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Survey of international members
Photography is an international language, and from its very beginnings the ASMP has counted internationally based photographers as integral members.
Jacques J. Halber
Jacques J. Halber
Web site: None yet
Country Based/For How Long: Chile/20+ years.
Nationality: American
Photographic Specialty: Fine arts and general.
For how many years have you worked as a photographer? Some 40 years.
For how many years have you been an ASMP member? Since 1976 or 31 years.
What do you consider to be the most valuable aspect of your membership in the ASMP?
Belonging to a group with like interests that can act as a backup in collective and individual problems, as well as keeping me up-to-date on such problems.
What service or information could ASMP provide to you as an international member that would add value to your membership?
Better, more specific and reliable clients and markets, museums and shows.
Would you be willing to pay extra for this service?
It depends on the value of the information received and resulting profits.
Do you participate in any of the existing ASMP specialty groups or listservs? If so, which ones?
Yes, the Fine Arts group.
Do you belong to other local photographic or professional associations within your local community? If so, which ones?
Yes, to the GKf when I lived in Holland.
What is your primary source of news about the photography industry?
PDN in print, PDNonline.com, ASMP Bulletin and e-mails, Aperture magazine, other newsletters.
In your opinion, what is the most critical issue affecting photographers in your local community today?
The lack of an active photographic scenario. The critical issues are the technological and digital revolution and how best to adapt to it.
In the interest of building community and forging strategic alliances, would you be willing to share resources and knowledge of your local market with another ASMP member if they were to contact you in advance of a trip to your area?
I would be willing to share information with visiting ASMP members insofar as the limited local scene permits and does not deprive me of local business, if any.
Addendum: I'd like to add the following, which I think is important:
Since the introduction of digital, the market here has pretty much hit bottom. Agencies can now do anything rapidly and fix it with Photoshop and other software. The ones making the money are the manufacturers of point-and-shoot digital cameras who have succeeded in converting photography from a craft and art into a household gadget and toy for personal entertainment and lots of juicy color prints. Here there is no real market, save the advertising held by a small number of long-time professionals with their regular clients. There is no market for fine art photos and few if any real or serious collectors or galleries, although there is an active exhibition scene, especially in Santiago, which goes from academic, semi-professionals, to artists.