Photography and Reality Television

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For better or worse my wife is really into reality television. Usually once a reality TV program comes on I’m out of the room working on my photography. As a result of my wife’s television tastes I’m a little too aware of the types of reality programs that are out there. From what I’ve been exposed to, at least in relation to creative’s or the arts, there are programs on models, singers, dancers, interior designers, fashion designers, fashion consultants, chefs, tattoo artists, motorcycle design/engineering, acting, comedians, filmmakers and more. Notice anything that is missing?

Yup… photographers.

Clearly I’m biased as someone interested in photography, but you’d think with the digital revolution and the boom in camera sales that some television producer would have a clue and put a reality television program together centered around photography. Perhaps we should be rejoicing that photography has been spared from reality television, but as tired as I am of reality television I’m a bit…

tick tick tick… 3 minutes later

</wife reality television consultation>

Word is there was a reality television program on photography called “The Shot” on VH1 centered around fashion photography. The wife’s official review was “It was boring. Would you rather be watching the models or the photographers post-processing a photo? Boring!”

I’ll have to check it out to see for myself, but fashion photography wasn’t really what I had in mind for a reality TV based program on photography. Perhaps photography is too dull of a profession to feature on TV, but I’d have to imagine with the right presentation or formula it would fly.

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Posted by Jim on 02.16.2008 at 7:54 pm
Tagged: Photography

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Jim

@Mark LOL yes I think you nailed it on the head.

From the sound of it... perhaps I missed the weak attempts at this that have already been tried. Well I wouldn't say "missed it" exactly :) Perhaps its all for the best.

Matt

There must have been a US version then because that sounds entirely different.

Brian Rueb

I watched the entire series....sadly. I'll say this. It made me angry. Yes there were what I would say a couple really good photographers, but most of them were just annoying and pretentious....and they had access to all this amazing equipment that most of us could only dream of using. The assignments were alright...but I just felt that by and large it was focused too much on the personalities and conflict as oppossed to the actual art of creating photographs.

I think when you see it, you'll probably have a similar idea that most of these people wouldn't be willing to really go out and get a good photograph...just watching them complain while they were photographing rock climbers about the heat, and what not...while they had vans, and ample supply of water bottles, and what not...was a little much. All but maybe 2 of these photographers were pampered brats...they did t heir makeup and what not before going on shoots...They were all pretty much living in the So-Cal area and I think the lifestyle had caught up with them. BUT I did watch the whole dumb series...and I guess it had some redeeming value.

A better reality show would be following a particular photographer around an area they know really well...and have them show what it takes to create great shots in that area...but I don't know many photographers that would want to open up their favorite spots to millions of people...

Matt

There was 'Picture This' very recently here in the UK. It was in a similar style to the Apprentice with knockout stages. You'll find it on uknova.com or on 4 OD.

Mark

Somehow a Photoshop challenge just isn't as exciting to watch as someone eating a scorpion.

Sean Galbraith

There is also Behind the Camera that profiles photographers and types of photography. (I was on an episode)

James

Did Drew Carey do a photography based show on the Travel channel when he shot soccer?

Raoul

You said it just fine when you wrote: "perhaps we should be rejoicing that photography has been spared from reality television."

Do we really want some bozos giving photography a bad rap? Isn't it enough that paparazzi are doing that already?

What we could use is a nice show that talks about cameras and photography. It could have camera reviews, group discussions, how-to videos and tutorials (screen capture -- Photoshop, Lightroom, Aperture) and in-field demonstrations. I could go for something like that. As a matter of fact, I'd be excited enough about something like that to want to be in it.