One of PAN’s favourite historical photo resources – US photo agency The Image Works is closing – Owner Mark Antman has chosen UK based photo library Topfoto to take over the archive.
Mark says: ‘As you may be aware The Image Works is closing. As a result we will cease supplying images to our clients this week. Additionally, to avoid complication, we strongly urge you to request any outstanding licensing as soon as it possible before we officially close.
We have finalized an agreement with our long-time UK based affiliate TopFoto to take over as much of our archive as is feasible and this process is underway. This will ensure continuous, uninterrupted licensing of our archive in the United States. While it may seem a bit novel to have a UK based firm distribute in the United States, we believe it is our best option to make our archive available to our clients. All transactions with TopFoto will be in US dollars. There are currently very few independent editorial agencies in the US. After much consideration and discussion we decided that TopFoto would be best suited to represent our unique archive. Our agencies have grown up and matured together, often following with mirror likeness each other’s development. This familiarity will be recognized and appreciated by our clients.’
• The Image Work history:
In 1983 photographers Alan Carey and Mark Antman met while covering a duck-calling contest. Alan Carey was chief photographer for a regional daily newspaper and Mark Antman had just returned to the United States after living in France for a decade working as a documentary photojournalist. The two realized they had a lot in common it and wasn’t long before The Image Works was born. Alan Carey retired from The Image Works in 2001.
PAN: Mark – great ride – rest up.
[…] social movements: civil rights and migrant farm labor. The agency’s images were licensed by The Image Works (which is now closed) and currently Topfoto who have dedicated their home page opener to Matt. Click […]