Bill Pierce
Well-known
We had other topics up when this first appeared, but I thought PJ Nuts might find it interesting. I, of course, find it true and very sad for the folks younger than me.
http://blog.melchersystem.com/2011/09/12/volume-based-photojournalism/
http://blog.melchersystem.com/2011/09/12/volume-based-photojournalism/
newspaperguy
Well-known
Wow! I'd call that right on target, Bill.
IMO - the market has shrunk to nothing.
I feel so sorry for anyone starting on this path now.
IMO - the market has shrunk to nothing.
I feel so sorry for anyone starting on this path now.
Colin Corneau
Colin Corneau
I'm not sure about the long-term implications of the kind of policies that got us into this fix in the first place.
Baby boomers (sorry, but those are the facts) had a far easier time of it during the building phase of their careers than people today do in theirs -- photojournalism is just one more career where that's true, it seems to me.
The upside, such as it is, is that technology allows people to do things in new ways. It may not work for everyone, but crowd-sourcing (such as Kickstarter) has allowed great things to happen that wouldn't have otherwise.
Distributing one's images or at least showing them in portfolio form is easier than ever, with websites being easily available.
I've seen good things happen with photo collectives, allowing photographers to band together for support. I know some in Rogue Collective, for example:
http://www.ro6ue.ca/
No one can reasonably expect things to be the same as they were 30 years ago. It would be nice if photographers steered the industry more than MBA's and beancounters, but I've never known a time when it was easy.
Baby boomers (sorry, but those are the facts) had a far easier time of it during the building phase of their careers than people today do in theirs -- photojournalism is just one more career where that's true, it seems to me.
The upside, such as it is, is that technology allows people to do things in new ways. It may not work for everyone, but crowd-sourcing (such as Kickstarter) has allowed great things to happen that wouldn't have otherwise.
Distributing one's images or at least showing them in portfolio form is easier than ever, with websites being easily available.
I've seen good things happen with photo collectives, allowing photographers to band together for support. I know some in Rogue Collective, for example:
http://www.ro6ue.ca/
No one can reasonably expect things to be the same as they were 30 years ago. It would be nice if photographers steered the industry more than MBA's and beancounters, but I've never known a time when it was easy.
BillBingham2
Registered User
Bill,
Interesting article but I think it does not get to the cause of the problem, only tap-dances through a symptom.
The problem is we are getting brain-washed into accepting limited depth but instant info. The idea of working on a story for a week or a month doesn’t have as many outlets as it once had. Oddly I think our only hope will be iPads and either micro-payments or subscriptions. Monthly magazines and daily papers all based on the wonderful by product made from a great carbon sink is going the way of buffalo. From owning the plains to almost extinction, where will all that steel you find in a Heidelberg press go?
The brave reporters and photojournalists will work through it, developing outlets, changing their approaches for funding. Looking to fund work through collective/micro donations, selling signed prints, creating coffee table books that can be created on request and shipped directly to the individual.
I see some people getting fed up with sound-bite information but it’s so pervasive I sadly think it will take years to see more info and less happy, quick, sensationalism and sex.
I’ve always thought that every photographer graduating should have a minor in business before they are let out on the street. Now I’m thinking of adding a second minor of public administration.
The other cause is technologies ever quickening march into photography. It’s not a bad thing but with the advent of auto-focus, auto-exposure, auto-flash, facial-recognition, heck even auto-shutter release, super zooms and software that removes lens distortion the volume of Jr. PJs went exponential over night. And with that many folks out there with devices that can take a good enough picture you are sure to feed the GOT-TO-HAVE-IT-NOW or Veruca Salt Publishers out there.
I’m hoping the young guns out there will continue to keep the world honest. Still photos have the power to make you think in a way that video does not. The imagination is a powerful tool in educating, good photojournalism provided us with millions of words and got us thinking.
Interesting read none the less. Thanks for sharing.
B2
Interesting article but I think it does not get to the cause of the problem, only tap-dances through a symptom.
The problem is we are getting brain-washed into accepting limited depth but instant info. The idea of working on a story for a week or a month doesn’t have as many outlets as it once had. Oddly I think our only hope will be iPads and either micro-payments or subscriptions. Monthly magazines and daily papers all based on the wonderful by product made from a great carbon sink is going the way of buffalo. From owning the plains to almost extinction, where will all that steel you find in a Heidelberg press go?
The brave reporters and photojournalists will work through it, developing outlets, changing their approaches for funding. Looking to fund work through collective/micro donations, selling signed prints, creating coffee table books that can be created on request and shipped directly to the individual.
