Some may say that photography is a dying industry. Due to the advancements within the technological industry this might just become reality. For over one hundred years photography has been the most popular way of documenting history. Immortalising illustrious events and preserving moments in time. However, it is becoming more evident that photography itself no longer holds such a powerful meaning.

Like many other industries, photography has fallen victim to progress. Rather than hiring commercial photographers, businesses are reaching out to amateurs and allowing them to submit photographs that they may have taken using their phones camera.

At the beginning of the year Lensrental carried out a survey with over a thousand professional photographers and filmmakers and found that 74.6% had lost all or almost all of their upcoming jobs in the month of April due to COVID- 19. As well as 18.6% stating that they would be leaving the industry due to the loss of income caused by the pandemic. A lot of photographers have had to lower their service charges just so that they can stay ahead of the competition during these hard times. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has led to over 170,000 job loses across the UK according to The Telegraph. It has affected so many businesses and led them down the path to closure. What we are currently facing is an economic challenge.

There have been four major industrial revolutions that changed the world: Mechanisation, Mass Production, Automated Production and New Technologies. Photography started emerging during the mass production revolution in the 1870s. It was used primarily as a way to record process, machinery and final products. It would later move into corporate and commercial photography such as advertising company products like it is predominately used in todays world. Now, during the fourth industrial revolution of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, photography has once again changed. The question is, has it changed for the better?

Nowadays, photography isn’t just about DSL cameras, there are drones, tablets, GoPros, and many other devices used in the world of photography. However, the newer cameras do allow photographers to use this technology to better enhance their quantity of photographs rather than focusing on the quality like they used to with the older models, which I personally would see as an upside. Although, these advancements are making it easier for amateurs to take professional level photographs. And businesses are using this strategy as a way to reduce the costs of having to hire professional photographers. Phone cameras will inevitably become more and more popular in the industry creating thousands of job losses across the globe. The Bureau of Labor Statistics discusses how businesses hiring freelance photographers rather than hiring their own photographer nowadays will result in a reality where it will become very difficult for photographers to find steady jobs. ‘The employment of photographers is expected to decline by -6% between 2016 and 2026.’ – The Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Social media plays a huge role in todays society. Almost everyone has a form of social media. And now with the newspaper industry dying and moving towards online publishing , it could mean the end of a very long tradition which could anger a lot of the older generation and lead to a drop in sales for hundreds of companies such as The New York Times, Vogue and many others who rely on customers buying their papers/magazines. Thankfully, there is still a niche market who prefer a personal touch that experts can create with their own unique styles that less qualified individuals with their phones simply cannot.

On a positive note, the growth and popularity of social media has been very successful in attracting customers and gaining customer feedback for businesses. It has expanded the depth of market research that can be carried out, which also has reduced marketing costs. It is now easier to create networks and collaborations with others across the world.  One of the best benefits of social media for a photographer like myself, is the promotion of your work for millions to see. This is one of the key elements I must have in order to get myself recognised for future placements and jobs by putting myself out there. One of the best ways to improve this skill is simply through experience which I have thankfully had the opportunity of doing through my university course and other placements while at school. Without the skills, knowledge and understanding of how social media works and its impact on the future of work some may struggle to keep up with the ever changing workplace environments.

My current goal is to create my own unique style and to put myself out there. In order to do this I need to build up my social media presence and start creating profiles such as VSCO which should inevitably start promoting my work. I had previous experience with social media while on work experience at an interior designer back in lower sixth. I hope to build upon this while on placement this year, so that when it comes time for me to enter into the world of work I will have perfected my social media skills. 

I have been applying for placements this year at places such as art galleries and businesses who are looking for marketing/PR interns. Ultimately in the future I would like to end up working as a photographer for an advertising agency. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) stated that ‘the median annual salary earned by photographers, in general, was $34,000 in May 2018’, which works out at around £26,000. According to Michael Ray Photography, these are the main skills needed by commercial photographers to succeed:

• Mastery of Photography Equipment
• A Good Sense of Composition
• The Ability to See and Understand Light
• Imagination / Creativity
• Marketing
• The Ability to Get Along With People
• Self-Motivation
• Dependability

Personally I think most of these skills would apply to an advertising photographer as well. However, I do feel as though there are more important skills you need as these would typically be expected from any photographer.

