An interesting discussion took place on Twitter after I posted my most recent podcast.
I interviewed Matt Detrich, a staff photographer for 15 years with the Indianapolis Star, about the role of traditional photography in the changing newspaper landscape. The podcast seemed especially relevant since, a few weeks earlier, the Chicago Sun-Times fired all of its photographers. Newspaper officials will instead rely on freelancers to cover major events and reporters to shoot photos and video with their phones.
Said Detrich, among other things: “I really can’t wrap my head about why they would dismantle one whole department … and such a special department for a newspaper.”
A few days later, Tom Spalding — a former Indy Star employee and current board member at Indy Social Media, a social media web site — Tweeted this:
Nice Q&A @TellingBlog featuring @indystar‘s ace photog @MDetrich on the Sun-Times photog firings: http://t.co/Ph1glNHIij | camera v. iphone
— Tom Spalding (@SpaldoBusiness) June 15, 2013
Fourteen minutes later, Spalding’s fellow Indy Social Media board member Chris Theisen responded with this:
@SpaldoBusiness @TellingBlog @MDetrich as screens get smaller and camera phones get better pro photo matters less even though it has a place
— Chris Theisen (@cjtheisen) June 15, 2013
That led to the following exchange between Detrich, Thiesen, and Spalding:
@cjtheisen @TellingBlog @MDetrich Chris, would you hire a professional photographer to shoot your kids’ weddings, or use an iPhone?
— Tom Spalding (@SpaldoBusiness) June 15, 2013
@SpaldoBusiness @TellingBlog @MDetrich different discussion. Talking online. Go to http://t.co/VfdJAxVHle last upload shot on galaxy S4 — Chris Theisen (@cjtheisen) June 15, 2013
@cjtheisen @SpaldoBusiness @TellingBlog I disagree….enough said! — matt detrich (@MDetrich) June 15, 2013
@SpaldoBusiness @TellingBlog @MDetrich also to the untrained eye (most readers) a nicely edited photo looks the same as a nicely shot one
— Chris Theisen (@cjtheisen) June 15, 2013
@cjtheisen @MDetrich It’s not just the ease of gear but the experience, talent, knowledge and sensibilities of the person behind the lens
— Tom Spalding (@SpaldoBusiness) June 15, 2013
My response to each of these Tweets? I agree.