Ok, here is a bit of speculation based on a faint hunch backed by paper-thin evidence. But I want to hear your ideas – to rubbish the notion or say, “maybe there’s a spark of truth in this.”
Is it possible, perhaps, that the peak of interest in participative nature photography is past? That the surge of interest we have seen in the last 15 years or so is beginning to decline. That fewer people want to do the hard work – as Andy details below – and are happy just to view photography (or use ready made photo opportunities) instead? Evidence? What about the dramatic fall in workshop and tour bookings and the reduced quality of nature coverage in many of the photo mags. (as I said, paper-thin and perhaps simply economically related.) But let’s face it; the whole process is so expensive and complicated nowadays that maybe people just don’t want to get into it any more.
But I hope I’m wrong. Your thoughts please!
I think you have answered your question in one: “simply economically related”. Having said that, the world is currently wallowing in an instant gratification age where twitter, iphones and facebook are the mediums of not only communication but also entertainment and ultimately lifestyle. The slow, measured pace of approaching natural world s probably just “too dull” for a whole generation of young(ish) people. The question that arises from that is how to engage new generations. I am not advocating mixing extreme sports with wildlife photography tours, although I would like to see someone photographing eagles whilst snowboarding. I think that we should be looking at how to engage people with wildlife, reconnecting them to the experience that can only come with being there and being close to wild creatures and landscape. Technology all too often gets in the way of the actual experience. For example, my children gain great delight from the simple act of holding a ladybird on the end of their finger for a few moments. This could easily be photographed well using a simple compact camera. But how do you learn to capture that moment well? For me years of practice. The public want to be able to capture that picture instantly. They see so many great pictures every day, they are bombarded by the media that constantly tells them to send in their pictures; telling them that they are already as good as the professionals (even though no payment will be made). With this barrier to cross we have to develop teaching that both stimulates and yet tames expectation and that allows the pupil the understanding and pleasure gained from the learning process itself.
I don’t have the answers, I do think that this is a good subject for debate.
Hi Niall,
I have been thinking about these very matters whilst making final changes to an updated version of my website with its tours content (posting shortly).
Whereas I am sure that fewer people want to do the hard work that becomes harder as time passes and different images must be sought, I feel the strongest element in the decline of interest amongst the potential ‘client pool’ is economic. There are the stark realities of life for so many who have to watch the pennies. I have strong links with two countries and lesser ones with a number of others where people are generally worried about the unpredictability of their future, complete lack of security: jobs for life are a past fantasy and this very quickly affects anything perceived not to be essential. Most people with a love of natural history (and the photography involved) are not the most acquisitive of people (apart from a camera or two) since they derive their pleasures from ‘simpler things’ – sight of a sunset, mists over the land, butterflies…life’s “no-hopers” as far as some (with their snouts firmly in the trough) are concerned.
All tour operators I know have drawn their clientele from that wide-based entity “the middle class” with limited disposable income – retired or, if not, with kids off their hands and so on. Many are now helping out those children and their families to afford the things that we could once take for granted like home ownership and decent schooling. We have always had a significant number of people on our trips who had retired early on wonderful pensions …but a target clientele gets older and many of those pensions have not proved to be what they were.
And let’s face it, however much you put into being a writer, photographer, tour leader… workshop guru what you do is not essential in any sense. Perhaps, too, there is so much good info ‘out there’ for techniques and locations that more people feel they can do it all themselves ?
There is no doubt that bookings of ‘specialist’ ventures are way down: they act as a very effective barometer for people’s perceptions of what can be afforded. I know several people, very good naturalists all, who work for various companies as leaders and who, in the last few years, have lost a substantial portion of their already minimal freelance income from tours cancelled at short notice through lack of numbers. It is hard because leaders have to commit anything up to a year in advance: there is usually no reciprocal loyalty and, when a tour fails that income is lost and it is almost impossible as a freelance to find something to plug the gap at short notice.
For a few years I devised and ran botanical trips for an up-market company and Lois worked as a manager with them for a decade. We used to see their familiar white and green vans around where we live in Italy but chatting with those operatives who have lasted (many, like us, did not!) numbers seem way down. The MD always boasted that his clients had so much money that they were not affected by blips in the economy…seems they are.