I see some people getting fed up with sound-bite information but it’s so pervasive I sadly think it will take years to see more info and less happy, quick, sensationalism and sex.
I’ve always thought that every photographer graduating should have a minor in business before they are let out on the street. Now I’m thinking of adding a second minor of public administration.
The other cause is technologies ever quickening march into photography. It’s not a bad thing but with the advent of auto-focus, auto-exposure, auto-flash, facial-recognition, heck even auto-shutter release, super zooms and software that removes lens distortion the volume of Jr. PJs went exponential over night. And with that many folks out there with devices that can take a good enough picture you are sure to feed the GOT-TO-HAVE-IT-NOW or Veruca Salt Publishers out there.
I’m hoping the young guns out there will continue to keep the world honest. Still photos have the power to make you think in a way that video does not. The imagination is a powerful tool in educating, good photojournalism provided us with millions of words and got us thinking.
Interesting read none the less. Thanks for sharing.
B2
-doomed-
film is exciting
From the link: Speed vs quality.
Thanks to digital, the key decision element for an image to be published is how fast they get to a desktop. Thus a bad photographer can very well become successful if he is the fastest. More and more, this is what we, viewers, are being served with : the first images rather than the best. Thus the key to becoming a published photojournalist is where you are and not who you are.
This rings especially true in the world of multimedia outlets, get there, get something and come back and it'll be published.
I've had stuff run that I turned in that out of the shots I made, the ones I hated were run. We also had a freelance guy who always got a shot of something big happening, but most of it was either so-so with one really great image out of 20 he'd send in.
I work at a tabloid, so we thrive on the blood,sex, and brevity that Bill Bingham speaks of. Is it hard news? Not exactly. Does it keep us in business? For the most part, yes. Would I love to be involved in a paper or organization that values the bigger stories and harder hitting news? Yeah, but for now, I'll take the money from where ever it comes from. As I type this my current position is slowly being phased out and moved to a centralized location -- this means I will have to get better at reporting and become a bit more fearless when it comes to entering neighborhoods where I am clearly not welcomed. As an aside, this is the town I am working currently (I'm not the writer , this just gives context) http://trentonian.com/articles/2011/09/19/news/doc4e7696ce0d2d3278262189.txt
Thanks to digital, the key decision element for an image to be published is how fast they get to a desktop. Thus a bad photographer can very well become successful if he is the fastest. More and more, this is what we, viewers, are being served with : the first images rather than the best. Thus the key to becoming a published photojournalist is where you are and not who you are.
This rings especially true in the world of multimedia outlets, get there, get something and come back and it'll be published.
I've had stuff run that I turned in that out of the shots I made, the ones I hated were run. We also had a freelance guy who always got a shot of something big happening, but most of it was either so-so with one really great image out of 20 he'd send in.
I work at a tabloid, so we thrive on the blood,sex, and brevity that Bill Bingham speaks of. Is it hard news? Not exactly. Does it keep us in business? For the most part, yes. Would I love to be involved in a paper or organization that values the bigger stories and harder hitting news? Yeah, but for now, I'll take the money from where ever it comes from. As I type this my current position is slowly being phased out and moved to a centralized location -- this means I will have to get better at reporting and become a bit more fearless when it comes to entering neighborhoods where I am clearly not welcomed. As an aside, this is the town I am working currently (I'm not the writer , this just gives context) http://trentonian.com/articles/2011/09/19/news/doc4e7696ce0d2d3278262189.txt
emraphoto
Veteran
Well, not to be snarky but there are those that do and those that write about why they cannot.
The pursuit of funding changed in the blink if an eye and frankly the overloaded pool needed draining. I know of a friend who juat did 60,000 euros in assignment work alone the past year. It is out there.
The fact all newcomers must consider is that you are goin to be up against super talented and insanely driven folks in pursuit of said funds. You write for an aftermath grant, or getty grant assume you are competing with the best of the best. If you don't have the drive to function in that world then yes, you are done. If you aren't focused on building that integrity and reputation now then yes you are in trouble.
This is a rennaisance for reportage. It needed it just like Nachtwey leaving VII is a good thing. I have seen some of the best work for a long time being produced right now and the money is there. There just isn't much money aroud for the punters. That will help the medium in the long run.
The pursuit of funding changed in the blink if an eye and frankly the overloaded pool needed draining. I know of a friend who juat did 60,000 euros in assignment work alone the past year. It is out there.
