What do you do?

[drcandon]

Wow...lots of really interesting careers...for myself I am a senior security analyst for the Canuck governement - fancy title - I am basically an IT guy who likes security ( weird huh - most IT guys hate security - it interferes with doing the cool stuff)...not a bad job..great pension though..when I get there..

I started off as a microbiologist??? - the really cool stuff there is working for the CDC, but since I am not a US citizen so much for that one..

I have been into photography for at least 25 years now...my first camera was a Mamiya when they made 35mm as well as larger format ones...for a while I even did my own colour photography and developing...if you want a challenge do colour enlarging...I even still have the whole darkroom stuff analyzer, enlarger etc etc...packed away somewhere

Because of that I did some "semi-pro" stuff for a while as a side line, until it killed every weekend and most nights...

I am still sticking to my D70 for a while until I hear more reviews on the D90..I am not really interested in the 300, but the 700 is neat (price in Canada is not)...

As far as computers go..I started out with a Commodore Vic20 if anyone can remember them??? How that lead to the career I have now is a twisty boring story....

 

[MOmousefan]

I just retired from 31 years of teaching. I started out as a "shop" teacher teaching metal fab, electricity, crafts and industrial electronics. I did this for 22 years until I became a Cisco Networking Academy instructor. We had dropped the electronics aspect of my program and concentrated on computers.
For my last 9 years of teaching I taught computer repair and networking as well as a course in robotics. My last year I also taught Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Elements. I really enjoyed the Adobe classes and would have loved to teach this full-time.
I now substitute teach several days a week to save money for the next WDW trip. I wouldn't trade the teaching experience for anything and enjoy seeing former students. In fact one of my former students is now the System Administrator for our district and two more are district techs.
I now take it easy on the front porch and take care of my Disney addiction with the Disboards.

 

[brack]

Anyone else?

 

[DVC Jen]

I'm a bum!







OK OK - I am kinda a bum.

I taught preschool ( 3 yr olds) for 11 years, but just couldn't deal with the director, the church politics, telling lazy parents how wonderful their less than wonderful child was - and I quit about 2 years ago.

Since then I have really pretty much thrown myself into my photography. I have enrolled with NYIP (New York Insititute of Photography), and I am doing some portrait work off and on. I have also sold a few landscapes. I also do a lot of volunteer work for my city. I am a trained storm spotter, and do some emergency communications and photography stuff with that.

Mostly - I am a Mom, wife, lover of disney and total photography freak, trying to learn as much about and become as good at it as I possibly can.

 

[tazdev3225]

I just found this thread so I'll add my story. I was a SAHM and School Crossing Guard until I had to take a disability retirement. I now have the best and worst job in the world. I watch my grandkids (best) for no money (worst). To keep my mind stimulated I take classes PT. I have an associates degree in Psychology, have almost finished another one in Criminal Justice and I am taking my first class in Photography this semester. I would love to understand a little more of the technical aspect of photography.
I have always loved taking pictures. My first real camera was a Fuji ST601. I always surprised myself with some of the pictures I have taken. I now own a Sony DSC-H5, DSC-H10, a Canon P&S, and I just bought a Sony Alpha 300. I have taken pictures of weddings as a favor and received compliments on them so I'm guessing they turned out OK. I was also the official photographer for my church and cataloged all the stain glass windows for it. I love taking pictures and usually have a camera with me all the time. I don't have aspirations of being a professional but can't think of anything better than to be paid to do what I love. My dream is to photograph a hurricane. I am on the eternal search for the perfect picture of ocean waves.

 

[Disneyfreak92]

Well, sure! I'll go. I've been away from these boards for a while. Life just keeps getting in the way of my DIS time. But I've been reading for a few days and really wanting to get back into posting here more regularly, so I guess I'll start here.

I work in an HR department at a large clinic. We are the second largest employer in our area behind the University of Illinois. I am an HRIS (Human Resource Information System) Specialist, meaning I maintain databases, work on our website, and offer technical support to our managers and employees in our HR systems, among other things. My degree is in Computer Information Systems, but when I started college straight out of high school, I was a Cinema & Photography major, concentrating in Cinematography. I was planning to work in film, preferably directing. After two years, I left school due to financial difficulties (making films isn't cheap and wasn't covered by aid) and became a paramedic and firefighter. For five years that was what I did. I loved it, but I always wanted to go back to school, and that is what I did and what has led me here. However, I was still searching for that career I really wanted to pursue, and I knew it had to be in a creative field. Ever since my first camera (a pink Le Clic!) I have enjoyed photography, but it wasn't until almost 4 years ago when I got my first DSLR that I started thinking about it as a possible profession. After doing weddings and portraits for friends and friends of friends for the past 3 years, I am in the process of setting up my business officially. It is a side business at this time, but I'd love to someday do photography full-time. Right now I both need and like my job though, so for now photography is a part-time gig. However, this year I will be registering my business and converting my website to something a bit more professional-looking, so I'm quite excited about that.

