Success in photojournalism depends on you. It is not a group activity. The achievements of legends like Eddie Adams, David Douglas Duncan, Eugene Smith and Margaret Bourke-White (who all took turns as combat photographers), have depended on their single-minded devotion to interpreting the human condition through photography.
     To be successful, you must have well-defined personal goals coupled with concrete plans to turn dreams into accomplishments. Corporate goals are important, but only a highly motivated individual driven by a desire for excellence does "whatever it takes" to produce.
     Excellence is more than a word. It is a daily pursuit. I enjoy photography because it is very basic. You can't rely on words, only results. Like in a card game, you have to lay them down when the assignment is over. "Where are the photos?" says it all for me.
     Frankly, I think each of us needs to reflect where we are. As I traveled on assignments for Airman Magazine, I sensed a malaise. Too many photographers are standing around without any direction. It is time for each of us to set personal and corporate goals so we can maintain military leadership in photography.
     For example, there is a lot of moaning and excuses each year when a Navy photographer wins Military Pictures of the Year. The bottom line is - an individual photographer (a human being and not the Navy) went out and took winning photos. That photojournalist took a goal and turned it into reality.
     On the Air Force side, MSgt. Bill Thompson's (retired) goal was to become a premier aerial photographer. With 39 lithographs and posters to his credit, he is achieving his goal.
    The same can be accomplished by anyone who is single minded in the pursuit of excellence. Sit down and make an inventory of what you want to accomplish in your professional and personal life. Goals can he short or long term. Under each goal work out a plan to accomplish it. Then, you need to review your efforts and modify the plan to get the results you want.
     There are few overnight Success stories. It takes years of effort to reach the top and even more to stay there; but it all begins with that one step forward. Get in the habit of finishing everything you start regardless of how inconvenient it becomes. You will find that success is as habit forming as indifference or failure. The original goal of the Military Photojournalism Training Program is worth reviewing.  In 1963, the Navy was concerned that it did not have people who could produce photography of the quality appearing in national publications like Life magazine. Yet, Navy officials knew there were events, not accessible by the civilian press, that needed documenting. It was then the Navy turned to Syracuse University to develop a training program to teach the necessary photojournalism skills.
     The goal of telling the military story to the American people as well as fellow military members is as valid today as it was in 1963. The photographic standards in civilian publications continue to advance requiring exceptional perception and technical excellence. The advent of electronic cameras, computer synthesis and retouching of images is offering unparalleled dimensions in image making. This is not a time for complacency and self-satisfaction.
    You should remind yourself why you went to Syracuse or RIT and build upon that idea. You seized upon the Military PJ goal. You struggled to produce a winning portfolio. Hard work got you through the course. Now what do you want to accomplish?
    It is time to "talk it up," and discuss what goals need to be set and accomplished. Supervisors can play a key role in developing corporate goals and explain how individual ambitions and shop requirements can work well together. The military provides excellent training, equipment and assignment opportunities. It is incumbent upon each of us to push for success. -DCS-

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