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Quote by Peter Menzel

“The summer of 1966, I hitch-hiked alone for two months all over Europe instead of working on a farm in Spain. It was a big game to see how much I could see on $400. This got me hooked on traveling.”

Quote by Peter Menzel

Author

Peter Menzel, born on February 7, 1948, is a renowned writer whose works span a wide range of topics including travel, nature, and anthropology. Menzel is known for his unique photographic and writing style, often exploring the relationship between humans and the natural environment. more

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“I have a completely worthless degree: a BS in Photojournalism from Boston University (BU). With this degree, I suppose I could have gotten a job teaching grade school kids how to photograph their relatives, but knowing about B&W photo processing and developing and how to shoot a picture story is good basic info that every photographer should have.”

“I drove a taxi at night during my last year at BU and then for another 18 months after graduating in order to buy cameras and pay the rent while I tried to figure out for myself how to freelance.”

Years Lasts Night Order Pay Figures Months Cameras Graduates Last Year Taxi

Author:Peter Menzel

“Everyone thinks it would be great to work for National Geographic. So did I.”

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“After I discovered my degree in photojournalism would only get me a job in a camera store, I taught myself lighting. I read tons of magazines and books and studied the photos trying to figure out how they were done. I bought some flash equipment and played around until I figured out how to make a subject look as I envisioned it should look.”

Should Trying Looks Book Done Jobs Subjects Figures Taught Degrees Cameras Stores Magazines Flash Equipment Lighting Photojournalism Magazines And Books

Author:Peter Menzel

“Scientists are usually nice, organized, logical people who are very cooperative. I always learn a lot of science while shooting science stories and it helps to be able to speak intelligently to a subject about his or her field of work, i.e., do your homework before the photography.”

People Helping Stories Able Speak Nice Subjects Fields Photography Scientist Shooting Organized Logical Homework Cooperatives

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“My modus operandi after working for a decade as a self-funding freelancer, was to spend as little money as possible to get the job done, even if it was on someone else's nickel.”

Ifs Littles Self Done Jobs Decades Funding Nickels Little Money Get The Job Done Modus Operandi

Author:Peter Menzel

“I've heard Braggadocio about excess baggage charges, multiple unused hotel rooms, and rental cars held unused for long periods of time, which makes me lose respect for certain photographers. Sometimes it's worth it to spend money on a good idea, but wasting money makes me ill.”

“With the Internet, you can get lots of info in advance, but a local person who knows how to work the system is invaluable.”

Knows Persons Know How Internet Locals Invaluable

Author:Peter Menzel

“To me a translator is very, very important. If the fixer is also the translator, so much the better. I have known photographers who didn't speak the language and would work in a place for weeks without one, getting by on common sense and smiles. But how many situations did they miss because they couldn't talk to someone and get the back story on details, small daily life things, etc.”

Ifs Important Stories Speak Language Common Situation Known Week Missing Photographer Details Common Sense Etc Daily Life Translators Fixers

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“It's important to get a translator who will ask the questions in a sensitive and thoughtful way. Knowing the ethnicity issues, the tribal issues in some places...who your translator is can mean a lot.”

Way Mean Important Asks Knowing Issues Sensitive Thoughtful Ethnicity Translators

Author:Peter Menzel