Why no Photography show on TV?

Peter10d

Peter10d

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Think of a hobby or interest other than photography (fishing, art, dancing, fitness, DIY, model making, cars, food to name just a few), and what to you get?
You get a regular TV programme on one of the hundred odd satellite channels.
So why is there no regular photography program?:thinking:
I am sure there must be enough interest out there of potential viewers, even for a monthly program, with different topics, ranging from technique, locations, competitions, and even a guest photographer.
 
there was one a while back think it was on C4 called Genius of photography, and there was another competition based one bit like "the apprentice" for photographers. Agree they are few and far between though!
 
It was BBC and was absolutely brilliant. You can also get the accompanying Genius of Photography book (Waterstones sell it) - equally good. I agree, not enough on TV!
 
Mostly because watching photographers talking about photos is boring for non-photographers...
 
Arkady said:
Mostly because watching photographers talking about photos is boring for non-photographers...
Click to expand...

They could put a bit of glamour or nude photography in there to attract a bigger crowd ;)
 
Arkady said:
Mostly because watching photographers talking about photos is boring for non-photographers...
Click to expand...

agree but surely that statement can be true about some other channels.
 
I agree about the Genius Of Photography - I bought it on DVD and think it is superb. There was a reality TV type thing a couple of years ago, where togs were encouraged to submit pics online whilst the show was running but they never actually formed part of the actual programme.

I would have thought there was some mileage in an Apprentice meets Photographer of the Year style show, maybe looking at diiferent styles of photography each week, having togs particiapate - with the inevitable phone vote etc. Have a couple of resident experts in their field each week, make it a touch didactic for each genre and I think you'd be on to a winning format.

Maybe when i have time, I'll write a pitch to Endemol. I know they will be looking to do something with the BB house - what a fab gallery space it would make!

Spooks
 
Slightly off topic but I do recall a sky channel called DotTV. There were some hand tips on programmes such as Word and a few sessions with Photoshop and paintshop pro.
It was my first introduction to layers:)
 
There is a wildlife photography show on Nat Geo HD just now.
 
Two-three years ago BBC did a Photographing Britain programme in which some mardy pro togs were given a new camera that might be a bit rubbish (one got a Kodak Easy Share I remember) and then told to take a few snaps of their locale. It was three togs per episode and mixed reviewing (moaning about) the camera with some chat with Tom Ang.

I enjoyed that.

My own idea is that they should do something in the manner of the peerless Watercolour Challenge and get three amateurs to a location and give them a few hours to snap and then pick a winner.
 
Does anyone else remember that Dave Lee Travis photography series years ago on BBC2? Back in the mid-80's, I think...

I only remember as it had a pretty good interview with Don McCullin which showed him on a 'day-out' photographing Whitby.
Two Olympus OM-bodies with a 28mm and 135mm lens. Tri-X and get on with it...excellent stuff - wish I could find it on U-Tube or something...
 
I'd love to see a documentary style series that follows all types of photographers. Maybe show a day in the life of a top professional, and then show someone who's just starting out.
 
I suppose the nearest thing to TV show would be www.phototraining4u.com with 20 minute films on various topics.....

:thumbs:
 
I have often wondered this...

I wonder if it would make more sense to make a photography programme that followed some of the real action togs that take pics in crazy places all over the world... that way it could appeal to togs and the general public alike?

Edit: there was that programme that followed some urbexers (*sp) around, but to be honest it was pretty junk.
 
There was a profile of Jim Nachtwey a while back - covered him shooting in Gaza and the West Bank...not too bad...
 
mustanir said:
Isn't it called "America's Next Top Model" or something?
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Funny you mention that - we just finished 'Germany's Next Top-Model' (very similar but with dashing black uniforms) here in Tchermany and each episode featured a photoshoot by an establshed international pro - Rankin, Nick Knight and...err some other blokes too...

The regular phot and panel judge was Kristian Schuller, who comes across as an ultra-effete gaylord, but whose work thoroughly impressed me...
http://www.kristianschuller.com/
 
I keep hoping they'll show the Art Wolfe series, Travels To The Edge, but if it has been, I've never noticed.
 
There was the Robert King thing recently - quite interesting. It does seem odd though with the popularity of photography that there isn't more about it.
 
Have just come across a post on one of the Flickr groups I belong to, posted a couple of weeks ago from someone saying they are from a production company commissioned to do a programme for Channel 5. Not sure if it's the same one as mentioned before because this specifically talks about landscape photography, but it certainly looks as though there's at least one programme in production.

Link to discussion
 
I think the format of DTownTV could be made into a more diverse and inclusive TV prog.

It is almost criminal that there are no Photography TV programmes given the popularity of Photography at the moment. The amount of photo mags on sale gives an idea how popular a TV prog could be.

There must be a reason that they don't do Photography progs though, maybe it is because the market changes so quickly that there is not the values in repeats if they make it too gear based. :shrug:

Do we have any TV execs on here to give us an explanation?


Just a thought, Channel 4 will have many many hours to fill from next year without the Big Brother summer schedule filler. ;) :lol:
 
The genius of photography was great but it got poor viewing figures, and that's always going to stand in the way of gating similar programs made.
 
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