Photography and TV, what gives

PerfectSpeed

PerfectSpeed

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Why not any general photography series :shrug:

Almost everyone has a camera of one sort or another be it on a phone, compact or DSLR.

There's some fantastic stuff going on, it does not have to be 3 geeks with frizzy hair and tank tops talking Tec stuff, I mean for the GP, tips, tutorials, photographer profiles, aimed at the up and coming artists, a sort of The Tube type program.

Would it work :shrug:

Any thoughts.

Steve
 
3 geeks with frizzy hair and tank tops would be preferable to mainstream.
It'd be all which end is which of a d40 and don't shoot yer nipper in a pram with a stripy background type mainstream.
I wanna see some art, I wanna see some photographic godz, up and comers, and a w i d e variety of equipment and methods across the entire spectrum of photography, not a first look digital instruction video...
I think there's room for a series.
Nightmare scenario is a......magazine program....like fishermans tips....:puke:
 
There was a series years back, can't remember the name now, it was actually interesting in that they went out with big names (big-ish at the time) and watched them shoot and got tips etc, sadly it didn't last long and was moved around time wise a lot during it's short life.
I'm wondering which 3 guys your refering to, it wouldn't be Kelby and co would it??
 
Would love to see it. closest we get it 5mins on the gadget show and then its just a challenge or something. Theres always a few internet shows doing this kind of thing.
 
swanseamale47 said:
There was a series years back, can't remember the name now, it was actually interesting in that they went out with big names (big-ish at the time) and watched them shoot and got tips etc, sadly it didn't last long and was moved around time wise a lot during it's short life.
I'm wondering which 3 guys your refering to, it wouldn't be Kelby and co would it??
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:lol: No one in particular.

I was talking more about a more dynamic approach to photography, up and coming artists, showcasing the great photojournalists that are out there today, current affairs, (there are a lot of issues out there at the moment that concern us).

There are some fantastic things happening today, like the wed, wedd, :gag: no I won't say the word :p shot with 7 5DII's.

I'm not talking about the X Vs X type show but a more inspiring approach to photography, a visual journey with some energy thrown in.

Steve
 
I argree with you that theres a missed opportunity for somebody, as you say photography is probably more popular now than ever, just about everybody has a camera of some sort. With the rise of digital it's become easier to take photos, no waiting about for prints etc, a good topcial program would be well watched I suspect.
Kelby and co get a lot of people viewing, and they are not exactly mainstream, it's quite a nich market that they appeal to really.
 
To be honest occasionally Countryfile feature some sort of photographic element (apart from discussing the calendar) i.e landscapes in the lake district etc.
I find it quite boring and patronising at times. I guess the producers have to gear the slot to the mass market so it's always a compromise....and useless as far as I'm concerned.

The most interesting programme / channel a few years back now was dot.tv. It discussed the latest software techniques and it's where I picked up a few paintshop pro / photoshop tips from:$
 
When they do niche music programmes they nearly always feel they have to explain what's happening or get some biography info and just show snippets of the actual performances.

It might seem a strange outlet, but there have been some interesting 30-minute programmes on Radio 4 over the past year, though they are more to do with the working lives of photographers.

swanseamale47 said:
There was a series years back, can't remember the name now, it was actually interesting in that they went out with big names (big-ish at the time) and watched them shoot and got tips etc, sadly it didn't last long and was moved around time wise a lot during it's short life.
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Are you thinking of A Digital Picture Of Britain, from 2005?
 
A couple of years ago there was a competition style show - 6 or 7 people working to a brief each week, to win an exhibition/book/something at the end.
That had a reasnable amount of content. I guess if it was successful in the ratings, they would make more...
Everyone might have a camera - it doesn't mean they have an interest in photography. Too niche, I reckon.

