Bill Gates' Checkered Past

To hear the Digital Journalist tell it, Bill Gates' home decorating scheme was the beginning of the end of free-lance photography. Yes, Bill Gates, like Walt Disney, plotted behind closed doors in places of inscrutible power for the obliteration of these free-spirited folks.
The more likely scenario is that the evolving technology made free-lancers somewhat obsolete- or rather their business naivete made them vulnerable to the first predator that came along. With digital technology, it was only a matter of time.
The only really unfortunate thing that happened was the avarice with which Gates acquired agencies like Sygma and SABA. Granted, the landscape shifts with change, but earthquakes don't help anyone.
No one in the world has the luxury of being ignorant of business, unfortunately. If photographers continually let agencies take advantage of them, then they should learn to take a more active part in owning their material, and maybe organize.

In other news, David Snider's pictures were quite good. I especially like the Miles Davis picture (being a big fan of jazz) and the kid blowing the huge bubble. I only think it's a little arrogant when someone tries to take a picture of really boring tripe like a telephone pole, and expects you to appreciate it. Snider didn't really do that. His Street Pictures didn't waste my time. I am happy.