PJ's is it like this everywhere

[Vangunda]

Tonight I had the pleasure of being told by my newspaper editor that, because I prefer shooting spot news and sports as opposed to feature work, that I'm an immature photographer.

I've had some hard ass bosses before but this is a new one. So whats your opinion POTN?

[Alleh]

Sounds like he does not understand people take photos becuase they love it and not becuase they want the most money and fame.

[PhotosGuy]

You'll never change his mind. Learn what you can from him & move on.

[vdao1972]

Vangunda,

Your editor does have a point though he/she should have refrained from using the "immature" bit. Photojournalists are supposed to be flexible. Having shot for several papers in the past, you don't know what you will be assigned in the morning. Also, feature work is good for your portfolio.
Also, as the newspaper business goes more interactive, PJ's are being forced more and more to shoot video and take sound to integrate them into multimedia slideshows. Which helps if you shoot more feature work.
I have worked with several editors in the past and all of them didn't beat around the bush. If they didn't like a photo, they stated it. Ultimately, they helped me become a better photographer by pushing me and my craft.
Ultimately, a newspaper is a business. It is also a dying business in the west so they are forced to do more with less. I hate to say this but if you are only focusing on those two types of photography subjects, it is hard for your editor to think of you as an asset. A good PJ makes do with what they are assigned.
Sorry if it sounds harsh but its business.

[FlyingPhotog]

Reminds me of Peter O'Toole in the movie "My Favorite Year":
"I'm not an actor... I'm a movie star!!!"

You have to go with what they give you for a while before you can declare that you're a specialist of any kind. You'd be very hard pressed to find any photographer who is "famous" for one thing that didn't cut their teeth on the boring, the mundane, the repetative, the cat stuck in a tree, etc.

It's called paying your dues...

[tim]

Now this comment isn't about the OP, but often PJ is just another way of saying "I can't plan photos". Often PJ is inexperienced photographers who don't know any better, so they put a label on lack of skill, experience, and ability.

PJ done well is fantastic. PJ as done by most people is underwhelming.

[motion_projekt]

Tonight I had the pleasure of being told by my newspaper editor that, because I prefer shooting spot news and sports as opposed to feature work, that I'm an immature photographer.

I've had some hard ass bosses before but this is a new one. So whats your opinion POTN?

this is just my humble opinion. as a photojournalist, i believe we need to do everything well. Visual journalism is about story telling. documenting history as it happens. giving people a perspective or an angle that they wouldn't normally see...or sometimes ever see.

as visual journalists i believe that we need to be versed in, and even master, all forms and incarnations of the craft. that way, we can apply what we know to anything and everything, always trying to make that elusive perfect image.

Perhaps your editor wasn't the most tactful, perhaps you didn't like what you heard, perhaps, even, your editor is trying to get you to grow as a visual journalist. Just recently, i had a NYT photog tell me that he wasn't impressed with a photo story i'm putting in my portfolio. He said it left him disjointed, and it felt unfinished and rushed. Before that members of local daily papers said they loved that essay, and thought it was great. At first i was like "well screw you then" but i realized after talking with him more, that he was trying to push me to do better work. to make better photos. to surpass what he felt were my limits.

its all about growing. we never stop learning. the day you decide that some one is full of it, and that you don't need to grow and learn more is the day that you prove your editor right.

just my $0.02

btw are you on sportsshooter?

[Picture North Carolina]

I am going to agree with the editor. I disagree with the tact and the words used, but the thought is headed in the right direction. I worked off the city desk for three papers in a major city. Yes, there is a little flexibility available with composition and so forth, but when chasing ambulances, fire trucks and police cars, your main goal is to capture the action of the event and ensure exposures, DOF, etc. are correct. There's not much challenge in it.

There's more challenge in, say, a personality feature. Thought and pre-planning go into it and you have more control over composition, subject, settings, lighting, etc.

[mattograph]

I'd love some more context. I feel like there's something missing. I'm guessing he didn't just pop off with that comment out of nowhere -- what's the background?

[motion_projekt]

I also forgot to add, i think of sports as the icing on the cake for photojournalists. its easier than making an iconic story telling image of a features story, or even a news event..at least i find them much more challenging than sports when applying my philosophy on visual journalism to it.

i like it like that. makes me think.

[Gentleman Villain]

Tonight I had the pleasure of being told by my newspaper editor that, because I prefer shooting spot news and sports as opposed to feature work, that I'm an immature photographer.

I've had some hard ass bosses before but this is a new one. So whats your opinion POTN?

If it's any consolation...One of my old bosses told me that I was horrible at a certain thing....Within about 3-4 years of him telling me that...I was doing it on my own (self employed) and making more money at it than him...and he was twice my age. I suppose that proving him wrong was great motivation.

So don't get too bent out of shape with the crap you'll hear as you're coming up....consider it...but also be ready to let it go in one ear and out the other. BTW - your boss is probably right LOL

[Mike R]

Now this comment isn't about the OP, but often PJ is just another way of saying "I can't plan photos". Often PJ is inexperienced photographers who don't know any better, so they put a label on lack of skill, experience, and ability.

PJ done well is fantastic. PJ as done by most people is underwhelming.

While waiting for my team to play at a volleyball semi final, I was taking to the photographer that the local paper sent. He calls himself a "Trained Monkey"

[bigjon0107]

Tonight I had the pleasure of being told by my newspaper editor that, because I prefer shooting spot news and sports as opposed to feature work, that I'm an immature photographer.

I've had some hard ass bosses before but this is a new one. So whats your opinion POTN?

Honestly, like most of the other people here, i do agree with your editor. Part of being a newspaper photographer is not always about photojournalism; it is about serving your readership. Sometimes people want to see event and sports coverage, other times they want to see a profile on a local business owner or student athlete; both of which can be equally important to them.

Granted his tact was not the best, but if someone on my staff said that, i would probably have a similar response, you NEED to be flexible in this field. But with that said, i do take note of peoples skill sets (which usually correlates with their interests) and divvy out assignments with that in mind.

[basroil]

As long as you shoot what you are contracted to shoot, what you prefer doesn't matter. Best to just keep doing your job and let the editor to his* ideas.

[mattograph]

Especially in this wonderful economy...

[MagikTrik]

Be happy you have a staff job. Hell, I'd spit shine the editor's shoes every morning while he told me how bad he hated me if they gave me a spot on the staff.
If someone is used to something or someone being a certain way then it's hard to get them to change their opinions (he obviously believes all PJ's should shoot everything equally) but like folks are sayin, maybe you shouldn't be tellin your boss what you do & don't want to shoot...