Quote from: Randy McKown on January 18, 2010, 11:33

ahhhhhh but without competition there is no need to advance. Style will never change and we will be forced to stare at people in business attire frolicking with cheesy grins in front of washed out pastel backgrounds and isolations forever .. couples giggling on a neutral couch in front of a laptop and taking little baby sips of coffee in a kitchen that reminds you of the store displays in Home Depot. It will be like living in an endless issue of better housekeeping. 

So, you aren't able to better yourself without the threat of someone banging on your door?

ok so it's probably safe to guess that 99.9% of stock photos available on the market were not taken by you .. or any of us for that matter. Even the largest portfolio only amounts to a single grain of sand when you look at the big picture. How does posting some tips here and there constitute a global threat of newbies charging in and taking all our money away?

I personally can't wait for somebody or a small group of fresh blood to come in and start mixing up the mainstream, introducing new trends and making the current ones outdated. Right now we are looking at popular trends and styles that were common place well over a decade ago. Change is only a threat to those who are not capable of expanding on their own abilities.

I personally can't wait for somebody or a small group of fresh blood to come in and start mixing up the mainstream, introducing new trends and making the current ones outdated. Right now we are looking at popular trends and styles that were common place well over a decade ago. Change is only a threat to those who are not capable of expanding on their own abilities.

Why don't you be the fresh blood then?  Why do you have to wait for someone else to challenge you?

Quote from: Randy McKown on January 18, 2010, 14:55

ok so it's probably safe to guess that 99.9% of stock photos available on the market were not taken by you .. or any of us for that matter. Even the largest portfolio only amounts to a single grain of sand when you look at the big picture. How does posting some tips here and there constitute a global threat of newbies charging in and taking all our money away?

This is what everyone says about their "make money from microstock blog".  Yet people are constantly acquiring cameras and then stepping in here to see how they can make money like what they read about.

Good point .. and who knows where that could lead .. the next thing you know they'll start writing books on the subject ... then people are going to start going to college and majoring in photography. I even heard a rumor they were trying to get high school kids interested in photography early on. We'll really be screwed then.

Ok I think I got it. The source of the problem is that these people are constantly acquiring cameras. That's where we need to nip things in the bud. My neighbor has a couple old vans for sale. You get me 50 bags of fertiziler and I'll hire some homeless guys to park them in front of the Nikon & Canon distribution centers. Presto Blamo .. the camera stockpiles will dissipate in no time leaving us holding the last known devices to mankind. Threat annihilated and we become microstock gods. Ok who's with me? 

10 years ago nobody would touch cheap Chinese junk. Now there is only cheap Chinese junk :-) Microstock will eliminate all other competitors and then standards will not matter if there is no choice.

Hi RT,

 I had no idea that I have blocked your PM. I do not have anyone else blocked on my PM's, I will unblock it immediately so you can reply. That is the idea when you send a PM is so the other person can reply without having to bother the entire group. Even SJ isn't blocked from my PM's. It is some unfortunate error and I will fix it immediately. I welcome your response.

Great I'll reply as soon as you unblock it, you did the same thing once before, and you've done it to SJ as well, clearly a clumsy error.

Question, why does it matter if someone proves something to you on a blog or not. Why not just take it at face value, I hope you do drive a Rolls but I wouldn't question you on it because the result doesn't matter as long as you are happy.

Because some of the things people post on threads here are worded in a way that may influence others less knowledgable sometimes unintentionally, and I feel it my duty to point out any errors so that the less fortunate are not mislead, I don't ask for any thanks doing this but judging by the PM's I receive it's a welcome service for some.

Like I said you have kept your identity hidden and you offer a lot of your opinion here as well as critique of others. I think that is a bit backwards that is all. If you are such a proponent of people proving what they say is true then please share your identity with the group?

My identity is irrelevant, many people do know who I am and I'll share it via PM with anybody that I feel really needs to know, however like many others I choose not to share portfolio links because I'm not a fan of people copying my work, and any comments I make here would come up in a google search under my business name which I don't think is relevant, something like that wouldn't apply to you because you have so many different identities.
I'll happily prove to anyone any claims that I make here, by PM if need be for confidentiality, but I've never been one for boasting.
Luckily Leaf the guy that runs this forum introduced those little meters under everyone's name for this very reason, and as you can see it indicates I do quite well on iS, it's a good indication as to whether someone knows what they're talking about or not. I wish he'd introduce a BS meter then I (and the few people you mentioned ) wouldn't have to interject.

Just as a reminder the last time we had a discussion via PM I did tell you who I was to which you replied I should share more of my experiences, you've obviously forgotten - old age gets to us all!

