Party of five (clockwise from top left): Anthony LaSala, section editor; Jeanine Fijol, photo editor; Darren Ching, creative director; Jacqueline Tobin, deputy editor; Holly Stuart Hughes, editor in chief.
It is now official. The bar has most certainly and unequivocally been raised.
It wasn't too long ago that an unseasoned photographer, one who recently left college or abandoned a job as an assistant, was expected to enter the professional world with nothing more than a sense of direction and a decent-looking portfolio. Examining the stories behind many of the photographers assembled in this year's PDN's 30, it seems that those qualifying factors might need some updating.
Take 25-year-old, Los Angeles-based photographer Jeff Ludes, for example. After graduating from Art Center in Pasadena, Ludes (the first ever, full-time car shooter to appear in the PDN's 30) already had a book of images that looked as though they were shot by a grizzled, 20-year veteran. Not an easy task considering the sophisticated look most car photographers need to be successful in the industry. His advanced style quickly landed him in Iceland, shooting the campaign for the brand-new BMW X3 SUV–a mere eight months after graduating.
Then there's fashion shooter Eric Fischer. After graduating from the Academy of Art in San Francisco and moving to New York, Fischer decided he wasn't going to wait around for magazines to call in his book. Instead, he started doing test shoots for models at the Marilyn Agency, creating intricate fashion shoots while paying for entire productions himself. His dedication landed him work with Vellum, Jane, Seventeen and Russian Harper's Bazaar.
Memphis photographer Christian Patterson also went the extra mile, quite literally, on his way to prosperity. Rather than simply admiring the work of William Eggleston from afar, dropping his name into Web-site bios like most photographers do with their influential idols, Patterson got on a plane and traveled to Tennessee to meet his favorite shooter. He eventually landed a job with the Eggleston Artistic Trust, not to mention a friendship with the famed photographer–all of which helped develop his technique and career.
Of course, while having a polished book or setting up expensive shoots on your own might not guarantee prosperity, I think most photographers would agree that pushing yourself in order to stay ahead of the ever-growing horde is a smart, if not necessary, thing to do. Especially in this day and age when there are hundreds of other hungry photographers waiting to take the very same jobs you are positioning yourself for. Here's hoping the images and tales behind the 2004 PDN's 30 provide some inspiration on that bustling road to success.
It wasn't too long ago that an unseasoned photographer, one who recently left college or abandoned a job as an assistant, was expected to enter the professional world with nothing more than a sense of direction and a decent-looking portfolio. Examining the stories behind many of the photographers assembled in this year's PDN's 30, it seems that those qualifying factors might need some updating.
Take 25-year-old, Los Angeles-based photographer Jeff Ludes, for example. After graduating from Art Center in Pasadena, Ludes (the first ever, full-time car shooter to appear in the PDN's 30) already had a book of images that looked as though they were shot by a grizzled, 20-year veteran. Not an easy task considering the sophisticated look most car photographers need to be successful in the industry. His advanced style quickly landed him in Iceland, shooting the campaign for the brand-new BMW X3 SUV–a mere eight months after graduating.
Then there's fashion shooter Eric Fischer. After graduating from the Academy of Art in San Francisco and moving to New York, Fischer decided he wasn't going to wait around for magazines to call in his book. Instead, he started doing test shoots for models at the Marilyn Agency, creating intricate fashion shoots while paying for entire productions himself. His dedication landed him work with Vellum, Jane, Seventeen and Russian Harper's Bazaar.
Memphis photographer Christian Patterson also went the extra mile, quite literally, on his way to prosperity. Rather than simply admiring the work of William Eggleston from afar, dropping his name into Web-site bios like most photographers do with their influential idols, Patterson got on a plane and traveled to Tennessee to meet his favorite shooter. He eventually landed a job with the Eggleston Artistic Trust, not to mention a friendship with the famed photographer–all of which helped develop his technique and career.
Of course, while having a polished book or setting up expensive shoots on your own might not guarantee prosperity, I think most photographers would agree that pushing yourself in order to stay ahead of the ever-growing horde is a smart, if not necessary, thing to do. Especially in this day and age when there are hundreds of other hungry photographers waiting to take the very same jobs you are positioning yourself for. Here's hoping the images and tales behind the 2004 PDN's 30 provide some inspiration on that bustling road to success.
–Anthony LaSala
Section Editor
Section Editor
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PDN thanks the sponsor of PDN's 30 for their support and enthusiasm:
 We would also like to thank the following for their help in finding this year's featured photographers: Dustin Beatty, Anthem Tom Booth, Representative Mary Brooks, Exclusive Artists Mgmt. Christina Cahill, Corbis Ann Chwatsky David Cicconi, Travel + Leisure Jenelle Covino, *Surface magazine Kasia Dietz, Wunderman Ariane Dutzi, Polaris Scott Evans, Lowe Worldwide Brian Finke Nancy Foley, Santa Fe Center for Photography Allan Frame Hillary Frileck Adam Glickman Kyle Glover, Aurora Esin Goknar, Condé Nast Traveler Bill Hunt, Ricco/Maresca Gallery Michelle Jackson, Grey Advertising Jasmine Jopling, Redux Teru Kuwayama Josette Lata, BBH USA Nadja Masri, GEO Judith Miller, Judith Miller Inc. Paul Moakley, Newsweek Ute Noll, Frankfurter Rundschau Kara Phelps, Friend and Johnson George Pitts, Vibe Jim Ramer, Parsons James Rexroad Kathy Ryan, The New York Times Magazine Mohammad Sadjapour Jimo Toyin Salako, Next Level Johan Sjöström, BildMuseet Maisie Todd, Discover Jonathan Torgovnik Rhonda Wilson, Rhubarb-Rhubarb World Press Photo Web site production: Red Shift Creative Services |
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