The competition for advertising agencies nowadays is very intense. One of the key skills required for that role is confidence. Over the past couple of years, I have felt my confidence grow as I moved through university; giving presentations (both during class and online through the first lockdown), working in groups, being the main speaker and multiple other elements within my life including job interviews. I would have to say that my confidence was truly boosted when I signed up to work for Farm Weekly. Which for the past three years I have continued to do, reaching out to passers-by and trying to convince them they should purchase a paper at the annual Balmoral shows. I do however know that I must have the highest level of confidence in all aspects relating to this role.

35% of core skills will change between 2015-2020. The top 10 skills over the past 5 years have changed slightly to focus more on peoples creativity and how they work with others including: emotional intelligence, coordinating with others and people management. I believe that the world is changing in a way that is bringing people together and jobs now are associated more with creative and people orientated skills.

A skill which is often forgotten about and which I have little experience with is money management. Typically, as part of an advertising company you would be given a budget for the year or per project. I hope by gaining this skill in a placement I can learn to effectively maximise my available resources and keep future marketing costs low.

I like to think of myself as a persuasive person. Advertising is all about persuading people to buy something from you. From years of working in customer service based roles, I have found that the best way to sell something is to convince the consumer that they need the product and that it would change their life. What I think will be the hardest part of this process is trying to portray this need within photography. A lot of work will have to go into my future projects, especially when it comes to the research side in order to get the most out of my time and effort and to try and connect to as many people as possible . There is always room for improvement and in this case this could be through experience with problem solving and even things such as debates/disagreements.

A great way of building networks is through a professional association (body). I have recently been researching into this way of kickstarting my career. It can help enhance your CV as well as gaining knowledge, experience and skills required for your chosen career. If I continue down the path I have set out for myself I could end up completing these training courses after I graduate rather than complete a masters degree. In order to accomplish my goals I must meet a set of guidelines that I must set for myself.

Due to shifting labour demographics we must all change to become more flexible, agile and be prepared to deal with any future changes, especially while on placement. One of the most important changes is the ageing population across the world which is resulting in organisations who want younger recruits even though the retirement age is set to reach ’67 gradually between 2026 and 2028; a further rise to 68 is due to be phased in between 2044 and 2046′, according to The Guardian Newspaper in October 2020. This makes it harder for older people to remain in jobs or to even get a new one as most companies simply do not want older recruits due to the stereotype that they aren’t up to date with the latest technologies. Below is a link I used to check the current age I will begin to receive a pension and can retire:

https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-age

In order to keep on top of things in a business they typically use a continuous professional development plan (CPD). For an individual it can be a way of recording and reflecting on your development as you move through your career path. Below I have included a screenshot of a small portion of my personal CPD where I discuss what I am aiming to achieve in the near future and how I would go about doing that.

There are always going to be economic challenges that people and their businesses are going to face. As I stated in the beginning there are low barriers to enter into this sector which is allowing amateurs to enter into the field. Suzy Tiernan wrote in her book stating that ‘In the UK there is an even playing field, absent of dominating competitors and mainly made up of sole traders and small businesses.’ This is a good opportunity for me to try and get into the industry before it becomes overpopulated by large corporations. On the other hand, an opportunity for the sector is in fact related to technology. Rental studios are now fully set up with equipment that is required for photo shoots, making it easier for photographers to arrive at the studio with the models and not have to spend a huge amount of time setting up their own equipment.

The commercial demand may affect the economic growth of the industry vastly in the future. This is due to wealthy individuals or businesses who are likely to hold events that require luxury photography services which in the long run will not end well, simply because of the dependency it has on these types of consumers.

