Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/11/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Fred, Thanks for the update. I guess I was misinformed about the subscription size. But even with 9 Million you'd think there should still be a photo budget. I interned there many years ago during university (San Jose State in PJ) and was impressed by the people in illustrations and photo, but saw so much of what I thought of as P.R.-ization--making everything nice--that I went away not very interested in working for them. I was talking one day to Dick Durrance about my feelings and his response was: "I keep reminding myself that it is better than shooting weddings." My hero magazine was GEO, but we know how far that got. The irony for me is that now Nat. Geo. is virtually the only magazine doing anything interesting, meaningful, and substantial (by comparison). I've got a reasonable business going with corporate and advertising clients doing everything from computers to pleasure boats, but still have the desire to produce meaningful work that ISN'T just designed to sell, but when I look at moving that direction and how much editorial pays and how much it costs to stay in business and it looks hopeless. I just need to produce it as a hobby almost. But there are a few photojournalists making it, doing good work, but they are few and far between. I've been thinking about associating with an agency like Black Star or Gamma that handles both editorial and commercial assignments. Perhaps you would permit me to ask a few questions about that market these days??? The top heaviness you mention at NGS is amazing. It kind of like what is going on with mergers and so much of American business--the producers of the products and services are the ones who reap the least benefit. We're back to the era of robber barons in different clothes. A friend of mind said he didn't think editors deserved to be sent Leica-made pictures. He'd had three beers and was feeling spitful. Have a good holiday. - --Donal Philby San Diego