CameraMentor

A couple days ago, the New York Times published an interesting article that restates a common argument on the various photography-related discussion forums; namely that amateur photographers are doing harm to professional photographers by giving away or underpricing the photographs they take.

For Photographers, the Image of a Shrinking Path

They quickly followed up with a blog entry:

Pros and Amateurs Debate: Is Photography in Trouble?

Now the questions raised by the New York Times are beginning to reverberate across the blogosphere:

Amateurs Are Killing Photography Just Like They Killed Everything Else That Is Good

Photography Profession Hurting

Are amateurs giving pros a run for their money?

The deluge of the amateur photographer, redux.

There a lot more out there, these are just a few – all published in response to the New York Times article.

Of course, the argument isn’t new, but it’s been reignited by the Times. The question is valid, but frankly, I don’t understand the problem.

Yes, it is undoubtedly true that with the advent of digital photography in general, and high-quality low-cost digital cameras in particular, there are a flood of photographs of generally-acceptable quality now easily found on place like Flickr and Smugmug and so on. And some organizations that seek photographs for commercial use approach these photographers and buy the rights to use their photographs for cheap or even get them for free. Does this hurt existing professional photographers? Sure it does! No question.

However, what to do about it?

Do we make it illegal for amateur photographers to sell or give away their photographs? Do we make it illegal for buyers to buy from non-professionals? How exactly is one to close this particular spigot?

It seems to me that in a free market, sometimes transformational technology comes along that changes everything. And it can harm or even obsolete existing professions. Like elevator operators, for instance. See many of them about these days?

Is it great? No, not for the professional photographers whose livelihoods are now endangered. But I don’t think it can be changed. When I take a photograph and put it on Flickr and someone approaches me about using it, I feel no urge to say no in order to preserve some professional photographer’s income stream. I have no obligation to them, just as they have none to me.

Is professional photography dead? In real terms, I don’t think so. There will continue to be a need for very specialized and high-quality commercial photography that a typical amateur can’t take, and a typical digital camera can’t capture. But I do think the industry is due for a shake-out, and a lot of jobs will be lost. Too bad, so sad. Learn something new.