Fuuuuuuuuck

[cab9]

The less ski photographers the better, take the engineering gig.........
Enjoy your life, keep skiing and shooting.
You black and white in the latest Powder is sick.

[Zeedashbo]

You do backcountry right? If you're in Redmond it shouldn't be too long to get out to pretty nice stuff up Hwy 20 and also up the highway leading east. I know i just drove out in that area and the backcountry looks decent. Look at it this way, it's not like you were offered a job in Iowa.

??? hwy 20 = closed in winter. highway 2 and i-90 head east as does 20. 2 is around 90 minutes from redmond. i-90 is about an hour. traffic is hell in redmond though.

[BakerBoy]

What happened to your 65k job in Kent?

[mtbakerskier]

What happened to your 65k job in Kent?

They told me I could pick from either the redmond or kent offices, and then switch to the everet office when it opens sometime after june.

Hummmmm ski picks all winter or $$$$ and pics only on the weekends.

I am begging to feal like Im bi-polar trying to decide FUCK!!!!!!!!

[Z]

They told me I could pick from either the redmond or kent offices, and then switch to the everet office when it opens sometime after june.

Hummmmm ski picks all winter or $$$$ and pics only on the weekends.

I am begging to feal like Im bi-polar trying to decide FUCK!!!!!!!!

You need to ski. And shoot pics.

Many people would give up everything to do what you are doing. Give up high paying jobs, leave the corner office or whatever. You're pretty much living the dream. And you're gonna ditch it to make a couple bucks in an office? Fuck that, you're lucky. Keep skiing. People turn down jobs to flat out ski, with no glory/pictures/whatever. Eventually if/when that lets you down, go make some money. Money will always be there, this skiing/photag thing you got going on, won't.

Don't be a statastic. Don't let Yetiman down.

[Skip Dooley]

When you're old and tired, you won't be able to make up lost ski days, but you probably won't miss one winter of engineering.

.02

[Bum Z]

I have an engineering degree. I don't use it. I ski a lot. I'm happy, but I'd also like some more money, so that I could actually have some savings.

That being said, I wouldn't trade my lifestyle for a good Chem E job and weekends only skiing. It's just money. If you really have the passion for engineering and would be really happy with that job, then you have a tough choice. If you are taking the job primarily because of the money, then don't do it.

[snowballing100]

You've got time, but based on my experience, and that of friends, the pickings get slimmer as time goes by. There's a definite "he doesn't have a job, WTF is wrong with him" mindset, especially with initial resume screening. I noticed that both being hired and when I did hiring. If you make it past the initial screening it's not as bad. They are also more forgiving if you've a couple years work experience under your belt and then have signifigant time off, you've wet your feet . Of course there's always the aerospace business cycle to consider...

??? You're an unemployed jerk off. The only person you've ever hired is a crack whore to suck your tiny limp dick. Stop being pomous and shut the fuck up.

[LeeLau]

??? hwy 20 = closed in winter. highway 2 and i-90 head east as does 20. 2 is around 90 minutes from redmond. i-90 is about an hour. traffic is hell in redmond though.

ah = thanks for the correction. I went by the Liberty Bell area and it looked like lots of possibilities. Its too bad its closed in winter

[midget]

Do the same thing I told you to do about the last job offer you friggin quack. Try it. We have at least a month and a half till you are skiing and shooting anything decent here....see what you think then figure it out then .your bills aren't getting any less right now.

[Tectonically_Neglected]

These various responces just go to show how tough of a decision that this is. Ski pics are where my passion, but aerospace is where the $$$$ is.

Now this is where it would be IDEAL for some ski company to chime in offering me the same cash to ski shoot pics and design skis in the summer. Too bad im not that lucky.

Caveat: easy to give advise if you don't have to take it yourself...

Choose that which steers your future to where you want it to go... If you eventually see yourself (or want to see yourself) ending up aerospace, you know what to do. However, if you think you've got a fair chance at making a living shooting pics and you'd like to do that for a living... follow YOUR heart. Fuck WWMD.

[Crinkle]

we all wish we had "one more season" go out and have that last push to live the dream without ties to the "real world". Be focused, make a plan and enjoy it like it will be the last time you do it. If it doesn't work out, you will have enjoyed the ride.

