Several Getty Image announcements seem timed to one of the biggest photo events of the year: the Visa pour l'Image Festival, taking place this week in Perpignan, France. In addition to formally announcing its
lowered Web-use license pricing, Getty has rebranded two of its services and selected the winners of its 2007 editorial-photography grants.
Splitting from Orchard, Getty's assignment division, is Reportage. Timed to launch in Perpignan's Palais de Congres during this week's festivities, Reportage arrives complete with a Flash-based Web site to showcase and promote the work of Getty's award-winning photo journalists. The site will include photographer bios and portfolios, promote photo features that can be purchased exclusively, and market an updated and re-edited Reportage collection.
The company's celebrity portrait arm, formerly known as Exclusive by Getty Images, is taking the name Contour. The brand was initially established by MediaVast and is being adopted following its recent acquisition by Getty. Also armed with a new Web site, Contour represents the work of celebrity shooters such as David LaChapelle, Wolfgang Ludes and Dah Len. The service targets high-end editorial clients, such as Vanity Fair, GQ and Entertainment Weekly.
Perhaps most exciting to photographers is the Getty Images' 2007 grants. Selected from 124 applicants from 37 countries, three winners will each receive $20,000 and editorial support for new documentary photo projects.
The winners will take on politically charged, socially significant issues of the day. Chicago photographer Jonathan Lowenstein will use the Getty grant to document the experiences of people entering the United States across the U.S.-Mexico border. Bristol, U.K.-based Leo Maguire will focus on the romance and brutality of Gypsy bare-knuckle fighting, drinking and betting in his native England. Jonathan Torgovnik, who is already a Getty contributor working in New York, will work with 50 Rwandan rape victims who has children as a result.
The 19th international Visa pour l'Image festival will continue through Sept. 16.