It might be time to worry. Take a look at some amateur radio group photos. How do they look? Admittedly, at times a somewhat sorry lot. At times hardly the heroes we expect to see.
It's their posture. Look at the line of them across a amateur article and what do you see. Too often a group four-square with the ground, usually standing with legs widespread and feet pointed in various directions. One look and the glamour is gone. DXers, one might think, are built only in one four-square utility model. Bulky and awkward. At times one might think that the photo shows a rehearsal for a run of "Barbarians at the Gates". The thought often fits.
Get your file of amateur radio magazines, even QST, and dig the DX articles out. Look at the traditional group DXpedition picture. And cringe. Where is the grace and elegance? Where is the noble DXer stature?
Can we not learn from watching TV? Or even the evening news. There you will find a bit of grace in the posture of those in the know. Elegant, poised and graceful. And there also you will also find the photos of the ubitious industrial models, the utility types that too often are typical of field amateurs caught in their native habitat. Maybe something like 4Square Field Day.
How do you gain the needed elegance? Let it be explained again. You point one foot at the camera. Straight at it or near to that point. The other foot you turn at an angle and place it behind the foot pointed at the camera. Try it. You will like it. Maybe even ask the XYL. Usually you will find that they are already well aware of the trick.
Stand tall, shoulders back. Look slightly above the camera. Point one foot at the camera, the ankle of the other foot close behind the heel of the pointing foot.
You will be surprised at the improvement. Even in old Cowboy Movies you will see the hero standing thus. Every one of the noble amateurs should know the pose. It hardly needs to be taught.
Amateurs, and especially DXERs should stand tall, stand properly and stand with their natural poise. Always! Posterity will deserve no less than the best possible image of DXers. The well remembered and admired image, an image to remember.
Show the nobility of amateur radio. Show the elegance of the typical matured DXer. Stand tall! And with your legs turned most elegantly. And that is anywhere away from the oft seen configuration of those who learned some of the facts of life a bit too early by standing in plowed furrows. Or somewhere nearby.
Return to DX Story Page
Go to K2CD's Main Page
Back to GeoCities Cape Canaveral