Changing Channels...Again!

I'm very blessed to announce that I have accepted the photographer position at WPBF 25 News in West Palm Beach FL. To God Be The Glory! After nearly a year in Raleigh NC I'm returning to warmer weather and sandy beaches. But God. ‪#‎nevergiveup‬ ‪#‎prayerschangesthings‬

My career at Action News is officially over

My career at Action News is officially over. I’m thankful to everyone who’s had a part in my growth. A new chapter awaits. ‪#‎staytuned‬

Thank You!

My career at Action News is officially over. I’m thankful to everyone who’s had a part in my growth. A new chapter awaits. ‪#‎staytuned‬

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Twenty-eight years I came of my mom womb with a video camera shooting my own birth. Later that's what I found out that I was very fit to be a news photojournalist. Today I had a easy day shooting two VO SOTS (wanted to to shoot a package), went to lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings which I got free wings but the day is not over...yet. Later I will be going to my first Columbus baseball game in a sky box I might add to cap off my day of birth. It's raining here in "C-Town" so I hope we don't get a rain delay. Till next time "Chance favors the prepared mind".

BREAKING NEWS....THOMAS IS A REPORTER!!!

Well not really. One day this past week I woke up and said to myself I'm going to see what it looks and feel like to be a reporter. On a daily basics I arrive to work and I go out on a story with a reporter and shoot their stories and sometimes I think how they do that? So on Tuesday I went out with my own personal camera gear to the south commons skate park to shoot a news package on the new skate park. I got out of my car and started to shoot b-roll of the skaters doing their tricks and stuff. After that I did a series of stand ups and boy it took 13 takes to get it perfect. Normally when I shoot any of the reporters stand ups it only takes them at least one or three takes to get it right but for me only 12 or 13. Now I know that this stuff isn't easy. So I went to interview one of the skaters in the park. Asking questions during interviews is not hard because I do it everyday when I'm assigned to VO SOTS at the station. Later that evening I went back to the station and during my break I logged all the sound bites, wrote out my script, voiced my track and edited the package on my laptop. Will I ever be a reporter in the near future well...NO! But if the opportunity presents it's self I might revisit that area. The lesson is that reporting is hard but It can be easy too only thing you have to do be yourself and remember the five key words; Who, What, When, Where and How. If you want to see the story look below. Till next time "Chance favors the prepared mind".

This package I shot and edited is my first "one-man-band" package as a news reporter. Basically I just got the itch to do a reporter package on the new skate park in Columbus Georgia. Note: I am not a news reporter I'm a photojournalist (news cameraman), I just wanted to see what it is like to be on the other side of the lens. By the way I wrote the script for this package as well.

I'M GOING BACK TO CNN....WE'LL SEE.

I remember the day, two and half years ago when I went to my former boss at the media giant and told him that I got a job offer at WTVM/FOX 54 in Columbus Georgia as a photojournalist. This shocked him and others but for me I had to start a new direction in my career because I always wanted to be a camera man for a major network or local TV station. When a made the announcement to my former boss he sent the email:

"VJ Thomas Bradley has decided to leave CNN after accepting a job with WTVM News 9 in Columbus, GA as Field Photojournalist and Editor. Thomas is known for the enthusiasm and energy he brings to work on a daily basis. His attention to detail in the studio became very evident during the transition to temporary studios while the main studio at Headline News was being renovated last year. He played a key role in getting the temporary studios set up and ready for the renovation and played a very vital role in the launch of the new studio. Please congratulate Thomas as he enters this next phase of his career—his last day will be Friday, April 27th."

After the cat was out of the bag of sorts I sent out my own offical announcement good bye email:

"After six and a half years at CNN with mixed emotions I'd decided to leave to start my next adventure and challenge. With many years of working in this industry from working for free starting with GPB (Georgia Public Broadcasting) doing camera work during pledge drives to working with the "big leagues" of CNN I accomplished a lot since graduating from Brown College in Minnesota in 2002. This journey is about to get "Freakin' Awesome Dude" as I had accepted a full time position in Columbus Georgia with an ABC/CNN affiliate, WSB-TV Ch. 2 sister station News Leader WTVM 9/WXTX Fox 54 as a field photographer/ editor. Friday April 27th is my final day with CNN and I assume my role with WTVM 9/WXTX Fox 54 on Monday April 30th. For this huge opportunity I would like to think you all from my lord in savoir Jesus, my mom Belinda, and the teachers in school, my mentor for over 11 years Phil Proctor, Shariff Mosley and everyone whoever motivated me and believed in me. For all who have dreams hold on to it and never let it go and never give up because when you do right good things happens. Before I go I have a bible scripture to share with all and this scripture is what I live by each day. Philippians 4:4-13: "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Right now I'm L.T.D Living The Dream and going to do what I always prayed to God to do and that's videography. I will always be a "headliner" and I am CNN. If Gods willing I will be back here at CNN in some fashion...stay tuned."

