TAIYUAN — The 23rd Pingyao International Photography Festival kicked off on Tuesday in Pingyao, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site known for its well-preserved ancient architecture, in North China’s Shanxi province.

Themed “New Light, New Orientation” this year, the six-day festival has attracted 13,961 works by over 2,000 photographers from 28 countries.

The festival is divided into five major sections with 16 units. More than 120 educational institutions, 12 of them from overseas, are participating in one of the units, a record high for the festival.

Advocating diversity, internationalism and professionalism, the annual festival, launched in 2001, has attracted over 290,000 photography works from more than 100 countries and regions, and is considered an important platform for cross-cultural communication.

Fine Gael Senator Micheal Carrigy, who spoke at the hearing into RTÉ’s finances last week, compared the professional photography to mobile phone photos and said his assistant can take photos at no cost.

It emerged last week during an Oireachtas committee meeting that the photographer would earn a maximum of €60,000 per annum, or €240,000 over four years, to photograph stills on the set of Fair City.

Following the hearing RTÉ’s director general Kevin Bakhurst said the broadcaster was suspending the tender for a photographer, and “stopping all discretionary spending”.

Mr Bakhurst said he “can’t believe” the salary that was being offered for photography on the show.

“Given the steep fall in the licence fee and the uncertainty over interim funding, and following last week’s announcements, we have decided to halt the current tender process for Fair City photography,” said Mr Bakhurst.

During the hearing Senator Carrigy expressed his shock at the job salary and said, “I’ve asked my assistant to take a picture of me speaking here and I’ll show it to you in about two minutes’ time and it won’t cost anything to be able to do that”.

Beta Bajgart, who holds the Fair City stills photographer contract, penned an open letter to the Senator on Monday and said she was “disturbed” by his comments.

“I found your remark highly insulting and derogatory to all people who work within the creative industries,” said Ms Bajgart.

She said that the remark is potentially insulting to all her colleagues working on Fair City, stressing that a photographer’s work is “not just a matter of pressing a button on a smartphone”.

Ms Bajgart explained that her role is to take photographs of the scenes and actors for publicity purposes, with promotional press packs forming an important part of the show.

“Firstly, not that I should have to, but your ignorant comment of reducing a photographer’s work to such a level astounded me so much that perhaps I do need to explain,” said Ms Bajgart.

She added that the average time she spends on the set of Fair City is 30 hours per week, over three full days, in addition to time editing, postproduction enhancement, prepping packs as well as emails and meetings.

“The photographer on RTÉ’s Fair City is an independent contractor who does not receive any benefits that you and your colleague are more familiar with for example,” the open letter continues.

“There is no pension, no paid holidays and no sick leave,” she said, adding that the photographer must buy and update their own equipment and have their own transport.

“The utter disregard that the photography profession received in the press in the past week, compounded by your derogatory remarks, feeds into the damaging stereotype that art and creative professions don’t deserve the same respect and financial benefits as any other profession,” she said.

She asked Senator Carrigy if he enjoys a night at the cinema, a music gig, a theatre production or a visit to the galleries. “Perhaps none of these should exist, perhaps these are all superfluous, and something we can ‘capture on our smartphone’ free of charge,” Ms Bajgart said.

“I would like to invite you to rethink your outlook and make a public apology for the ill-considered remarks you have loaded on all creative practitioners in our country.

“A representative in your position should refrain from such insulting comments and make appropriate redress for them,” she concluded.

In a statement last week RTÉ said the tender was being suspended following an announcement of a recruitment freeze and stopping all discretionary spending.

The broadcaster said it will “pause and take time to review the volume of photography required and length of contract, among other considerations”.

A revised tender for photography on the Fair City set will be issued once these decisions have been made.

The photographer would have worked an average of 20 hours per week over the course of three days per week and delivered “a minimum of 16 approved photograph stills in both high and low resolution to Fair City each week, for 50 weeks per year, as specified by RTÉ”.

RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst said: “While quality professional photography is essential to enable us to promote our programmes and engage audiences, it is not possible for RTÉ to commit to a four-year contract or to this level of spend given the challenges we now face,” Mr Bakhurst said.

It is anticipated the shortfall in TV licence fee payments will stand at €21m by the end of the year.

In the world of photography, you never stop learning, so staying inspired and informed is crucial. Whether you’re a budding amateur or an experienced professional, there are always new techniques to learn, new equipment to try, new perspectives to consider, and industry news to keep on top of.

Thankfully, there are a number of high-quality photography magazines and blogs that can help you do so.

To help you find the best resources, we’ve curated a list of the best photography publications available today. Both online and in print, these titles will provide a wealth of insights, tutorials, reviews and breathtaking imagery to ignite your passion.

1. Magazines to devour

Aperture: From its base in New York, Aperture is a nonprofit publisher that leads conversations around photography worldwide through an acclaimed quarterly magazine, books, exhibitions, digital platforms, public programs, limited-edition prints, and awards. Established in 1952 to advance “creative thinking, significantly expressed in words and photographs,” Aperture champions photography’s vital role in nurturing curiosity and encouraging a more just, tolerant society. Packed with interviews, features and incredible work, its magazine is a must-read for serious photographers everywhere.

British Journal of Photography: Operating since 1854, this is one of the world’s oldest photography magazines and has still very much got it. New issues come every two months and typically combine profiles of rising photographic artists with detailed analyses of historical figures. BJP, as it’s commonly known, is also home to some of the photography industry’s most prestigious awards, and its in-house agency connects the best photographic talent with major international brands.

