Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the ability of the photographers - I completely agree that they're sent there usually BECAUSE they're good. 

But the only difference between an amateur and a professional a lot of the time is the fact that the professional gets paid for it.  I don't believe I mentioned the photographers themselves anywhere, only the difference between 'them' and 'us' being the fact that they are 'there' and we are not.  I've seen photographers here in the Renderosity forum and gallery that, given the same location, could equal top newsworthy shots, and probably in the same timeframe.

And do I think it's that easy?  Call me cocky, big-headed or any other term, but yes, I DO think it's easy.  I can work to a deadline, I can take good pictures (when I can be bothered and put some effort into it).   That's exactly the point I'm making.,.......that some of the time it IS that easy, and some of the time (and from reading interviews in magazines and on the net a lot of people who have taken iconic photos) it's down to pure luck - right time, right place. 

Like I said to a friend while I was in the States - you've got to be in the Rockies to take a good photo of the Rockies.............

:-)

When you starve with a tiger, the tiger starves last.