The FINANCIAL — Majority of people who prefer printing photos to watching them in digital format are young ladies according to photographic studios in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Rising number of computers killed popularity of photo printing. Many photographic studios closed their businesses and only some of them are trying to offer additional services in order to keep business running. Weddings also help printing photo industry to survive.
Strange trend among Georgian photo lovers is that the preferred size of photos is now smaller -10X18, while a few years ago 13X18 was the most popular format.
“Two years ago there were 4 photographic studios near us. We had our loyal clients. We had a stable income and this competition even helped us to gain more benefit,” says Nona Archaia, Deputy Director of Kodak Express. “These studios are closed. In spite of the fact that his is the only photographic studio in this area, our income is almost the same and it has even slightly decreased due to the low demand on printed photos. Another change was witnessed in the size of the photos. Earlier people used to print small photos 13X18, now the average standard is 10X15. ”
As Archaia added the period of fasting is the hardest one for the photographic studio because there are no weddings and christenings. The only photos they have to print at that time are photos for passports or documents. Almost every photographic studio offers discounts of 20%. Printing one average size photo usually costs GEL 0, 30-o, 40. Besides, they constantly introduce different offers to attract and increase the number of their customers.
“Fortunately, we still have a tradition of printing photos and making an album of a wedding day,” noted Archaia.
“I would say, our traditions and experience gives us an opportunity to have our corporate and constant clients,” said Michael Machavariani, the Manager of Photo World.” The market isn’t really enviable for new comers. I wouldn’t start this business today.”
Georgians rarely use photos for office or home interior decoration. Young Georgians prefer to browse family photos in their computers and mobile phones. Their walls at home are not decorated with photos anymore.
“I only print photos when I need to submit them somewhere”, Sopho Datishvili says. “But last time I did not have the need of it. I sent digital photos for documents without any problems. My computer and my Facebook are full of my photos. Why should I print them? I can look through them any time I want, “she says.
Photographer Leli Blagonrarova considers that the perception of printed and digital photos totally differ from each other. If someone wants to feel the real essence of the photo, one should print it by all means.
“Printed photo is essential for professional growth of a photographer”, stated Blagonrarova. “You can look through the photos twice in the computer or in digital albums, and then you forget. If you want to remember a photo and see all the mistakes you should print and hang it up on the wall and watch it every minute.
Photo is a memory of your life, let alone its professional side. Sometimes it can tell the whole history. There are two kinds of photos- photos which are only for me and the ones for others. I always print them for me. I send the photos, which are for others via skype or e-mail. I hope people will realize real importance of photos and start printing them as they did before.”
Printed photos are a history. They are real and don't need electricity to be shown. Art of photo can live in printed format only, while digital photos are entertainment, just part of hi tech. It seems that art photography is not properly valued in Georgia.
“We have very good photographers and Georgians like to take photos but we don’t have this tradition and culture to adorn houses with photographs, like it is accepted in Europe,” said the famous photographer and photo journalist Gogi Tsagareli. “Due to the development of digital world and digital cameras the need for printed photos is lost. Even I use tape for shooting, but then scan it on the digital machine for printing.”
Nestan Nijaradze, Head of Tbilisi Photography House complained that the history of the first Georgian photo is still unknown, as nobody tried to investigate it properly.
“The earliest information we have about the first photo was published in the newspaper Kavkaz in 1946. The article reported that foreign photographer Verner was in Tbilisi and took photos with a sophisticated camera,” added Nijaradze.
The first Georgian Photographer was Aleksandre Roinishvili, who started his career in 1865 as a photographer and later made the first moveable exhibition. Nowadays, many universities in Georgia like Georgian Institute of Public Affairs and Rustaveli Theatre and Film, Georgian State University have faculties and schools of photography. As Photographers complain, unfortunately, there is no photo museum in Georgia yet. Galleria Karvasla is the only exhibition hall, which permanently serves as a photo museum.
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