posted
Help! Throwing a blind call out to anyone who knows diddly about this. Not even sure it's a real specialty. My protag is going to be one, even if I have to invent the specialty myself. Not aerial photography, though. If anyone knows about this or can point me in the right way (ie training, background, livelihood aspects) I'd appreciate it.
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That's why I love this site-- lil bit of expertise on everything!
Well, gosh, not 100% sure where to begin. Just some random questions: 1) How do you get into the field? Do you consider yourself an archaelogist, a photographer, an archaeological photojournalist/consultant? What do I call the profession? 2) What kind of training involved (ie schooling)? 3) What's the nature of the job? Are you a consultant? A professor... I mean, can this be your primary livelihood? 4) What kind of organizations/institutes would you work for? General archaeological research/conservation? Academic? What else? 5) What kind of income are we looking at? 6) Are there leaders in the specialty (as in people that anyone in the field would likely know who they are)? 7) If you were to do any freelance work, what kind of journals/publications (I know of Archaeology magazine, but what else)?
That's just off the top of my head... I'm sure I'll think of more as I flesh out my protag.
quote:1) How do you get into the field? Do you consider yourself an archaelogist, a photographer, an archaeological photojournalist/consultant? What do I call the profession?
Most archeological photographers (APs for short) are archeologists also, which I am not. They tend to have an interest in photography and their skill gets noticed and passed around by word of mouth. It's very much who you know. I didn't go that route. I happened to mention my interest in technical photography to an acquaintance, and he invited me to photograph a dig. I did it for free to get the experience and he liked the results as I was shooting medium format and the blowups were much more detailed than with a 35mm. I consider myself a Dad who needs to pay for shoes and bandaids, etc and wil do anything to make a living; well, almost anything. I won't go into politics, although that has been suggested to me (by ill-wishers). I would call the profession archeological photography/illustration.
quote: 2) What kind of training involved (ie schooling)?
Mine was 100% self-taught, but there are schools of forensic photography that would be well suited to AP.
quote: 3) What's the nature of the job? Are you a consultant? A professor... I mean, can this be your primary livelihood?
I'm not sure this could be a primary livelihood, even for a National Geographic photographer, unless you were 1) affiliated somehow with a university and could use their old-boy network, and 2) lived in a site-heavy country where construction was the driving force for most digs.
quote: 4) What kind of organizations/institutes would you work for? General archaeological research/conservation? Academic? What else?
You would mostly work as an affiliated independent consultant to a university, sometimes working for conservation groups, and occasionally for construction permitting groups. Depends heavily on the state or country in which you live.
quote: 5) What kind of income are we looking at?
Gosh, I would find it hard to make 40k a year full time. Hard to predict.
quote: 6) Are there leaders in the specialty (as in people that anyone in the field would likely know who they are)?
That I cannot tell you as I am not really a part of the archeological community.
quote: 7) If you were to do any freelance work, what kind of journals/publications (I know of Archaeology magazine, but what else)?
Haven't even considered that, but travel magazines would be up there, local Chambers of Commerce, tourism promotion groups, National Geographic would be a target, but an unikely one, state and national tourism promotion groups,
# American Archaeology # Archaeology Magazine # Biblical Archaeology Review # Current Archaeology # Dig Archaeology Magazine for Kids # London Archaeologist # Preservation Planning
Hope this helps. Ask more and I will answer as best I can.
[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited October 04, 2004).]
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Hubby works as office manager for an archaeological consulting firm. The do all kinds of digs, but mostly 'cultural assessments' for constructions sites. I'll ask him to take your questions in to ask some of the people there to see if they have anything to add.
posted
I looked into it a long time ago. I was once interested in entering the archeological field. Who knows, might still do it. I seem to remember that the photographers are especially favored if they can also sketch site features and items for cataloging. They really should have some training on how to work within a site, so they don't accidentally step where they shouldn't, or move something they shouldn't. I agree that forensic training and\or crime scene photography would be really valuable. Archeologists are trying to solve a mystery, just like crime scene folks. Posts: 579 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
NewsBys was very right on the training of how to work within a site! What a pain! But, "Mike, damnit! Watch where you step! This site was 10,000 years in the making. You're only 49. Guess which deserves the most respect!" breeds caution.
The single thing that drives all in situ (in the field) photography is "context". As you are writing, ask yourself if the photographers actions as she is taking her photos are intended to present the item being photographed in its context. Was it on top of, or under that black charcoal layer? Does it show the relationship of wall 1 to wall 2? What was the original orientation of the skull fragments to the remainder of the cranium?
Anyway, there is a book on AP, Photography in Archaeology and Conservation, By Peter G. Dorrell, but it is so heavily biased towards recording finds ex situ that it is almost useless to you. However, there is some useful info that I will abstract and send your way.
My best advice, though, is to get a photographer to review the technical aspects of what you write.
[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited October 04, 2004).]
posted
Thanks guys!! I found some stuff hit and miss on the web, and combined with your gouge, should do alright. Hoping to keep this stuff to a minimum as her job is NOT the focus of the story.
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