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Archive 2022 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)

  
 
friscoron
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


Congratulations to friscoron for winning Feature Thread of the Week with 6 votes - View Previous Winners



I'm sometimes asked about when I first became a photographer. It's a complicated story, so I usually just talk about when I became a professional photographer in 2009.

When I got my first credit card back in 1983 or '84, I immediately went and spent my limit on a Pentax ME Super kit. The pictures you see here were from that camera, no editing whatsoever, as we didn't do that back then. These are just my iPhone pics of those prints, and the prints are like 35 years old.

I joined the Army as a journalist in 1985, and eventually got the prime assignment from 1990-93 with the European Stars and Stripes. Some of these pics are from my earlier days during a first tour in Germany from 1985-87.

I don't really share these pics with anyone, but thought I'd share them here.

1. 1987 in Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany. The USAREUR tennis finals. I had lost in the quarters or semis to the blond haired guy in the near court. This was an amazing experience, playing on clay courts at the foot of the German Alps. On the way back, we caught a ride on a Huey with helicopter pilots who flew low to the ground, terrain flying or something like that. Crazy thrilling ride.
http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52028323910_eafbfea47c_b.jpg

2. One of my buddies while attending DINFOS editor's course at Fort Ben Harrison in Indianapolis in 1989. Pretty good tennis player.
http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52028323810_de6237d343_b.jpg

3. Sometime around 1985-87 out in the field with my Pershing unit. I obviously would edit this differently today and the image is a bit washed out over the years, but I still like it.
http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52026767982_bd2b11b462_b.jpg

4. Out in the field on a training exercise, these are a staff sergeant and a sergeant first class from the S-1, an administrative unit. I couldn't believe they agreed to pretend we were like combat soldiers, but we had a lot of fun with me directing them around.
http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52026768192_c67843290d_b.jpg

5. This soldier got caught between these two military trucks. As a military journalist, it was the first time I realized I had to take pics. I went for a more artsy look. The soldier turned out to be fine.
http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52027810611_5910ccb9a4_b.jpg

6. Another shot from the field during the 1985-87 time frame. I had a great sunset. Funny how you could get your flash right back then without immediately seeing the result.
http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52027848038_7da73a58c6_b.jpg

7. Again, 1985-87, one of the few shots of a Pershing missile in a firing position. Back then, this was highly classified.
http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52028059734_4fc006340d_b.jpg

8. It was kinda funny back then how I'd approach the prettiest girls in the unit to pose for me. I only did it a few times, a bit nervous approaching them, and it surprised me that they always said yes. During this shoot, a little grasshopper ended up on her. Image is pretty yellow and washed out from the years, but I just don't like the idea of editing it now.
http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52028059839_4bd8890f01_b.jpg

9. Still 1985-87, another girl from my military unit in Germany. We spent an afternoon doing a shoot. Here is one of my favorite shots.
http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52026768077_e5504f8c7e_b.jpg

10. Same girl as in 9,now in a bikini shoot. I think we were at a German pool.
http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52027847803_1b8a922c6d_b.jpg

11. As a writer for Stars and Stripes, I was twice forced to go the Alps, once in Kitzbuhel, Austria,, and once somewhere in Switzerland, to do travel stories on skiing in Europe. This shot was taken of me in 1991-92 by Ken George, who has since sadly passed away. It was a funny trip with him, as he couldn't ski. So he was traipsing around the slopes in his boots.
http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52028473545_d4555c1345_b.jpg

12. Here's a shot of me and my German girlfriend, Geli. This might be another day from the same trip with Ken George. If not, I'm not sure how I got the pic. But I do remember art-directing this shot. It was after a long day of skiing, and Geli and I were both wiped out.
http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52027960286_7d7a1c6d55_b.jpg



Apr 24, 2022 at 10:04 PM
douter
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


Thanks Ron, it's always nice to get a glimpse into the lives of those we follow on here.
Douglas



Apr 25, 2022 at 06:33 AM
friscoron
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


douter wrote:
Thanks Ron, it's always nice to get a glimpse into the lives of those we follow on here.
Douglas


So welcome, Douglas. It's always fun to go back in time and look at our roots.