So, I tend to feel this is all to do with uncertainty rather than anything else in the two economies I know most about.Not sure that I can see it getting any better…
Paul
I think you are right. Increasing disposable income, and easy credit made buying ‘pro’ camera gear relatively affordable, and it became a rather fasionable thing to do. Certainly the number of people brandishing 600-800mm lenses whenever a rare bird rears it’s head has exploded in the last 10 years. With this however and other factors, publishing such a photo in bird magazines now only earns £15 top, and sometimes only the glory.
People have realised that to really excel you have to put in hours of effort to get top class shots (like Andy spending weeks on Hermaness). I think a lot of people think it’s all riding around on Elephants photographing Tigers, and taking photos of Snow Leopards from the window of a warm mountain cabin. Some people I’ve met can’t even be bothered to walk the mile or so to the Gannets at Hermaness.
Although it’s not great for photography tour guides I won’t be too sad to see fewer groups crowding round a Bonxie trying to take it’s photo! Maybe the reduction of wildlife photography you mention is because less people are spending their money on the tours, and therefore there is less sponsorship of articles by the tour operators.
There have however over the last 3 years been plenty of people coming to Hermaness NNR to photograph the Gannets etc. There have been quite a lot of French photographers especially.
I’d agree.
For hobbyists,
A lot are moving to digiscopes as a more gratifying method of getting good log prints. They, as a set-up are less costly, easier transported, good for web use… Etc
For commercial photographers, pro or pro-am;
Equipment expense, over saturated use of standard set ups, micro stock libraries, syndication, calls for royalty free
supply make it hard to make a return on easily obtainable images. That may put those who need the return to finance to dream think twice about investing in a debatable future, including those willing to pay for tuition to help them get there.
But one other thing has happened to sort the wheat from the chaff; modern sensors/equipment is now at a level where, for normal editorial A4 images (90% of the editorial) market most kit will do the job – all else being equal. The pixel race, whilst not over, is kinda moot. What’s going to be the difference is the – all else – that is, knowledge of biology/ecology, time spent in prep, field craft, time spent in the field, commercial acumen, business nous, marketing, strategy, political awareness, communications, networks, not sniffing but making the opportunity. In short the ability to make it all count, working not only hard but more importantly smart!
The market is shrinking, the market is paying less. The thrashing has begun.
Sorry Niall but I can’t believe that you are asking these questions. . .’You’ are the problem, ‘you’ as in the media. You are part of on insatiable machine that is ravenously consuming everything in its path. Quite simply you have something to offer, you are sucked in to the frenzy and then cast out the ‘arse’ end when finished. I remember your recent articles on your shift to the digital age and your attitude of having to move with the tide or be swept aside. The world has been coaxed into believing that everything that they need is at their finger tips/click of a mouse, and that the days of going out to find out for yourself is a thing of the past. You have recently been ‘in print’ musing as to the directions of publishing, surely that must have rung a small bell in your head?
The world wants/demands you to blog, so “keep up with the times Charlie” blogs his little heart out and along the way extolls the virtues of modern technology. . .why would any sane person want to pay good money for a new book, or attend an expensive course when you are blogging your little heart out every day and they get to live your adventures for free? Along the way, you also supply images from your adventures with full exif data and the mindset behind the pic. . .bells ringing yet Niall??
Now about the cost of equipment. Can you please enlighten me as to the ‘demographic’ that you’re targeting when the cost of a suitable lens for the style of photography you specialise in, is usually in the 2-5000 dollar range?
By the way, you people with the power of the media behind you should start writing/asking real questions so that more of the ‘General’ public can join in and maybe attend a local course or two. I live in Australia and currently our dollar buys approx 90cents USD. A canon 550D retails in USA for approx $500 and the same unit is $1100 in Australia. . .who are the thieving bastards pocketing all the ‘missing’ cash? Maybe if you did a bit of photographic journalism and asked ‘real’ questions for a change maybe, just maybe, all us photographers might have a little extra cash in our pockets to attend one of your courses?
For the record, I have ordered/paid for Niall’s new book and I’m currently awaiting its arrival and must add that it was sent to me at the standard postal rate because I mucked up the order and Niall carried the cost of the international post. . .more money out of the poor bugger’s pocket!
This is not a personal attack on Niall or any other member of the Blog. I have learnt far too much from this blog without financial outlay and this is the bane of my argument!
