Elevation Photos Blog

Why The Kindle Will Take Out Print Media

  Seeing the Rocky Mountain News print its last edition Friday wasn't an easy one to swallow.  You see I love reading actual newspapers and hate reading them online. I need to turn the pages, go back to articles and clip the ones I love. The guy with a million newspapers on his desk is me but that's all gonna change. Most technology is great while others just make you wish they weren't invented! Enter the Kindle ( part deux) and the era of the portable reader.

The demise of print media has already begun  for a few years now anyway but when you see a 150 year old newspaper shutter, the NY Times taking out equity on its brand new headquarters to stay afloat and home delivery being reduced for subscribers across this country, these are dark times for the newspaper industry and it's only going to get worse. 

Print media in general is sinking fast and with the advent of devices such as Amazon's Kindle the prospects for the way media is being delivered is about to change in a blink of an eye. It makes sense really for print to make this natural conversion to portable digital readers. Reading the news on small, tiny blackberry , IPhone screens is really annoying so it will be only a matter of a year or two that executives will be carrying around their phones and Kindle like devices to read their newspapers.

It's only a matter of time for venerable publications such as Time, Newswweek, The Economist, etc and dare I say it some entertainment weekly magazines to go this digital only route. Certainly dinosaurs like the Rolling Stone and Spin should make the transition now before they go away completely!  

The interesting effect will of course be digital rights for online usage. Do agencies charge more or less? If consumers are willing to pay a monthly online fee for content shouldn't the pricing for images remain somewhat consistent?  Of course AP and Getty have the subscription models in place but for unique images it should be interesting to see what happens. Yes, there are companies that offer free images for online usage but that's for bloggers, mom and pop websites and some entertainment media companies but for larger media organizations it's a fair question. Another issue with digital media will be what its effect would be on actual cover photographs and would it have the same impact?  Think about what the IPOD has done to album covers.  I mean there are some Time Magazine covers that are unforgettable that it would be a shame for iconic photos to not have the same impact on the reader. People sometimes just buy print media for their covers in and of itself! Boy, that would be a lost art now wouldn't it?

I can remember doing at least 4-5 assignments back in the day for the Rocky Mountain News. The pay was never great but I always loved doing newspaper assignments.  If memory serves me right, of the 4-5 assignments I did for them, 2 were for stories in Iraq. Always a challenge to get someone in place but it was just so rewarding to make it happen and the editors I worked with were really easy going folks ( just like everyone I know who comes from Denver!)  I found it to be really gratifying to have the editor send me the issue with the assignment.  It made it all tangible and worthwhile. It was a living, breating document that one day I will tell my son or daughter about this thing  we used to read called the newspaper....

Elevation Photos Oscar Weekly Mag Results Are In

 

(Time Life Collection From Google Time Life Image Search)

The results are in and we all couldn't be happier!  I'll keep it short and sweeet but know it's been a fun ride!

People Magazine = 1 image  (It's like making the cover of Sports Illustrated minus the good looks for any agency let alone for Elevation.  We made it to the big dance and man does it feel great!)

US Weekly= 1 image ( We never loved Zac and Vanessa so much!)

Star Magazine = 8 images ( Have you ever seen such a sweep for Oscar Fashion looks like we did in this issue!...This one's getting framed!)

Life & Style = 1 image ( Taraj P. Henson ...you just made a compelling enough reason for me to see Benjamin Button!)

OK! - 1 image ( Let's not forget our Spirit Awards Coverage...Claire and Hugh thanks for getting engaged!)

All in all, we are pumped up and I couldn't be prouder for all those that were involved that night. You know who you are and thanks again. 

Now we move forward, keep marching on and live to fight another day because it doesn't stop with the Oscars. Instead, it charges us up, keeps us motivated and helps us remain laser focused on being competitve, staying true to our mission objective and growing market share.  The Oscars allowed us to get even that much more battle tested and at the same time the realization of the challenges on the road ahead remain the same. While I am so proud of what Elevation Photos has done, there is so much more we can and will do to pave our way to success.

I'll end this entry with the words of Gold Medal winner Jesse Owens, " If you're not going to play to win, you might as well hold the Olympics in someone's backyard."

Oscar Tsunami For Elevation Photos And Hypomania

I'm sorry I have to brag. It's not in my nature to do so but for this I really have to. All this talk about quality trumping quantity has proven true on the Oscar coverage Elevation Photos was part of.  How we did it isn't rocket science but what I love about this is what we and others like us were up against.  Teams of editors, loads of photographers all swapping credentials as if they were baseball cards and images being uploaded like a Nascar race at 1000 mph. Don't get me wrong, it's an incredible well oiled machine fine tuned to a tea.  But, I digress nor am I impressed because at the heart of all this is an ingredient so critical to success and that's soul.   You think these folks are happy? From what I hear and what I've seen it really doesn't look like it.  But, let me get back to me bragging about Elevation Photos cause I love to do it once every few months...

