ASSOCIATION NEWS
NOVEMBER 2011 | by Aaron K, Executive Director
With Christmas fast approaching, November tends to be one of the busiest times of the year for commercial photographers. I suspect this will definitely be the case this year as businesses snap out of their Rugby World Cup lull and realise that they need to take immediate action in order to meet the end of year marketing and publishing deadlines.
I speak to many professional photographers throughout the year and based on what I've heard so far it seems like 2011 has been a real mixed bag - with the overall impression being rather negative. However, some photographers have managed to prosper despite the difficult economic climate. These ‘lucky few' tend to be the ones who have continued to promote their businesses regularly while also actively looking to exploit new opportunities. In other words, they're taking calculated risks and reaping the rewards as a result. Meanwhile the vast majority are still playing it safe - waiting and hoping for the economy to turn around. In the process most will simply sit and watch their businesses decline, slowly but surely. It is at times like these the Latin proverb "Fortune favours the bold" springs to mind.
Speaking of the bold, November is also when most of the tertiary photography courses finish and unleash a veritable horde of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed young photographers into the industry. I always try to attend as many of the end-of-year photography shows as I can - primarily to see where the future of contemporary photography might be heading stylistically. Without fail I will discover a number of exceptional photo essays that are crying out for publication. It is for this reason that the AIPA initially set up the Image Nation Online Photography Showcase (imagenation.co.nz) - i.e. to provide an outlet for concept driven photographic work that often slips under the radar and fails to receive the attention or recognition it deserves.
Any New Zealand photographer can submit a photo essay for publication on the Image Nation website (you don't have to be an AIPA member or a student). All submissions are judged anonymously by a panel of five highly qualified photo industry practitioners. If the judges deem a photo essay to be worthy of publication then it goes up on the site. The photographer then receives $200 cash ($400 if they're an AIPA member), a 16GB Sandisk Extreme CF card, and a Frio cold shoe. But wait there's more! They will also be in running to win a major annual prize which includes a Sony NEX camera, a Sony VAIO laptop, a Bowens Gemini lighting kit, and an Orbis ring flash (altogether worth well over $5000). The winner of this incredible prize will be announced at the Image Nation Photography Conference in June next year.
So here's an idea: Over summer why not come up with a couple of interesting and original shoot concepts and then set aside some time to go out and make them happen. Even if your photo series isn't accepted by the Image Nation judges you can always use those new images to promote your business in the coming year. Don't just sit around and watch your business stagnate. Be bold in 2012!
Photo above © Ian McRae
COLUMNS SUBMENU
ASSOCIATION NEWS ARCHIVE
PREMIER SPONSOR
|
|