The fact all newcomers must consider is that you are goin to be up against super talented and insanely driven folks in pursuit of said funds. You write for an aftermath grant, or getty grant assume you are competing with the best of the best. If you don't have the drive to function in that world then yes, you are done. If you aren't focused on building that integrity and reputation now then yes you are in trouble.
This is a rennaisance for reportage. It needed it just like Nachtwey leaving VII is a good thing. I have seen some of the best work for a long time being produced right now and the money is there. There just isn't much money aroud for the punters. That will help the medium in the long run.
maddoc
... likes film again.
Two remarks, first, regarding photojournalism, this phenomenon is true for the mass-media, where instant delivery of images and videos is key-factor to keep the distributor ("journalist") in business. Ne need for quality here, speed and low-cost are required. However, there are still some of the "old-fashioned" well edited weekly magazines out, requiring fist-class written essays and edited photographs. Unfortunately the market became very small, only few of the best photographer can make a living from it.
Second, this phenomenon not only occurs in photojournalism but also science, where I work. The largely increased amount of money invested in science and technology-related research in Asia, has started a huge competition for grants and fundings world-wide because the amount of "scientist" has increased steeply. Since there are no standards for example about the minimum requirements of a "Ph.D." getting this academic title became rather easy and inflationary in the last decade. The result is a huge increase of rather meaningless scientific paper, making it very hard to find well written and important scientific work. Since only number of paper and impact factor of the journal, where the paper have been published, but not the scientific impact are important now, grants do not necessarily go to best scientists but the "most active and nosiest".
Second, this phenomenon not only occurs in photojournalism but also science, where I work. The largely increased amount of money invested in science and technology-related research in Asia, has started a huge competition for grants and fundings world-wide because the amount of "scientist" has increased steeply. Since there are no standards for example about the minimum requirements of a "Ph.D." getting this academic title became rather easy and inflationary in the last decade. The result is a huge increase of rather meaningless scientific paper, making it very hard to find well written and important scientific work. Since only number of paper and impact factor of the journal, where the paper have been published, but not the scientific impact are important now, grants do not necessarily go to best scientists but the "most active and nosiest".
gavinlg
Veteran
I agree totally - oversaturation has spilled over the edges of the cup and now it's cutting off the fat and benefitting the work and the industry. There may be no work for the great percentage of photojournalists, but the great percentage aren't great photojournalists anyway.
I have a school friend who was recently put in the top 3 sports photojournalists in Australia by a pro orientated industry magazine and she was also invited to the Eddie Adams workshop in NY last year. She never has a down period - has to turn down work from companies like red bull because she's so busy.
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swoop
Well-known
These threads are depressing.
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gavinlg
Veteran
-doomed-
film is exciting
@ Swoop, I hope you find something soon, your work is great.
BradM
Established
A few months back I attended a talk by Tim Page and he said pretty much exactly what the blog said. Another point he made was that because there were so many freelancers in the field, the competition is so great that the daily rate paid to a photojournalist in a war zone is the same rate as it was 40+ years ago when he was in Vietnam.
Turtle
Veteran
John,
I don't know the background to the Nachtwey split from VII. What is the thinking behind your comment. I read various opinions on where this left VII from 'much better off' to 'about to fold'. What's your view on what's happened, what it means and how this relates to the changing sector?
I don't know the background to the Nachtwey split from VII. What is the thinking behind your comment. I read various opinions on where this left VII from 'much better off' to 'about to fold'. What's your view on what's happened, what it means and how this relates to the changing sector?
Ljós
Well-known
Great post, I think Colin raises some very good points.
As an example in this vein, I would not have heard of Jason Eskenazi
http://www.jasoneskenazi.com/wonderland.html , and crowd-funding helped him with his latest project:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1903672981/the-black-garden-a-new-photography-project (on the page it says the project was successfully funded, with more than thirteen thousand dollars given. The goal had been twelve thousand dollars.)
So there are good things happening, too. But overall.... sure, the Golden Age of Time Life and the Photo Story as a major vehicle of political/social etc. journalism is over.
Greetings, Ljós
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Out to Lunch
Ventor
Nostalgia: "a feeling of pleasure and sometimes slight sadness at the same time as you think about things that happened in the past". So media outlets have chosen a different business model: instead of sending photographers at a high cost from Western Europe and North America to make pictures in the rest of the world, they recruited photographers in the rest of the world. And they cut-out the middle-man, the photo agency out of the cost equation to improve profitability. Similar processes have of course happened in all other industries as well. Has it really made the world a worse place?
btgc
Veteran
It depends. There's point when people benefit from accessibility of mid-tier products. There is point when food gets awful because all it is about is price. I'm not mentioning homes, medicine and rest. Things and services don't have to be too available otherwise world gets too low quality. It's sad if people buy smartphones and tablets not to access quality content without paper workflow but hang on social networks and read about upcoming models of smartphones and tablets. Yeah, and cameras, too. Progress becomes pointless. Then world do not needs journalism, let alone PJ.
