Male Domination in Photography

This has been a subject that I have been watching in Flickr recently and it's interesting to read the different points of view from both male and female photographers.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/ocarts/discuss/72157624647324931/

I was a commercial photographer at Heathrow Airport in the late 1980s/90s when there weren't too many photographers around and the work was spread around quite nicely, thank you. I worked for several airlines around the airport doing mainly 'grip and grins' and feature pictures for their publications. There were three airport photographers (not press photographers as you see in TV programmes such as Airport) and the ratio of male to female was one male to two females (me included). Each of us specialised in a different area and if you wanted a particular type of picture you went to one person.


Later on more photographers came on the scene but these were mainly men who specialised in aircraft photographs rather than people which meant that my area of expertise remained fairly available. There was no fighting, no commercial rivalry and when we met up, as we did occasionally, we chatted as friends. If we needed help or couldn't meet an obligation, a quick phone call to one of the others made sure the job was covered.

I really don't think it matters what sex a true photographer is, what matters is their work and their competence. If you have any skills in your area of expertise being male or female shouldn't come into the equation. A woman driving HGV lorries is accepted for what she does, not that she is, I think it is the same in photography, show you can do the job and you are accepted in the industry.

Street Photography Now - Sophie Howarth, Stephen McLaren

This is a beautifully produced book showing some of the world's best street photography. It also explains what motivates and fascinates these 46 men and women contributors.

You close the book and still feel intrigued to understand more about the situations you've seen. Some are very amusing and uplifting, others leave you questioning and thoughtful. The pictures show you that wherever people are in the world they are consistently unaware of themselves and their actions. I thought the interviews were very good and editorially perceptive. So much better than the usual assembly of unrelated submissions. They give a real insight into the photographers and were suitably down to earth as is appropriate for street photography.

This is the most comprehensive book I've read on the subject to-date and it cleverly captures what makes street photographers tick.

Lyme Bay Photo Club Summer Exhibition 2011

Results are in for the favourite images with over 100 prints to vote for.  I was awarded a very pleasing 3rd place (of course, first would have been much better) with a Panograph image of the Lyme Regis Harbour Master who'se main task in life is to watch life going past.

The winner was a print entitled 'Towards Stonebarrow' by club member Jenny Wallis:

And 2nd place was awarded to a print entitled 'Charmouth Rainbow' by club member Ian Bolton.

Self motivation

I am now on my third level 1 module and have found it very difficult in the past to keep motivated, especially when I was working full time.  The worst time was when I was working through the Art of Photography which seemed to go on for ever.  The relief when it was completed was immense and I sent it on its way thankfully.

It seems that I was not alone with keeping myself motivated as I have picked up a thread in the OCS student forum site from someone who is going through the same problem and is asking for help.  There have been 13 support posts in 3 days with other students either expressing the same feelings or offering advice on how to get remotivated.  I wish the forum had been around when I was struggling through TAOP, it would have helped immeasurably.

Here's the web forum address of the thread on self motivation:

http://oca-student.com/node/65658#comment-34755

Lyme Bay Photographic Club summer exhibition

I haven't blogged recently as I have been working with a group of club members to put on our summer exhibition.  I never realised how much time it took to get it all together. The last club secretary did it all himself and complained what little help he got from the members.

We have five members working together with me, as programme secretary, directing and cajoling people along.  One of the hardest things to achieve in Lyme Regis is publicity in the local newspapers of which there are two main ones.  There are always so many things going on that space is limited and you have to do something special to get noticed.  But, the news is getting out, members who have email have sent messages round to their other interest groups and we have posted notices in the town and other local towns to let people know.

The town is holding a Carnival and Regatta Week (which is why we chose this particular time when there are many more visitors around) and we hope to benefit from their publicity as well. 
Everything seems sorted (bound to be some last minute hiccups) but there is time yet to unravel any problems.  Let the showing begin!