BSc in physics and geology.

There's a few IT geeks here...

Stu :)

[MP Guy]

Stu,

I have a sabbatical coming up and I wanted to go to New Zealand. However, I hear that fall and winter approaches. Whats the best time of the year to visit?

[GeneW]

I've been working in IT for the past twenty-something years doing everything from programming and database to setting up Internet sites and managing projects. Currently a systems integration specialist with a large insurance company that was recently acquired by an even larger insurance company. The new company is moving all its IT to another province so my job will end Nov 30 and I may opt for an early retirement/career switch.

I've been a part-time freelance writer for longer than I've been in IT. By the time my severance package runs out in 2005, I'll turn 60. I'd like to have more time for photography, my guitars (six- and twelve-string acoustic) and my five-string banjo (clawhammer style).

I've had a camera since I was a kid in grade school. I love photography in all its aspects. I have one foot in film (rangefinders, SLR's, B&W films, slides, developing chemicals) and one in digital (scanners, Photoshop, Canon G2 and Canon 300D).

I'm not a collector but over the years I've acquired more cameras than I can comfortably use. I can never bring myself sell anything...

Gene

[bmattock]

Originally posted by Gene
I've been working in IT for the past twenty-something years doing everything from programming and database to setting up Internet sites and managing projects. Currently a systems integration specialist with a large insurance company that was recently acquired by an even larger insurance company. The new company is moving all its IT to another province so my job will end Nov 30 and I may opt for an early retirement/career switch.

Hi Gene:

Sure wish *I* could opt for early retirement, but I suspect I'll be working until they find me propped up in an airplane seat somewhere.


I've been a part-time freelance writer for longer than I've been in IT. By the time my severance package runs out in 2005, I'll turn 60. I'd like to have more time for photography, my guitars (six- and twelve-string acoustic) and my five-string banjo (clawhammer style).

I've included a photo I took of a banjo picker I ran across at a civil war re-enactment a year or so ago in Missouri. Would that be clawhammer style?


I've had a camera since I was a kid in grade school. I love photography in all its aspects. I have one foot in film (rangefinders, SLR's, B&W films, slides, developing chemicals) and one in digital (scanners, Photoshop, Canon G2 and Canon 300D).

Ditto!


I'm not a collector but over the years I've acquired more cameras than I can comfortably use. I can never bring myself sell anything...

Gene

Uh, Gene? If you can never bring yourself to sell anything...you're a collector. Don't worry, sometimes it takes us awhile to realize that we're beyond all help - camera collectors. But although the masses will never understand, we accept you as you are, Gene.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[Stu :)]

Hiya Jorge,

First tip about New Zealand's climate... A band by the name of Crowded House had song titled 'Four Seasons in One Day'. Which any kiwi will tell you is _very_ apt. Right now it's summer and last week my friends basement got flooded by torrential rain, and last August in the middle of our winter I got sun burnt. Go figure...
When are you planning your visit? And where?
As a general rule of thumb: the further north you go, the more unsettled the weather becomes.

Other tips (off the top of my head)-
- Don't bring any self-loading 35mm film cassettes with you, customs WILL open them and say, "What's in here?"

- If you're like me and get all your film developed before temping fate with the X-ray machines... I'll recommend PCL for all colour work and if you want to do your own black & white processing, I'll gladly help you in that department.

- The colour temperature in New Zealand is VERY different from the rest of the world (due to hole in ozone layer and a general lack of pollution). I discovered this when I discovered Kodachrome, all pictures came back looking like they got shot through a 80C filter.

Stu :)

[GeneW]

You really made me chuckle Bill! So I guess I'd just better fess up and say 'my name is Gene, and I'm a collector...' Do our CA sessions meet every Wed night?

Good photo of the banjo player! I can't quite make out if there's a fifth string on the player side of the banjo, but I'll bet there is. Yes he appears to be playing clawhammer style (frailing is another term for it). That 's an open-back banjo (bluegrass banjos have a big resonator at the back and are played with thumb and finger picks). It's also fretless and probably built from a kit. It's pretty much in period with the costume. May have nylon strings on it rather than steel strings, recreating the old gut strings that would have been used back then.

Cheers,
Gene

[Rich Silfver]

Oh 'crowded house'... I actually liked them more when they were 'split enz.

In 1996 Crowded House had their farewell concert on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. Estimated audience: 250,000 people.

[Doug]

Originally posted by Stu :)
...The colour temperature in New Zealand is VERY different from the rest of the world (due to hole in ozone layer and a general lack of pollution). I discovered this when I discovered Kodachrome, all pictures came back looking like they got shot through a 80C filter.
So, Stu, what's the solution? Is a UV filter good enough in general, or does one break out the 81A filter? :-)

[LionFlyer]

What a great group. I have been a shutter bug since, hum, about 7 years old I think. Grandma gave me her Kodak Instamatic 100. Had the pop up flash bulb. Mom would tell me when I needed to use the flash and load the bulb for me. Later She gave me a 104 that used flash cubes. Much later, about the Ninth Grade, I took photography for my shop class. Learned how to crack open and develope the film inside of those instamatic cassetts. Plus make contact prints. Made a pin hole camera out of a coffee can too. Wised up to 35mm and got a viewfinder camera which you could set f stops and shutter speeds with. Had to guess, pace off or measure the distance for focusing though. I joined a photo club which had a great dark room where I developed :) my photography further. Even learned how to print color. By that time, I had upgraded my equipment to a minolta SRT 101 with a 58mm f/1.4 lens. Sold my first photo that year. I took some shots of a "Sit In" (remember those) which a small news paper liked enough to pay me five bucks for. Kept the paper route though. During High School, I joined the school newspaper. Became photo editor next semester. Great class. Got my english mostly out of the way by taking and developing pictures! How cool is that! Got side line passes to all the school sports I wanted to go to and a few I didn't but thats how it goes. During that time I was washing dishes for my film & paper and gas money. Funny thing, the cook was a Brooks student. Plus I picked up a little side cash doing cast photos for a theater group. Barely paid for my materials so it was hard to stay intrested. Took more photography in the Junior College with an eye for going to Brooks in Santa Barbara. That never happened. So I bagged at a super market for a spell until my clavical was broken by the seat belt in a automobile wreck. After about 4 months of healing I went looking for another job and was hired at a tool and die shop. Started out doing production but later learned tool making. Which lead to a machinist position at a company making computer controlled engraving machines. Computers excited me so I bought one; A new Apple IIe and learned how to use it and to program it in basic. Took more JC courses in programming and most of the core courses for engineering. I also picked up a side line as a computer lab tutor. Which led to networking and the internet which evolved to my current job as a Network Security Specialist. So I configure routers, firewalls and hunt for weirdness on our LAN plus all sorts of other geek type things. Oh and another child hood dream, I learned to fly which I also liked doing but soon realized that I was not high enough on the economic food chain to afford enough of it to be safe unless I taught it. So I kept after it long enough to become a flight instructor. But IT geek is what pays the bills. Having done all that, I remembered how much I liked photography and so about 3 years ago I revived an old passion. My old Minolta had seen better days and now I could afford Nikon and some of those Nikkors I lusted for in the 70s. I even went back to class at JC to study advanced lighting. Reflectors, filters, studio lights, soft boxes, that sort of thing. Had not done that before. I am here because I got intrested in rangefinder cameras and during my research surfed across this site one day and book marked it. So when I have time, I get out and snap a few with a RF (I choose the Olympus 35 SP and a Yashica Lynx 14e) I am finding that I carry the Oly a lot and only get out the Nikkors when I want to use something besides a FFL RF.