L
 
there was a program on discovery hd about 18 months ago.it was a series actually, each one lasting 20mins. it would interview people and follow them on shoots. not much was said about tips but I thought it was OK and it was in HD!

although sometimes they would have some photographers on there who really liked the smell of themselves. they'd have a badge saying "i'vve been to gay pareee" and bang on about how they really tried to capture "the spirit of the fighting soul which encapulates us all whilst trying to create a sense of "surrealism" aand journey through space and time"...

to which my reponse at the telly would be... "mate..it's a picture of a cup! i'm off down t'greggs!"
 
freefall said:
although sometimes they would have some photographers on there who really liked the smell of themselves. they'd have a badge saying "i'vve been to gay pareee" and bang on about how they really tried to capture "the spirit of the fighting soul which encapulates us all whilst trying to create a sense of "surrealism" aand journey through space and time"...

to which my reponse at the telly would be... "mate..it's a picture of a cup! i'm off down t'greggs!"
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:lol: :thumbs:
 
I've always thought that there was market for a Photography/Camera show on TV. The amount of magazines in the shops gives an idea of how popular a past time it is at the moment. Apart from the gossip magazines, I can't think of another section of WH Smith has over a dozen+ magazines.

I can see a problem with who to aim a program at though, too simplistic or hard and you alienate a section of the potential audience. All the magazines seem to be aimed at the mid to high level of expertise, yet the largest section of the market by far is the owners of compact cameras with little or no expertise. I know I'm stereotyping, but you get the idea.

I think the Digital Picture of Britain on BBC4 was quite good at trying to cross the expertise divide, by giving Professional Photographers cameras different from what they were used to, from Mobile Phones to Medium Format cameras. Seeing what the Photographers were able to get equipment that were not what they were used to was interesting.


There doesn't seem to be much imagination when it comes to TV programmes, as can be seen by the endless reality TV show, property and cooking shows filling up the air space. Maybe with all the air time which is going to be freed up by the end of Big Brother C4 will think of more interesting programmes, though I think that C4s time for innovative TV are well gone. :shrug:
 
Headless Lois, you're most likely thinking of Picture This, Channel 4, January `08.
 
At the moment TV has to be made as cheap as possible, so a show with information and experts and good detailed information takes time and money and therefore is unlikely to be made :( Reality TV is nice and cheap and easy, hence why there is so much of it.
 
you guys should check out art wolfe, its not uk tv but aired on american pbs or something. He makes 20 min episodes in lots of different places all over the world. I have been watching alot of his series, and have found it very inspiring. Its geared more towards the travel/nature/wildlife photographer out there.
Its called art wolfe travels to the edge.
 
photon said:
Headless Lois, you're most likely thinking of Picture This, Channel 4, January `08.
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Yes, that was it. It was extremely pretentious and probably helped put the general public at large off photography shows for a bit

L
 
I've just finished watching The Genius of Photography (dvd b'day prezzie) and it was excellent if at times a little pretentious. I think something pitched a little below this but with more tips and product reviews might well work. Difficult to pander to everyones tastes but somebody should give it a go.

Andy
 
Andysnap said:
I've just finished watching The Genius of Photography (dvd b'day prezzie) and it was excellent if at times a little pretentious. I think something pitched a little below this but with more tips and product reviews might well work. Difficult to pander to everyones tastes but somebody should give it a go.
Andy
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Agreed

tdodd said:
If you don't mind internet....
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Photographers scour the internet for these, but this is about TV, like issues documenting the passion for street photography as an art form, not a terrorist attack on the mainland, it might educate a few people.

Focus on the lost right to photograph your child's growing years in public without being thought of as a ped.

Also throw in some funky photography stuff with cool tunes and boobies :naughty:
 
I think the last 'general' programme was A Digital Picture of Britain which had Tom Ang and three togs trying to take their normal style of photography with an assigned digital camera, which could be anything from a Kodak Easyshare to a DSLR. It wasn't a bad programme at all but I'd have preferred just to see the photographers at work because their review of the camera was usually "this isn't as good as what I normally use ..."

I liked Picture This. Lizz Gordon and Lucinda Chua, the two finalists, both seem to still have photography carers. I think Gordon must live near me as she's put up cards asking for subjects in Chesham shop windows before now.

And The Genius of Photography was awesome. Probably the best thing to have had a run on BBC Four.

As for the future? Well, the BBC are no longer updating their /photography webpage which may tell you something.
 
PerfectSpeed said:
Why not any general photography series :shrug:

Almost everyone has a camera of one sort or another be it on a phone, compact or DSLR.

There's some fantastic stuff going on, it does not have to be 3 geeks with frizzy hair and tank tops talking Tec stuff, (fifth gear?)..:DI mean for the GP, tips, tutorials, photographer profiles, aimed at the up and coming artists, a sort of The Tube type program.

Would it work :shrug:

Any thoughts.

Steve
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i think it would need to be too broad... and linked to the OU to get a viewing
 
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