Once upon a time photographers were photographers…now they’re storytellers. Even filmmakers. There’s no question that there has been an explosion of interest in film, photography and video in recent years. Of course, over the last couple of decades there has been various waves of people armed with the latest 35MM & videos cameras to document their child’s most basic childhood experience. The 8mm look is so iconic than it still pops up in movies in Tv shows even though most people no longer shoot 8mm film.
The difference today from the trends of the past is the equipment between amateur and professional is marginal. Jan Jannard, the founder of the RED camera, has said that soccer moms will be shooting with the Scarlet camera—and that will probably be true whenever that camera finally hits the streets. Meaning that a sub-$3,000. camera may out shoot quality-wise a camera that eight years ago cost $100,000.
A couple of weeks ago I met a doctor’s wife who purchased the Canon 7D and like wildfire became obsessed with photography and Photoshop. That’s a great start because you can’t teach passion. Many pros are shooting with the 7D—and I know three college students who own the 7D. Has there ever been a time in film/video/photography when the tools some professionals are using are the same tools that people starting out are using? I know an architect who took up photography a couple of years ago and quit her architect job and is now a fulltime photographer. Graphic designer Jeremy Cowart got serious with photography just six years ago and is now a much in demand entertainment photographer in Nashville and Los Angeles.
Workshops, blogs, DVDs, and free tutorials on You Tube have helped fuel the learning revolution that’s happening. For creative people in grade schools or retirement homes—or anything inbetween—it’s an exciting time.
I once assisted L.A. fashion photographer Art Pasquali back in the ’80s when there weren’t that many working professional photographers in Los Angeles. I imagine today there are a lot more professional photographers in L.A. than there are Elvis imitators. I don’t know how many are working, but there is a solid base of people doing outstanding work. And even those who aren’t working and don’t even consider themselves professionals are turning out impressive photos and videos.
Many professional photographers and cameraman point out the old expression that “it’s the violinist, not the violin,” that makes the music and they are right—on one level. But just as Photoshop came on the scene 20 years ago there suddenly where a lot more people calling themselves graphic artists. Sure the talent and skill level was all over the place, but overall it opened up the creative field like never before.
I think the same thing is happening in photography and filmmaking. (Don’t forget that everyone starts out a beginner.) I imagine in 10 years we’ll look back on 2011 and won’t even recognize the place. Sure Hollywood films will still be made—time will tell if there are theaters still around to watch them. I think the biggest change will be from people of all ages in all places creating stories. Photos, short films, essay films, feature films—the whole creative world is being turned upside down.
Check out this video by Atlanta-based photographer Zack Arias. I believe it’s the first video he ever made and he shot it on a Flipcam a couple of years ago. Great stuff.
If you’re reading this on April 29, 2011 then you can catch Zack teaching online for the next three days—free at creativeLIVE. (Here’s their plug: Want to be a good photographer? Want to do it for a living? Want to rise above the bottom?)
[...] Once upon a time photographers were photographers…now they are storytellers. Even filmmakers. There’s no question that there has been an explosion of interest in film, photography and video in recent years. Of course, over the last couple of decades there has been various waves of people armed with the latest 35MM & videos cameras to [...] Original Source… [...]