It was very tough leaving CNN then because I gave so much there and apart of me felt like I did not achieve all of my goals as my ultimate goal is to be a network editor or photojournalist there. I just applied for a Network Editor position at CNN and I hope to get the job. I know that If I get the position I will have to give up the daily grind of a photojournalist, chasing down house fires, covering press conferences, driving miles in our DMA for stories and finally doing live shots in the extreme elements. I will pray on this and hopefully If Gods willing I will return to CNN. Just stay tuned. Till next time "Chance favors the prepared mind".

MEETING A TRUE SOUTHERN BELLE.

So when I arrived to work today I barely had time to say hello to everybody as my assignment editor rushed me out to cover two VOSOTS. During my final assignment I got a call form the assignment desk that I had to travel to Americus Georgia to cover an Boys and Girls Club fundraiser that former GA governor and U.S president Jimmy Carter with celebrity chef and Albany native Paula Deen. Did you think I was star-struck?! Well "no" but I did wanted to meet her because I hear that the food she makes is "oh so good", sorry Mister Food. So I had to come back to the station to ingest and edit the two VOSOTS that I did earlier then get final words from both my assignment editor and executive producer. I went to gas up my news car and headed out to Americus. While I was driving I was thinking of questions to as Ms. Deen and then I said to myself, "Thomas just be yourself and be natural". So I was still on the road going through the countryside of Beuna Vista and I was thinking that I will die of true boredom if I was living out here. I love the big city, I hate the country. Anyways I made my arrival at campus of Georgia Southwestern State University where the event was held and I started shooting b-roll before I had the opportunity to interview Paula Deen. Speaking of her although Jimmy Carter was there she had more people coming up to her to take their pictures and autograph's than the former president. Finally Paula came over and we met and the interview started. If you ever meet her she is the most friendly person you will ever meet. For more on Paula Deen please go to her website and for more on this story I covered please click here. Paula thanks for your time with me and Mrs. Deen you are a true southern belle. Till next time "Chance favors the prepared mind".

WTVM's photojournalist Thomas D Bradley shares a smile with Paula Deen.

I TOUCHED HISTORY!

So today when I arrived at work I was handled a assignment from my assignment editor not knowing that I will be apart of something special. So my reporter and I was assign to shoot a interview at the National Infantry Museum. The person we interviewed was the "main contractor" of the museum. Afterwards we headed back to the station. At the station I did not know that I was going back to the museum to shoot some additional footage for our hour long special that the station will be doing at the end of the week. If you are in the Columbus Georgia area the National Infantry Museum should be on your itinerary. Since I work for the media it was an honor to shoot the exhibits and historical artifacts that is scattered in this facility. One of the artifacts that really touched me and made me misty-eyed was the Berlin Wall exhibit. Now I don't know if I was born or not but I only read and saw film of the wall in history classes. The exhibit as I know of will be covered with glass but I had the honor toady to not only shoot the wall but to feel and touch it as well. I never in my lifetime experience a piece of history as of this. I would like to thank the communications director of the National Infantry Museum Cyndy Cerbin in allowing me to feel a piece of history. Till next time "Chance favors the prepared Mind".

WTVM's photojournalist Thomas Bradley poses next to the Berlin Wall at the National Infantry Museum.

Photojournalist Thomas Bradley touches a piece of history.

IM SAT CERTIFIED!!!!

A couple of weeks ago on a Friday I reached another milestone in my professional career. I am now a satellite truck operator! After two and a half years of being a photojournalist in this industry it feels good to get this monkey off my back as I start my new role as a sat truck operator. If you ask me I like operating microwave ENG trucks better because you don't have to call ABSAT to book a "window" as we call it then wait a certain time to "come up on power" on galaxy 17. Don't get me wrong but doing satellite shot is great because I can be so far away from the station in addition of learning from other satellite truck operators as well. I learned from the best with my chief photographer Paul Therrien, he has been doing this thing for over 25 years and he was the one who train me and mold me to become a satellite truck operator. Paul thanks and big ups to you. I know when I do my first sat shot I will be very nervous but thanks to my training, the computer in the truck and my GPS system I know that I will be fine. The picture below shows the truck that we have at WTVM. The truck serves both as a microwave ENG truck and a SNG truck as well. When I perform my very first live SNG live shot the video will be posted here on my blog as well on the video section. Till next time "Chance favors the prepared mind".

© 2008 Frontline Communications

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