Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/01/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]B.D. says: > > Of course photographers who accept money/equipment from equipment and supply > manufacturers are PHOTOGRAPHERS. What else would they be? Are they objective > judges of the particular manufacturer's equipment/supplies? Of course not. > But who cares. I don't give a fig what a Ralph Gibson, James Nachtwey, etc. > etc. have to say about equipment brands - I want to see what they shoot, or > hear how they work, or what their photo philosophy is. > I understand why manufacturers/ad agencies like to use well known names, like Gibson & Nachtwey, for product endorsements and it is only fair that the celebrity get paid for their name being used. I have a hard time understanding why people buy into these endorsements. Just because the aged rock & roll star Bob Seeger sings 'Like a rock...' for Chevrolet pick up trucks that we run out and buy a Chevy, apparently so because Chevy trucks are at least in the top 3 in sales. OK I have several leicas, but Ralph Gibson's endorsement had nothing to do with my buying them. Still, I understand the principle; Gibson takes great pictures, I like them, Gibson uses Leicas, hmmmm....that must be the way for me to go. So Leica or any manufacturer SHOULD pay for capitalizing on Gibson's success. Trouble is that it does not influence me to buy a Chevy or a Leica. Interestingly Robert Dosineau used several different brands of cameras throughout his 50 year career, and never endorsed any of them. Even more interesting, looking at his pictures I can not tell the difference between any brand. So are endorsements just hype? Probably. And my job is selling advertising. sl - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html