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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Worth a read
Marty Price, Photographer
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 4:43 PM on 06.02.12 |
->> Not just "Worth A Read" but ...
MUST READ! |
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Nic Coury, Photographer
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Monterey | CA | | Posted: 8:20 PM on 06.02.12 |
->> I agree. Must read.
I think citizen journalists come in handy for the breaking news efforts when a bystander had a camera or a smart phone and takes a decent photo, then the PJ steps in to take over when they arrive on-scene.
Though there are some papers and news organizations that will exploit the free images, but hopefully not too many. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Atlanta | Ga | USA | Posted: 5:07 PM on 06.03.12 |
->> Nic, your're fooling yourself if you really think that way. I work at a pagination hub and see the kind of work that is submitted for publication. I can tell you papers are using more and more submitted photos than ever before. And most look like s---!
In addition, these so called citizen journalists have no idea what a deadline is. One lady shot an event, then she goes home, fixes her family dinner, eats, does the dishes, then finally sits down to work on her images submitting them three hours after the event was over, while we all waited for the work to be emailed in.
These papers make photo submissions a regular part of the daily product. One reason is so many papers have cut back or eliminated positions that they have no choice other than to accept work that looks in many cases, just awful. Small files submitted at 72 dpi is the norm. It's amateur hour at its finest. And it's invaded the industry like a disease with no cure. |
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Jock Fistick, Photographer
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Brussels | Belgium | | Posted: 9:16 PM on 06.03.12 |
->> While I share his philosophy - unfortunately - I see more and more news organizations that do not care about quality, integrity etc... or at best - they pick and choose when they care....
I can hear the conversation in the editors meeting - "Oh that picture will be for a section front - let's send a staffer or hire a freelancer - but we will crowd source the fire because we can - even though a professional will do a better job - we can save money and still "cover the news" - because even a bad photo says "we were there..."
In this age of "good enough is good enough" I think "things" are moving in the wrong direction for the professional photojournalist. As he mentioned - there will always be a need for the professional - be they staff or freelance - to go where access is limited to credentialed media only - to wait hours in the rain for the perp walk - or to shoot a nicely lit portrait for the front page of the Lifestyles section - but don't be mistaken - citizen photojournalists are having a negative impact on staff levels and freelancers fees. It is ironic that the technology in our industry has advanced so much in the last 15 years - yet the quality of the publications we work for continue to decline in all the areas he mentioned. Kinda makes you go hmmmmm…. |
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Saquan Stimpson, Photographer, Assistant
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Newark | DE | USA | Posted: 4:11 PM on 06.04.12 |
->> I agree. Must read.
Jock and Jeff you guys make a great point Reliability, Storytelling, Integrity and Quality seems to mean nothing these days.
I've personally will sit and wait for the shots that will tell the story. I take pride in my job and I want to make the best image possible. I'm constantly told I do great work. However I find myself sitting home more and more.
These so called citizen journalists have no idea what a deadline is, or have the Ability to work under pressure or solving problems that will occur while on assignment.
But I guess you guys hit it on the head "good enough is good enough"
Once agin a must read. |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 8:00 PM on 06.04.12 |
->> The whole concept of "section front" is going away in the digital world. Most typical websites are built around the old print presentation.
In reality, the trend is away from people entering a site through the home page. The basic unit of journalism is becoming the story, with people reaching them via direct links from social media.
There is no longer any "place" to hide bad quality.
(Yes, I know many sites still get significant traffic to their home pages.)
--Mark |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 9:41 AM on 06.05.12 |
->> I'm cynical enough that when I read the first bullet point was "Quality" I immediately thought "that won't fly with too many media holding companies."
As Don Henely sang in "Dirty Laundry" - "Crap is king".
Good read never the less. We can only hope that quality is important to enough people. I'm counting on it. |
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Chris Peterson, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbia Falls | MT | USA | Posted: 1:26 PM on 06.05.12 |
->> An interesting aspect on the quality issue is this: Apple's new iPad shows photos better than any other medium I've ever used before, including glossy print.
As I'm currently developing an IPad app, some photos that I know I could run in print simply won't cut it with this device. If they're not the right size or the colors are off, they look nasty.
Point being the need for quality should actually increase, not decrease...
(or so I hope) |
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