Author Topic: No More Car Photos (Read 10870 times)

travismanley · « **on:** April 09, 2009, 15:25 »

I have always liked taking photos of cars and isolating them, those photos have always sold pretty well for me to but recently im having a hard time getting them accepted. Fotolia wont take them, and istockphoto sent me to this link http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=413&Page=2 when I asked them about it.

This seems pretty crazy to me. Some cars are pretty obvious what they are even if all the logos are removed, but what about the more generic Hondas, Mazdas, etc?

This is one am having a hard time with that luckily was accepted by Shutterstock.

What drives me crazy too is that there are so many car photos out there already what good is it doing by not taking any new ones? Wouldn't all the old ones be just as much of a copyright risk?

sharply_done · « **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2009, 15:36 »

Your acceptance problem will disappear if you get in closer so that it's not possible to tell the make of the car. Rather than having things on a white background, you might do better showing the car in it's natural surroundings: 'traffic jam', 'flat tire', 'breakdown', 'morning commute', 'road trip', 'speeding', 'fun on the backroads', and 'finding a parking spot' come immediately to mind.

Graffoto · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2009, 15:41 »

iStock actually removed one of my car shots.
There was a model in the shot & she was the main subject, but
The type of car was still too unique and recognizabe for their comfort.

Magnum · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2009, 15:44 »

Was she up on the hood in a bikini?

travismanley · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2009, 15:45 »

Quote from: sharply_done on April 09, 2009, 15:36

Your acceptance problem will disappear if you get in closer so that it's not possible to tell the make of the car. Rather than having things on a white background, you might do better showing the car in it's natural surroundings: 'traffic jam', 'flat tire', 'breakdown', 'morning commute', 'road trip', 'speeding', 'fun on the backroads', and 'finding a parking spot' come immediately to mind.

Thanks for the tips. I think they just dont want the car as the main subject. It seems (in my opinion) that cropping would only lower the value of the photo, but I guess if that is the only way to get them accepted that is the only option.

travismanley · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2009, 15:46 »

Quote from: nosaya on April 09, 2009, 15:41

iStock actually removed one of my car shots.
There was a model in the shot & she was the main subject, but
The type of car was still too unique and recognizabe for their comfort.

That would suck, especially with all the upload restrictions.

Graffoto · « **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2009, 16:25 »

Quote from: Magnum on April 09, 2009, 15:44

Was she up on the hood in a bikini?

No bikini... But she was sitting on the car in some frames.

sharply_done · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2009, 18:14 »

Quote from: travismanley on April 09, 2009, 15:45

Thanks for the tips. I think they just dont want the car as the main subject. It seems (in my opinion) that cropping would only lower the value of the photo, but I guess if that is the only way to get them accepted that is the only option.

You are dead wrong in your thinking - context is far more important than the crop.
Need proof? Just take a look at the most downloaded images for 'car' on iStock: click here.

travismanley · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2009, 18:17 »

Quote from: sharply_done on April 09, 2009, 18:14

Quote from: travismanley on April 09, 2009, 15:45
Thanks for the tips. I think they just dont want the car as the main subject. It seems (in my opinion) that cropping would only lower the value of the photo, but I guess if that is the only way to get them accepted that is the only option.

You are dead wrong in your thinking - context is far more important than the crop.
Need proof? Just take a look at the most downloaded images for 'car' on iStock: click here.

Good point Mr. Done

Graffoto · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2009, 18:28 »

Quote from: sharply_done on April 09, 2009, 18:14

Quote from: travismanley on April 09, 2009, 15:45
Thanks for the tips. I think they just dont want the car as the main subject. It seems (in my opinion) that cropping would only lower the value of the photo, but I guess if that is the only way to get them accepted that is the only option.

You are dead wrong in your thinking - context is far more important than the crop.
Need proof? Just take a look at the most downloaded images for 'car' on iStock: click here.

I am quite surprised to see the shots of the Dodge Ram and the Mini Cooper still in the collection.
The cars are both very distinctive. The one of mine that was pulled was a Pontiac convertable (also sold as a Saturn) that is certainly less iconic than a Mini.

travismanley · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2009, 18:33 »

I guess you cant really blame these sites for trying to protect themselves and the photographers, it just seems like they are also shooting themselves in the foot by limiting what they accept just because it might get them in trouble down the road.

null · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2009, 14:41 »

Quote from: sharply_done on April 09, 2009, 18:14

Need proof? Just take a look at the most downloaded images for 'car' on iStock: click here.

Well the sports car are illustrations, with one's own design, which is a very cool way to solve the copyright question. The SUV is an existing brand: the thumb is still there, but the image has been disabled.
There is however this minicooper which even has the brand name in its keywords. I figure this one will be gone soon too.

travismanley · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2009, 14:47 »

Quote from: FlemishDreams on April 10, 2009, 14:41

Quote from: sharply_done on April 09, 2009, 18:14
Need proof? Just take a look at the most downloaded images for 'car' on iStock: click here.

