The “Photo Enthusiast” Market is Growing and More Enthusiastic than Ever

[bmattock]

Interesting article. Click the link to read the entire thing.

http://shutterbug.com/newsletter/122909industry/

Industry Perspective

The “Photo Enthusiast” Market is Growing and More Enthusiastic than Ever

by Ron Leach

Two leading industry organizations recently combined forces to release an interesting joint study on the status of the “photo enthusiast” market in the United States. PMA and Future Image, Inc. have concluded that the advanced amateur category—or photo enthusiast group—has doubled over the past decade as the transition from film to digital photography took place.

[Pickett Wilson]

That's not surprising. As technology removed the need to learn about photography, and digital removed the cost of film and processing, lots more folks have bought fancier cameras and take more photos.

[varjag]

"Almost all photo enthusiasts (96 percent) describe their level of photographic expertise as intermediate or greater."

[bmattock]

Originally Posted by Pickett Wilson

That's not surprising. As technology removed the need to learn about photography, and digital removed the cost of film and processing, lots more folks have bought fancier cameras and take more photos.

I found it interesting that they were described as being more interested in photography as a pursuit in itself, as opposed to simply taking photos of family events and the like. That is definitely 'enthusiast' as opposed to happy snappers, regardless of their level of knowledge.

[rbiemer]

Originally Posted by Pickett Wilson

...As technology removed the need to learn about photography...

When did that happen? 1910 or so when Kodak's slogan was "You push the button, we do th rest?"?
That article equates "photo enthusiast" with "advanced amateur" and those categorizations are, in large part, based on the interest of the photographer in the process as well as the results.

...and digital removed the cost of film and processing, lots more folks have bought fancier cameras and take more photos.

Digital imposes its own costs but this, I think, is more to the point of why people are getting "better" cameras. Whether they are really taking advantage of the advanced technology they're using or not is another question altogether!
Rob

[bmattock]

Originally Posted by rbiemer

Digital imposes its own costs but this, I think, is more to the point of why people are getting "better" cameras. Whether they are really taking advantage of the advanced technology they're using or not is another question altogether!
Rob

In terms of the technology built into the typical point-n-shoot digicam, I suspect they're taking advantage of it whether or not they intend it. I have no proof of this, but I suspect that a lot of the users of these cameras never get beyond learning how to turn the cameras on and off, zoom in and out, take the photo, and (perhaps) copy the photos onto their PC. The technologies involved include things like automatic face detection, advanced exposure control, and anti-shake; these tools would be in play just by turning the camera on and leaving it in automatic mode.

Now, in terms of learning proper exposure, composition, and so on, I agree; I have my doubts they're bothering with that. But in the end, if it makes them happy with the results, then that's all that matters (to them). And the more people who 'get into' photography, even if they are not learning 'proper photography' as some of us would like, the higher the chances that some small percentage of those new enthusiasts will decide to explore the medium even further, perhaps becoming 'one of us' in that sense.

[wgerrard]

Originally Posted by rbiemer

That article equates "photo enthusiast" with "advanced amateur" and those categorizations are, in large part, based on the interest of the photographer in the process as well as the results.

In terms of digital and popular culture's view of photography, wouldn't an "amateur" be someone who uses a p&s and does no post processing, while an "advanced amateur" is someone who buys more expensive toys and does some sort of post processing, and has at least an inkling about exposure.

[dcsang]

I think it's awfully sad that the form of photography that seems to be the most important (at least in my eyes), that of "simply a means of documenting their lives and preserving family memories", seems to be some how viewed as "less" important than pursuing "creative expression".

Dave

[rbiemer]

Bill, (bmattock) My own guess about this is that most folks don't learn any more of their cameras' functions than needed to get what they want from the cameras. Including me, in fact: I have a digital camera capable of shooting video but that capability doesn't interest me at all so I skipped that part of the manual. And I have a couple of friends who have said to me that they only use the auto/green mode because "the camera is smarter than me" I politely agreed
And, however other folks want to approach their own hobby/enthusiasm doesn't really affect me much so I'm happy to let folks go their own way.

