[Leica] A good while ago

[mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner)]

On 4/4/07 4:40 PM, "Ted Grant" <tedgrant@shaw.ca> typed:

> Tina said:
>>> No, we are now "content providers" not photographers.  We are not the
> creatives anymore, the art directors are.  This is all microstock
> speak.  Just another reason to give less of the share and no rights
> to the "content providers."<<<
> 
> Hi Tina & George,
> Photographers rarely were considered high priority people in relation to 
> the
> journalists on a newspaper. Sure there was usually the "king shooter" of 
> the
> paper or agency. But generally the regular guys and gals were near second
> class folks. Occasionally recognized for talent if a photograph won a prize
> and the paper built that up on behalf of the paper.
> 
> Today and the past several years "those who are talented and have the gift
> to see and feel photo moments" are considered nobodies. Or deemed "content
> providers" as a lower class citizen.  WHY?
> 
> Well it comes down to the bottom line bean counters and pay out as little 
> as
> possible for the "art" required for any use, published, TV and web.
> 
> That and........ a simple technological monster, the digital camera in the
> hands of the bean counters and second rate photo editors and art directors.
> 
> Quite simply put..............
> "Everyone with a digital camera has become the photographer of the moment
> because we can get him/her for peanuts!" Or better..... "give them a credit
> line!" Or...."we don't need to pay them because they love to see their
> pictures published!"
> 
> But in reality it's this..... "Good photography doesn't happen because you
> use a digital camera! It happens because you know what makes a good
> photograph!"
> 
> Unfortunately the second rate bean counters and art director photo editors
> know this, but they don't care because.... "Charlie the super whiz on the
> PhotoShop machine can do wonders with anything and make it look great!"
> 
> And that folks along with the every body digi shooter so called 
> photographer
> combined with dumb ass editor art directors is why we're in this situation!
> 
> Put all that aside.....and I'd rather be a photojournalist doing what I 
> love
> with a passion, "documenting a situation!"
> ted 
> 
> 
> 

Ted the crux of the issue as you're stating it here is
" It happens because you know what makes a good photograph!"

Vs someone who happens to be at the scene with a camera which works.

Could you elaborate on that?

Inquiring Rabs wants to know.





Mark Rabiner
8A/109s
New York, NY

markrabiner.com