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
"There may be no work for the great percentage of photojournalists, but the great percentage aren't great photojournalists anyway."
Perhaps. The problem is that what has replaced "average photojournalists" is non-photographers with cell phones. Because they are free (as in will provide content for no money), and unbounded by the kind of ethical considerations we struggle with as photojournalists.
While "the best of the best" may still be finding work, we actually don't need the "best of the best" in the world of locally produced newspaper photojournalism, we need the "good," trained, ethical photographers to work in the trenches, day in and day out. Those jobs are gone or rapidly going away. They are the jobs that have been killed by "citizens with a camera."
"Could you send a photographer to cover the Teaparty Patriot's rally tomorrow?"
"No, but just have someone with a digital camera snap a photo and email it to us."
There's the problem.
Perhaps. The problem is that what has replaced "average photojournalists" is non-photographers with cell phones. Because they are free (as in will provide content for no money), and unbounded by the kind of ethical considerations we struggle with as photojournalists.
While "the best of the best" may still be finding work, we actually don't need the "best of the best" in the world of locally produced newspaper photojournalism, we need the "good," trained, ethical photographers to work in the trenches, day in and day out. Those jobs are gone or rapidly going away. They are the jobs that have been killed by "citizens with a camera."
"Could you send a photographer to cover the Teaparty Patriot's rally tomorrow?"
"No, but just have someone with a digital camera snap a photo and email it to us."
There's the problem.
emraphoto
Veteran
I'll pull my fragmented brain together in a bit and sit at a computer. VII is far from folding, the lineup forward will be released any time now. I can also post it here when I hear (I didn't apply).
Turtle
Veteran
I realise now that that question asked an essay from you LOL. Just wondering on the deal with Nachtwey leaving and see so many different opinions ranging from those suggesting he was bad for the agency to those who think he will leave a huge hole!
emraphoto
Veteran
it isn't so much the essay. it's primarily that this VII business is ultimately not my business. circumstance just has it that I am a bit of 'fly on the wall' as it is unfolding. i want to be careful about what i say.
it is my opinion, and a few others directly involved, that it will allow some of the network photographers a more substantial stake in things. it is no secret that some of these folks have been very busy producing top flight work for the agency over the past few years. some are exploring whole new ideas with film (like video) and such. billing good numbers and under a new contract I SUSPECT (meaning i don't know for sure) VII could benfit from some redefined contribution amounts (money).
VII has a view to the future versus resting on the laurels of a few of the big names. the move would need to occur at some point for the agency to survive.
a few members of Magnum (members and prospects) have left for a reasons akin to the Nachtwey factor. it is extremely difficult to define yourself outside of the reputation earned by the old guard. the pressure to assimilate is great.
i can't speak anything to James Nacthwey's character as I don't know the guy. the internet is also full of character measurment of the chap already. not sure we need anymore.
the VII direction is not the only way though. as you know. i have had brief relationships with a few agencies and have ultimately decided to roll forward on my own until a model i agree with presents itself. i know from our past conversations (Turtle) that our paths forward are currently very similar.
a little birdy told me it would be at least a day before the VII line up is announced.
it is my opinion, and a few others directly involved, that it will allow some of the network photographers a more substantial stake in things. it is no secret that some of these folks have been very busy producing top flight work for the agency over the past few years. some are exploring whole new ideas with film (like video) and such. billing good numbers and under a new contract I SUSPECT (meaning i don't know for sure) VII could benfit from some redefined contribution amounts (money).
VII has a view to the future versus resting on the laurels of a few of the big names. the move would need to occur at some point for the agency to survive.
a few members of Magnum (members and prospects) have left for a reasons akin to the Nachtwey factor. it is extremely difficult to define yourself outside of the reputation earned by the old guard. the pressure to assimilate is great.
i can't speak anything to James Nacthwey's character as I don't know the guy. the internet is also full of character measurment of the chap already. not sure we need anymore.
the VII direction is not the only way though. as you know. i have had brief relationships with a few agencies and have ultimately decided to roll forward on my own until a model i agree with presents itself. i know from our past conversations (Turtle) that our paths forward are currently very similar.
a little birdy told me it would be at least a day before the VII line up is announced.