Paul Braun wrote:
> It's funny -- this argument extends to the recording industry as well.
>
> I have a number of friends who own and use things like Digidesign's
> ProTools or an SSL mixing desk simply because their clients think that
> you're a professional only if you have what they perceive as
> "professional" recording gear. Doesn't matter if that engineer's talent
> will allow him to make a killer recording with an old analog 16-track
> Otari or with Ensoniq's Paris system (the one I toy with). In their
> eyes, if you don't have ProTools (Nykon, Canyon), you're not a real
> professional even if they don't have a clue how you work.
I'll give another side to this. I worked in the sound recording industry
in the late 70's and early 80's. The studio I worked at in a northern
suburb of Chicago had professional equipment -- Eclipse consoles, MCI 24
track machines, Studer and Ampex 1/4 tape machines, etc -- professional
though not as "pro" as the major studios in downtown Chicago. The top
clients that came to our studio choose to work there because of the
owner and chief engineer -- it was his "talent" they sought. That man
could make magic no matter what equipment he used.
We also had a state of the art mastering lab (Neuman? - the name escapes
me) that cut lacquer masters -- this being the first stage in making a
vinyl record. No one in Chicago or the surrounding area had anything
that came close. Did we have high profile bands flocking in to cut their
masters? No. Anyone successful in the industry or about to become
successful took their work to New York City or Los Angeles. Why? Because
that's where the heart of the recording industry worked and where the
most talented mastering engineers resided.
So far I have been fortunate and I haven't run across equipment
prejudice in my work as a photographer with Olympus gear. But of course
I'm not a pro, at best maybe semi-pro. I feel one will always run across
clients that feel equipment defines the photographer. One needs to shine
some light on their ignorance by flashing a portfolio. :)
Richard
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