The Nikon D850 is quite the beast of a camera. It holds a massive 45.7-megapixel full-frame sensor that can record 4k video and create 8k time-lapses. It can shoot at a blazing fast seven frames per second and has an enormous 51 image buffer when shooting 14-bit raw images. The focus speed is insanely fast, deadly accurate, and offers 153 focus points with 130% more frame coverage than the older Nikon D810. The only problem with such an amazing monster of a camera is that Nikon thinks it’s too much for women to handle.
I know what you are thinking. No way Nikon would ever make such a claim. It seems absurd that only men could handle the D850. I myself can think of a large number of women photographers that would be more than capable of producing spectacular images with any camera, let alone this camera. But when Nikon created a team of 32 professional photographers to be the faces of the Nikon D850, they didn't choose a single woman photographer.
When building a list of 32 photographers, you basically have to go out of your way to not include a single woman. The problem here though is not just with Nikon, but instead with the entire photo industry. Brand ambassadors are filled with mostly men and entire conferences are filled with only male speakers. It would seem that the majority of photographers are men or maybe it's just too hard to find a woman that's not busy cooking and cleaning.
Or is it feasible that the D850 is in fact for men only and Nikon plans to release a pink and sparkly D850w for women to use?
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193 Comments
Now... that´s a surprising uppercut to Nikon. My wife is getting one D850 (www.gyda.is). She will show them...
Surprising? No, business as usual.
your wife's work is awesome!!!!!
She surely is a great shooter. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the link to her work! Love the portfolio. And now I want to visit Iceland!
" She will show them..."
Show what? Is Nikon preventing women from shooting with a Nikon?
Did anybody find out why Asian women isn't on this panel? Did they decline the invitation?
Are the asian population racists in nature?
Yes, no?
I bet someone at Nikon is kicking themself right now. Youch.
at this point, it seems pretty purposeful. There are many MANY times where the issue of shutting down women in this industry has been brought up. There are no more excuses for this behavior.
@Katrina, fortunately, there are others out there making a real effort at trying to address the imbalance, for instance https://www.womenphotograph.com/
"There are many MANY times where the issue of shutting down women in this industry has been brought up."
How is this shutting women out? Just because there aren't women? How do we know that women contacted did not decline?
There are way more men in the industry. A games developer had ONLY women on it's payroll. NO ONE complains about it.
There was an article on buzzfeed reporting on a women only company...zero women of colour, zero disabled women.
But if it were males to run the company...
Oh the hypocrisy.
Also, if someone stops you from a buying NIkon because you have a vagina, THEN only will I believe you.
EDIT: 7 women for USA ambassadors
https://goo.gl/EogArj
Did anybody find out why Nikon do not have women on board the Asian ambassadors?
Yes, no? Just jumping to conclusions I see.
What do you mean shutting down women? A lot of women are working as photographers and, more often than not, hold little to no prior experience other than some modeling work. Women are the only ones that can buy a DSLr and become a professional (paid) photographer in a year or so despite shooting nothing but mediocrity. Corissa Furr and Miki Taka are a couple of examples.
Also, why does it need to be equal though? No one complains that women make up the majority of brand ambassadors and product specialists at trade shows. Hell, they are no longer called models and instead given the UNEARNED title of marketing specialist and the like and dress normally so gender shouldn't matter at that point and yet it does. Look at the hashtags, doesn't seem to garner any attention now does it?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSC00o9F6SO/?taken-by=kellylouch
Have you seen other brands' representation of women in photography roles? They are actually worse than Nikon. If we are going to have a conversation about this topic as it concerns the industry then should other brands not also be called out in the article?
Sony - http://imagingambassadors.sony.net/ambassadors/
50 Men
8 Women
14% Women, 86% Men
Canon - http://learn.usa.canon.com/dlc/contributors/explorers.spr
32 Men
8 Women
20% Women, 80% Men
Nikon - http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/nikon-ambassadors/index.pa…
17 Men
7 Women
29% Women, 71% Men
Olympus - http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/visionaries
10 Men
2 Women
20% Women, 80% Men
Then look at the racial distribution too, how many photographers of color do you see ?
