Spoiler alert: The gist of this piece is: I'm a
lucky, lucky guy who is very happy and very grateful.
In this interview, I talk about being frustrated
about newspapers not covering the big stories anymore. This being the result of
a changing industry caught in an economic downward spiral. More newsroom jobs
are being eliminated regularly and the leaders in the industry are constantly
trying to figure out a way to re-invent the newspaper business. Like the recent
memo written by Boston Globe editor Brian McGrory: “It’s
time to re-think everything we do.”
I truly hope my former industry finds a way to
survive these trying times.
However by reading news like this one, I can’t
help but to feel at ease with my decision back in 2014 to take a buy out to
leave I job I truly loved as a staff photographer for the Boston Globe. After leaving the Globe I had been in the newspaper business for about two decades. First with the now defunct Rocky Mountain News and then with the Boston Globe.
But I saw the writing on the wall years before,
around 2008, and immediately started planning to eventually make a change when
the time was right and when all the chips would be in place. I instinctually
knew that I needed to adapt if I wanted to survive what was to come. Now I
can't help but to be thankful for having taking what seemed back then as the
uncertain step of leaving a "sure" thing.
Leaving my job was something I don’t believe I could’ve
done if it were not for the support of my wife, Sara Suarez, of 25 years. She, who is blessedly wise and the possessor
of keen foresight. She, who believed in me from my early professional beginnings
when I myself didn't know what I had to offer to the world. She, who knew
before I did that I could indeed accomplish whatever I’d set out to do, Even
before I had an inkling of the depths of my own abilities, she’s always been
there believing in me. Love you mi Amor.
With my Cuba:
A Photographic Journey program photo workshops program through Road
Scholar, I've already accomplished one of my goals: That of helping other
"photojournos" teach photo workshops, thus, helping them share their
vast experience and to spread their knowledge as well as offering them a possible
new way of making a living. The number of colleagues I'll be able to help keeps
growing. The plans for expanding into
other photo-workshops destinations is already well on its way.
My goal of helping other photographers achieve
their full potential, and that of helping new photographic talent be discovered
is slowly but surely taking shape through millioneyez, a collaborative
platform between bloggers and photographers.
A couple of years back, I was lucky enough to
be introduced to the founders of this Israel- based world-changing startup. As
their chief photographer, I’m helping them re- shape the format of how photos
are being used to tell a story. We are helping create new venues where photographers
can showcase their work where the issues are being discussed. We are creating
and fostering new publishing outlets where undiscovered photographic talent can
be introduced to the world in a way where their rights as visual artists is
respected and honored.
Alas, I find myself today in the privileged position
to be able to say: If today were my last day on earth I’d be okay with that.
Thanks for all the blessings and may we be
granted the wisdom, sense of appreciation and humility to continue to grow and expand
as human beings.
