Will the iPad *save* photography? No.

A short video about photography, the iPad and the value of content and context for Ellen Boughn’s talk at Blend Images’ annual meeting prior to the Palm Springs Photo Festival 2010.

Ellen Boughn:

I asked consultant, Taylor Davidson, to put together his thoughts on how photographers can exploit new publishing models such as the iPad versions of VIV, Wired and others. I included the resulting video in a presentation that I made March 25 at the Blend Images photographers’ creative meeting. Since then, the iPad has landed in the hands of somewhere between 600,000 and 700,000 users. The early consensus is that the product is living up to the hype. The reviews have been terrific. But will the iPad save still photography? Here’s Taylor’s opinion.

My remarks, on video:

Taylor Davidson on photography, the iPad, content and context from Taylor Davidson on Vimeo.

Thoughts? Comments?

Recent and relevant:

Alan Patrick, iPad will save Print Media and other modern myths.
Jim Goldstein, 5 Reasons Photographers Should Take Note of the iPad

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Posted April 5th, 2010 in Perspective, Photography. Tags: apple, content, context, ipad, Photography, video.

Hello, I'm Taylor Davidson.

I'm an early-stage VC and a photographer. If you liked this post, please subscribe to this blog. For more like this, check out the archives, and follow me on Twitter @tdavidson.

Mik

“Since then, the iPad has landed in the hands of somewhere between 600,000 and 700,000 users. The early consensus is that the product is living up to the hype”

Part of the hype is when people just repeat baseless assertions such as the 600,000-700,000 users. The number APPEARS to be 300,000, but, OF COURSE, it's not a hard number. But just continue the general online destruction of facts/reality. A fact in the online world is whatever you want it to be.
http://www.taylordavidson.com/writing/ Taylor Davidson

1. Apple announced they sold “more than 300k” iPads on the first day of the first weekend. It's a fair assumption to expect full weekend sales to be much higher, even with Easter Sunday. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-05/ipa…

2. The # sold might not be 600-70k, but it doesn't even matter. I don't care about the # sold or the hype, all I care about how the iPad impacts the photography business. The iPad does create opportunities for photographers to utilize the tech and users to build new business models. And for that discussion, the # sold so far isn't important.
jimgoldstein

Interesting take Taylor. I think its fair to say that “connection” between photographer and client is technology independent. That dynamic should be developed at all times whether you're drawing in the dirt to show someone their portrait or fiddling with an iPad.

I have to admit I missed this post having my head down in other projects and working with the iPad to make my own assessment of it. The best comment I received on my blog in relation to “X saving photography” is that the commenter didn't realize photography needed saving. I agree. Photography doesn't need saving, but I know a few photographers that do :) All kidding aside my 2 cents on the impact of the iPad are summed up in my latest blog post 5 Reasons Photographers Should Take Note of the iPad and the key word is “interactivity”.
http://www.taylordavidson.com/writing/ Taylor Davidson

@jimgoldstein Interactivity, definitely. But I would stress that the iPad is not just about interacting with content, but interacting with the people creating the content. It's not just a “big iPod” because it connects to a network, and that creates a ton of opportunities for everyone in the “making stuff -> consuming stuff” value chain.

(read your post and updated my post to link to it… )
http://www.taylordavidson.com/writing/ Taylor Davidson

@jimgoldstein Interactivity, definitely. But I would stress that the iPad is not just about interacting with content, but interacting with the people creating the content. It’s not just a “big iPod” because it connects to a network, and that creates a ton of opportunities for everyone in the “making stuff -> consuming stuff” value chain.nn(read your post and updated my post to link to it… )

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