OK, so I admit it. I just don’t get it.
I spent four incredibly inspiring days in Cologne, Germany, attending photokina, and I came away with the impression that half of Europe must be photo enthusiasts. For those who haven’t been lucky enough to walk the halls of the Kölnmesse, they seem endless. It’s not the kind of show you can visit for just one day; you have to “experience” it for at least three, and even that may not be enough.
The crowds were passionate. The new products were inspiring. The investment in the booths by the likes of Canon, Nikon, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, Olympus, Fujifilm and, even to a lesser degree, Kodak was jaw dropping. These weren’t booths; they were city blocks. In short, there was a buzz that never stopped. And most important, it shined the spotlight on imaging, and only imaging, for almost a week.
Which brings me to my soapbox.
It’s too late to bring back the PMA show. That train, as they say, has already left the station. And I believe PMA@CES is an excellent “show within a show.” But it’s time for the major imaging manufacturers to commit to bringing imaging to the forefront in this country once again. Honestly, photokina made me jealous of the commitment manufacturers demonstrated to our industry in Europe. Yes, I realize the European marketing teams have to deal with individual countries, and the situation is not exactly the same in the U.S.
But with PMA gone, and PMA@CES commitments a fraction of the costs, it’s in our industry’s best interest to shine the light on imaging in the U.S. once again. I applaud the “new” PMA for announcing The Big Photo Show scheduled for LA in May. It’s a first step that I hope the manufacturers stand behind in an effort to bring our industry out of the shadows of the CE industry—and back onto our own stage.
I hope the manufacturers will consider creating advertising and marketing programs that not only sell their own products but also inspire people to shoot, print and save their memories. We all depended on Kodak to lead the way on this, and now that it is struggling, it’s up to the rest to take the lead.
Let’s continue to shine the light on our industry. It will be worth the investment.
