[Leica] WAS: In defence of the newspapers NOW: Tiny tunnel light.

[kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)]

On Apr 10, 2008, at 9:32 PM, Ted Grant wrote:
> Tina Manley Offered:
> Subject:In defence of the newspapers
>
>
>
>>> I don't see much light at the end of this tunnel and the train is  
>>> about to
> wipe us out!<
>
> Hi Tina & Ken,
>
> And others who work at this wild wild life of photography.
>
> I'm not sure if this is maybe a tiny light at the end of the tunnel  
> or not.
> But here's an interesting bit from the other day.
>
> I had been shooting for a large hospital foundation for their fund  
> raising
> ads, brochures and other related material. But it ended a couple  
> years ago
> when they hired a different graphic design house.
>
> A couple of weeks ago I received a phone call from the  
> foundation ,"was I
> available for lunch with the Executive Director and an assistant?"  
> Sure says
> I, never turn down a free lunch. :-)
>
> While waiting for the Director I looked through their most recent  
> promo
> material, quite frankly it looked like they were made of two bit  
> colour
> nickel and dime stock photos. Not one had a photo relevant to  
> medicine nor
> hospitals.
>
> Now remember this is a hospital fund raising foundation accustomed to
> raising multi-millions for medical equipment. The text was well done  
> about
> money raised and equipment purchased.
>
> However, not one picture was medical related or illustrating the  
> incredible
> equipment they claimed to purchase.
>
> Most looked like happy snap people on holiday or similar activity.
>
> Director arrives coat in hand ready for lunch. I ask, "In these  
> brochures
> the wording is interesting, but there isn't one picture illustrating  
> the
> equipment in use.  Nor any medical scenes and it's all lousy looking  
> cheap
> stock pictures!"
>
> She looked me right in the eye and said, "that's why you're here!"  
> Then
> smiled!
>
> "We want the ted Grant look in black & white photos of the medical  
> world
> doing their stuff as you did in your books and what you did before  
> for us!
> Oh yes, and we've just fired the graphic design company and hired a  
> new one.
> They've already been told, you will be the photographer, Period! And
> assisting in picture selection for all promotions!"
>
> And away we went for a very nice lunch and she paid! :-)
>
> Oh and the fee in case yer curious? Oh sorry I can't disclose that,  
> lets
> just say I'm smiling! :-)
>
> So I think what happened here is, this is a case of an organization  
> who in
> the past had used a professional photographer & talent. But then  
> being told
> they were going to save money by using stock. Realized two bit  
> pictures for
> next to nothing packaged and fiddled in PhotoShop just don't do the  
> job when
> it comes to high stake dollar situations. Cheap begets cheap!
>
> Is it an indication news papers are going to change? Not right now,  
> but
> during the latter part of the 70's into the 80's many ad agencies  
> were all
> saying B&W was dead. Only to have it return like thunder because they
> finally realized B&W has a people power look colour doesn't!
>
> Don't argue. Remember the big car manufactures and clothing people who
> switched to B&W. Finally it kind of balanced out using whichever  
> medium
> gives the greatest impact for the situation.
>
> But I'm afraid photographers of all disciplines are in for a rocky  
> economic
> ride for some time to come. All I can say is. "I'm glad I'm near the  
> end of
> a career, well OK in 20 years!" ;-)
>
> And the light at the end of the tunnel? It isn't very bright! But  
> being an
> optimist I believe it will get brighter because cheap begets cheap!
> Eventually even bean counters have to admit it.


that's the way to go Ted...

I think your long term optimism is well placed, sure hope so. Your own  
experience suggests from the ashes of failed enterprises will come a  
new paradigm, a demand for quality, maybe even a new Life magazine.

Instead of a garbage in , garbage out mentality...

a new approach on the horizon...

imagine, if you are going to do it, do it right...


Steve
>
>
> ted
>
>
>
>
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