As an advertising photographer in the '80s, I did a picture of a Walls Pork Sausage that was very successful for the product and its advertising agency but put me in danger of being Britain's top sausage photographer (and never being asked to do an ad for Guinness, Toyota, Petfoods etc). That's because people like to put you in a pigeonhole. I turned down any commission that involved sausages after that and enjoyed a successful career being pigeonholed instead as a 'safe pair of hands'.
Since I gave up that career to go diving, I've concentrated on underwater photography and have built up a library of around 350,000 pictures over 20 years. I may not be an award-winner but I have found a steady demand for these pictures that net me a useful amount of money each month. However, I've made my name as a diving writer (despite the fact that my pictures are used to illustrate my articles and articles written by others and are seen (unattributed) elsewhere.
I was recently commissioned to write a book of short stories about diving and the 70,000 word manuscript is now with the publisher. I am the author.
Imagine my surprise when the marketing dept. of the publisher (in charge of the cover design) sent me their finalised version of the cover of my book with a photograph by someone else!
Well, I'm a writer. How could I possibly have made any suitable pictures!
Pigeonholed again!
(I just wanted to share my anguish with you all!)
Pigeonholing.
Started by John Bantin, Dec 14 2011 01:59 PM
14 replies to this topic
#1
John Bantin
-
- Industry
- 1815 posts
Sperm Whale
- Gender:Male
- Location:Teddington/Twickenham UK
-
Interests:Technical Editor
Diver Magazine (UK) and www.divernet.com
occasional contributor
SportDiver (Aus)
Undercurrent
Author of Amazing Diving Stories (Wiley Nautical) -
Posted 14 December 2011 - 01:59 PM
I buy my own photographic kit. Diving equipment manufacturers and diving services suppliers get even-handed treatment from me whether they choose to advertise in the publications I write for or not. All the equipment I get on loan is returned as soon as it is finished with. Did you know you can now get Diver Mag as an iPad/Android app?
#2
RWBrooks
-
- Industry
- 304 posts
Eagle Ray
- Gender:Male
- Location:Palau
- Interests:The Natural World, the sciences
-
Posted 14 December 2011 - 02:57 PM
Could be worse, you could have been Britain's top sausage photographer......
What an accolade.....
What an accolade.....
Richard Brooks
Palau Underwater Filming Services
Federated States of Micronesia
Blog
Stock Portfolio
More Stock
Visit My Website
Palau Underwater Filming Services
Federated States of Micronesia
Blog
Stock Portfolio
More Stock
Visit My Website
#3
John Bantin
-
- Industry
- 1815 posts
Sperm Whale
- Gender:Male
- Location:Teddington/Twickenham UK
-
Interests:Technical Editor
Diver Magazine (UK) and www.divernet.com
occasional contributor
SportDiver (Aus)
Undercurrent
Author of Amazing Diving Stories (Wiley Nautical) -
Posted 15 December 2011 - 12:27 AM
Could be worse, you could have been Britain's top sausage photographer......
What an accolade.....
Exactly...By the way, I was with Navot and Tova a couple of weeks ago.
Edited by John Bantin, 15 December 2011 - 12:27 AM.
I buy my own photographic kit. Diving equipment manufacturers and diving services suppliers get even-handed treatment from me whether they choose to advertise in the publications I write for or not. All the equipment I get on loan is returned as soon as it is finished with. Did you know you can now get Diver Mag as an iPad/Android app?
#4
scorpio_fish
-
- Member
- 1402 posts
Orca
- Gender:Male
- Location:Dallas, TX
-
Posted 15 December 2011 - 03:22 AM
Heck, I thought the story was going to go full circle and the cover shot of your book was going to be ......a sausage.
"Me, fail English?.........Unpossible!"
#5
Drew
-
- Video Expert
-
- 10236 posts
The Controller
- Gender:Male
- Location:GPS is not reliable in South East Asian seas
-
Posted 15 December 2011 - 11:32 AM
You just need a better agent, John. 
Drew
Moderator
"Journalism is what someone else does not want printed, everything else is public relations."
Moderator
"Journalism is what someone else does not want printed, everything else is public relations."
#6
Cerianthus
-
- Member
- 594 posts
Tiger Shark
- Gender:Male
- Location:Hasselt, Overijssel, Netherlands
-
Posted 15 December 2011 - 12:20 PM
where is a `like` button when you need one....
