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How Adaptable Are You Willing To Be?

12/30/2014

5 Comments

 
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I was reading some great quotes this morning when I ran across this one, which, at the risk of sounding like I'm preaching, is perfect for a blog post setting the stage for the new year:
"Anything you're rigid about, sooner or later, 
the rug is going to get pulled out from under you."

Alan Arkin
Although I like to believe I'm a young thinker, technically, by many of your standards, I'm an old fart. Well, being an old fart is something I'm pretty proud of.  It gives me an advantage many of you don't have.  I've got an amazing collection of classic moments in this industry to learn from.  Here are some examples that tie directly to Alan Arkin's quote.
  • When digital photography came on the scene there were a lot of photographers who felt the industry was simply going to hell and NOTHING was going to replace film. Check back through their gene pool and they probably have a relative who screamed the same thing when we went from black and white to color...sorry, I'm not old enough to remember that one! LOL
  • I remember a Calumet campaign fighting it out with Nikon. At that time Calumet was one of the biggest professional photography retailers in the country. When Nikon announced they were no longer going to manufacture non-autofocus lenses, Calumet dropped the line. They actually had a special graphic that showed a Nikon with a red circle and bar through it. Six months later they caved, along with the industry's acceptance of autofocus technology.
  • As president of Hasselblad, back in the mid 90's I was asked to be the moderator of a WPPI platform program, then billed as the "Battle of the Century". It was between Monte Zucker and a "radical" photographer, Denis Reggie. The battle was over the issue of wedding photojournalism and traditional photography and it got ugly. In fact, the two of them spent the first fifteen minutes throwing grenades at each other as did the audience. The room was completely divided, like the bride and groom's family at a wedding. Within a year or two it was a moot point, yet there are still a few diehards out there who will still, give the opportunity, raise the issue.
  • Then there are changes in the industry that happen because management isn't listening. Polaroid had 21,000 employees when I was there and twenty years later went bankrupt. Kodak's problems have become legendary. PPA and WPPI battled it for years and now ShutterFest is setting a new standard for building a community together with a trade show and magazine.
  • Here's one more that's current. It's about those of you who want to battle it out over Canon vs. Nikon. With mirrorless technology it's no longer even relevant. Panasonic, Sony, Samsung and Fujifilm are all creating some amazing products. As an example, check out the images and photographers who make up Panasonic's Luminaries. They're a remarkable group and they'e using LUMIX gear to set an incredibly high standard, including 4K video and the list goes on and on.

So, here's my point this morning...every day there's another paradigm shift in technology, consumer trends, business and social media. I'm not suggesting you abandon your beliefs or support for anything, just keep an open mind and remember that survival is no longer about the most fit, but about the most creative and adaptable.
5 Comments
Andy Martin link
12/30/2014 02:22:18 am

I love this quote and it is so true. In business if you don't evolve, you die.

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Brian mcmillen link
12/30/2014 08:41:16 am

if you don't adapt, You will be overcome!

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Scott Wright
12/30/2014 04:00:48 pm

Recently I saw a piece about Max Factor who did all the makeup for the actors and actresses before color film. I didn't know this until the show, but makeup was red's, greens, yellows, etc.. because of how it showed in black and white. When color film came about many of the actresses were very adamant about being shot on color film as they didn't think they would look good. Also, Max Factor had to create new makeup that withstood the heat of the lights and the sweet of the actresses.

Just pointing out how this major change in technology caused a lot of growing pains in the movie business, but it survived.

Reply
Justin Bassett link
12/31/2014 12:38:36 am

Technically, 'survival of the fittest' has never been accurate - it's always been the most adaptable to change that hangs around.

Reply
Michael Novo
1/5/2015 03:36:41 am

I'd go even further and say that being adaptable at the right time and the right place is the important thing. Each day we have more options, more technology and more choices. A month ago a took on a full wedding shoot of an actual client with nothing more than two cell phones and hot lights held by assistants. While the results would rival anything from let's say 2-3 decades ago...it's not something I'm ready to hop over to and say that we should all be shooting with cell phones or even the smaller mirrorless cameras...yet.

I guess it boils down to at least keeping an open mind when a new idea is presented. But that's the most difficult part. Workflows get established, systems tried and true in place...often you don't know something isn't working until it's too late.

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