Here’s a nice interview with Rhonda Wilson of the Rhubarb Rhubarb photography agency. The transcript is extremely literal and there’s also a video (annoyingly in RealMedia format). Here’s a couple of quotes about Birmingham:
To be honest, our reputation nationally and internationally is better than our reputation regionally. We consider that probably Birmingham is one of the hardest cities to work in for an agency that represents image makers because Birmingham doesn’t really have a very good handle on its own image. So, it tends to use very out-of-date marketing pictures, it doesn’t invest very well in photographs that, I suppose, make visible the contemporary life of the city. And a large part of our job is advocacy in going and talking to people and saying ‘Look, actually we could do this better’.
[…]
In a way, there are only, I think, a few people in Birmingham who do realize the true impact of what we’ve done. Photography is not one of the creative industries, as defined by the Department of Media, Culture and Sports.
Go read / watch the rest.
via D’log
When she says: So, it (Birmingham) tends to use very out-of-date marketing pictures, it doesn’t invest very well in photographs that, I suppose, make visible the contemporary life of the city.
Well, as from last week, that has changed. Thankfully, our library has signed a deal to provide contemporary photography of Birmingham that can be used to market it worldwide.
Craig
Oh in the hope of an enriched RSS system…?
Craig, so please explain this further?