What the hell is a lensmule?

lens /'lenz/ The part of a camera that concentrates light and focuses the image.

mule /'myü(&)l/Offspring of a donkey stallion and a horse mare, a beast of burden.

In 1981, when I started my news career as a photographer, the gear I carried weighed almost as much as I did. My full time job was hauling gear, I spent a lot less time actually shooting video. By the end of the day I often felt like a pack mule headed back to the barn.

Even now that I don't shoot video everyday and moved on to producing video projects, I consider this nickname a badge of honor. It denotes a never quit, get the job done, attitude.

Mule Facts

Lensmule's brush with greatness.

I recall sitting in the KMID-TV newsroom after my morning assignment had been canceled. I had my feet up, kicked back, with a cup of coffee when I heard a very unusual call come over the police scanner. The dispatcher said,"One trapped in a well." I bolted out the door and arrived on scene at the same time as the rescue trucks.

That began a 58 hour day that touched the lives of millions of people around the world.

I provided a microphone to lower into the well so the officials could listen to Baby Jessica. That mic was my ticket inside the police lines where I stayed for hours gathering exclusive video for KMID-TV, WFAA, ABC Network News and CNN.

A listening device that picked up sound waves from the well casing replaced my microphone. I was no longer actually assisting in the rescue effort and the other news teams were screaming to get equal access. I moved outside the lines after making a deal that I would be the ABC pool photographer and their affiliates for the final shots.

click to see my video

Much of the next three days was a blur of live news updates. I recall sleeping on top a dog house for a couple of hours with the noise of generators and equipment. The funny thing was I remember waking with a start when it got quiet. I was on. Only a couple of years into my news career I had one of the biggest news stories ever. As we got close I was briefed on three different network cameras. I had no idea which one I was going to use but those in charge wanted a network camera in my hands. We went live for over eleven hours without a break.

My friend Scott Shaw stood at my shoulder and shot the photo below. He won a Pulizter Prize as the best breaking news photograph in the world for 1987.

I shot TV news for almost ten years after that and covered many national stories. I never got one that big again. I will always remember how I felt to have the world watching through my eyes.

Jessica McClure is pulled from the 8-inch water well shaft where she was trapped for more than 58 hours in Midland, Texas, Oct. 16, 1987. The nation's attention was riveted on West Texas after she plunged 22 feet into an abandonded well.