Bill, (wgerrard) I'm sure the industry is happy to consider anyone who buys above the entry level and advanced amateur. Don't really know about the public's conception of those terms. Personally I happily lay claim to "amateur" though I might not meet the strictest definition of that--I have sold a very few prints(and not to my Mom!).
"Advanced", well, I suppose. I think of advanced amateur as some one who is actively trying to better their craft. That is not necessarily by buying more advanced gear--see most pinhole shooters--nor does it preclude that.
Rob

[rbiemer]

Originally Posted by dcsang

I think it's awfully sad that the form of photography that seems to be the most important (at least in my eyes), that of "simply a means of documenting their lives and preserving family memories", seems to be some how viewed as "less" important than pursuing "creative expression".

Dave

Seconded.
Rob

[furcafe]

Sort of like all the children in Lake Wobegone.

Originally Posted by varjag

"Almost all photo enthusiasts (96 percent) describe their level of photographic expertise as intermediate or greater."

[maddoc]

.... and still the question remains ... What is "digital photography" ?

[MCTuomey]

Originally Posted by dcsang

I think it's awfully sad that the form of photography that seems to be the most important (at least in my eyes), that of "simply a means of documenting their lives and preserving family memories", seems to be some how viewed as "less" important than pursuing "creative expression".

Dave

Agree. In my own case, I practice a fair amount of self-deception by aspiring to something beyond simple documentation of the lives around me. Easy for me these days to appear as a "good photographer" who sells some work here and there by using just a fraction of the capability of the gear I'm lucky to afford. Basically I flatter myself with gear and I have the sense that many of those in the category of "photo enthusiast" do likewise, though I sure can't prove it.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by dcsang

I think it's awfully sad that the form of photography that seems to be the most important (at least in my eyes), that of "simply a means of documenting their lives and preserving family memories", seems to be some how viewed as "less" important than pursuing "creative expression".

Dave

yes; I thought that part was a bit judgmental myself

[bmattock]

Originally Posted by maddoc

.... and still the question remains ... What is "digital photography" ?

Photographs taken with a digital camera. I understand your implied point, that photography is photography. But as a point of reference, people who write articles are going to continue to make a distinction between photographs taken with a digital camera and those taken with a film camera until at last there is no more film, in which case it won't make any more sense to do so. It's simply a point of differentiation that illustrates the point being made - in this case, that since the advent of inexpensive digital cameras, people are taking more photographs, and of more than just their families and personal events.

Back in the day, people said "Icebox" and "Electric Icebox" to differentiate between the kind you stocked with ice and the kind you plugged into the wall. Now no one says 'electric icebox' because it has lost its differentiation.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...c-icebox&hl=en

[rbiemer]

This work in February every year keeps the beer cold all summer at the only bar in Raquette Lake.

Rob

[Ronald_H]

Originally Posted by dcsang

I think it's awfully sad that the form of photography that seems to be the most important (at least in my eyes), that of "simply a means of documenting their lives and preserving family memories", seems to be some how viewed as "less" important than pursuing "creative expression".

Dave

I agree.

It is perfectly possible IMHO to combine the two as well. I like turning my friends into models and there is no small sense of pride in the fact that they plaster my pics of them all over their agendas, phones, computers and living room walls. Maybe someday someone discovers my pics and concludes I was an artist after all

[wgerrard]

Originally Posted by rbiemer

Bill, (wgerrard) I'm sure the industry is happy to consider anyone who buys above the entry level and advanced amateur.

I suspect the industry considers "advanced amateur" to be a flattering marketing gimmick, as in making anyone who buys a DSLR feel like an "advanced amateur" by virtue of their purchase. We certainly don't see P&S cameras being pitched to "amateurs". No one wants to be an amateur unless they're advanced.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by wgerrard

I suspect the industry considers "advanced amateur" to be a flattering marketing gimmick, as in making anyone who buys a DSLR feel like an "advanced amateur" by virtue of their purchase. We certainly don't see P&S cameras being pitched to "amateurs". No one wants to be an amateur unless they're advanced.

I was amused a couple of years back in a Tarrytown pharmacy to see one make of condoms available in Large, Extra-Large and Jumbo …. who fooling whom eh?

[charjohncarter]

Nobody talked on the phone, that much (watch out in my town for a young woman, in an SUV with a baseball cap on, driving with her 100% indulged kid in a car seat), until cellular came out. Do we have a Japanese-like fad (no offense to the the Japanese faddists) here in the Western world with digital video and digital photography?