From here I plan on moving forward with my career development and hope to have a placement within the next month. Due to Covid it has been slightly difficult to find a placement with some businesses even closing their placement opportunities for the foreseeable. After this I would like to finish my final year at Ulster and consider moving towards a professional body after graduation or finding a role within an advertising agency.

Further References

References

Church, M., 2020. Advanced Technology In The Workplace: A Look Into The Future. [online] Training Industry. Available at: <https://trainingindustry.com/blog/remote-learning/advanced-technology-in-the-workplace-a-look-into-the-future/&gt; [Accessed 30 October 2020].

Clok.uclan.ac.uk. 2020. [online] Available at: <http://clok.uclan.ac.uk/23003/4/Grafters%20press%20release.docx&gt; [Accessed 30 October 2020].

Contrastly. 2020. Is Photography A Dying Profession? | Contrastly. [online] Available at: <https://contrastly.com/is-professional-photography-dying/&gt; [Accessed 30 October 2020].

Experts, A., Bilici, A., Bilici, A. and Experts, A., 2020. Building A Sustainable Art Career – Agora Gallery – Advice Blog. [online] Agora Gallery – Advice Blog. Available at: <https://www.agora-gallery.com/advice/blog/2016/07/21/build-an-art-career/&gt; [Accessed 30 October 2020].

Life In Focus. 2020. Tech Today Archives – Life In Focus. [online] Available at: <https://focus.mylio.com/category/tech-today&gt; [Accessed 30 October 2020].

Martin must have been able to gain the trust of these animals to manage to get up so close and personal to them without them shying away.This photo was captured at a perfect moment to show off this animals hunting tools. The way the orange colour of the fox stands out from the icy white snow and the pale blue sky is what makes the photograph so captivating as well as the expression on the animals face. 

Martin has skilfully used up the majority of the frame to make sure that the fox was the main focus of the photo. This angle creates a larger than life scale which alongside the expression captured  gives a certain unease as to what the animal plans on doing next. If I were there at this moment in time I would consider the animal to be showing quite a vicious look. Although from the details in the fur the animal is also portrayed as being soft similar to a canine. 

Findlay’s headlamp illuminates the eyes of a young Spectacled Caiman which portrays the vibrant colours reflected. It was photographed along the banks of the Madres des Dios river in the Peruvian Amazon. Usually when taking a photo any kind of reflection that bounces off an object from a flash or harsh light ruins the image. However, this lighting has made the photo.  

I love that there is only a small part of the croc visible, while the remainder of the animal is left as a mystery below the waters. This photo shows the dangers of wildlife and how cunning they can be at sneaking up on their prey. The main focus in this photo is the eye of the crocodile. It has been carefully placed in the centre of the frame so that you are immediately drawn to it. The bright pastel shades within the eye make it look as though there were a small universe inside of it or as though it had been photoshopped. 

“My goal as a photographer is to share my images and experiences to inspire more interest and compassion for the natural world. Hopefully after browsing my galleries, you’re inspired to get outdoors to find your own adventures, explore nature, seek out the creatures we share the planet with, and most of all, advocate for their protection.” Like many of the other photographers I have researched Findlay uses his photos to share awareness of their habitats being destroyed, but he also uses them to help encourage people to go out and explore our world.

Similar to the work of Christopher Dodds he has created this pattern of the background and main subject having the same colours. However, in this instance it is because the background contains a flock of the same type of bird which is why the colours blend together. The foreground however creates a bit more contrast for the photo as it is a darker shade of grey/blue with what I presume is water allowing for a slight mirrored image to be seen. The softness of the birds feathers works well alongside that of the smooth ground. I believe the photo would look better if it had a different background that would contrast better even if it were created on photoshop and replaced that of the current one as it takes away from the subject. I struggled to find any information relating to the context of this photograph. However, I again must presume that the bird is trying to find its next meal in the shallow waters it resides in. The fact that the bird has been placed in front of this large gathering of its species is a way of showing a community in which most animals will thrive in. 

Moose states that his work is in service to one purpose: to  preserve and protect endangered wildlife, particularly in his home state of California. So Moose sends all these things, not so much to promote his photography, but to let you know that his photography exists to support the cause.