With respect,
Bruce
Hi Niall,
I agree with comments above. The Global financial crisis and lack of job security has made people more cautious in their spending. Disposable income is now disappearing due to increases in living costs which seem to be growing at a considerable rate.
Finances may get worse before becoming better as some financial experts are talking about the possibility for a double-dip recession.
Regards ………….. Aubrey
Hello Bruce
Well, it’s nice that this blog isn’t plagued by sycophants! This blog is a voluntary activity rather than one that I feel I must do to “keep up”. There is no direct financial recompense but neither is it a big commitment of time. It is one thing giving people all the information they need to make good work but there is still a world of difference between knowing and doing, particularly if, as Tom alludes to, there needs to be an element of vision, focus and business involved too. Gear pricing wasn’t really the issue in this piece but is it not just the same old stories of merchants trying to get as much as they think they can in any given market? Many more buyers in the US than Aus therefore more downward pressure on pricing and possibility for a larger volume of sales. Greedy companies is not a new story.
Thank you all for quality contributions on this subject. I hope too that aspiring professional photographers read this and get a bit more of an insight about where we’re heading.
Niall
Hopefully, not spectacularly missing the point; it may simply be a case that the peak has past because that is usually what happens with trends. Of the ‘new crop’ of photographers who have come through in the last five years, a few will progress, evolve, find a niche, and the rest will move on to – oh I don’t know – mud collecting. The point I’m trying to make (badly) is that it human nature to try new things and to follow fashion.
Wildlife photography, the sanitize, ‘sexy’ version, the sort where you jump on a plane, arrive at a destination, sit in a heated hide and take the same pictures as the world and his dog have done previously, has a finite shelf-life. It is tourism. Tourists move on if all that is being offered is ‘the same old’.
I see little evidence of the perceived fall-off being due to economics. Go to any ‘honey-pot’ and the array of kit on show is bewildering. Yes, times are tougher but twenty years a go half of an average person’s wages were spent on feeding themselves – today it is 20%. There is still disposable income being spent on the ‘right’ product.
Perhaps it is a case that a degree of boredom has crept in; magazine editors are fed up of seeing the same old images, hearing ideas being repeated and therefore are looking for different genres to fill their pages. God knows, as a ‘punter’ I’d rather read Heat magazine than a ‘standard’ photography/wildlife publication (ok, maybe Heat magazine is stretching it a little – but you get my gist). Along the same lines, anyone who has attended the Bird-fair frequently over the past few years will have seen the same old photography for sale. I’m betting sales were down not because of the recession but because of repetition.
The old saying: ‘build it and they’ll come’ is very true (as the new shopping centre in my hometown proves – frighteningly); but they’ll only come for a while if the products on offer are luxuries that have lost their shine.
Cheers,
Chris
Hi Niall,
I satand by my last comments . . . don’t shoot the messenger.
Currently in Oz, there is not one primary or secondary Gov’t funded school that offers photography as a subject. There might be a couple of secondary schools who offer it as a short term elective. Follow this up with the fact that primary schools have to apply for a special grant from the Gov’t to teach kids about how to grow vegetables in their own garden beds at home. This is rarely granted and must be taught along very strct guide-lines for stated health, religeous, ethnical and political reasons. It used to be possible for primary school kids to have group visits to local educational farms to learn about farm life, animals and where milk, eggs, etc., come from but Gov’t regulations have made it impossible for these farms to stay open. Kids were not allowed to ride the horses in case they fell off, they weren’t allowed to pat the goat in case they got bitten, they weren’t allowed to play in the hay shed in case they had allergies, and the list is endless. Insurance costs were in the hundreds of thousands!
So it seems that the only kids who are going to learn about photography are those who have a parent who is a regular participant and has the required equipment in the house and then, only then, the individual kid has to have a genuine personal interest or they won’t become involved. Again, currently in Oz, nearly one third of Oz house mortages are in trouble and the Banks are selling up property by the hundreds every week trying to recoup losses. Remember that Australia is the “Lucky” country and we dodged the recession, or so we are told by our Gov’t every week. So it looks pretty grim to me for any new kid on the block who wants to learn about wildlife in general let alone being able to photograph it. They are not allowed to learn about either subject at school because Gov’t regulations prevent it and unless there is a camera in the house, current economic pressures are such that it is unlikely that the general household can afford the purchase of a camera for their child to pursue a new hobby that could in fact turn out to be a very expensive whim.
