Everything is moving so fast. And the advent and evolution of digital technologies has made it all possible. Think back to a time without laptop computers, e-mail, the Internet, cell phones and digital cameras. It seems like lifetimes ago, but it is, amazingly, a mere 15 years past – less than a generation. Yet now digital technology seems so commonplace that we often take it for granted.
The lightning speed of today’s world has dramatically transformed the photography industry in every channel – manufacturing, retailing, photofinishing, education, creative workflow and distribution of images. The photo industry is rapidly merging into the electronics industry, as Sony’s recent takeover of Konica Minolta’s photo division illustrates. The crystal ball suggests that more mergers will occur soon, as companies position themselves to capitalize on the digital boom ahead.
The one question I hear more than any other is “How do I make a living in this business?” It has been PhotoMedia’s mission for 18 years to profile some of the most successful shooters and companies that have somehow managed to “crack the code.” Keeping up with all of the changes has been and continues to be the hardest challenge for anyone involved in the business – including us! In the final analysis, however, it all seems to boil down to exercising the imagination and staying ahead of the curve with innovation and relevance.
As this issue’s feature from Pat Hunt shows, the stock industry has been drastically changed by the demands of today’s information-based society. The way these companies can disseminate imagery worldwide in a keystroke has had a major effect on photographers’ potential to make a living, an issue that has been the source of much debate over the last two decades. Corbis, Getty Images and Jupiterimages have absorbed so many of the smaller agencies that their dominance has redefined the way the business operates. More consolidation seems imminent and in fact, as this issue went to press in mid-February, Getty announced that it had acquired Canadian stock agency iStockphoto.com for $50 million.
With all of this in mind, it seems appropriate that our cover photo should be of Bill Gates, one of the technological visionaries of our time (and founder of Corbis), as photographed by Louie Psihoyos, one of the most successful photographers in the business. From his portraits of influential businesspeople and celebrities, to his fascination with the world of natural history and science, to his conceptual imagery, Psihoyos has focused on what intrigues him in our world and made it pay off with marketable, in-demand images (see Ted Fry’s cover story).
Glimpses of what’s ahead on the technical front can be found in our stories on Microsoft’s efforts to provide advanced photographic solutions on the PC/Windows platform, and Apple’s revolutionary new Aperture photo editing and workflow software program.
Finally, Art Wolfe is the subject of yet another PhotoMedia story, this time for his ambitious plans to establish a photographic center in downtown Seattle for teaching digital photography and to provide an expanded gallery space to present the work of deserving photographers. Additionally, this year he will present the Environmental Photography Invitational photo contest/exhibit, with PhotoMedia as a co-sponsor and official media partner.
Despite the many challenges involved in achieving success in the photo business, being a photographer remains one of the most satisfying occupations that we can imagine, with its passion for visual expression as its driving force. We hope that this issue of PhotoMedia will provide you with the inspiration to continue on your path to creativity and to affect positive change in the world.
As always, please let our advertisers know that you noticed their ads in PhotoMedia. Their support is critical to our continuity and our ability to bring you in-depth coverage of the world of photography for free. In this struggling economy, our advertisers need to know, more than ever, that their advertising dollars are being well spent. We welcome your opinions on our coverage and encourage you to share PhotoMedia with others who love photography.
Sincerely,
Gary Halpern, Publisher