Well the sports car are illustrations, with one's own design, which is a very cool way to solve the copyright question. The SUV is an existing brand: the thumb is still there, but the image has been disabled.
There is however this minicooper which even has the brand name in its keywords. I figure this one will be gone soon too.

Ya, that is what gets me. iStock is so crazy about copyright rejects, but just do a search for any given car make and see how many results you get with those names in the keywords.

Mazda = 59 results
Honda = 262
Ford = 870

ScrapCandy · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2009, 19:22 »

I haven't had any problems uploading car photos to newbielink:http://www.the3dstudio.com [nonactive] - maybe give them a try?

Tracy

vonkara · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2009, 20:49 »

Something interesting happened at SS... See here

http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=57357

Ford contacted SS about the uses of their trademark (cars) on the site

travismanley · « **Reply #15 on:** April 10, 2009, 21:33 »

Quote from: Vonkara on April 10, 2009, 20:49

Something interesting happened at SS... See here

http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=57357

Ford contacted SS about the uses of their trademark (cars) on the site

That is pretty crazy. Looks like no more car photos at SS either. Im guessing its just going to get to the point where it is easier/safer for them just to reject all car photos.

Too bad.

crazychristina · « **Reply #16 on:** April 11, 2009, 07:12 »

Quite a few of those best-selling images are 3D renders. Mark Evans has a bit of a specialty line in 3D sports cars, although I see Mr Locke has a few too. I've heard that most car advertising these days is 3D render anyway, and other products too. Sign of the times...

null · « **Reply #17 on:** April 11, 2009, 07:33 »

Quote from: travismanley on April 10, 2009, 21:33

That is pretty crazy.

Well it's not. Ford holds the copyright for its design. If you make money out of it (commercial stock), you are infringing upon Ford's copyright. Actually, in the SS post they showed themselves very reasonable: you can still upload if the focus isn't on very specific and unique design elements, like the grill and scoop. The rest is still allowed as editorial.

travismanley · « **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2009, 09:38 »

Quote from: FlemishDreams on April 11, 2009, 07:33

Quote from: travismanley on April 10, 2009, 21:33
That is pretty crazy.

Well it's not. Ford holds the copyright for its design. If you make money out of it (commercial stock), you are infringing upon Ford's copyright. Actually, in the SS post they showed themselves very reasonable: you can still upload if the focus isn't on very specific and unique design elements, like the grill and scoop. The rest is still allowed as editorial.

I was referring to the fact that its just going to get harder to get car photos accepted at SS now too, not that Ford asked them to be more careful about what they accept. I can understand that.

Guess im going to have to fire up 3d Studio Max and start making some cars.

vonkara · « **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2009, 14:48 »

Just take your isolated cars and put them in situation like Sharply said before. Still experiencing the best method to do this though

Magnum · « **Reply #20 on:** April 11, 2009, 16:15 »

Quote from: ScrapCandy on April 10, 2009, 19:22

I haven't had any problems uploading car photos to http://www.the3dstudio.com - maybe give them a try?

Tracy

Are u selling anything there. It´s mostly 3d models?

Above site have this kind of user agreement:

"Licensing of any copyrighted materials or brand names of may still be required and is the responsibility of the Member Buyer to obtain if needed"

What´s the problem?

travismanley · « **Reply #21 on:** April 11, 2009, 20:09 »

Quote from: Vonkara on April 11, 2009, 14:48

Just take your isolated cars and put them in situation like Sharply said before. Still experiencing the best method to do this though

Good idea, love that photo.

I had been thinking of doing something similar, but I liked just selling the straight up isolated versions because they sell pretty well.

graficallyminded · « **Reply #22 on:** April 15, 2009, 08:26 »

The only time I bother with cars anymore is if I'm shooting closeups, or isolated parts.

travismanley · « **Reply #23 on:** April 15, 2009, 10:09 »

Quote from: graficallyminded on April 15, 2009, 08:26

My friend has a Buick Grand National GnX (the one vin diesel was driving in the recent Fast and Furious movie when they were hijacking the fuel truck) and he wants some model portraits posing with it. I'm going to have to be careful about not including the entire car in all of the shots.

Sounds like a great gig. Have fun.

graficallyminded · « **Reply #24 on:** April 15, 2009, 19:54 »

Turbo 3.8 v6 and the thing dips.

MicrostockGroup Sponsors

Author Topic: No More Car Photos (Read 10870 times)

travismanley

sharply_done

Graffoto

Magnum

travismanley

travismanley

Graffoto

sharply_done

travismanley

Graffoto

travismanley

null

travismanley

ScrapCandy

vonkara

travismanley

crazychristina

null

travismanley

vonkara

Magnum

travismanley

graficallyminded

travismanley

graficallyminded

Related Topics

Sponsors

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors