From the Edge?

It looks like the Weather channel is going to air a new photographer show on March 31st called “From the Edge” starring Peter Lik. I rarely shoot my best shots from the couch but this may be worth a look.
linky

I saw some of his work in a Las Vegas gallery and I thought it looked pretty good. The only thing I did not like about Peter is when my girlfriend said to me, “why can’t you have hunky muscles like him?” But that’s another story for another day.

Good’day mate…..

Marketing madness - and all the power to him for pulling it off. Check out this video from the BBC..

Note the Lik corporation did $30-35 MILLION last year. Now they're spamming thousands of photographers to promote the Weather Channel Gig. What are they offering? A book. Did anyone here get the email?

Back to the video. Couple interesting things. First, "Silver Halide." Did I miss something? Or was photographic film just invented and no one's ever heard of this process? No wonder his photos are so amazing.

Then watch the part about his "filter" called the "alarm clock." Fine, we all get up early. But immediately it shows him with an orange graduated sunset filter in front of his lens; probably a Cokin. No problem with filters, but answer the question. Didn't answer anything about "manipulated by a computer" either. No biggie, clearly other photographers is not his target market.

More power to him, but his photography is no different or better than most folks right here on NPN!

Lon

Yeah, I got the email too.
I'm not primarily a landscape photog. like most of you guys, but I echo Lon's sentiments - work just as good right HERE.
Sandy

I'm not familiar with Peter Lik. I watched the two minute promo video on the link. He seems loud and flamboyant. Aside from the slot canyon ghost picture, he didn't talk much about photography.

There's hardly any photography shows on TV so I guess I'll try to watch it. Not expecting too much - The guy comes off as a drive-time radio jock or a TV car salesman.

Total markeing HAM in my opinion. Photography is certainly no better than many here, but you have to give him credit, he does know how to market himself.

Holy Smokes $30-25 million last year!? I might be kind of happy and loud like him if I did so well.
I always wanted more from the Travels to the Edge with Art Wolf series. It seemed like his show was more of a travel show. That’s ok but I wanted more camera tips.
I hope that From the Edge is more than just a commercial.

I hope that From the Edge is more than just a commercial.

nope, it's nothing more than a travel log, exposure of those buldging biceps, etc. Nothing to learn photography wise.

Even if you're not intimately familiar with Yosemite, watch this short piece from his visit to the Valley.
Ok, so he doesn't know north from south or east from west, "head north towards the entrance of the park." He's going west. But the best part is watching the amazing transformation of sunrise at Valley view, gorgeous, epic conditions... transform to a flaming sunset from the same location, as it all happened during that one setup. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that the sunset image wasn't even taken the same day, or even the same year! Two different trees in the river - and that part of the river at Valley View changes every year due to the high water flow in the spring.

Anyway, clearly just a marketing production. And only places like here on NPN would a bunch of other photographers pick on this...

Lon

Landscape photography that grosses 30-35 million in sales annually. That is remarkable. I wonder if he uses Tony K's luminosity masks? If so, I hope he sent Tony a nice donation.

I was in Palm Desert last month and happened across a Gallery exclusive with his work. I parked my 5 yr old Yukon amongst the Beamers etc and went in with my wife for a look around. All of the prints were huge (minimum 3ft by 5 ft) and lighted in a way that almost looked like back lighting. The shots were very nice (but as stated - no better than any you would see on NPN) and they had a separate room painted in flat black with leather seating and special lighting so you could view your purchase in private with a flute of champaign.( I know all my rooms are painted flat black so the only thing I see is my photo.....)The upper crust was paying a cost starting in the low 5 figures for the wall hangings.

The way I look at it he's a good photographer, but we've got much better here. What he has that most of us don't is a huge marketing team that allows him access to places and has a team to set everything up for him so all he has to do is the minimum work. I don't for one minute believe he hikes all that way with his equipment outside of what is necessary for the photo ops, (His muscles are more from a gym session than "real" work it seems to me but I gues 30-35mill a year buys some quality gym time) but to the uninformed it's very impressive and that's part of what sells for him.

I had never heard of this guy but he does have a marketing machine that seems to targets a certain group of people. His work is no better than most professional landscape photographers and I have seen more creative landscape photography here at NPN. It does seem to be stretching it a bit to compare him with Ansel. He has a well executed marketing plan and non photography clients are sometimes "wowed" with big prints and big prices.

There is a long thread on Peter Lik on here. Given his income, it's difficult to discuss without sounding jealous or bitter or trying to tear him down. I'll just say that I think the majority of photographers would trade places with him if they could. (Even many, many of those who claim that they wouldn't.) He's definitely a marketing genius as far as his career goes.

David Bostedo said
"There is a long thread on Peter Lik on here. Given his income, it's difficult to discuss without sounding jealous or bitter or trying to tear him down. I'll just say that I think the majority of photographers would trade places with him if they could. (Even many, many of those who claim that they wouldn't.) He's definitely a marketing genius as far as his career goes."


If he's bringing in 30-35 million a year, I'll be first in line to trade places with him!! You can always learn photography, but marketing on his scale is tough!

I got his e-mail, too. My thoughts are echoed above. Wanted to write back and ask what the "tradeoff" for me was. But the answer was too obvious, so I ignored it,

I wonder if he'd have a show if he looked like Barney Fife?

I wonder if he'd have a show if he looked like Barney Fife?

I doubt it - as he probably wouldn't be as well known as he is if he didn't look like he does. It's all tied together I think...

I was watching a TV from a distance while we ate lunch out today and saw a preview for it. He looks a bit spastic and overwrought, but I'll watch Thursday out of morbid curiosity.