Christine Chang Photography

When I was a kid, my mom and dad would always lecture me about having everything prepared, whether it’s for school or even in cold weather.  Bring a jacket.  Did you study for your test?  Did you bring your glasses?

I heard it all the time because I am scatterbrained.  By the time I was at UCLA I lost my fifth jacket because I left it somewhere and I can’t really count how many umbrellas I’ve donated to the general public.

Time has passed and I’ve had a chance to hone my skills in keeping my belongings.  I’m a little bit better, though now most of the time I prefer to be cold instead of wearing a jacket.  In any case, my point is that in news photography often misplacing something or forgetting can be the difference between a telling picture of a car accident or a picture of pavement and a few pieces of broken glass.  Bad direction sense, like me, also takes a toll on you, but The Thomas Guide is slowly becoming my friend.  I used to hate reading maps, but now I have to learn for the job, as well as lift heavier weights at the gym so I can carry all of my equipment and run at the same time.

Once we receive a call in the office (this morning it’s a bus accident), a photographer takes five seconds to locate his equipment and run.  That’s how fast this line of work is, so hopefully the only thing I’ll forget when I shoot is my jacket, which would be the least of my worries.