In this first video of the “Sortir du Cadre” (Think outside the box) Interview series, Stephen Mayes gives an insight of the VII’s new Magazine and goes further to explore the state of the photojournalism and its future. He explains how VII approaches the market by trying to innovate and change the way photojournalism interact with the print press and Internet. In the interview Stephen Mayes also describes how, he thinks, the concepts of crossmedia and transmedia will modify the landscape of multimedia.

Stephen Mayes has worked with photography, art and journalism for 25 years. He is currently  managing director of VII Photo Agency. While director of Network Photographers, a leading independent reportage agency, Stephen chaired the World Press Photo competition and curated several photographic exhibitions, including Positive Lives, which continues to tour in four continents.

He went on to develop creative strategies for major commercial agencies, working as group creative director of Getty Images, CEO of Photonica and COO (Americas) for Image Source. As creative director of eyestorm.com, Mayes worked with many contemporary artists including Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Richard Misrach, and as director of the Image Archive at Art + Commerce, he represented Steven Meisel, Ellen von Unwerth, Taryn Simon and others.

He has written and broadcast extensively on the ethics and realities of photographic practice.

UPDATE 07-14-2010:

Rob Haggart – former Director of Photography for Men’s Journal and Outside Magazine - made a very interesting interview of former Fortune Magazine photo editor Scott Thode – and new editor of VII Magazine - on his blog “Aphotoeditor.com” here.