The NY Times Shutters Its Lens Blog

The New York Times launched its Lens blog a decade ago to showcase the best of photojournalism across the industry. Fans of the publication will be sad to hear that it’s now coming to an end — in it’s current form, at least.

Times photography director Meaghan Looram announced the news in a note to staff sent out yesterday and shared by NPPA.

“May 18 marks the 10th anniversary of Lens,” Looram writes. “Over the course of that decade, James Estrin, David Gonzalez, David Dunlap and Josh Haner introduced New York Times readers to a world of photography — and photographers — that they had never experienced. As one of the first photo blogs at the time, Lens set out to showcase work that risked getting lost in the digital blizzard, as well as to highlight themes and issues in the world of photojournalism.”

The Lens blog helped launch the annual The New York Portfolio Review, which brings together hundreds of talented photographers and editors from across the globe to meet, exchange ideas, help each other, collaborate, and “have fun.” That free event will live on.

Looram says that the changing landscape of digital publishing has led the Times to reconsider the purpose of Lens.

“Lens was founded during a different era,” Looram says. “Digital platforms were presenting new challenges to the industry, and Lens provided one of the few dedicated showcases for photography. But since then, the means of consuming photography have changed and expanded.

“We believe that this is the perfect time to take stock of and celebrate what Lens has achieved and to give serious thought to how to better position Lens for the future. As we endeavor to reinvent it in a form that best serves our current and potential audience, Lens will go on a temporary hiatus at the end of this month.”

Although the note says this is a “temporary hiatus,” Looram gives “a final nod to the creators, producers and caretakers of Lens” for “its wonderful run.”

(via NPPA and PDNPulse)