 

[oogieboogieman]

I'm another Frito Lay employee here on this thread. I've been there going on 4 years. I don't have a so-called route, I just cover vacations, LOA's, etc. I came out of the grocery business for almost 20 years in Dallas- Ft.Worth area. It was time to get out of probably one of the most competitive markets in the nation ( and the fact that my the company was failing).
I basically have given up all golf and hunting because of time restraints and the growing expenses. I have fallen back in love with photography and I'm obessed with it now. It's more expensive than golf!!! I can say that at least I have something to show for it.
I have one son in middle school and a wife of 16 years. Life is Good!!!

 

[spinetnglr]

I guess I will put in my two cents. I am a self employeed industrial engraver. I have been in business for myself nearly 25 years (this April will be my 25th anniversary). Prior to that I worked for a company doing their industrial engraving for 7 years. Basically an industrial engraver makes the START, STOP, PUSH HERE,DONT PUSH HERE, CAUTION, WARNING type nameplates and legends used by OEM manufacturers. I have two computer operated machines and two manual machines. I have the manual machine modified to do close tolerance drilling in small electronic parts making small hole patterns with drill bits as small as .020 of an inch. Sorry if I put you all to sleep

 

[blackears]

I am an Air Reserve Technician with the Air Force Reserve..meaning I work civil service with the air force. My job is a multi-hat job working in the logistics management field...I manage manpower, equipment deployment processes, getting people to and from, training....lots of interesting stuff. Been in the AF for 19 1/2 years, so I guess I love it...yea, I love it. I also am a co-owner of a bbq catering business....I love to cook and entertain. Photography is just my latest hobby.... I like the photography different stuff that others might just overlook, and I have learned a lot from this site.

 

[aeryn]

I'm a senior network security engineer with a very large cell phone company. I've been doing this for the last ~10 years or so. I have 3 1/2 years of a Graphic Arts degree mostly with a concentration in Photography under my belt - I haven't actually finished -- maybe one year. I live on the computer and when I'm not on the computer you can find me at Disney or with my camera or texting on my crackberry. I would love to give up my tech job for a photo career, but alas, I still have a mortgage to pay for. Maybe one day.

My first camera SLR was a Minolta X700, which I have packed away somewhere. I had an Olympus digital camera a few years ago and early last year splurged and bought a Canon 40D.

I've been on the Dis for what seems like ages but I rarely post. I do a lot of lurking and read this board a few times a week.

 

[Big Vic]

I'm a retired USAF Senior Master Sergeant, retiring in 1998 after a 24 year, 8 month and 5 day tour of duty.

I now supervise 30 911 calltakers/dispatchers on the law enforcement side of our county 911 center.

I carried a Canon AE-1 throughout most of my military travels. The DW was nice and gave me a Canon XSi this past Christmas.

 

[BorisMD]

I, unlike others, do not work in IT (but am an Apple computer geek--and get called upon by my colleagues to help troubleshoot their Mac's). I'm a family physician working in a multispecialty group. I love what I do, but wouldn't mind doing less of it. I also moonlight as an ER doctor at our hospital. Nights, weekends and holidays, we never close.

I got into photography in elementary school when my 5th grade teacher started a photography club and we built a darkroom in our school. I really enjoyed the whole process of going from shooting to making the enlargements.
My first SLR was an AE-1, and I used it through college, and then just let photography kind of slide.

Once my wife and I had kids, I needed a camera to capture the moment. I pickup an Olympus with auto focus and power zoom (it was kind of a hybrid SLR/P&S camera).

When the cameras became digital, I jumped on board with an Olympus C3040. I was taken by the thing. Before too long, I ended up getting a Canon XT and still have it. I love the immediacy of the digital SLR, and I love the lens collecting. I've since added some really nice lenses and love to use them.

As for photography as a career--it could be fun, but I think some of my enjoyment would be taken away if I was under the pressure to make a living by it. Right now, I'm trying to convince my daughter to let me take her senior portraits, but she's balking (dang spoiled kid).