Looks to me like the demographic that is currently best placed to be ‘targetted’ are the kids who have left school and are heading off overseas on their holidays and this seems to be ‘THE’ big trend in the photographic market at the moment. . .lightweight, travel freindly DSLR’s that can take a great picture, and also take some videa footage of once in a lifetime experiences of riding an elephant for example? Hopefully a percentage of these lucky folk will follow a new found love of photography and environment into a future hobby/passion?
If they do happen to go looking for more information, they will obviously ‘google’ it and may, just may, end up finding a certain blog site and they can then receive a free education from the countless tutorials and daily run sheets supplied by the expert writers. A couple might even go looking for a workshop or two for a bit of personal ‘feel’. . . .now google lists a million blogs, countless facebooks and geez, hundreds of daily workshops in UK alone, which one to choose???
Kindest regards,
Bruce
I think your perception of the current situation is probably fairly true, but is probably due to multiple factors and may not be directly related to Nature photography itself.
Even though photography as a pastime is probably increasing as seen with sites such as Flickr, it is not through the growth of the “typical” hobbyist photographer. People are using phones, compact cameras etc. and may not be moving onto the DSLR route. Some do and the growth of long lens toting photographers has increased as others have noted, even with the cost of cameras increasing with the digital age compared to the film models. Whether the knowledge of the people using this equipment is getting better I don’t know. Some photographers I have met seem to think that better equipment produces better photographs and that they seem not to want to try and increase their photographic skill and knowledge. Most still have no real idea how to use the equipment they have.
The economy is having an impact and people are limiting expenditure at the moment, but there are also people who do not have to do this and continue to spend. I have heard from some businesses in other fields who have actually done better financially in the recession that before it!
Expectations are different as well. Some say that you must put in 10,000 hours to learn something properly. Today in our instant gratification society, most are not willing to put in this level of effort. Nature photography is hard compared to other photographic subjects. Apart from the technical photographic aspect there is field craft, natural history knowledge and the unpredictability of our subjects and weather. Most people do not have the time or patience for this. Workshops have provided an easy path into the world of nature photography, but once you have done one, where do you go next? You either end up taking various workshops, ticking off species as you go or you find that you are repeating yourself and unable to commit the time or find doing it yourself at home is not as easy as you think. The interest soon fades and another subject is chosen.
The amount of information freely available on the web may be another reason that people feel that they don’t need to go on workshops, but at some point this has to be put into practice, so will need some practical help. It is also true that Holiday bookings overall are down, so perhaps this is reflected in workshop bookings as well.
There do seem to be popular trends in photography (people, wedding and portrait photography seem to be hot at the moment)and perhaps that it is not the time for nature photgraphy at the moment, but it would be interesting to know why the magazines are reducing their coverage as it is often said that nature and landscape photography are usually one of the most popular areas of the hobby. Does anybody know?
This may be a temporary blip or not time will tell. My personal experience is that people are wanting to learn photography, but not necesssarily nature photography at the start.
Numbers of photographers don’t seem to be dropping in the Peak District. Ten years ago I saw few, now its rare to go out without bumping into another. I’ll admit most are after landscapes rather than nature, but then I don’t tend to go to ‘honeypot’ nature spots whilst landscape spots like Curbar gap and Higgar tor are on my evening climbing circuits. Remarkably most of them all seem to have the same kit – 5D & 24-105 – which might help explain the homogeneity of the resultant photographs. The main reason I persist with using my Mamiya 645 is to force myself to hopefully work a little harder and see a little differently. Nothing more deflating than browsing flickr etc to find ‘your’ great composition has been spotted by many before… and shot in better light. I wonder if the ease of use of modern cameras makes the learning curve less engaging, and interest wanes sooner?
I’d guess low workshop bookings are simply down to the current massive oversupply? You’ve discussed this before, but for the aspiring professional it certainly seems an easier route to earning than actually selling pictures. There’s a hell of a lot more advice out there on how to make the pictures than how to sell them… perhaps a more business-orientated workshop might be the answer?
Hello Adam
…and I am giving one to a photographer trying to decide whether or not to jump. He’ll get the whole story from me but does have to pay!
Best
Niall
Hi Niall,
This a great and lively discussion! Here at Outdoor Photography we have seen an explosion in the number of nature photography workshops being advertised in our pages over the past couple of years.
