[Leica] RE Cost of pictures

[Lawrence Zeitlin]

As a point of interest, the latest issue of Science magazine, the journal of the AAAS, reports on the annual number of photographs taken. “In the early 1800s, the first ever photograph was taken, an unassuming picture that required days of exposure to obtain a very grainy image. Over one million photos were taken during the US Civil war of which 100,000 survive. In the late 1800s, photography was used for the first time to see the movement of a running horse that was too fast for the human eye. In the following years photography played a pivotal role in human history, ranging from creation of the national parks in the USA all the way to documenting NASA’s first moon mission  In the 1900s, roughly 10 billion photographs were taken per year. Facilitated by the explosion of the internet, we will approach 2 trillion images this year - roughly about 1000 images per year for every person on the planet.”

As a frequent reviewer of art and photo shows in the TriState area I have noticed several results of this plethora of images. First, figurative images are almost impossible to sell. Unless directly ordered by the recipient (i.e. a portrait or picture at ones children or a prized possession) the chance of selling any image approaches zero. Second, we have run out of wall space to exhibit images. It is virtually impossible to book a display space unless reserved far in advance. Modern houses have too many windows and too little blank wall space. 

I can conceive on only one simple fix for too many images. Raise the cost to at least one USD per exposure. Use film instead of digital. Currently it costs only pennies to take and print a picture. At current rates a year’s worth of photos requires only a few dollars of expense. The price of a new Leica kit is  thousands of times more expensive. Does anyone have a more sensible solution?

Larry Z