Dear Contributors,

I�m Eric, I head the team that secures content for 123RF. Thank you for being supportive of our efforts all these years.

As some of you may know, we acquired Pixlr back in April 2017. With the acquisition of Pixlr, we move closer to our group�s vision to create a Creative Ecosystem that�s powered by design, creativity and constant technological innovation. Our aim is to help everyone (creatives, the-not-so creative and businesses) stay relevant and thrive together in this age of the creative economy.

We�re on the brink of yet another exciting project! We�d like to invite you to be a Founding Member Contributor and take part in its creation. With this new platform, we�d like to build a creative community that shares and provide their footage to be used under a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) licence.

What�s in it for you? :-
1. This platform will run on a donation basis.
a. Downloaders may donate any amount to you as an appreciation of your contribution to the community.
b. 100% of the proceeds will go to you.
2. As for now, our new site is still in the midst of development, however, we would like to register your interest in this project.
a. We aim to build video creation tools that everybody can use as part of the site�s unique offering and in the longer term, we will mix in some monetization ideas.
b. Of course, you�ll be a part of that too!

Interested to back this project? Fill up the form below.
Link : https://eric123rf.typeform.com/to/rY3rmb (https://eric123rf.typeform.com/to/rY3rm)

Look at where they are taking stock.  Share in optional donations.  Holy SH!T.

The sad thing is you might actually make more money.

Wow. Lets hope this doesn't take off.

What�s in it for you? :-
1. This platform will run on a donation basis.

That gave me the dry heaves.

Hey guys they are really nice, if you click the link (for the fun of it), they tell you how much they give you... They're the good guys, they'll publish our videos to their free giveaway site... for free!! Wow what a deal!

If we approve your video it'll be published on our new site for free under under the CC0 license.

Woa.. The email looks like a professional kick to the a**

Wow. Lets hope this doesn't take off.

It can only take off if contributors supply them with content. Anyone who is earning money through licensing their videos  would do well to give this a pass (I can't imagine many will, but it'd be great if no one did so it sends a message to other agencies looking around for new ways to "disrupt").

It's fine to have free photo/video/illustration sites as long as the content is not (a) stolen and (b) from people who also sell licenses.

What's not fine is setting up a voluntary donation system for professional content.

Edited to add a link to an earlier thread about them acquiring Pixlr. I went to Pixlr today and it's still using Flash (which I don't have installed and don't use). A review of Pixlr back in the spring noted that Flash use would have to go (not quite dead yet), yet months later it's still there and 123rf is touting yet another new project.

I think they can't really be serious about building any of these businesses and are still looking to be acquired - this is just buzz to make them look better to potential buyers.

I got some images circa 2008 that I'd give away for free, probably not the types of pics they would want but hey, what an exciting opportunity!   

**** you 123rf.

I don't think they're going to get many volunteers.  Maybe some amateur phone shooters with little else to do. 

You'll be surprised how many will give their stuff away and amateur content these days is very good.

Some of it isn't even amateur and there's method behind some of the madness...Unsplash  Brooke Lark 80 food photos of decent quality:

https://unsplash.com/@brookelark

Behind the madness of 'free' is getting people and paid commissions to her Instagram account and pro-photo site (client list):

http://www.cheekykitchen.com/about/

Just another approach from a different angle.

Well being amateur has nothing to do with being able to see quality. Professionals submit garbage and amateurs submit high end stuff. Amateur just means your income is not your main income. Being amateur says nothing about quality, same as professional doesnt mean everything is perfect.

Jeff HK, sailor and during his trips delivering cargo he shoots photos and videos. Amateur I'd say, probably the best time lapse you'll ever watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHrCI9eSJGQ

now this is Simply Stunning 
Thanks for sharing !!!

One of the meanings of the word amateur is:
a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity

So, yes, 'amateur' can imply less quality based on that. However, based on what I've seen in stock photography and videography, as others have said, the word does not predict the level of quality at all.

One of the meanings of the word amateur is:
a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity

So, yes, 'amateur' can imply less quality based on that. However, based on what I've seen in stock photography and videography, as others have said, the word does not predict the level of quality at all.

Amateur = a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid basis

Plenty of amateurs produce extermely good work

Olympic sports athletes are amateurs

Quote from: KB on November 05, 2017, 11:29

One of the meanings of the word amateur is:
a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity

So, yes, 'amateur' can imply less quality based on that. However, based on what I've seen in stock photography and videography, as others have said, the word does not predict the level of quality at all.

Amateur is a french word coming from the italian amatore, in latin amator which means "lover" (From amare "to love")

By extension an Amateur is somebody doing something because he loves (likes) to do it.

In French , using the word "Amateur" :
-as an adjective is pretty positive, means "who loves..."
-by saying "he is an amateur" is pretty negative, means he is doing b***s**t.

Quote from: Chichikov on November 05, 2017, 11:39

Quote from: KB on November 05, 2017, 11:29

One of the meanings of the word amateur is:
a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity

So, yes, 'amateur' can imply less quality based on that. However, based on what I've seen in stock photography and videography, as others have said, the word does not predict the level of quality at all.

Amateur is a french word coming from the italian amatore, in latin amator which means "lover" (From amare "to love")

By extension an Amateur is somebody doing something because he loves (likes) to do it.

In French , using the word "Amateur" :
-as an adjective is pretty positive, means "who loves..."
-by saying "he is an amateur" is pretty negative, means he is doing b***s**t.

Exact Thomas.
I was just telling about the etymology and the primary meaning.

Who is this Eric? Can someone give me his email please? In this "age of the creative economy" I would like him to send me some $$$ so I can stay relevant and make my life more exciting.

It'd be great if 123RF paid 100% to us, and then we could donate to pay them if we though there was value.

The answer to this is very simple, if anyone has images with 123rf close the account immediately.

Quote from: Semmick Photo on November 04, 2017, 00:58

You'll be surprised how many will give their stuff away and amateur content these days is very good.

Some of it isn't even amateur and there's method behind some of the madness...Unsplash  Brooke Lark 80 food photos of decent quality:

https://unsplash.com/@brookelark

Behind the madness of 'free' is getting people and paid commissions to her Instagram account and pro-photo site (client list):

http://www.cheekykitchen.com/about/

Just another approach from a different angle.

Thanks for the links! I'd say her work is top notch. Definitely on trend stylistically and superbly executed. I am curious to know if this is actually successful for her or is it more a case of her respecting her own work enough not to be selling it for a pittance.

She's obviously one of the better shooters on the site, however just about everything on there is far superior to a lot of the stuff SS is ingesting at the moment. Maybe they all know something we don't.

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on November 03, 2017, 11:11

It'd be great if 123RF paid 100% to us, and then we could donate to pay them if we though there was value.

The answer to this is very simple, if anyone has images with 123rf close the account immediately.

Don't you want to wait for the next exciting improvement there? Some day we will be able to pay them to host our images and then they can pay us a small percentage. That's next after free isn't it, or is FAA already making that plan work? 

Amateur isn't a quality issue alone. There can be some who are very good and hundreds who produce junk and trash. Some might use the exposure to get clients. More of the people who will give away their work for free, are in the trash group. Those who depend on selling their work for income or a living should stay far away from this horrible scheme.

You are right, leaving is one way to do that. Don't keep supporting lame agency ideas that help them attract more traffic at our expense.