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| Photo by Jeff Keller |
If your dream job hasn’t come along so far and you fancy yourself as a bit of an Ansel Adams, you could do worse than to pay a visit to the US Government’s employment website. The National Parks Service is looking for a full-time photographer to record the glory of the country’s natural treasures, much as Ansel Adams did on contract to the Department of the Interior in the 1940s. The only hitch is that applicants will be expected to use equipment similar to that used by Adams himself, as the job involves shooting with large format film cameras as well as the latest digital kit.
You’ll need to be a US citizen, have a driving license and be subjected to a background check, but for your efforts you could earn up to $ 100,000 a year for doing what you love. The job isn’t all wandering around with a big camera and a box of film holders though, as you’ll be expected to make large scale prints, mount exhibitions and help review submissions for the service’s photographic collection. According to the advert, you’ll have to put up with ‘moderate discomfort’ out on location and ‘exposure to weather conditions’.
Keen enthusiasts though will already be familiar and well-experienced in ‘physical exertion such as long periods of standing; walking over rough or rocky surfaces; recurring bending, crouching, or stretching; and recurring lifting of moderately heavy equipment and materials.’
The job advert also specifically asks for the following:
- Knowledge of the principles and techniques of large format, black and white photography.
- Knowledge of published standards and guidelines for architectural, engineering and landscape documentation.
- Knowledge of film and digital photographic processes and techniques.
Those demands shouldn’t be too much of an issue for most photographers already working with large format equipment in the field. To apply for the job you’ll need to get moving as applications have to be in by 15th December. Santa might be coming early to someone.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)