Predictions '09

Thinking lately about the conversations I have had with my friends, colleagues, and students over the past year, it feels as if it may be time to offer some photo predictions for 2009.

• The "photo - blog" will reach some kind of precipice / tipping point. More innovations will be offered (which is true every year), but I see more personal narratives gripping us rather than the same old, same old. Already it appears as if our community is in danger of becoming formulaic, although there are of course still standouts. I find myself skipping over much that sits in my Google Reader, and focusing more and more on the posts / blogs that convey a sense of authorship rather than repetition. Generationally, we are in control of the first attempt on what the possibilities of this online medium hold, and I personally plan on using this first prediction as an incentive to push myself to be as creative as possible with my blog. Of course I challenge all of you to do the same!

• Being an emerging artist / photographer will become more challenging and fulfilling at the same time. As the economy tightens, so will the emerging artist market (this article offers some great insights into the topic, and there is also this terrific article in the January issue of Artforum by Nick Stillman). Maybe it will result in some good photographers being passed over, but also (hopefully) the development of a higher standard, and ultimately better work all around.

• The year of Surf the Channel and it's ultimate demise. This next step in media sharing is too good to be true, just as is the openness of the Internet itself. In the short time since I have abandoned all traditional media, and turned to the web itself for all of these needs (urges), I have found the increase in advertising staggering. I think we will look back on the intellectual, visual, and raw access freedoms that we enjoy currently on the Internet as the pinnacle.

• And finally a non - photo related prediction for the best year ever! It has to keep getting better folks, or what's the point of living? Economically things are looking apocalyptic, but seriously this doom & gloom is as bad as the "terrorists". We should be excited for the future, and need I mention that at least in this country we will have an intellectually curious leader for the first time in 8 years.

Happy New Year!