August 11, 2010
Post by Seba, translation below:
Francamente es increible como pasa el tiempo. Ya han pasado 3 semestres de los 5 que dura la carrera del Marcelo. Hable con el por ultima vez el dia que nos ibamos de chile para saber como le estaba llendo con el cierre del semenstre. De momento to do iba bien, buenas notas, solo le faltaba dar 2 o 3 examenes y cerraba el semenstre, pero al parecer no habia nada de que preocuparse. En un principio Ingles era lo que se veia mas dificil. No recuerdo si la primera nota en ingles fue un 2 o un 3, pero definitivamente era mala. Fue en ese momento en que con la Kyle pensamos, “tenemos que hacer algo al respecto…” y ahi fue cuando contactamos a nuestra buena amiga Sarah, que es profesora de ingles, que llego para salvar el dia y el semestre. La nota siguiente fue un 6. algo. Promedio Final 5.7.
It’s incredible how time flies. Marcelo has already finished 3 out of 5 semesters of his major. I talked to him the for the last time the day we were leaving Chile, to find out how he was doing at the end of his semester. At the time, everything was all good — he was getting good grades, he just had 2 or 3 exams to go and he’d be done. But it looked like there was nothing to worry about. In the beginning of the semester it had seemed that he would struggle with his English classes. I’m not sure if the first grade he got in English was a 2 or a 3 (equivalent of a D or F basically), but it was definitely bad. It was at that moment that Kyle and I realized we had to do something, so we got in touch with our good friend Sarah, an English teacher, who saved the day, and the saved the semester. Marcelo got a 6 on his next test and finished the class with a 5,7 (a 7 is the equivalent of an A+).
Normalmente hablo con Marcelo 1 vez a la semana o cada 2 semanas, para saber como le va en las clases, preguntarle por sus notas, saber si sus ramos le son interesantes y si cree que va a necesitar algun apoyo o refuerzo extra en algun ramo que el cree se le puede hacer mas dificil. A veces lo veo cuando me toca salir del aeropuerto en horario de dia cuando el esta trabajando alla, o cuando nos juntamos en la facultad a firmar papeles o la matricula. La semana pasada me escribio un mail. Ya tenia todos los ramos de este semestre aprobados.
Normally I talk to Marcelo once a week, or every other week, to find out how he’s doing in his classes, ask about his grades and whether or not his classes are interesting, and to see whether or not he needs help or tutors for any class that he thinks might be too tough. Sometimes I see him when we’re leaving the airport during the day and he’s working (he’s on the job of remodeling the airport right now), or when we meet up on campus to sign his matriculation papers. He wrote me an email last week. He passed all his classes this semester.
Poniendolos un poco en contexto yo conoci al Marcelo mas menos en Noviembre del 2007 y ya en ese entonces me menciono que queria estudiar. Cuando lo conoci era ayudante de trazador. Despues de esa primera obra no lo vi por unos 3 o 4 meses, hasta que me lo encontre denuevo en el Ripley que estabamos construyendo. En esa obra yo estaba a cargo de las instalaciones y el Marcelo era mi trazador. No recuerdo bien como salio el tema, pero me comento que ese ano no habia podido estudiar por que no habia podido juntar la plata, pero que estaba tratando de juntar para el proximo. Le pregunte donde pensaba estudiar y cuanto costaba. me nombro un par de lugares……60.000 el mes. No les podria describir bien con palabras como me senti en ese momento. 60.000 mantenian a una persona alejada de su sueno. Esa misma noche converse con la Kyle y decidimos que ayudariamos al Marcelo con sus estudios. Esto fue mas menos en Octubre del 2008. El resto del ano buscamos institutos, escuelas, vimos precios, matriculas y mallas. El 2009 fue su primer ano, ya esta terminando su segundo ano., el 2011 deberia egresar.
Putting things into context, I met Marcelo around November of 2007. He mentioned to me that he wanted to study. When I met him he was the Surveyor’s Assistant. After that first construction job, I didn’t see him for 3 or 4 months until I saw him again at a Ripley we were building. On that site I was in charge of overseeing installations (electricity, plumbing, heat, etc.) and Marcelo was my surveyor. I don’t really remember how the subject came up, but he mentioned to me that that year he hadn’t been able to study because he wasn’t able to save enough money, but that he was trying to save for next year. I asked him where he wanted to study and how much it cost — he talked about a couple of places and said $60,000 pesos a month (about $120 USD). I can’t even describe in words how I felt at that moment. $60,000 pesos was keeping someone from his dreams. That same night Kyle and I talked and we decided that we would help him go to school. That was October of 2008. The rest of the year we looked at institutes and schools, checked out tuition and matriculation fees, and looked at course loads. 2009 was his first year, he’s finishing his second year and in 2011 he should graduate.
