[Leica] Life magazine

[Yods1@aol.com]

LIFE is history, gone the way of window dressing. I live across the street
from a fellow who runs a picture agency, and he once worked with one of the
new senior designers/picture editors (or whatever they call themselves now)
before his recent hire at LIFE. One example of his regard for photojournalism
should suffice: He was searching for lead art that had a particular color in
it so it would match the color of the type in his headline. The picture didn't
really matter, he just wanted matching colors. 
It's my impression newspapers are heading that way too. It's becoming too
frequent that designers regard us as personal service departments to provide
raw clay for their grand creations. It's getting pretty scary too, how many
people from other departments at my paper who, without any photographic
experience or ethical guidance, are taking all sorts of liberties with
Photoshop. 
Thanks by the way for the Requiem tip, just ordered mine. I wanted to buy it
as soon as I saw it but it cost too much at the time. 
Makes me wonder how many page designers gave up their lives for their art...