"how many photographers of color do you see ?" Zero, and you?
""how many photographers of color do you see ?" Zero, and you?"
Non-whites? There are more non-whites than whites...
"Then look at the racial distribution too, how many photographers of color do you see "
How many disabled people do we see?
How many veterans do we see?
How many of X do we see?
So Veterans are a racial category now? This is the typical dumb argument presented by the privileged few SMH
It's not a surprise (especially to us women) that it's ALL over the industry. We already knew that. Doesn't excuse Nikon either.
Nope. Everyone at Nikon is thanking themselves for all the free publicity you "fake outrage" people are giving them. Sales won't drop from this, the discussions won't effect anything, and Nikon will keep doing their thing.
This article is complete BS. Dixie Dixon is a Nikon Ambassador and has been heavily involved in the D850 marketing campaign. Also, every round-table panel discussion I have seen Nikon host has had at least one woman on it.
One woman? Is her name "Token Woman" by any chance? (http://southpark.wikia.com/wiki/Token_Black) It is unfortunate that photography is dominated by male photographers, but even still 32 photographers and not even one woman.
Of the two official roundtable panels I saw, one was with Joe McNally and Dixie Dixon. And the other panel was with Andrew Hancock, Brittany Leigh, and Matthew Jordan Smith. The official list of Nikon Ambassadors for the United states is very diverse. The particular campaign referenced in this article was for the Asia market. So maybe a more valid discussion is why Nikon does less to advertise larger sized camera's to Asian females. It's probably because they secretly hate all women, but it might also be that they have stats in the Asian market that show that they just don't sell as well to that market.
The list of Nikon Ambassadors in the US is 24 people, 7 of whom are women. If you think that women on average are 1/3 as professional as men, then yes, it is a very representative list. If, however, you think that women are not less inherently qualified than men, then we have to accept that there is a bias happening somewhere in the system.
and IF anyone has ever been to large photography events, it is pretty evident that women make up a majority of the attendants. Which is why this continued ignoring of an entire gender, let alone anyone who is not white, is so astounding and insulting.
well... too be fair you are wrong on the ethnicity part. It's actually a vary ethnically diverse group. And remember it's for the asian market they are in. It's just that it's all male
Sorry, but no. I used to be a lecturer at major photo expos (PhotoWest, PhotoEast, etc) often to hundreds at a time. Most photographers I met during mine and many others are just learning the beginnings to professional photography business. Other were there to advance their techniques in new directions to compete in the local market. A brand ambassador to any of the photography companies needs to have a high track record of profession aptitude as well as being able to communicate the manufacturers vision and marketing ideas.
Sorry, but no. I used to be a lecturer at major photo expos (PhotoWest, PhotoEast, etc) often to hundreds at a time. Most photographers I met during mine and many others are just learning the beginnings to professional photography business. Other were there to advance their techniques in new directions to compete in the local market. A brand ambassador to any of the photography companies needs to have a high track record of profession aptitude as well as being able to communicate the manufacturers vision and marketing ideas.
"it is pretty evident that women make up a majority of the attendants."
Not on the events I attended. Could you please be more specific? What events are attended by women and why are so few men to be seen on them? Special women events, may be?
As someone who has met hundreds or even thousands of other photographers in real life, (and definitely thousands online) ...I think it is folly to argue that men and women have an exactly equal level of interest in the geeky (and let's just be honest, the measurebating) ...side of photography. Which is, generally speaking, what goes on at these "exciting new tech toy" type private events. (I've been to one before, and it was NOT Nikon, and it WAS largely dominated by men.)
Women are just as talented and as creative and as men, if not moreso. But men are generally more into geeky, numbers stuff. So what? Get over it.
Why can't we just accept that the sexes are biologically different? We do, after all, have different chromosomes. And different body parts.
