Friday, September 5, 2008
Noise
This is my second post in a row without an image. For what I wanted to be a "photoblog" I'm failing miserably. I was just reading through the new PDN and I'm quite dismayed to say the least. I thumbed through the whole issue and to be honest it was nothing but noise. Nothing of substance, just noise, like you're not getting a signal on an old tv (new tv's have a nice calming blue screen). Since when did photography become such a grey noise? PDN is the industry magazine more or less and it covers many of the issues of the photo industry and it's many changes. The current issue is "The editorial & photojournalism issue"(they like to have themed issues). They flaunt such articles such as "The photojournalism market: a survival guide", "Editorial work that lands advertising jobs", "A day in the life: Online photo editors", etc. I've been a part of the photography profession for 20 years in one form or another, I've followed all the major trends, I've even bought into a some of them now and again. I've even fallen out of love with photography which had me flirting with the motion picture industry. Sometimes I feel like photography is losing itself in the rush of technology. Whatever happened to taking photos? Does every job or assignment have to server to sole purpose or leading to the next job or assignment? Where is the art? Where is the message? Has it all become an advertisement? Are our images serving the sole purpose of advertising our abilities so that we can land the next big JOB? What has happened to our art? our vision? Is it nothing but noise?
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2 comments:
Blah blah blah, I don't know wha the hell you talkin bout. Stick to posting pictures of butts.
It is unfortunate that I do know what Randy is talking about. And even more unfortunate for the photo world, I agree.
PDN's "self promo" issue two months ago had more than a few people saying their promos did not earn them work, but they did receive positive response. This is just one additional example of some of the puff issues they crank out.
However nearly every issue I find at least one link, paragraph, quote, or photographer profile worth remembering. Some months are certainly stronger/weaker than others.
PDN could step up. Clearly the photo industry is rapidly changing and here is our industry leading pup trying to figure it out just like the rest of us.
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