Most Powerful People in Photography, Part 2
Written on March 18, 2008
Ok, so I am still not re-ordering the list for 2008, and I understand that lists are lists, but looking at the list again from 2005 (3 posts below) I really wanted to point out a few striking things.
- Steven Meisel at #89. The man IS fashion photography. He is our generation’s Avedon, Penn, Newton and Bourdin rolled into one. He should probably be ranked higher than number 89.
- The sheer number of actual photographers on the list. This list is the list of people “we should definitely know”. I am not sure from whose perspective one should know these people but a fashion photographer starting out won’t really get much help from knowing, say, Patrick Demarchelier at number 7.
- The general lack of Creative/Art Directors or their lower rankings. And indeed even Photo Editors. No Fabien Baron or Arem Duplessis. No Jody Quon. No Anna Wintour? Again, too many photographers?
- Jimmy Moffatt and Anne Kennedy at #79. Too low, and yes on behalf of my profession perhaps not enough agents.
- The fact that I am harping on about this 3 years after the fact. Really sad. But there was no AVS blog then!
Filed in: Talent, Editorial, Reviews, Word on the Street.
I’d be very interested in YOUR LIST. =)
I agree in wondering where are the agents on this list. After all, aren’t the agents often the ones pushing the photographers out into the world and getting them the big gigs? Norman Jean Roy is on the list (whom I once interned for a while ago), yet David Maloney isn’t, who also reps editorial big gun Robert Maxwell (whom I once assisted for).
My list:
1)Kathy Ryan
2)Kathy Ryan
3)Kathy Ryan
4)Kathy Ryan
5)Kathy Ryan
6)Kathy Ryan
7)Kathy Ryan
8)Kathy Ryan
9)everybody else
My list:
1)Kathy Ryan
2)everybody else
Where are the creative directors indeed? It seems as though they hold more power - at least the power of importance - than a lot on that list.
And if we’re talking photographers, I would have to say Steven Klein deserves a spot somewhere on that list. If for nothing else than his stranglehold on the editorial scene.