For me, the current dip in client numbers is probably a direct result of the market currently being in a state of oversupply; not enough people, spread too thinly among too many courses. With many pro nature photographers finding market conditions tough in their traditional channels (publishing and stock being the main ones) and a modest increase in the number of people trying to make a career as a pro, there has been a rapid search for alternative revenue streams, and workshops have been a good way to do that for some.
I don’t think this state of oversupply is necessarily permanent, as it is quite clear from camera manufacturers that interest in DSLR-style photography is still growing and this will bring more people into the market who want to learn how to take nature images. Plus, there will naturally be a levelling out of the number of workshops being offered. But, I do think the photographers that survive and thrive will be the ones who go the extra mile or more to make sure the product they offer is exceptional and that they give their clients good reason to return. There is a real problem with many courses that they simply repeat themselves, giving little reason to re-book. Build a strong sense of community among clients, as some companies do, and offer them more than simply a course and there is more scope for optimism. Clients need to become more like friends that you enjoy going out with time and again. We both follow Chase Jarvis and I think his approach to photography as a modern day business is a beacon for us all – not to copy of course but to be inspired by.
As far as images go, yes, for sure we see a lot of similar images here at the mag, which doesn’t make them bad images, just not interesting enough to publish for our readers.
However, there are still enough outstanding, unique images out there to make it worth trawling through the mail every day! It does take hard work, and a large slice of creative thought to make truly outstanding nature images, but I don’t think that has necessarily ever really changed. When Ansel Adams set out to photograph Yosemite, what he did and how he did it required a huge amount of physical and mental effort. Nowadays, access is easier, cameras are better, outdoor gear is better, there are more heated mountain huts, but it still takes some personal sacrifice, a lot of dedication and a different creative approach to do something noteworthy.
So, I think the peak of nature photography (especially landscape photography, which has lagged behind the more dynamic approach that has emerged in wildlife photography) still lies ahead of us, but there are many photographers who would like to be creating it who are not putting the right building blocks in place in a very dynamic market to achieve that goal.
Best,
Steve
Steve
Thank you for your insight! You have given me hope.
Best
Niall
Very useful, Steve, to hear views from the editor’s chair’ on the discussion above.
I have been amazed at the number of outfits advertising tours/workshops etc in recent years in all magazines and wondered how on earth they find the money to advertise…From our clients, we hear of many tours simply being pulled through too few clients. There are a lot of ‘cowboys’ out there who just want you to pay for their holiday…
Client loyalty is something I am pleased you brought up, Steve, for then you do not need a huge database and lavish advertising. Word of mouth is always the best recommendation and we now have several modest-sized groups of clients who like to travel together and then, around the middle of each trip, start to ask “where are we going next year?” which is very nice to hear. Some clients are pretty well-known folk and they value the privacy our trips afford as long as they can provide a ‘quorum’ we then do not have to throw the list wide open. Moreover, they know they will be looked after: not just lovely places but plants, vistas and things photogenic plus excellent food and wine…and congenial company! There is an unwritten after service with help over matters photographic (advice on equipment) and identification of subjects.
It is not something that can be rushed: it has taken us ages and we do not want things to grow and the model to change. It is also applicable with a few changes here in Italy with Italian groups. Neither of us has ever wanted to run a tour company full-time with all that entails – it is a very nice part of the portfolio.
I could not do this alone as a leader/ manager and know few who can begin to marry both roles without losing something in one of them. I have the luxury of working with my ‘far better half’ who appears to do things effortlessly and never gets ruffled… Lois works out deployment of vehicles, ferries people who are not as active as others and I am freer to do the things I do best…she also has an amazing capacity to get Italians (and ‘Mediterraneans’, including me) to do things more or less on time. It’s a gift I lack: but then I am not tall, blonde and elegant…must get an avatar or truly drastic surgery!
Paul
Hi Steve
Interesting input. Is this possibly the birth of ‘an editor’s workshop how to get published’?
I’m sure you’d have plenty of takers outside of a Wildphotos audience.
Cheers,
Chris
Here at Outdoor Photography we have seen an explosion in the number of nature photography workshops being advertised in our pages over the past couple of years.
….indeed Steve…and most of them are our ex-clients!!
Pete
ps…who incidentally deliver a fine service it should be said.