Photojournalist gets shirty with CBS

Yet another David versus Goliath story over the value of Copyright images.

When David Carson, a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer is asked for permission to use his pictures in return for nothing more than his name appearing with the picture, he gets shirty.

The exchange happened on Twitter when David Carson was contacted by someone appearing to represent CBS, a billion dollar TV Broadcasting Network.

David Carson is a photojournalist familiar with the Media at large and how it works. Media companies are primed to act quickly and when a story is likely to be of interest to millions they care little about the little people they walk over to get their story published.

An exasperated David Carson is rightly insulted, but on the other hand the person contacting him may have been unaware of his background. So it may have been in his interests to swallow his pride maybe starting with a reply of ‘do you know who I am?’

Negotiations over a suitable fee may have begun and assuming agreement on the fee could be reached everyone would be happy. The trouble is David Carson is perhaps more aware than many that the sheer volume of images circulating the internet has devalued the art of Photography produced by expert Photographers….at least temporarily.

Fear not. The ‘Quality’ of almost everything is making a comeback. There are reports that printed books are on the comeback trail whilst e-books are on the decline. It appears the public at large are beginning to realise that writing a book or creating a picture that appeals to a wide audience deserves a suitable reward. Print is more memorable. It lasts longer in the mind, it has a greater value. Educationalists should also take note.

Should Photographers prepare for a big apology from News empires…..well no, that’s not likely to happen….should photographers prepare for more quality publications to once again appreciate the value of tremendous pictures….well that looks more likely.

David Carson has made a stand for the art of Photography and Professional Photographers at large. It is perhaps a point in time where there is an opportunity to be heard and a point in time when this issue strikes a chord with the public at large.

If and when that happens, the stock of Professional Photographers at large will start to see an upward trend.