Sir, – Senator Micheál Carrigy’s comments at the recent Oireachtas media hearing demonstrate a clear lack of respect for the skill, craft and artistic endeavours of a whole industry of professional photographers, and have rightly been called out by photographer Beta Bajgart as “ignorant” (“RTÉ Fair City photographer criticises FG senator over ‘ignorant’ suggestion job could be done on smartphone”, News, September 18th).
Professional photographers are facing increasing challenges to their businesses and their craft, including the ever-growing use of unpaid user-generated content in lieu of professional imagery, the widespread misuse of images on social media, and AI threatening to undermine the authenticity of pure photography.
The Irish Professional Photographers & Videographers Association respectfully encourages Senators and TDs to use the platform afforded to them in the Houses of the Oireachtas to support our industry through such challenges, rather than undermine it with ill-considered comments like those expressed by Senator Carrigy. – Yours, etc,
RICHARD McCARTHY,
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President,
Irish Professional Photographers
& Videographers Association,
Dublin 2.