 

The photo business should take note since PDN never will. It's the story about a small start -up photo agency launched in the toughest business, tightest of margins and in early 2008 when everyone said we were insane in the brain launched admist not much fanfare slowly gained market share in the entertainment space.  Now, take that and fast forward to today and the links below and I'd say that's a story to be told.  There is a silver lining in all this sea of terrible news and the image oscar tsunami that we generated ( 930 images including spirit awards to be exact) landed on some sweet looking shores... umbrella in the drinks and all.

 

In yesterday's WSJ, there was a section , " So you want to be an Entrepeneur." In the article, they mention John Gartner who is a professor of clinical psychology at John Hopkins University. In his book entitled , " The Hypomaniac Edge," Gartner theorizes and I am paraphrasing here from the article that many well-known entrepreneurs have a tempermant called hypomania. According to Garner,  hypomaniacs, " are highly creative, energetic, impatient and very persistent people which enable them to help persevere even when others lose faith." Further, it suggests that being risk-blind isn't such a bad thing and failure is not an option.  OK, I am not that nutty but it was comforting to read and helped me describe what I think about what we've done here.

 

Let's wait on the weeklies and hopefully it will be more of the same but in the meantime, I'll keep the champagne on ice and focus on the next big thing for now.....BREAKFAST!!

 

Without further ado....the links that made me surfing the web enjoyable yesterday....

 

Spirit Awards Gallery -  Star Magazine ( Alec Baldwin, Jessica Alba, Anne Hathaway) ..People.Com hit as well of Claire Danes

 

 Oscar Arrivals Gallery – Star Magazine ( only one close was AP)

 

Oscar Detail Gallery – People.Com  ( Detail shots of Angelina’s Ring, Hathaway’s Hair Clip, Portman, etc)

 

 Oscar Gallery Part Two – NY Post ( landed 6 out of 43)  

 

Elevation Oscar Coverage High Octane lands People.Com and NY POST

I am about to go to sleep after a long, tough evening but they always say hard work pays off and tonight , on the biggest night of entertainment , the Elevation Photos crew kicked some serios butt and hung with the players and in only our sophmore year, we are on the up and up.

I can't stay awake muh longer so I will leave you with the links and my favourite pictures from the evening.  A big shout out to both Adam Orchon and Chad Buchanan ( fresh back from a world wind tour) for hangin' tough and doing a great job! Thanks guys...to the mighty Q for support as always and to my wife for trekking through the Sunset Strip pass all the Vanity Fair party gawkers!  Yes, that was John Voight hanging out with us regular folk...

Elevation Photos Hits People.Com

 

NY Post Flooded With Elevation Photos OSCAR ARRIVAL Pics  ( Start with this image and keep clicking you will see our photo credit in the gutter )

 

AND NOW TO MY FAVE PICS>...then it's off to bed...(Oscar images by Adam Orchon/Elevation Photos  Vanity Fair Party pics Chad Buchanan/Elevation Photos)

 

 

 

 

Elevation Photos Preps For Oscar Weekend

Elevation Photos will be on hand again this year at the Academy Awards to cover the most watched entertainment event in the world. We made a splash last year ( after only being in business for 2 months!) by placing our arrival images in OK!, In Touch, People Magazine, The Guardian in the UK just to name a few. So, we are looking forward to following up and having a go at the establishment yet again. And I have no doubt that we will succeed. You can throw a million dollars at a problem ( or event in this case) but if you don't have people who care, aren't good sales people and just pump the establishment with more of the same it won't be worth a dime at the end of the day. You have to work at it and that's why I know Elevation Photos has already won half the battle. It's quality my friends NOT quantity that people will lead you to believe. Trust me on that one!

This week is a perfect mix of assignments, editorial coverage, awards shows ( Independent Spirit and The Oscars) and the like that makes us proud that we launched this agency and have stayed true to its mission. To top it off, Elevation Photos will be one of a handful of selected photo agencies around the world to have the opportunity to photograph the always star studded Vanity Fair Party being held this year at the Sunset Tower Hotel. It's an honor and a privlige to be invited to such a special post Oscar event. You've heard the story about the mouse that roared right?

Anyway, everyone is psyched and we're ready to take it on….