Es increible como tan poca plata puede hacer una diferencia tan grande en la vida de una persona. Cuando volvimos de un viaje a USA en Diciembre y nos juntamos para ir a matricularlo, me dijo que estaba considerando la opcion de convalidar los ramos y estudiar 2 anos mas para sacar la Ingenieria. La ultima ves que hablamos me dijo que ya lo habia decidido, iba a seguir estudiando.
It’s incredible how so little money can make such a big difference in someone’s life. When we got back from one trip to the U.S. in December, Marcelo and I met up to go enroll him in that semester’s classes, he told me that he was considering the option of continuing on with his studies and going for 2 more years to get a major in Engineering (right now he’s getting a technical degree in Civil Construction). Last time we talked he told me he had made up his mind and that he was going to get his Engineering degree.
En una de las ultimas clases que tuvo con Sarah, le comento que mas adelante a el le gustaria hacer lo mismo por otra persona — pagarle los estudios. No tiene idea lo orgulloso que me siento del Marcelo, de que quiera seguir estudiando, de que tenga intenciones de ayudar a otra persona si algun dia su posicion se lo permite. Es como el orgullo que imagino debe sentir un padre por su hijo al verlo crecer como persona y profesionalmente.
In one of the last English classes he had with Sarah, he mentioned to her that one day he would like to do the same thing for someone else — pay for their education. You have no idea how proud I am of Marcelo, proud that he wants to keep studying, proud that he has intentions of helping someone else one day if he can. It’s like the pride that I imagine a father must feel seeing his son grow up as a person and grow up professionally.
Pero bueno, me desvie un poco de lo que originalmente queria decir. Ya van 3 de 5. Estoy seguro que antes de darme cuenta estaremos con la Kyle (ella llorando) en la ceremonia de titulacion del Marcelo. Ojala que uds tambien esten por aca para leer de ese dia.
Anyway, I got a little sidetracked from what I originally wanted to say. We’re already done with 3 out of 5 semesters. I’m sure that before I even realize it Kyle and I will be at Marcelo’s graduation ceremony (she’ll be crying). I hope you guys will stick around and still be here to read about it.
August 10, 2010
We’re heading out for Spain in about an hour to shoot a wedding in Santander (well actually by the time you’re reading this, we’re probably touching down). I’m so excited, but apparently my body is not. I got sick last night and am now in a state of misery. Some cold medicine should help, but man, the plane ride is not going to be fun!
Anyway, just wanted to post a quick couple FAQ’s because it’s been a while since I’ve done one these.
FAQ #1. Is there any way you could do a portfolio review for me?
NO. Ok, that’s a lie. I actually already did review the portfolio of the person who sent that email. But while I’m happy to help other photographers, I’m really starting to get sick of doing them. The reason being — I get these emails fairly often, but a lot of people who ask for a portfolio review never respond with so much as a thanks afterward. If I have reviewed your portfolio after you asked me to and you never responded, YOU ARE DEAD TO ME. My time is valuable too and saying thank you, at the very least, is just a common courtesy. I almost always say the same things in the portfolio reviews that I do — things I wish other people had told me in the beginning, like stay away from harsh light, your website needs some sprucing up, watch your compositions, etc. Maybe some people think that’s too mean. But don’t ask for constructive criticism if you don’t want to hear it.
FAQ #2. Can I second shoot for you?
Mmmm, probably not. The thing is, I already have a second shooter. His name is Seba. I’m married to him and he comes to almost all my shoots and weddings. Once a guy asked to be my second shooter and when I told him I didn’t need anyone right now, he wrote back insinuating that I don’t let other people second shoot for me because I’m scared of the competition. That’s definitely not true. I could care less about the competition. I’m out there getting the best photos I can for myself and my clients and as long as my clients are happy, nothing else matters.
So that’s not the reason. The reason is (aside from already having a Seba to work with me) if you’ve sent an email, that doesn’t mean I know you. If you had your own business would you take someone along as a second shooter that you don’t even know? Anyone I bring along to work with my clients, reflects on me. So I’d rather not take the risk.
When someone asks to second shoot for me, I usually say, “No, but if you want we can go out for coffee and talk a little about the industry.” 99% of the time I don’t hear back. If you can’t be bothered to meet with me for coffee, why should I take the risk of taking a stranger on a photo shoot or to a wedding?
So those are the FAQ’s of the day.
Anyway, I know that often new photographers get angry when professional photographers don’t respond to their requests for portfolio reviews or to second shoot, but I thought I’d give you the other perspective so you know why that is.
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