That's not to say that Nikon shouldn't have had *at least* a few women in this specific group of D850 "professional faces"... It was definitely a little sexist of whoever made this decision, even if they did it unintentionally.
I'd go a little further on one point even if I agreed with everything else you say here--Nikon certainly *has* done better elsewhere, for example. The Ambassadors are closer to being representative, without a doubt.
But I'm not really willing to let a marketing department off for doing something "unintentionally". Not doing stupid crap "unintentionally" is literally their "one job", and ... well, do I even need to complete the meme?
Do we know that none were invited? Maybe they had to decline for other reasons?
Matthew, the physical differences in gender have nothing to do with what has happened here. This is a matter of complete and utter bias and ignorance on Nikon's part since women make up 50% of the people in the photography business. I've been around the photo world almost 50 years and I've heard and witnessed some of the most absurd attitudes and behaviors among men. What I've concluded is that women are a formidable threat and, for *some* men, a way to deal with that threat is exclusion on the level that Nikon did for this ad. What we have long-called "the good ol' boy network."
Yes, Peggy, it does have at least a *little* to do with what happened here, maybe even a lot.
Let me ask you this: Do you think that this 50% women in the photography industry are 100% equally obsessed with geeking out about numbers and measurements and fanboy-ing?
I haven't been in the industry for 50 years, only 10-15, but today we're not talking about the sexism that surely did exist in yesteryear. We're talking about the last 5-10 years, tops.
And, simply put, I've lost count of how many men I've come across who go wild with fanboy measure-bating, and I've also lost count of how many women I've met who just roll their eyes and laugh at this male compulsion.
I'll grant this: maybe there's the SAME level of sexism in the photo industry as there is in the rest of the corporate world, and society in general.
If anything though, I suspect there's less sexism, at least in western society, when it comes to the real-world recognition of photographic talent, compared to the recognition of the accomplishments in the corporate world.
So, I'm not here to dispute the fact that 32/32 is a glaring error. As J Decker stated, the ONE job of a PR department is to make sure this kind of backlash doesn't happen. They dropped the ball. They might even be partly sexist, whether outright or just subconsciously. But, the operative word there is PARTLY.
Even if you yourself currently live in Japan and can speak to this specific, CURRENT environment of exclusion, ...you must still admit that there is a biological difference when it comes to which gender is more obsessed with gear. The two conditions are not mutually exclusive.
I keep hearing this "western world" stuff. Here is the thing. Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fuji are all Asian / Japanese products. Male centric may be, but they have done a very good job in promoting their talent in making state of the art cameras which we all love to buy. In some respect....our buying habits have contributed to this scenario.
Formula One and Le Mans is an European car manufacturers dominated sport. If the West is so much better in promoting gender equality, why are there very few women drivers? A hint of western male bias perhaps? Just fruits for thoughts.
If memory serves me right, commercial airlines pilots, army generals, rear admirals, jet fighter pilot, politicians, are all male dominated occupation...even in the west.
We could of course talk forever about each of those occupations, and discuss where sexism may or may not exist in each of them. How many female executives does Nikon have?
In some cases, maybe women are equally *interested* in pursuing that line of work, but are being discriminated against.
However, maybe, just maybe, some lines of work, women just aren't INTERESTED in, as much as men.
If you're a woman and you want to be a famous photographer, or a fighter jet pilot, then go for it. I hope you achieve all your goals. But if you're a female pixel-peeping, test-chart drooling, camera brand-loving fanGIRL, ...then you're in a minority. And it's partly biological.
Only a matter of time we get to the biological bit. I think you will find it has already been discussed millions of time most recently at Google and the gentleman in question no longer work for them. So good luck with your theories....
Personally, I have a young daughter in University and she is doing very well without my male condescending view.
What can I say, it is the future for man to know when to shut up and listen.
Why is it so condescending to say that men and women are not alike? That's all I'm saying. I'm not disputing that sexism exists. I'm entirely in favor of it being eliminated from society. But, let men be men, and let women be women.