Again I ask, If you make a post to me that proclaims something about peoples inflated egos and walking the walk who were you pointing those remarks to? Simple question to answer I would think. Would you please answer it.

Well if it makes you happy then yes I do think you've got an over inflated ego, but the line wasn't intended just for you on this occasion.

By the way I have a pristine 65' mustang fastback, here is a picture of it.   www.andersenross.com/mustang I only drive it on sunny days. I drive my 2006 Range Rover the rest of the time, now that is bragging and ego based

Thanks,
Jonathan

I'm not a car person myself and know nothing about American cars, so I'm guessing that's a good one?

Maybe one day this thread could turn back to the original subject.
 

Hey guys thank you all for the information. Personally I�m glad you are all here and I really do think that most of us can spot misinformation.

I agree Rum Rock.

Best,
J

I did not have SJ blocked, on the contrary he has me blocked, I just started blocking his  "posts " because I didn't find them helpful, but not his PM's.

You did, by the way, because I went to PM you something in response to your PM, and it was blocked.  So, I blocked you.  Fair's fair, after all.

 Hi RT,

 I would find it pretty hard to prove that you shot a job without revealing your identity. So you are asking him to identify himself. You had trouble believe me about my friend working for AT&T until I told you here name. It is not the question that is the issue it is how it is presented.
 Many people feel chased out of here when they try to help and offer advice and I think the entire site loses from that. I know that is how I felt when I first came here and with the exception of three people here I seem to be helpful to others. I would prefer we could make our own judgements rather than have you policing the site for us all.

J

Hi RT,

 I would find it pretty hard to prove that you shot a job without revealing your identity. So you are asking him to identify himself. You had trouble believe me about my friend working for AT&T until I told you here name. It is not the question that is the issue it is how it is presented.
 Many people feel chased out of here when they try to help and offer advice and I think the entire site loses from that. I know that is how I felt when I first came here and with the exception of three people here I seem to be helpful to others. I would prefer we could make our own judgements rather than have you policing the site for us all.

J

If you're going to make statements about me make sure they're correct:

- I'm not asking him to identify himself, I know who he is, we all know who he is and have done from the start, you can't seriously be telling me you still think this is all about an identity, what do you want copies of peoples passports!!! IT IS ABOUT THE POSTING OF ACCURATE INFORMATION

-I never queried the story about your friend before or after you mentioned her name, in fact my reply was the exact opposite, why are you making things up?

-As for making your own judgement, what's stopping you? and why am I not entitled to state my opinion, this isn't a dictatorship as far as I'm aware and I'm allowed to query things if I so choose, or do you know differently.

It sounds like you do not believe I am Jonathan Ross ...

If it can help, I have Jonathan on my Facebook and I know almost everything about his kids' football matches
Come on guys, no need to argue about this.

Hi Randy,  
I'm not a photographer. I'm a designer.
Due to the nature of my images my acceptance rate is quite good, nothing to worry about. However I would love to hear more about the inspection process, especially if it comes from an insider.
It's interesting and I'm sure I have a lot to learn.
If you find the time go ahead and write the blog.
We will be reading it.

When it comes the the Fear of the Newbie, we, here, have heard the same arguments many, many times before and by now this whole thing is becoming predictable, and quite frankly boring.  
I already know who's going to say what.
It's been happening like clockwork for years, every single time with no exception. They're that repetitive, and I mean it.
(Sigh anyone?)
You just go ahead and help the newbies if you can. They're a vital part of this business and we all need them.  

@Jonathan Ross,
I'm not sure how old you are (why is age brought into this?) but it doesn't even matter, because what you've got is the joie de vivre.
In this business enthusiasm and creativity are decisive and you've got them both.
You don't need to lift heavy weights or run a marathon. You've got assistants to help you with the heavy stuff and even models to wash your car

Your portfolio is as good as it gets. Hands down, top class.

Your identity is well known (videos, conference speech, Jonathan Ross was there. Others were not)

Your images stand out from the crowd and speak for themselves. That is something that nobody can take away from you. No matter what, no matter who.
Isn't that great?
Untouchable, the work of a master.

Now go ahead and 'dare' do anything you want. They can't do a thing about it anyway.  
Best wishes,

 Hi Gang,

 Thanks for the support folks but please realize it takes to to fight and I was just as responsible if not more so for the disagreements that took place. I am glad that I have been of help to some here and I hope to continue as time passes. Once again thanks for the kind words and support, it means a great deal. I know I can't make everyone happy but that's life anywhere you go.

Best,
Jonathan