The Economics Of Fashion

 

(Tracy Reese Fall 2009 Collection by Nannette Leigh/Elevation Photos)

I am in NYC now for Fashion Week and something feels different. I can't put my finger on it but the mood of the country coupled with the current economic atmosphere makes it feel somewhat uneasy in a way.  I never thought I would see McDonalds in Bryant Park anywhere but thus the sign of the times I suppose.  Which brings me to the point of this blog post.  How does the economics of fashion hold water in today's world with respect to the amount of resources, etc needed to produce this humongous industry all in one week.

Well, for one the economies of scale have definitely impacted the cache of the types of sponsors this week for sure.  Not to take away from any of them but the fashion industry is created on half illusion half image of what these models wear each day of this week.  It's interesting and a bit amusing at the same time. Again, hard to explain unless you have been doing this as long as I have.

Some notable desingers have scaled back like Betsey Johnson, Peter Som, Vera Wang all choosing to hold more intimate affairs at their studios around the city.  Most because of the financial commitment to put on a full scale show but also partly because of the tone some of these designers are setting.  Marc Jacobs celeb factor was a bit muted last night and for a reason I don't have a doubt about that.

It will be interesting to see who comes, who goes, who stays and who leaves in September. ( the last time the shows will be in Bryant Park before moving up to Lincoln Centre) but what I do know is that the world of Fashion will need to change as do the stores that sell there clothes. It's an effect that will trickle down to photo agencies, stylists and the cottage industry surrounding this once lucrative market. 

OK and InTouch Weekly Grammy Coverage!

  (Kim Kardashian By Mark Savage/Elevation Photos)

There's nothing like getting in to NYC on a balmy afternoon, walking in to Hudson News on 8th avenue and seeing the new issues of OK and In Touch using Elevation Photos as part of their Grammy Coverage.  Seeing that gets me pumped up 1000% 

So nice job to all those part of it and as that chapter closes all sights for now are on NY Fashion Week and the reason I am here. 

We have a good line up for coverage and as you know any excuse to come back home is ok in my book so on top of that it'll be our 3rd season shooting fashion week here in the Big Apple.  Always a lot of work but good fun and a chance to catch up with old friends ( when I get a chance!)

While this is happening the Berlin Film Fest is just about wrapping up and as I have been saying, it's turning into a pre winter/pre oscar /pre cannes festival that turns out some pretty decent stars.

Well, I have to run to an appointment right now but i think I'll be twittering more than ever this week so follow me on twitter ( you can go to the top right and click on the follow me link) and I'll get you inside access on all the goings on here at NY Fashion Week!....Ciao

(Renee Zellweger by Chad Buchanan/Elevation Photos)

Morning After The Grammy's

It was a late night last night so I'll keep this entry short and let the images do the talking.  Thanks to the crew last night for doing a great job!...hmmm now we just didn't do the Grammy's now did we

 

(Coldplay by Adam Orchon/Elevation Photos)

 

(Sheryl Crow by Adam Orchon/Elevation Photos)

 

(Katy Perry By Adam Orchon/Elevation Photos)

Elevation Photos At Berlin Film Festival

  ( Tilda Swinton attends Press Call at 59th Berlin Film Festival  Chad Buchanan/Elevation Photos)

Elevation Photos begins it full Berlin Film Festival coverage this year and we are excited about it. This is a growing festival and the celebrity turnout has been getting better the last few years.  I look forward to seeing what comes out of it this year and I thank Chad for making the trek.

Starting today and right up until the Oscars, it's a full plate from the Grammy's this weekend, NY Fashion Week, the Berlin Film Fest and everything else between here and there. I can't tell you how many emails I get about why Elevation didn't cover this , or didn't cover that. But I don't care we cover what we think has the most poignant impact, is sellable and makes sense. I tell photographers all the time, in this economy rolling the dice on so-so events can often present a diminishing return on your time and effort. Sort of like once you drive a brand new car out of the lot it's lost 10% of its book value. Things are tight so I say be smart about how you spend your time, hone your skills and discover new outlets and don't ever put your eggs in one basket.

I won't lie, the economy is going to rain down hard on all of us in this industry. Better to be realistic than live in a fantasy land so in many ways its forced all of us to work harder, make better decisions and really focus on being excellent at what you do.  Personally, I find this the most challenging atmosphere to do business but then I remember being a volunteer in Namibia back in '95 and having no electricity, water or company for 4 days..I think I can handle and survive this! In any case, stay strong, have faith and you will survive. We've all worked too hard so that's why we have to work harder!