CAREERS
ties or you will surely break under pressure. Your skill will be to know which angle to shoot from and to capture emotion in time. You will also be the reporter’s wing-man, hence it’s important that you work well in a team. WHAT ARE YOUR WORKING HOURS LIKE? It differs from company to company depending on the number of staff. Here there are only two of us cameramen. Each one works seven days on standby and three on normal 08h00 to 16h00, then you get four days off from Friday to Monday every second weekend. Standby means you take a work car home plus your kit (camera, microphones, etc.) and if something happens at any time they call you and you decide with the reporter where you’ll meet then head off to the story.
If like Sihle you enjoy the thrill of danger surrounding you, this would definitely be a good career choice. Although you will probably face many challenges as a news cameraman the satisfaction of telling someone‘s story will be worth it. Hopefully Sihle’s experiences have given you better insight on what this job entails. Afterall we need visual story tellers that can give an enhanced understanding to any story.
WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING ABOUT YOUR JOB? Meeting new people, going to different places every day and new challenges as I said - I love them, they grow on one. Being outside the office is exciting for me too.
THE CHALLENGES Being a cameraman is not for the faint hearted. Sihle tells what it is like to be on the scene of violence and major uproar. Being in that scene is challenging and energizing. When you are passionate about the job you find yourself getting super close up shots. You can completely shut off from the danger but one eye will stay alert. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MOST HORRIFIC SCENES YOU HAVE EVER BEEN ON? I have had to face horrible scenes such as car accidents, property damages (shack fires), interview people who have lost loved ones. My first so to say horrible sight was when Table Mountain was on fire. One street person burnt to death that night and I shot the burnt body. My knees shook. WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING AFTER EXPERIENCING SUCH TRAGEDIES? I love challenges and I’m passionate about the art. When I lift the piece of equipment I just get hooked.
January/ February 2013
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