#7
DeanB
-
- Industry
- 3073 posts
Humpback Whale
- Gender:Male
- Location:U.K
-
Posted 18 December 2011 - 11:56 PM
I'm apparently known as the 'Pike-man' at the Natural History Unit... Great to be known,
although the 'Manta' or even 'Tropical water' man would have been better for location work ...
Dean
although the 'Manta' or even 'Tropical water' man would have been better for location work ...
Dean
#8
johnjvv
-
- Member
- 242 posts
Sting Ray
- Gender:Male
- Location:Frankston, Australia
-
Posted 19 December 2011 - 01:02 AM
Let us see the picture of the sausage!!!
#9
John Bantin
-
- Industry
- 1815 posts
Sperm Whale
- Gender:Male
- Location:Teddington/Twickenham UK
-
Interests:Technical Editor
Diver Magazine (UK) and www.divernet.com
occasional contributor
SportDiver (Aus)
Undercurrent
Author of Amazing Diving Stories (Wiley Nautical) -
Posted 19 December 2011 - 02:13 AM
Alas, I have no way of scanning a 10x8 transparency!Let us see the picture of the sausage!!!
I buy my own photographic kit. Diving equipment manufacturers and diving services suppliers get even-handed treatment from me whether they choose to advertise in the publications I write for or not. All the equipment I get on loan is returned as soon as it is finished with. Did you know you can now get Diver Mag as an iPad/Android app?
#10
Nige Wade
-
- Industry
- 294 posts
Sting Ray
- Gender:Male
- Location:Royal Berkshire, England
-
Posted 19 December 2011 - 04:47 AM
Let us see the picture of the sausage!!!
I'm sure JB's Sausage isn't as impressive as he makes out
Merry Xmas
Nige
http://www.wadeimaging.com
There's no dignity in diving. Especially as you get older.
Nikon D800 Subal ND800 housing Nikkor 16-35, 60, 105 and a Sigma 15 FE. Inon Z240's. ULCS arms.
#11
PRC
-
- Member
- 1161 posts
Great White
- Gender:Male
- Location:Guernsey Channel Islands
-
Posted 19 December 2011 - 05:29 AM
Harsh but fair Nige - he is getting on a bit......
(moving back a safe distance....)
Paul C
(moving back a safe distance....)
Paul C
#12
loftus
-
- Member
- 4550 posts
Blue Whale
- Gender:Male
- Location:Winter Park, Fl
-
Posted 19 December 2011 - 06:09 AM
I'm sure JB's Sausage isn't as impressive as he makes out
Merry Xmas
Nige
Now he was a Playboy photog once
Nikon D800, Nikon D7000, Nauticam, Inons, Subtronic Novas. Lens collection - 10-17, 15, 16, 16-35, 14-24, 24-70, 85, 18-200, 28-300, 70-200, 60 and 105, TC's. Macs with Aperture and Photoshop.
#13
Drew
-
- Video Expert
-
- 10236 posts
The Controller
- Gender:Male
- Location:GPS is not reliable in South East Asian seas
-
Posted 19 December 2011 - 07:21 AM
It's very disconcerting when sausages and Playboy in the forum, especially when it's JB's.
Drew
Moderator
"Journalism is what someone else does not want printed, everything else is public relations."
Moderator
"Journalism is what someone else does not want printed, everything else is public relations."
#14
John Bantin
-
- Industry
- 1815 posts
Sperm Whale
- Gender:Male
- Location:Teddington/Twickenham UK
-
Interests:Technical Editor
Diver Magazine (UK) and www.divernet.com
occasional contributor
SportDiver (Aus)
Undercurrent
Author of Amazing Diving Stories (Wiley Nautical) -
Posted 19 December 2011 - 12:33 PM
It's very disconcerting when sausages and Playboy in the forum, especially when it's JB's.
Get it right! Penthouse! (A rather long time ago. Do you want to see my pictures of naked grandmas? They weren't grandmas when I photographed them!)
I buy my own photographic kit. Diving equipment manufacturers and diving services suppliers get even-handed treatment from me whether they choose to advertise in the publications I write for or not. All the equipment I get on loan is returned as soon as it is finished with. Did you know you can now get Diver Mag as an iPad/Android app?
#15
PRC
-
- Member
- 1161 posts
Great White
- Gender:Male
- Location:Guernsey Channel Islands
-
Posted 19 December 2011 - 12:59 PM
Ah remember it well do you John ? - years before photoshopping / inflation of such 'assets' became the norm.
Have to go careful here or we will be dragging Jeff in for a professional assessment......
Paul C
Have to go careful here or we will be dragging Jeff in for a professional assessment......
Paul C
