There’s a Way
LA River shot on large format film.
It seems that during this economic downturn there are few industries spared from the hurt. This includes the photographic industry which has been coming out of the throws of a digital upheaval as well.
It seems that anyone with a digital camera can call themselves a photographer, and many will sell their images for pennies a piece. This flooding of the marketplace with cheap photos is a serious concern for many photographers out there with a studio to support, mouths to feed, and gear to maintain. Some feel that what was once a lucrative industry is now reeling out of control to the doom of all those that rely on it.
Genuine photographers who have dedicated their lives to their craft are finding that with the advent of a digital medium their fairly technical field is becoming far less so. Sophisticated computer algorithms are increasing the odds that any person picking up a digital camera can record a decent image.
However technical the field is, I believe that it’s first and foremost a form of art. It’s no longer acceptable to merely know the techniques of photography, but rather now in order to be successful one must have a clear artistic vision that stands out, tells a story, and separates the artist from the masses.
The current environment is stripping the photographers from the marketplace who have been relying on old visions and techniques as their source of revenue. It is becoming the death blow for many companies who have not been able to adapt to a changing business climate.
There will be many who lose their livelihood, but those that stand will find that the industry will support artists that can look beyond the technical and see a story that many miss.