Regards,

Boris

 

[photo_chick]

I lurk more than I post here anymore but....

I'm a location portrait photographer... translation, I'm too lazy and broke to invest in a studio setup. I do casual portraits, candid stuff, a few birthday parties but NO weddings. I'm 90% done with my BFA in photography/film&video with a minor in art history.

 

[WeLoveNemo]

I'm a pediatric nurse practitioner, wife and mom to three girls. I love my job for the challenge, the people, the rewards it brings. The balance isn't always easy but somehow we all find it by giving a little here and there.

Taking pictures of my girls helps me relax and freeze these days that seem to be passing by faster each year. Taking pictures of my kids at work makes them and their families so happy.

 

[AndrewWG]

telling lazy parents how wonderful their less than wonderful child was

LOL Jen! I love your honesty.

 

[AndrewWG]

I am a senior environmental chemist working on an air force base here in Massachusetts. I have been with my company 15 years now. We test the soil and water for various chemicals. Not surprisingly, being an air force base for over 50 years, this is a challenging job.

I would give this job up in a heartbeat if something I liked would come along. I just don't know what that would be. I do know that it wouldn't be in Massachusetts.

 

[Brad M]

I've been in IT at a large corporation for the last 15 years. With a computer science / math degree, I started as a computer programmer and spent 10 years as a software developer...the last 5 as a manager. I enjoy my job but photography is a hoot, as well as golf.

 

[budmonster]

I am a 911 dispatcher/call taker, I dispatch for sheriff, fire, med, city police as well as several other duties. I have such a love/hate relationship with my job. I use my camera as a stress reliever.

 

[Dismom+two]

For the past 5 years, I have been working in an elementary school as a Paraprofessional. I work in the classroom with special Ed. This year I am working in both 2nd and 4th grade classes with bi-polar and autistic children.
I also work the after school program doing homework club and various other crafts type classes.

In the past...I did my time in a printed circuit board shop making the inner layers of multi-layer boards..I worked in inspection for about 14 years until the place was bought and shut down.
I then worked in various jobs...walmart....hostess at a resturant...a store at the mall...until I found the job at the school.

I love to take pictures. I took a photography class in highschool and have been hooked ever since. At one time...before police scanners went digital and I still lived in my small hometown...I used to "chase" firetrucks. I loved to take photos of the scene...the firefighters etc. I would bring the photos to the station after and the guys LOVED to see me coming hoping I had a shot of them!! LOL
When I went digital with my camera..I could only afford a point and shoot. This christmas my wonderful husband got me my Nikon D60. Now I am ready to go out and get serious!!

My dream job would be to work taking pictures. Whether its in someone studio....or on my own...I don't care!


thanks for letting me share!
Brenda

 

[Donold_Fan]

Well, I'll throw my info in...

I'm another IT person. Went to school to be a programmer, changed my major to business administration when I didn't like the courses. Transferred to a school here in Nebraska where my credits lined up better to complete my degree in Computer Science. I gave serious thought my last semester to transitioning to Business Finance, but my aptitude in finance allowed me to recognize I needed some income, so I graduated and still live in the computer world.

Started as a windows application programmer writing software that supported the medical industry. Left there and went to another company that specialized in computer reselling, in 1995 my boss came over and said "what do you know about the internet?" to which I replied, "huh?". My knowledge was evidently what he was looking for, so, I lead my companies first steps onto the world wide web. Over the last 14 years, I've spent time working at a variety of places, both as an full timer and as a consultant. I still work on mostly intranet applications supporting our companies core business (data processing). I also dabble a little in the DBA world.

Just got promoted to a management position (3rd try at that) last fall. I really don't like the people aspects of management, although the 70-200 IS 2.8L that's waiting to come home with me likes the increase in pay. (If only my real boss would OK the purchase ).

Photography is just a hobby with me too. I don't take it serious enough to do anything with it. I just like to have memories of people and events. Got my first SLR as a high School graduation gift (Minolta Maxxum(sp?)), dropped it and broke it a few years later. About 6-7 years ago, sprung for an Olympus UZ2100 (which except for being 2MP, was a great camera) and then moved on to a Rebel XT and now a 40D. I mostly understand the technical aspects (can't apply them, but I think I understand concepts) but I struggle with the creative side of photography. I think that's a result of my lack of artistic/creative skills. I actually failed an art class in 9th grade.


Thanks Mark for starting this thread, it's been interesting to see that, although there is a slight skew towards IT, there is quite a diverse group of talented people that frequent these boards.