Any stringers out there?

tampabaynews · #1 (**permalink**) 12-09-2010, 9:44 PM

If so, post here! Kinda think of it as a stringer roll call. I know a few of you exist on this board. Tell us about yourself and what equipment you have. It's good networking!

I'll start. I'm Ryan in Tampa, Florida. I've been stringing for 5 years and it has been my full-time gig for the past two of them. Home - TampaBayMediaGroup.com - Breaking News Video Leader

I shoot on a Sony HVR-HD100U camera with the Sony HVR-DR60 hard drive and MicroPro light. I plan on upgrading to a JVC GY-HM700U in the near future.

I'll work links to pics of my office and vehicle when I get to it.

My scanner models are below.

iMONITOR · #2 (**permalink**) 12-11-2010, 1:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tampabaynews

My scanner models are below.

How are you able to get around Florida's restrictive scanner laws, with regards to having scanners in your vehicle?

freqs · #3 (**permalink**) 12-11-2010, 1:11 PM

How does one get into a field such as this ? Contact the local news stations sell your videos .?
I guess what iam asking from a guy that is not in the biz but mite what to get into work like that how does it all work ?

SQUAD109 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-11-2010, 2:27 PM

well tampabaynews could have a ham radio lic. or because he works for the media they look the other way .

W9BU · #5 (**permalink**) 12-11-2010, 3:16 PM

Do old stringers count?

I was a stringer photographer for Reuters at the Indianapolis 500 many years ago. Cameras were Canon EOS (film) with various lenses. I was never sure how Reuters found me in the first place. I had been doing some shooting at sports car races and I guess my name got around. Shooting at the 500 was an interesting gig for a race fan, but it didn't pay that well. We were paid only for shots that went out on the wire.

tampabaynews · #6 (**permalink**) 12-12-2010, 4:34 AM

As far as scanners in my vehicle, I have a ham license which specifically exempts me from the Florida Scanner Law. On that note, I've been doing this for five years and never questioned by LEO about my scanners other than "can you program one for me?" As far as I know, my veteran competitors (who do not possess ham licenses), have not received any grief either.

@W9RXR, Sounds like a cool gig, I used to be into racing. It's the same deal here regarding compensation, you don't get paid if they don't air or print it. You can spend a lot of time and effort into some assignments and not make a sale. That's what turns many people off from the business.

@freqs, It takes a special person to do this, and it's not for everyone. All markets are different and there's no handbook to follow, it's a learning experience. Basically you listen for newsworthy calls and shoot video or snap photos of it, depending if you're selling to television or newspapers. The hardest part is establishing a relationship with local media and public safety officials. However, there's much much much more to stringing than that. I'd would be more than happy to share the insides of the business but I already have enough competitors over here. If only I could block my posts to the Tampa Bay area :-P

KJ6HCB · #7 (**permalink**) 03-11-2012, 11:19 PM

Ryan - you still shooting with the HD100U? Im trying to figure out what camera to upgrade to - Im thinking the Sony NX5U, but almost pulled a trigger on an HMC150 earlier tonight. Hows the low light on your rig?

tampabaynews · #8 (**permalink**) 04-02-2012, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJ6HCB

Ryan - you still shooting with the HD100U? Im trying to figure out what camera to upgrade to - Im thinking the Sony NX5U, but almost pulled a trigger on an HMC150 earlier tonight. Hows the low light on your rig?

Sorry for the delay. I still shoot on it. Here's my review of the HVRHD1000U....

It's not that great in low light. You will need a light and pump up the gain at times. However, I've had this problem with many Sony I've used. A lot of critical controls and settings are changed via the touchscreen menu. There's only one ring on the lens, so I have to go into the menu to change the ring from focus to iris, etc. Also, you're stuck with the stock lens. No XLR inputs. It has only one mini jack for the shotgun mic, and I have to unplug it in order to plug in my wireless mic receiver.

On this plus side... this camera has been dropped several times and has been though heat, cold, humidity, and rained on without any malfunctions. It also lets you take really good stills photos while shooting. As far as I know, this is cheapest shoulder mount HD camcorder still on the market, which is why I took a chance and got it in first place. Otherwise, assuming I have enough light, my video looks the same if not better than the other photogs in the market. It's a great starter or backup camera and bridges the gap between consumer and pro.

Several months ago I wanted to upgrade to the JVC GY-HM750 after I borrowed it from a friend for a couple nights. But because three stations in our market share a photojournalist at night, I decided it probably wasn't time to upgrade. Maybe when they break the news sharing agreement I can actually make money stringing again.

KJ6HCB · #9 (**permalink**) 04-03-2012, 11:59 AM

Funny timing on your post - just bought a HMC150 package last night

Thanks for the info, the HD1000U sure does portray some professionalism being a shoulder mount, but I really just need more than 1CCD for low light stuff.

tampabaynews · #10 (**permalink**) 04-05-2012, 3:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJ6HCB

Funny timing on your post - just bought a HMC150 package last night

Thanks for the info, the HD1000U sure does portray some professionalism being a shoulder mount, but I really just need more than 1CCD for low light stuff.

Absolutely agree. Have fun.

KC9DGX · #11 (**permalink**) 12-02-2012, 9:44 PM

I shoot photos only for local papers. Now that I have an SLR that shoots video, I may start trying to get some stuff to the Milwaukee markets. BTW I am an hour NW of Milwaukee, WI. Here is a link to my scene photos...

Doug Raflik's blog table of contents

KB7MIB · #12 (**permalink**) 12-03-2012, 5:29 PM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux i686; U; en-US) Gecko/20081217 Vision-Browser/8.1 301x200 LG VN530)

Do any of the stations in the Tampa area encourage viewers to share photos/video as "citizen reporters" or some such? At least one station here in Phoenix does. Does that cut into your business, as most viewers will freely share, and you're trying to...

KB7MIB · #13 (**permalink**) 12-03-2012, 5:30 PM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux i686; U; en-US) Gecko/20081217 Vision-Browser/8.1 301x200 LG VN530)

...make a living at it?

tampabaynews · #14 (**permalink**) 12-21-2012, 12:51 AM

Stations here use bystander video/photos on a regular basis but I've found that it's really only a problem during the day (more people out). I primarily shoot at night unless I hear something very close for that reason and because more news crews are working.

What really hurt me down here was the "Local News Service." Three of our stations share photogs. So instead of sending each station to a story, they'll send one photog and feed it to the others. It makes sense for them but hurts the freelancers here.

More of a reason to be on your game and listen to your scanners more closely.

k9rzz · #15 (**permalink**) 12-26-2012, 1:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC9DGX

I shoot photos only for local papers. Now that I have an SLR that shoots video, I may start trying to get some stuff to the Milwaukee markets. BTW I am an hour NW of Milwaukee, WI. Here is a link to my scene photos...

Doug Raflik's blog table of contents

Nice work!

KC9DGX · #16 (**permalink**) 01-25-2013, 11:09 PM

Thanks.

socalboh · #17 (**permalink**) 05-08-2013, 1:05 PM

Stringer here from Ventura County in California. Been doing this for about 3-4years now. Just recently purchased a Nikon D800 for my photos to the local papers also using a Nikon D2H and D200.. Still trying to get the hang of video on the D800 for the networks.. Was using a JVC DV 500 and a Sony PD170 prior..

Photo is the console I had in my Tahoe before it was rear ended and totaled. Now I'm down to 2 radios in my Tacoma, for now ; )