Honouring the Last Still Photographers -When newspaper photographers pass away it is usually many years after they retire . It seems the papers they worked for have a hard time remembering they were ever there .We had one photog pass away and it was difficult to find any of his pictures , never mind ones he would have thought as key images of his career . Management changes , reporter turn over , after 20 or more years there are only a few in the trade left to remember. Combining the poor record newspapers have in archiving , photographs , storage of negatives and the hap hazard and inadequate digital storage of early small file digital images over the first five- ten year period the task of recovering pictures for a newspaper story and slide show were difficult.
The first time it happened that an old photog died , we felt “funny' about contacting the family and , nothing was done. Then we felt worse .It wasn't right.
The second time , pictures were found and with the determination of our photo editor a story and slideshow were put together. The slide show was launched the day of his funeral and his family was thrilled . It made it all worth while just to see an old friend's , wife , sister , sons see that he was not forgotten by a company that he worked his entire working life .Grandchildren saw their grampa in a different light . In reality employment records were hard to find of someone retired for over ten years . Favours were called in and that simple info was found.
The photos we found were not his greatest work, I know for a fact .
I urge all photographers to enter their key pictures into their photo archives , they need a special code in the caption because the photog name should bring up 10,000 photos in a modern system . Maybe use initials fallowed by the word portfolio – kgportfolio and maybe add a line about the significance of the photo itself . Maybe copy old photos and enter B&W , this this became a common practice ,at one time reporters would write their own obit . No photographer should be forgotten. In our business being forgotten is a clear and present danger .
Topic: Honouring the Last Still Photographers (Read 1381 times)