The “great editorial culling” that occurred in print in 2020 waned this year, but its scars remained. In Australia, NewsCorp stopped printing 112 newspapers in May 2020. 36 closed and 76 became online only. In July 2020, Bauer Media (now Are Media) magazines Harper’s BAZAAR, ELLE, InStyle, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Good Health, NW, and OK! closed shortly after Mercury Capital acquired the company. The pattern was the same throughout the world. The “great democratisation of photography” showed no signs of abating either. Unearthing less established [read: less expensive] photographers became not only a budget necessity, but a trend – aided and abetted by the diversity movement. Less work, smaller commissions, and more photographers promised that 2021 would be a challenging year.
Then came a second wave of COVID. This struck the northern hemisphere early in the year while Australia was enjoying a few months of production with rules, but without lockdowns. In July, Australia’s dream run ended as Europe and the US began to be freed. This year, the world didn’t conquer COVID either. We’ve realised, instead, that the new normal involves living with it. 2022 should be an interesting year.
Here is how five Australian photographers managed 2021.
Adam Ferguson: It has been such a year
When the pandemic overturned life as usual last year, Adam Ferguson’s work became limited. Like most freelancers,, a cover story for recently about climate change in the American West, and a cover story about COVID long-haulers for magazine.”