Keep going Mathew. I think Amy would like to know more.....yes, tell us more.
I've made my point clear enough.
BTW I suspect that the gene for trolling is also largely male-dominant. I bet that's one gene that women DON'T want to adopt! :-P
Please, Matthew, tell us more about the scientific and biological "fanboy/nerd" genetics that only men with man parts (and in your words only a tiny amount of women in the minority possess). Please, link us to the droves of scientific research you've done and studied on this biological sex driven "gear, nerd, numbers" gene. And before you say it's just obvious that men are more into that side of thing than women so it must be mostly biology, pause for a second in your entirely sexist and uneducated explanation of men and women and their interests, to educate yourself on the impact gender roles have on these types of phenomenons. We've got enough work to do make sure women are equally encouraged at a young age to get as excited about "nerdy" stuff as boys are without you spreading misinformation about fictional "biology driven interests."
No. If you've observed an identical trend of preferences between genders, then why not give your own personal account?
I never mentioned scientific research, because I only have my personal experience in meeting thousands of photographers.
Of course, if any and all proof is automatically disqualified as an "ingrained-from-birth gender role" ...then neither of us should bother.
I won't argue about the existence of gender roles, or the importance of raising your kids "gender-neutral". Obviously, if I ever have both a son and daughter, I'm not going to shove Barbies at my daughter while I buy my son a camera. I'll take both my kids on adventures in the outdoors, teach them both to climb trees, and probably try to teach them so much about cameras that they both tell me to give it a rest.
Similarly, I doubt that YOU are going to panic if you have a son who *doesn't* want to play with Barbies.
Clearly since I've gone and brought Barbie into the equation, this discussion is not going to get much further. All I'm saying is that some things are at least partly genetic. Partly. (BTW, I got the photography "gene" from my mother. Hah.)
Mathew, nothing personal here. My daughter figured out how to use a camera focus button before she was 5 years old...and I also know a 50 year man having difficulties with that very simple concept. For me it is all about access. Good early education and access to world class information does wonders for a child's development as a human being regardless of gender. Nothing super clever about pressing a shutter button that only man can master. It is simple as that.
At the very beginning of this discussion, I already said that there are many talented female photographers. That's clicking the shutter.
There's a difference between being very good at clicking the shutter, and obsessing over gear. I doubt your daughter trolls other photographers with exact DXO chart measurements.
Enjoy your photography.
Nothing
more to add on this subject.
Yes, Asian countries are more male centric. We all knew that.
Try looking at the U.S site.
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/nikon-ambassadors/index.pa…
Oh yeah, soooo many women! A whole 7 out of 24.I suppose since they included 7 women to the 17 men they have it's fair?
Why are you so focused on the women? There are also no
Muslims
Lesbian
Gay
Bisexual
Transgender
Transsexual
Two-spirited
Queer
Questioning
Intersex
Asexual
Ally
Pansexual
Agender
Gender Queer
Bigender
Gender Variant
Pangender
Para-palegics
Quadrapalegics
Blind
7 women, 17 CIS males but literally dozens of other minorities not represented at ALL! We need so much more inclusion. Clearly Nikon is run by Nazi white supremacists. We must RESIST!
*golf clap* Nice super sarcastic shit spewing.
....yellow
Fair? What in life is fair? Why does life have to be fair? You didn't get the job because you're a woman, you didn't get the job because you're a white man. It happens. What is fair is anyone can set a goal and work their butt off to accomplish it. If I wanted to be an ambassador, I'd work on upping my photography game. I would study the ambassadors and see what they are photographing and teaching. I would hang out at the Nikon booth at conventions and try and make connections. I would try and get to know as many ambassadors personally and ask how they got there. I would try and teach at my local PPA events and camera store. And I bet a lot of people here aren't even Nikon Pros, it's so easy to be judge without any effort (and I admit, I'm judging this entire article and the comments from my computer...without knowing if anyone was personally discriminated against, though it doesn't sound like it by the comments)