A photographer for CNN was assigned to cover southern California's
Wildfires last year. He wanted pictures of the heroic work the
Firefighters were doing as they battled the blazes.
When the photographer arrived on the scene, he realized that the
smoke was so thick it would seriously impede, or even make
impossible, his getting good photographs from the ground level. He
requested permission from his boss to rent a plane and take photos
from the air.
His request was approved and he used his cell phone to call the
local County airport to charter a flight. He was told a single engine
plane would be waiting for him at the airport.
Arriving at the airfield, he spotted a plane warming up outside a
hanger. He jumped in with his bag, slammed the door shut, and
shouted, "Let's go".
The pilot taxied out, swung the plane into the wind and roared down
the runway. Once in the air, the photographer instructed the pilot,
"Fly over the valley and make two or three low passes so I can take
some pictures of the fires on the hillsides."
"Why ?" asked the pilot.
"Because I'm a photographer for CNN," he responded. "And I need to
get some close-up shots."
The pilot was strangely silent for a moment, finally he stammered,
"So, what you're telling me,... is...you're NOT my flight
instructor?"...