[Mcwop]

It is a tough decision. I am going through some similar shit, and in many ways even worse.

Not sure from your post but will you commute from Bellingham to Redmond or move to Redmond and commute to Baker for weekends?

I used to drive 6.5 hours many weekends to paddle the Gauly and New rivers. Often times driving through the night and getting on the river with zero sleep. That lasted many years. I would also drove 3 hours each way to paddle the Upper Yough all in the same day. But driving 2 hours to and fro work 5 days a week would suck ass - especially in that WA traffic.

Since you probably do a lot of BC photography around Baker, then I assume you have less need to hit powder days. I am assuming there is plenty of fresh in the BC long after storms around Baker. This is a plus for taking the job (assuming you live near work).

You have lots of options for the weekends - Crystal etc... out of Redmond.

There is the $$$ factor that the job provides - you can afford to go skiing in Las Lenas or Europe and do some photography there (hopefully the job gives you a decent amount of vacation).

Those are my random thoughts on this Tuesday morning.

[bklyn]

Ok - Don't even buy all this crap about working that corporate gig that you don't love, that is not your true passion and calling. Fugget about it.

I am that person that made the choice before you now, and spent 15 years at the job. Sure it is great, sure you will get material things, you'll advance in that career, but you will be where I am now at the end. Leaving that lifestyle to pursue my dream and calling. I guess that for me, it turned out to be the right choice. At the time I was not sure what I wanted to pursue, so a great paying job in the field I studied in was not a bad choice at all.

If you feel that thing... "zen, in the zone", whatever the latest 'Z' is... when you see that moment in the viewfinder and press the shutter. If you know what your contact sheets, negs, digital files... are going to be like and you are psyched to get back and review them. Do you really think you're going to enjoy being behind some desk making someone else money?

Hell NO!


Almost everyone is afraid to pursue the things they really want directly.

They have been programmed, and so they believe the hype. They will try to convince you, from the best of intentions, to do that safe something that is not really safe. The truth is you can still get fired, the company can still fold, but you've spent valuable time missing opportunities. Talk to some old folks and listen to them do the "I wish" speech toward the end of their lives. No one wishes they stayed behind the desk more! The all wish they had taken the risks!

You can make the same money (or more!!) this winter, but you will have to grab the bull by the horns, right now! You've got momentum, you've got tear sheets and you've got passion. Forget about a fall back position, working for a year and being off the map.

Act now! While the fire is still under your butt, while you are still young enough to stay out all day and up all night making it happen. As you get older risk taking gets harder (more responsibility, family, children...) but lay the foundation now and make it a habit.

My friends are openly envious that I have changed my lifestyle. Almost all want to jettison the corporate gigs in some way and have a more meaningful daily life. Now, I do more travel, less worrying, have more fun, contribute more to my community. I'm bringing home the cash needed to stay in my home, pay all my bills, continue to save, and enjoy life (for 3 years consistently).

What's the worst that can happen? You fail at it and get behind some desk job with a contented heart - you'd tried your best and it didn't work out.

Much better than being behind a desk now, wondering if you blew this amazing shot (pun intended) at the life you've always wanted to have.

[baseWeldr]

shame the hours need to be so rigid for the dough
maybe if you get in and prove yourself they could become more flexible
noon+ starts would allow dawn patrols and powder mornings
probably too corporate for much flex I guess...

the photog thing seems to be rollin nicely and should open some more doors
paid skitrips to take pics quickly adds up over 65K- in mental health bene's and resume food for future skitrips...
tough biz too, sponsers don't just call everyday I'd guess- the pics are probably the easy part...


maybe what I'm trying to say before I STFU or delete this shit is to take the corporate ethic and hours to your picbiz and grow that sucka so you'll make a comfortable and rewarding living and have time to dabble in engineering for fun

[iceman]

dabble in engineering for fun

I'll take "Phrases you don't often hear" for $1000, Alex.

[Yeti]

Yeti's gonna freak when he sees this thread.

Wholly Shit. I'm Freaking Out, Man. I Feel Like Ogre.

[Tippster]

I left the mountains to pursue my career. I haven't regretted it for a single day, since I love my job, met my wife, bought a house, had kids, and STILL get to go skiing. Sure, no more 100+ days/season, but then again I have all the things mentioned previously.

Follow the advice of the Midget. The mountains will still be there in a couple months. Take the job, find out if you actually want to be in the field or not, then make an INFORMED decision. Shit, it may be that Aerospace Engineering gives you a bigger hard-on than ski photography (unlikely, but you never know.) Until you take the chance and give yourself the opportunity to find out first hand you're just farting in the wind.

AFAIK there are no jobs outside the military that cannot be quit. THAT'S your Ace-in-the-Hole.

[kchri]

Being in the above "45" crowd and having my fair share of life regrets I now try to approach difficult decisions with a different perspective. I try to project 5-10 years in the future, look back on the situation and ask myself "what would I regret not doing more?", "what should I have done differently?"

I usually find myself doing what my heart wants and not what my brainwashed mind suggests I do...but that is just me. I try to live with no regrets.

BTW, I hire engineers for hardware and software development. The more experience and the more time spent at a particular job are more impressive than gaping holes throughout the career. If someone has a period of time where they are not 'engineering' on their resume, I usually conclude they are not committed to the engineering cause and they are less serious. Again, that is just me...

You don't want me telling you what to do anyways now do you...?

[Hugh Jass]

I bailed on the engineering job out of college in favor of skiing and other outdoor "jobs" for 2 years. I've never regretted it.

My experience in returning to engineering was that interviewers were pretty interested in resume items like "ski school instructor" and "kayak guide". My interviews for engineering positions have often been more about personality and life experience-based conversation than hard-core technical knowledge. I will admit that you have the most leverage with your degree right out of school.

I returned to school for more edumacation, and now engineering provides me with a good salary, a house in the mountains, lots of toys, paid vacations, and a four-day work week to facilitate fun and skiing.

Under the right circumstances, you can have the engineering career and the skiing. But it might not happen for a few years.

The major difference between me and you is that you already have a viable option outside of engineering. I delayed the engineering career, knowing I'd be back for lack of other options. You could continue to pursue shooting, and if it doesn't work out or if you get bored, you could fall back on the engineering. I don't think any engineering employer would fault you for delaying an engineering career because you were getting shots published in Powder.

Interesting that slippy suggested taking the job. I wonder what Heath, Cohen, or Pondella would say to this question.

[A-wreck]

Take the money.
Why not?
It's money.
It's good to use to purchase goods and services.
If you fucking hate it, at least you've got something to fall back on.

Maybe I'm a bit on the consevative side when it comes to money but, if someone's going to give it to you, I say take it.

[XtrPickels]

Is there a way for you to work 4-10 hour days, getting 3 day weekends? Any thoughts on how to spin the job so it works more in your favor. If they're offering you a job, they want you. You can try to get as much out of them in the beginning as possible.

Whats your financial situation like? Loans can be a bitch, let me tell you... You don't want to start missing payments, screwing up your credit and the like. What about insurance? If you had it through parents or school, thats gone. Way too expensive to pay for things out of pocket. If you have other things that need to get paid, film and the like could start looking real expensive. I didn't take job offers and I'm kinda stuck in a rut now, trying to get into school for a little break from bouncing job to job.

If you're set for cash, don't have any bills to worry about or are making better loot then I know if with pics... then what the hell ski your ass off. But if you have responsibilities that need to upheld you're better off taking care of them, banking some loot, skiing when you can.

[Xdog]

Go for the job. Nothing's permanent.

What kind of vacation will you have? You can always bang out a few 3 or 4 day weekends, no?

[The AD]

Is there a way for you to work 4-10 hour days, getting 3 day weekends?

I was thinking the same thing. Alternate work schedules are very common where I work so that could be an option for Grant. A different company could be completely different in this regard.

Of course all the big powder days will fall on the days he has to work. Hopefully that job has plenty of sick leave.

[bad_roo]

I would ask WTF you went through college for if you don't plan to use what you learned, but I'm not sure I'd get the desired response.