Comments on: SPD Medal Finalists Announced

By: Max Viscus

Max Viscus — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:32:55 +0000

omg..thats sucks…

use: MAGIX Photo & Grafic Designer…http://www.magix.com/us/xtreme-photo-graphic-designer/

By: Donnar Party

Donnar Party — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 02:43:29 +0000

@Tim, that about said it all. 100% correct.

By: raymundo

raymundo — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:55:04 +0000

There is a lot of rich information in this posting. I’m heading to NYC in May and I will use this info to personalize my calls and email’s to these group of PE …and try to get appointments and show my book. Thanks Rob!

By: tarsh einfallsreich

tarsh einfallsreich — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:46:30 +0000

@A Photo Editor, =]

By: marco patino

marco patino — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:40:09 +0000

@ #7 (Tim), the best two cents spent so far this year…
~M~

By: anonymous

anonymous — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:36:18 +0000

@dave h.,
I certainly wouldn’t think of Brad Pitt as an “a-list photographer”. :-)

I really don’t know what the problem here is.
Do you also complain that good actors get good roles?

A-list photographers get the good assignments. Why?
a) Because they’re successful enough to get to pick their assignments and
b) because PE’s want to get someone special when they have a special assignment and
c) maybe the assignment only looks so good in hindsight because you see how the a-lister pulled it off.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:52:31 +0000

I used to look at a list like this and, like some of you, whine about the same people getting the same opportunities, until I was honest with myself and admitted that I wasn’t doing what needed to be done to put myself out there. I wasn’t aggressively marketing myself to editors or art directors. I hadn’t created an effective marketing campaign and I had kind of withdrawn myself from the editorial photography community. So, why the hell was I complaining?

These photographers didn’t always have their opportunities, they made them. I know my capabilities, but, if I don’t show them, what’s the point? At this point I don’t even want people to see my work because I’m building a new body with the projects I’m now shooting. I’m also learning from others the most effective ways of making myself known once I’m ready to show what I can do.

There are three kinds of people in the world,

1. Players
2. Spectators
3. Wannabes

If you’re not willing to put yourself out there and do what’s necessary to play the game, don’t whine about those who do.

just my 2 cents worth.

By: Max

Max — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:01:04 +0000

Guys i don’t know anybody(Rob can tell you) and i am not famous, i didn’t even know i was nominated because nobody sent me an email.
Couple of weeks ago i was checking the nomination because i sent an editorial i shot for a French magazine and i found out i was nominated, i wasn’t even sure for what shot(it wasn’t the french editorial) and i had to check the magazine to find out which picture was chosen(a product shot in the category trade/corporate).

By: jamie kripke

jamie kripke — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:20:59 +0000

That is a nice looking roster, and goes to show you get what you pay for.

By: A Photo Editor

A Photo Editor — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:07:41 +0000

@dave h.,
other photo editors will find it useful. there are still names I’ve never heard of along with the usual suspects.

the awards are put on by designers and if anyone loves an a-list photographer it’s an a-list creative director. there’s no “emerging” category.

By: George _UK

George _UK — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:04:38 +0000

The folks are reading it wrongly.

They think you made all the names bold that YOU dont recognise!!!!

Instead of realising you emboldened the names for everyone to read easily

yes????

By: dave h.

dave h. — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:44:22 +0000

@A Photo Editor,
not that they missed any, just that these big names become even bigger as they are assigned the plum assignments. do i look at every frickin’ magazine to see every image to which these might be compared? um, no. does dan winters do great work? yes. if photo eds weren’t in CYA mode and could give a B-lister an opportunity could they shine in an assignment? what do you think? probably, right. yes yes i know PE’s have to do the dance with their editors; yes yes i know that PE’s want to reel in A-listers to make their pubs look great… yes yes i know PE’s look at the awards issued my x, y and z and say “oh, gotta give him/her a chance…” what am i suggesting? don’t know APE, just that this is a safe list populated by the cool kids.

By: A Photo Editor

A Photo Editor — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:11:34 +0000

@tarsh einfallsreich,
I made all the photographer names bold. That way someone just getting started in the business can study some of the masters still shooting editorial.

By: A Photo Editor

A Photo Editor — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:11:11 +0000

@dave h.,
instead of whining about it why don’t you show me the images they missed. We can all compare it to the nominees. Your Moodys/Wall Street example implies that the photographers work sucks and they are nominated because of their name or because they have some kind of cozy relationship with the award giver.

By: tarsh einfallsreich

tarsh einfallsreich — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:04:02 +0000

Nobuyoshi Araki, Sebastião Salgado???? Surely you know them?

By: dave h.

dave h. — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:51:35 +0000

so very many of the same names come up time after time… SPD = BFD… a parade of stars get great assignments then get recognition for them… is this the magazine world’s version of the wall st. firm Moody’s giving AAA ratings to friends of theirs? you wonder. life isn’t fair, not saying it should be. but really. c’mon.

By: Jeff James

Jeff James — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:48:55 +0000

Sebastião Salgado…are you serious?