Apr 25, 2022 at 12:27 PM
OregonSun
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


Cool to see these early shots, especially since I started shooting at almost exactly the same time. My mom got me a K1000 and signed me up for darkroom lessons around 1986, and I started shooting for my middle school yearbook shortly after.

Heron



Apr 25, 2022 at 05:34 PM
thedutt
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


thank you -


Apr 25, 2022 at 06:41 PM
friscoron
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


OregonSun wrote:
Cool to see these early shots, especially since I started shooting at almost exactly the same time. My mom got me a K1000 and signed me up for darkroom lessons around 1986, and I started shooting for my middle school yearbook shortly after.

Heron


Nice! I remember the K1000!



Apr 26, 2022 at 12:20 PM
airfrogusmc
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


Good stuff Ron. Thanks for posting this. A great peek inro your past.

Thanks for your service....




Apr 26, 2022 at 12:25 PM
jcw1982
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


Thanks for sharing those! I was a 71Q in the Army from '84-'88. I never left the states. Had a great time and met a lot of wonderful people. Probably the best job I ever had looking back. Did you go to DINFOS at Ft. Harrison?


Apr 26, 2022 at 03:54 PM
airfrogusmc
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


Yeah loved my time in the Marines. I was a CH 46 crewchief missed Vietnam but did spend some time in the far east. 73-77....


Apr 26, 2022 at 05:55 PM
friscoron
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


Yep, that's what I was as well, 71Q. I was at DINFOS twice, once for the basic journalism in 1985, and then the editor's course in 1989. Man, that was good times, both times. DINFOS was a pretty crazy place. I was supposed to do Airborne training after my MOS training at DINFOS, but they offered me Germany instead, and I had to go for that.


jcw1982 wrote:
Thanks for sharing those! I was a 71Q in the Army from '84-'88. I never left the states. Had a great time and met a lot of wonderful people. Probably the best job I ever had looking back. Did you go to DINFOS at Ft. Harrison?





Apr 26, 2022 at 08:20 PM
friscoron
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)



THanks, Allen!

airfrogusmc wrote:
Good stuff Ron. Thanks for posting this. A great peek inro your past.

Thanks for your service....






Apr 27, 2022 at 11:49 AM
DanielScott
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


Really exquisite work, Ron.


Apr 27, 2022 at 02:20 PM
jprezant
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


Thanks for sharing some of your journey!


Apr 28, 2022 at 05:08 PM
friscoron
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


DanielScott wrote:
Really exquisite work, Ron.


Thanks so much, Daniel!



Apr 30, 2022 at 10:24 AM
friscoron
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


jprezant wrote:
Thanks for sharing some of your journey!


So welcome! Thanks!



Apr 30, 2022 at 10:25 AM
Evan Baines
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


Really fun to look at these Ron! Looks like the Army gave you some good experiences!


May 01, 2022 at 08:59 PM
friscoron
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


Evan,

I was pretty lucky with my experience in the military. Spent almost 6 years in Europe, including my last 3.5 years with The Stars and Stripes in 1990-93. I got to travel so much in Europe, and Stripes gave me access to people and places that normal people would never get. Three days on tour including going on their bus with them to and from concerts with The Beach Boys, spending time with my favorite tennis players on tour in Europe.

Aside from meeting my wife later in life and having kids, those were by far the best times of my life.



Evan Baines wrote:
Really fun to look at these Ron! Looks like the Army gave you some good experiences!





May 02, 2022 at 10:47 AM
Jim Rickards
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


Loved the story, Ron. You showed talent back then too.


May 12, 2022 at 04:56 AM
diytech
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · The Beginning of my Photography (circa 1985-90)


Thanks for sharing your photography timeline


May 15, 2022 at 08:44 PM





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