--- description: As 2014 draws to a close, we take a look back at the photographic trends that defined 2014 title: How Photographers Took Control of Their Work in 2014 image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7c90769814faab3e/69876f46f887dcd72be89127/ways-of-seeing-dysturb_121.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [LightBox](/tag/time-section-lightbox/) ## LightBox Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Ways of Seeing: Direct to Audience by [Phil Bicker](/author/phil-bicker/) and [Olivier Laurent](/author/olivier-laurent/) Dec 29, 2014 9:00 AM CUT  Dysturb Children passing by a picture by Bryan Denton from Northern Iraq on a wall in Paris, France. Dysturb Children passing by a picture by Bryan Denton from Northern Iraq on a wall in Paris, France.Benjamin Girette by [Phil Bicker](/author/phil-bicker/) and [Olivier Laurent](/author/olivier-laurent/) Dec 29, 2014 9:00 AM CUT _Whether through digital channels, print or on exhibit, the impact, influence and reach of the still image has never been greater. But with so many images fighting for our attention, how do photographers make work that most effectively stands out and connects with an audience. In this seven-part series, TIME looks back over the past 12 months to identify some of the ways of seeing—whether conceptually, aesthetically or through dissemination—that have grabbed our attention and been influential in maintaining photography’s relevance in an ever shifting environment, media landscape, and culture now ruled by images._ **Direct to Audience** 2014 saw an increase in independent photographers cutting out the middle man and going direct to audience. Facebook, Twitter and particularly Instagram have been instrumental in building online communities and growing audiences for photographers for some time. But this year saw the monetization of these platforms through various print sale initiatives by photo agencies—Magnum and VII—and individual photographers including Aaron Huey who as well as his own project also worked with Grayson Shaffer, a Senior Editor at _Outside_ magazine_—_for a good cause, the Sherpas Fund—raising close to $500,000 for the families of the Sherpa guides killed in an avalanche on Mount Everest in April. These time-limited campaigns, advertised through Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, identified a demand for affordable un-editioned prints. This year also saw an unprecedented growth in high-quality independent book publishing, with some of the year’s best titles coming in short runs from independent sources. Without the cost margins and restrictions imposed by major publishers, photographers producing their own photobooks not only had more control over the finished product but could also sell their high quality books at a lower price point. Highlights included [Peter van Agtmael](http://www.petervanagtmael.net/ "undefined")‘s _Disco Nights Sept. 11_ (independently published by Redhook editions) which was singled out for a special mention in TIME’s Best Photobooks of the Year selection. Raising awareness was a consideration for going direct to audience in 2014 for Dysturb a French photo collective. Frustrated by the lack of opportunities for photojournalists to get their work out effectively through established media channels, [Dysturb](http://d219x6t5qap4y.cloudfront.net/ "undefined") turned to the street—wheat pasting large format prints by both emerging and established documentary photographers on disused city walls. The participant network quickly grew from the first postings in Paris with work soon appearing on the streets of Sarajevo and New York. The group’s goal now is to develop a network of like-minded photographers and photography enthusiasts that will allow, in the future, to mount worldwide pasting campaigns on short notice. And judging from the enthusiastic New York crowd, the need for an alternative way to show news images is shared by many more people than Dysturb’s founders imagined when they launched the collective in early 2014. And while the naysayers will continue to lament today’s changing business practices, we can expect to see a lot more photographers adopt the direct-to-audience model in 2015. [_Read Part 2 – Documentary Still Life_](http://time.com/3626384/ways-of-seeing-documentary-still-life/ "undefined")_._ [_Read Part 3 – The Portrait Series_](http://time.com/3626026/ways-of-seeing-portrait-series/ "undefined"). [_Read Part 4 – The Contemporary Photo Essay_](http://time.com/3626915/ways-of-seeing-the-contemporary-photo-essay/ "undefined"). [_Read Part 5 – From Stills to Motion_](http://time.com/3626640 "undefined"). **_Phil Bicker_** _is a Senior Photo Editor at TIME._ **_Olivier Laurent_** _is the editor of TIME LightBox. Follow him on_ [_Twitter_](http://twitter.com/olivierclaurent "undefined") _and_ [_Instagram_](http://instagram.com/olivierclaurent "undefined") _@olivierclaurent_  Instagram print sales VII Photo offered seven pictures over seven days at $100 each, including this image of young children waiting out the rain during the annual rodeo in Carbondale, Colo. on Aug. 23, 2012. Ed Kashi—VII  Instagram print sales The SherpasFund Print Sale raised money to support the Sherpa community that lost loved ones on Mount Everest in 2014\. The sale included this photograph of Taboche Peak. Aaron Huey  Instagram print sales To celebrate its 67th Annual General Meeting Magnum Photos also offered a print sale of Instagram images, including this photograph of abandoned planes at Goma Airport, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Michael Christopher Brown—Magnum  Independent publishing Peter van Agtmael's Disco Night Sept. 11, published by Red Hook Editions. Peter van Agtmael—Magnum/Red Hook Editions  Independent publishing Disco Night Sept. 11 is a redesigned and expanded version of van Agtmael's first book 2nd Tour Hope I Don't Die. Peter van Agtmael—Magnum/Red Hook Editions  Independent publishing By self publishing Disco Night Sept. 11, van Agtmael was able to have more control in the design process and produce a high quality book at a lower price point. Peter van Agtmael—Magnum/Red Hook Editions  Dysturb Paris, 75003, France. June 24th, 2014\. Fabio Buccciarelli's picture from Juba, South Sudan is seen on a wall in Paris, France. Capucine Granier-deferre  Dysturb The team is seen pasting a picture by Rafael Sanchez Fabre that he took in Brazil during the football World Cup. Capucine Bailly  Dysturb Children passing by a picture by Bryan Denton from Northern Iraq on a wall in Paris, France. 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