Hello everyone,

I received several notifications about this thread from members who feel this is a blatant attack.

As ever before we monitor independent forums activity and we try to add our input. Being independent can bring an extra amount of criticism that can help us to correct problems or flaws. Managing a huge site means there are compromises to be made. This applies to funds, budgets, features, marketing, advertising, manpower, support etc. Everything must be in a perfect balance in order to allow the business to be viable and support itself. Without the business part there will be no community at all. We are independent, we don't have any venture capital and we're proud to say that we are free to make the best decisions for our community. It is also for ourselves? Of course it is, but if you follow our strategy throughout the last 3 years you will see that the primary target were the customers: photographers and buyers. If they earn, the agency also earns.

Now, positive criticism means just that, not rude posts or flames. If this forum is moderated or unmoderated is not really relevant. You may launch accusations without any proof, it's your decision, but one simply cannot use that kind of language.

To reply to such rude statements would be a waste of time, time that would be otherwise focused on honest users. It will mean that we encourage such statements. So, until some proper apologies are posted, please consider my post as a clarification to honest users who may be misleaded by these arguments and not a reply to these flames.

I'll try to clarify all questions posted. If I miss any, please let me know.

1. 40,000 files in pending line - it happens from time to time that our predictions are exceeded and people submit much more images. We expected this when we lowered the daily maximum amount at 40 files per day. It seems this was not enough. Our editors team is expanded constantly as we need to keep the pace. We cannot add editors faster because they need to pass the training stage and they need time to start reviewing at full capacity or else serious problems can appear in the review process. 
Add to this the fact that most editors had a few days off because of Easter vacation. This is their right, I am sure everyone will agree. It happened before, after the Christmas break the pending was close to 45K and in less than a month it decreased significantly.

2. Favoring users and transparency. We always try to be as transparent as possible. This is not an obligation, it is our decision.
We did help Ron Chapple and assist his team in uploading the files. We explained how the system works, helped them with a few FTP details and that's about all. We did similar things for amateur photographers in the past, there is no secret. Not a single day passes without receiving emails from users who are completely newbies and need to learn everything from scratch.

The fact that over 100 of his images were approved yesterday doesn't mean they follow a different path. The max limit is applied when you finish submitting a file not when the editors review it. If no images were reviewed in the last couple of days, then the number of images waiting on the pending line multiplies with that number of days. That's if the contributor submitted images daily of course.

From what I remember they submitted images before the max amount limit was decreased. If not and the average is higher, it could be a glitch somewhere, but I have checked and they can only submit the max. amount at this time, just as any other users.

Ron has an approval ratio which is lower than 100%. I will see if they have no issues with us disclosing the exact number. Every photographer receives his share of refusals, including editors. There is not a single user on the site with a significant number of images online and with 100% approval ratio.

3. an image uploaded a while ago in the unfinished section will reach a different spot in the pending line than the one submitted today. this is no secret and has been explained on our forums. Thanks Ed for posting this sooner, I presume is clarified now.

Now, whether we make things easier for a photographer or not, is simply our decision. If the community receives certain benefits, we can agree to help a certain user. If that happens we'll NOT hide this, what would be the reason for that? Uploading on our site is a privilege not a right, no offense. Do any of you have an issue with any feature on the site or have specific questions? Drop us an email and we will be happy to assist you.