Author Topic: Yuri Arcurs First Public Statement (Read 146677 times)

tickstock · « **Reply #650 on:** August 12, 2013, 13:44 »

Don't mistake my sentiments about Istock, I'm much more negative about the alternative than I am positive about exclusivity. I think it's the (much) better option out of two poor ones.

cobalt · « **Reply #651 on:** August 12, 2013, 14:14 »

If Istock had given me even a small indication that the company will get back on track, I would still be photo exclusive. Going indie isn't an easy decision and having to work your way back up is absolutely no fun.

But since they took away the option to decide the price point in the portfolio, I know I made the right choice. E+ was one of the best programs istock had. Killing it tells me everything I need to know about what is coming...

As an indie I have many options to choose the price point for my files, I just send them to the appropriate agencies.

To be in control of prices is just as important as to decide what goes into your portfolio. Computer programs and editors can never replace my commercial experience in my given niche.

borg · « **Reply #652 on:** August 12, 2013, 14:29 »

I don't know why you are losing your time on Yuri so much...

cthoman · « **Reply #653 on:** August 12, 2013, 14:33 »

Quote from: tickstock on August 12, 2013, 13:44

Don't mistake my sentiments about Istock, I'm much more negative about the alternative than I am positive about exclusivity. I think it's the (much) better option out of two poor ones.

Trust me. There are more than two options. I've pretty much chosen neither of the two you are referring to.

somethingpretentious · « **Reply #654 on:** August 12, 2013, 14:51 »

Yuri, thanks for checking back in despite the hostility surrounding this place.

The RPI (return pr image), including fresh content, has probably been dropping for most top contributors for quite a while now. We are seeing a stable flat decline - how did you experience it, and more interestingly: How do you predict the RPI for independents to behave in the coming years. Do you see the flat decline continue or will there be some dramatic drops coming up. Any insights would be appreciated!

tickstock · « **Reply #655 on:** August 12, 2013, 14:52 »

Quote from: cthoman on August 12, 2013, 14:33

Quote from: tickstock on August 12, 2013, 13:44
Don't mistake my sentiments about Istock, I'm much more negative about the alternative than I am positive about exclusivity. I think it's the (much) better option out of two poor ones.

Trust me. There are more than two options. I've pretty much chosen neither of the two you are referring to.

You are almost one of a kind around here though, I don't expect that plan to work for everyone.

jjneff · « **Reply #656 on:** August 12, 2013, 15:44 »

Nice of you to check in Yuri and I applaud your success. I am frustrated with iStock's current silence but understand your move. Now my question is what are you willing to do for the photo community at iStock?

luissantos84 · « **Reply #657 on:** August 12, 2013, 16:02 »

Quote from: jjneff on August 12, 2013, 15:44

Nice of you to check in Yuri and I applaud your success. I am frustrated with iStock's current silence but understand your move. Now my question is what are you willing to do for the photo community at iStock?

maybe leaving his portfolio at a few agencies apart from iStock, applaud him again

cthoman · « **Reply #658 on:** August 12, 2013, 16:39 »

Quote from: tickstock on August 12, 2013, 14:52

Quote from: cthoman on August 12, 2013, 14:33
Quote from: tickstock on August 12, 2013, 13:44
Don't mistake my sentiments about Istock, I'm much more negative about the alternative than I am positive about exclusivity. I think it's the (much) better option out of two poor ones.

Trust me. There are more than two options. I've pretty much chosen neither of the two you are referring to.
You are almost one of a kind around here though, I don't expect that plan to work for everyone.

I'm not sure about that. It looks like the Symbiostock people are implementing that plan. So are the Stocksy people. I assume some people do a fair amount of RM stuff. Then, there are probably other things that I haven't even heard of or didn't mention. New stuff is popping up all the time. Not all of it is good, but if you throw enough stuff against the wall... Some of it is bound to stick.

ShadySue · « **Reply #659 on:** August 12, 2013, 18:28 »

Quote from: cthoman on August 12, 2013, 16:39

Quote from: tickstock on August 12, 2013, 14:52
Quote from: cthoman on August 12, 2013, 14:33
Quote from: tickstock on August 12, 2013, 13:44
Don't mistake my sentiments about Istock, I'm much more negative about the alternative than I am positive about exclusivity. I think it's the (much) better option out of two poor ones.

Trust me. There are more than two options. I've pretty much chosen neither of the two you are referring to.
You are almost one of a kind around here though, I don't expect that plan to work for everyone.

I'm not sure about that. It looks like the Symbiostock people are implementing that plan. So are the Stocksy people. I assume some people do a fair amount of RM stuff. Then, there are probably other things that I haven't even heard of or didn't mention. New stuff is popping up all the time. Not all of it is good, but if you throw enough stuff against the wall... Some of it is bound to stick.

