Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/04/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Eric Welch wrote: > > It takes a very talented photographer to make pictures that move the > reader. Either to laugh, cry, or do something to change the world. True, and even with talent, it often takes time, something few if any modern mags are going to pay for. So, since there isn't time for great pix, they look for the photographers who can do cross processing, use funny light, or warp the focus, anything to create enough graphic interest to mask the lack of substance. Is anyone "moved" by the images in Details magazine?? As an interesting aside (or parallel track), I have friends involved in the adult photo biz and they say the demand is huge for "amateur" looking photos. The mags and web sites want pix of "real" looking models, shot with flash on camera, over exposed a little (no pun intended). Maybe the amateur demand is a response to a mall-cultured, mass marketed, franchised, cookie cutter world of slick, mass produced products and media (Playboy, Sit-Coms) and experience (Disneyland). With mainstream magazines I think it is simply budget and a generation (increasingly in position of editorial power) who have grown up with MTV as the dominant cultural role model. The owner of a major news/photo agency this week told me he was having difficulty with assignment work because most editors/photoeditors are under 30 and want to work with 20 year olds with "fresh" vision, but few 20 year olds have the maturity and experience to produce day in day out as professionals, and haven't a clue how to shoot for a trade magazine that needs a straight photo. Soon we're gonna have to reduce mandantory retirement to 32 years old. Grab your cane Eric and shuffle on outta there! donal - -- Donal Philby San Diego http://www.donalphilby.com