Questions for Newspaper Photographer Mike Bonner
updated 9 January 2002
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Equipment Questions
What equipment do you use and why?
Which lenses do you use most often?
Other than your camera, with is your most important piece of equipment?
Do you use the camera on automatic or manual mode? If manual, how do you focus
fast enough to get your pictures?
How do you protect your equipment?
What filters to you use and why?
How much film do you use in a day? What kind of film?
Background Questions
How did you become a newspaper photographer? Any schooling?
How did you become interested in photography?
How young were you when you started photographing seriously?
How would a person today go about getting work as a newspaper photographer?
What other jobs are available for photographers?
What sort of income can photographers expect?
Personal Questions
Is your job rewarding?
Why do you do what you do?
Do you enjoy your job?
Do you plan to pursue other types of photography or stay with the newspaper?
On the Job Questions
How do you get in the right spot to capture good images?
What assignments are your favorite and most dreaded?
What's the most common type of photograph you make?
What kind do you enjoy the most?
Do you find it hard to take sad or traumatic pictures?
What is your schedule? Normal working hours in a day?
How much time is in the field and how much is in the darkroom or at a desk?
Do you get called in when not on the clock?
How do you know when to get the right shot?
What do you find hardest to photograph?
Do you travel much?
Have you ever been in a dangerous situation?
What's the hardest part of the job?
What is the best part of the job?
How many photographers are on a newspaper staff?
How are the photo assignments made?
How much time do you spend in the darkroom?
Does altering of photographs occur in the newspaper?
Where is the strangest location you've been as a photographer?
How do you know what will make a good picture for your article?
Have you ever been hurt or victimized while performing your job?
How are you able to take pictures of complete strangers?
What is the secret to taking good pictures?
Other
Which of your pictures is your favorite and why?
What has been the most exciting moment of your career?