The Chicago Sun-Times made a shocking announcement last week when fired its entire photo staff. The paper says now will rely on freelance journalists to shoot with mobile phone cameras or whatever equipment they have. Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist John h. White was let go between the nearly 30 full-time photographers. White has spent decades at the Sun-Times. Tell Me More said that the executions have wounded the Sun-Times, but photojournalism's future remains bright.
About the Sun-Times has made the announcement
"We received an email that there would be a meeting, was required and so I thought, ' well maybe we're all going to get new equipment. ' And nobody knew what it was. ... The editor came to 09.30 and made a statement to the point that, as we move towards digital technology and things of this nature, we are eliminating the Department photos — photographers and staff. ' "I think someone said [announcement] was 20 seconds, I don't know. But there was one person who said, ' this is real? She just said that? ' "
Why you don't need to pay for professional photographers in the era of camera phones
"Someone can go around with a camera in your pocket. You could give a camera to an animal. But the photographer, photojournalist captures the soul. You don't just walk into a tragic situation or a situation of sacred and to be the hotshot person because you have a camera in hand. No, it doesn't work that way. Great photographs they take themselves, but the photographers should be there and recognizes him. ... The photojournalist is the person who sees through a different set of eyes: eyes of the heart, the eyes of history. Capture something that is forever. And you know that when you're doing ".
On what does the loss of creative Sun-Times paper
"It's like taking your eyes off the body. My ex-students, there is a team, there is a family. You know, to the Sun-Times, who lost. "We were there because it was a great paper. And Sun-Times won a Pulitzer Prize — the news — just two years ago in 2011. This was before it acquired Sun-Times management. The Sun-Times has always been that light, Lighthouse, symbol of journalism — and the best of journalism. The constant pursuit of excellence. All that photographer, as far as I'm concerned, is to 1 page. And that's the whole idea.
On how photojournalism differs from other professions that have disappeared
"A robot is not going to go and do what we did. Anyone can take a snapshot. ... If someone looks at a photo again, and you look at that, if it is for two seconds or six seconds or a minute, is recorded forever. That doesn't work in all other means ".
Forward movement
"You won't be cursing the darkness. Candles are lit. I live by my three words "F": faith, focus, and flight. I'll be true to life, my purpose in life, my assignment in life. Stay focused on what is really important, what matters ".
On lessons from his father and passing on inspiration
"My father was a great Minister. ... Once he had all of us together, children and everything. It was night, and that was giving us lessons. There was a lightning bug in flight and reached and grabbed one. ... Held in his hand and said: ' what is this lightning bug? ' He said, ' well are doing a light. ' And put it in his jacket and says, ' that's right. It cannot contain his light. Must make that light. And so does the same thing in life. ... Better always pursue the best, search for the best in others and do your best. ' And I live by the motto, ' Good, better, best; never let them rest until your good is better and your better best. ' These are the things that remind my colleagues. There is no hope.
"I love the people. I love older adults and kids love. And to give them a daily dose of, prescription of inspiration — I don't know any other profession where one can enter the hearts and the lives of someone other than the camera. The camera's that universal passport. And I love him ".