 “I try to capture an unobtrusive, close and intimate view into my subject’s lives; at their level and without disturbance. I spend an enormous amount of time learning every detail about my subjects, their behaviour and their lives.” The colours in this photo are too similar for my liking. The fact that the background is the same colour as the majority of the bird is too distracting and takes away from the main subject, being the owl. 

The only thing that really stands out in this photo is are the yellow eyes, which even then are too small for any real attraction to be brought to the photo. The composition of the photo is good because the bird is in flight which can allow for it to be placed into the centre of the frame. The front facing angle makes the bird appear as though it were coming towards you with menacing eyes staring right at you. In other photographs he has taken of owls he uses this similar technique of having the background colours mirror those of the subject. Looking more closely at the photo you can see finer amounts of detail which instinctively you may overlook at first glance. 

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

This is one of my favourite photos taken by Cornforth. It shows a false clown fish swimming amongst some sea anemones which is in fact a living organism, which I originally assumed was a type of plant or part of a coral reef. The fish has been placed at the centre top of the frame. The colours from both the fish and the anemone are simply stunning. The bright orange colours of the fish contrast magnificently against the paler shades of yellow,white, blue and purple. Immediately you are drawn towards the fish as the orange is the strongest colour within the photo. 

Im not sure how the lighting was created in this photo but it is perfect to show off each tentacle. The scale makes the fish appear larger than what it would be in real life, I think this is because the fish is similar in size to the tentacles. Its hard to determine a foreground and background for the photo, because everything is in a 2D state. However, you can say that the fish is more in the foreground of the image.

Since 2001, Jon has explored exotic locations to photograph the unique creatures who live there. All of his images are captured in the wild. 

The image is of bird which has just landed in the water, creating waves in the water which appear as though they might engulf the bird. The main focus of the photo is clearly the bird however you can’t help but notice the water surrounding the bird as there are parts which are still in focus, and most noticeably the unique shape which has been formed from the impact. He says “In the image below I photographed a Silver grebe bouncing up and down in the waves, which is challenging for most AF-systems. With the Nikon D5 camera it was not too difficult to get the bird sharp where I wanted.”

Immediately you are drawn to the brightly coloured eye of the bird. This red colour signifies danger which gives the bird a more menacing appearance. There isn’t a lot of detail to be seen in the bird apart from the top of the head which has wet spiked feathers. Again there isn’t much contrast between the bird and the water apart from the white on the birds chest and the red of the eye. The rest of the image appears to blend in together from a distance. Overall I was initially captivated by the photo itself but from the bright red eye alone. 

Links: http://oleliodden.com/photo-gear/field-reviews/beta-test-report-nikon-d5/

The main focus in this image is the wolf, which has been carefully placed in the centre of the frame. The expression on the animals face appears to be that of utter concentration and fear which could be from the presence of the photographer. The photo was taken on May 28, 2017. I like how the background has a range of green tones, which follow a similar pattern to that of the wolfs fur as its just as patchy and has a range of one colour. The photo was taken using a Canon EOS 5D Mark III. 

“As I grew more and more comfortable with my camera, I began to seek out more and more natural areas. I grew more fond of the mountains. National parks became targets for any road trip.”

There isn’t much contrast between the subject and the background however as I stated above the green tones of the background allow for the darker shades of the wolf to stand out. The angle of the photograph makes the wolf appear as it would in real life scale wise.

“I hope my images from this trip give these Critically Endangered animals a voice and highlight what is happening to them.” Again similar to the other photographers he is set on making sure people are aware of these kind of endangered species through his work. 

What drew me in was how close up he was able to get while maintaining this amount of detail. The photo almost appears surreal. It is as though the photo was taken at the very tip of the animals nose. I like that the eye colour is the same as that of the hair, which leaves the photo with two dominant colours black and orange. Its almost as if you can touch the picture and would be able to feel the wrinkles on the skin as well as the spiky hairs which run along the nose.