Thanks in part to the web, good information and inspiration is just a click away. I have bookmarked several photography blogs, which I try to drop in on once a week. LENS by the New York Times is one of my favourites. The storytelling photos are consistently amazing. Mostly True by Ken Jareski is another site where significant effort is made to advance photojournalism. I met Ken briefly in Denver, Colorado back in the 80’s, during A Day in the Life of America. We were involved in a book project that brought 200 photographers from around the world to photograph the U.S. in 24 hours.
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Jareski is a great photojournalist so naturally his blog reflects his knowledge and passion for this area of photography. He suggests something that I have touched on in the past: the days of specialization may be over. Photojournalism has really taken a hit for several years now. Downsizing of budgets, shrinking editorial space (particularly in the top magazines) and the use of photojournalism is diminishing.
Here’s an excerpt from one of his recent blogs about the skill set needed to survive 2010 and beyond.
“Research, you’re going to have to do it all yourself.
Travel, that’s all on you too.
Self promotion, the key here is “self”.
These three are about one zillion times easier today (give or take a billion) then they were even five years ago. Still, you’re going to have to be real good at all of them.
Ideas, if you don’t have any, sell your cameras now.
Editing and post-production, all you baby.
Writing, thou it pains me to say it, this is a must.
These things haven’t really been made that much easier by technology, unlike the skills mention in the first group. In fact, I think it’s safe to say we’re now talking more about “art” than “skills” now.
You’re going to have to do all of this in the most frugal way possible. Every penny you spend is going to come out of the money you eventually earn from your work. The important part here is “earn” and I suppose “eventually”.
This is the same way agency photographers approached their craft years ago. If you don’t know how to get the cheapest car in any city of the world, you might want to dust off an old shooter and buy them a few drinks.
Of course, if you can’t make a great image, none of the above matters.
No, I don’t care if you’re “capturing” movement or not. If you can make great images, and do everything else I’ve just mentioned… 2010 will be the year you start to earn a living again.”