Digital Camera: If you’re a beginner or keen amateur photographer, Digital Camera features tips, tutorials and hands-on projects to help you improve your technique. It also features reviews of the latest equipment, interviews with famous photographers, and masterclasses on different photographic topics written by leading experts. Every four weeks, there’s a new issue, adding up to 13 editions a year.

Black & White: Black & White is a specialist resource for connoisseurs and collectors of black and white fine-art photography. While black-and-white photography is often thought of as a medium of the past, recent years have drawn more enthusiasts into its community, with many participants using digital-format cameras to create black-and-white images. B&W believe that its title has been a factor in the accelerated growth of this medium and aims to continue to be so. There’s a new issue every calendar month.

2. Blogs that inspire

DPReview: If gear reviews are what you’re after, DPReview is a must-visit. They offer in-depth camera reviews and comparisons, keeping you updated with the latest photographic technology. Founded in 1998, their mission is to provide the most authoritative coverage of digital photography gear in the world, including news, articles and expert reviews. They have probably the most comprehensive database of consumer digital cameras on the web and provide an open, active forum and useful tools for their community.

Fstoppers: Fstoppers was founded in 2010 by Patrick Hall and Lee Morris as a web community for photographers, videographers and other creative professionals. It’s since become one of the top online resources for photography lighting, gear reviews, business tips, behind-the-scenes and industry news.

Petapixel: Established in 2009, PetaPixel is an online publication that aims to inform, educate and inspire in all things photography-related. With a fantastic mix of news and current events in the photography world, along with reviews and op-eds, it’s a great place to find the pulse of the industry’s latest developments.

3. Niche blogs for specialised interests

DIY Photography: For the tinkerers out there, this blog focuses on DIY photography and video projects and hacks, helping you get more creative with your gear. Its website offers a wide range of content for enthusiasts and professionals, from featuring talented artists to providing in-depth gear reviews. You’ll also find tutorials, tips and tricks of the trade, and news of industry trends here.

Shotkit: Ever wondered what gear your favourite photographers use? Shotkit offers a sneak peek into the camera bags of famous names worldwide. Founded by Mark Condon, a half-English, half-Japanese photographer living in Australia, this distinctive blog also features gear reviews, photography tutorials, software reviews, business advice and more.

4. Platforms that promote emerging talent

Feature Shoot: Emphasising photography as an art form, Feature Shoot showcases work from up-and-coming photographers from around the globe. Started in 2008 by Alison Zavos, it’s since amassed an archive of over 4,000 photographer profiles. With contributing writers from all over the world and a wide range of interests, you’ll find contemporary work here in all genres of photography, including fine art, documentary, portrait, still life and landscape.

500px ISO: The blog of the photo-sharing platform 500px, ISO provides inspiring stories, photo tutorials, and photo stories from the community. Head here to meet inspirational photographers and discover how they capture their best images.

LensCulture: A platform dedicated to discovering and promoting the best of global photography, LensCulture conducts contests, offers reviews and publishes stories to push the boundaries of the medium. Their mission is simple: to discover the best contemporary work and share it with the largest audience possible.

When an artist’s mind and boredom meet, it can spark a fashion brand. That was the case for junior immersive media design and information science major Nnenna Elekalachi.

Elekalachi birthed her streetwear brand, Elevated Apparel, in late 2020. She was inspired to pursue the idea after witnessing the success of other small clothing businesses on social media. These businesses often paid people to create their designs, she said, but Elekalachi believed she had an edge over any competitors: she could draw.

An artist since pre-kindergarten, Elekalachi made her first sale after customers made orders from the art they saw in her sketchbook.

The fashion brand also spreads an important message, Elekalachi added.

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“Elevated is supposed to stand for positivity and uplifting,” she said. “I’m also a Christian, so I wanted to show that and put a little bit of me and my religion and my ideology on life into clothing.”

One of Elevated Apparel’s T-shirts includes a graphic of a halo and wings, with the numbers 4:13 pasted on the front and the phrase “I am elevated through Christ who strengthens me” on the back of the shirt, alluding to Phillippians 4:13 in the Bible. 

Elevated Apparel has also received support from the University of Maryland community. Both administrators and the wider student population have supported Elekalachi at campus pop-ups. She is especially thankful for Black community members on this university’s campus because they often relate to her pieces most.

The creative’s fashion business also brought about another talent she never knew she had: photography. After a failed experience with the professional photographer she had booked for her apparel launch in 2020, she got a camera for herself.

The photo shoot was successful, so much so that she began pursuing photography by taking pictures of students on this university’s campus. Elekalachi would post on her Instagram story and ask if any students were interested in modeling and do free shoots for them. The shoots also served as a portfolio for the start of her photography business called “Elevated FX.”

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Jayden Gyamfi, a sophomore operations management and business analytics major, modeled for Elekalichi’s shoot, No Man’s Land, which was inspired by Brent Faiyaz’s Wasteland album cover. Gyamfi was on board with the project immediately because of his enjoyment of Faiyaz’s music.

“What’s unique about Nnenna’s photography businesses is her ability to bring ideas into fruition,” Gyamfi said. “The results of the photo shoot really made my jaw drop.”

Learning photography wasn’t difficult for Elekalachi because of her history in art, where she learned about composition and color theory, she said. 

Her recent photography work, Flower girls, stemmed from one of her drawings, which she felt would be a good concept to replicate live. She collaborated with her friend,  Ikechukwu Ihejirika, who is a junior communications major at Towson University.

Ihejirika describes collaborations and creative sessions with Elekalachi as a push and pull, where they constantly bounce off of each other’s creativity and end with “magic.”

“Nnenna sort of has a tunnel vision, so she sees what she wants to create in her mind, and she finds a way to make it happen,” Iherjirika said.