Currently in Yemen, Bribiesca, a cameraman for 60 minutes is shooting footage for a story of the events in taking place in Yemen. His team is going to the place that tried to send the bomb on the cargo planes bound for Chicago on October 29th of this year. Needless to say that his job will be very dangerous while in Yemen.
However, one of the great combat cameramen in the U.S. seemed to have a sense of calm when speaking about what he is getting himself into when he spoke to a group of faculty and students November 1st.
That is, one day before he was to leave for Yemen.
He spoke about his job history that is rich: he has shot footage in every war from Vietnam to now. He has shot for presidential elections and campaigns from Jimmy Carter to Barack Obama. He has shots of the caribou migration in Alaska. He will be working almost exclusively for National Geographic when he returns from Yemen.
But amidst his accomplishments, "Ray B" as he was called by Laura Logan one of the 60 minute reporters has much knowledge for journalism student looking to find his or her way to greatness.
"Be the little dog in alot of fields to be the big dog in one certain field."
The simple proverb speaks to his rich past as a workaholic cameraman to his now established and sought after footage of modern warfare.
However, he did mention that luck had something to do with some of his shots. "Being lucky and practicing makes a great photographer," said Bribiesca.
But past the photo/video portion of his job, he is still a journalist. He spoke mentioned that as a journalist, one has to follow the rules of ethical journalism by protecting the source when they require it to give information.
As such, Bribiesca has a few sources in the Middle East that want to be kept secret because they are important to what they are trying to accomplish. Although he wants to keep the best interest in mind for his country, he is also keeping his job and his integrity in mind as well by protecting them when they give him information.
He knew, to some extent, about the attacks from Yemen back in March.
Throughout all this he has shown an ability to balance country pride to journalistic integrity and is now one of the most revered combat cameramen in the United States.
Ray Bribiesca can do it all.
Bribiesca