I'm confused. Surely all these are part of 'the alternative' to being iS exclusive?

cthoman · « **Reply #660 on:** August 12, 2013, 20:03 »

Quote from: ShadySue on August 12, 2013, 18:28

I'm confused. Surely all these are part of 'the alternative' to being iS exclusive?

Maybe, I was overthinking it. I just see a lot of people's fears about going independent as I don't want to sell my stuff on SS for subs prices or that classic factory strategy of I sell anywhere and everywhere. There's nothing wrong with those strategies, but a lot of people do want to have more control and be a little pickier about where they distribute to. That philosophy seems to be growing as well, so I see it as almost an alternative to the classic independent thinking.

LesPalenik · « **Reply #661 on:** August 12, 2013, 20:37 »

Quote

Yuri, thanks for checking back in despite the hostility surrounding this place.

Very true, some people get really worked up about other's accomplishments.

Regrettably, in addition to the contextual venom, now we have to put up also with visual affront. I've been always allergic to blazing red blobs - whether it was the Red Square flags used to push communistic propaganda or blood spilled by a portuguese torero.

sharpshot · « **Reply #662 on:** August 13, 2013, 01:17 »

Quote from: LesPalenik on August 12, 2013, 20:37

Quote
Yuri, thanks for checking back in despite the hostility surrounding this place.
Very true, some people get really worked up about other's accomplishments.

Regrettably, in addition to the contextual venom, now we have to put up also with visual affront. I've been always allergic to blazing red blobs - whether it was the Red Square flags used to push communistic propaganda or blood spilled by a portuguese torero.

You honestly don't see the real reason why there's some hostility to Yuri now? Its like a politician switching sides. After years and years of telling people that its best to be non-exclusive, he does a deal and now exclusivity is suddenly the best option. At the moment, he's exclusive and non-exclusive at the same time. Some of his comments here have been in bad taste, so he's going to get some back. It happens to lots of people in forums, not just the high achievers.

Beppe Grillo · « **Reply #663 on:** August 13, 2013, 02:12 »

Quote from: borg on August 12, 2013, 14:29

I don't know why you are losing your time on Yuri so much...

Bar discussions have always a lot of success…

LesPalenik · « **Reply #664 on:** August 13, 2013, 04:26 »

Quote

Its like a politician switching sides. After years and years of telling people that its best to be non-exclusive, he does a deal and now exclusivity is suddenly the best option. At the moment, he's exclusive and non-exclusive at the same time.

Firstly, the business conditions are changing, and changing your mind or direction is sometimes the best course.
Secondly, he is in a different position than most of us. Whatever deals he made, they are not available to the average contributor.
Thirdly, we don't know all the details and intricacies, or the big picture behind his new ventures.
And lastly, it's his business, and none of our business. I don't see him criticizing other stock shooters.

BTW, I'm still convinced, that the drop of SS stock price was caused by stronger currents than by Yuri's departure.

ShadySue · « **Reply #665 on:** August 13, 2013, 04:28 »

Quote from: LesPalenik on August 13, 2013, 04:26

And lastly, it's his business, and none of our business.

Who was the OP in this thread?

LesPalenik · « **Reply #666 on:** August 13, 2013, 04:59 »

Not the torero

ShadySue · « **Reply #667 on:** August 13, 2013, 05:07 »

Quote from: LesPalenik on August 13, 2013, 04:59

Not the torero

Bullfighter?

LesPalenik · « **Reply #668 on:** August 13, 2013, 05:23 »

Nah, using a bullfighter term would be too simplistic - equivalent of giving to an Eskimo just one word for snow.

I have never been to that type of circus, but apparently they have a cuadrilla with seven men, including banderilleros, torero and matador.
Much better behaved and more civilized than some fighters in this establishment.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #669 on:** August 13, 2013, 05:27 »

Quote from: LesPalenik on August 12, 2013, 20:37

Quote
Yuri, thanks for checking back in despite the hostility surrounding this place.
Very true, some people get really worked up about other's accomplishments.

Regrettably, in addition to the contextual venom, now we have to put up also with visual affront. I've been always allergic to blazing red blobs - whether it was the Red Square flags used to push communistic propaganda or blood spilled by a portuguese torero.

Portuguese toreros don't kill bulls in the arena, Spanish do

LesPalenik · « **Reply #670 on:** August 13, 2013, 05:38 »

Very true, I apologize for the hasty writing. It's just when I noticed that big warning sign, I saw red.
However, one nice day a torero could become a matador and make the kill.

Back to the original topic. Somewhere, I read that all matadores are toreros but not all toreros are matadores.
Same as saying that a top performer like Yuri is a stockshooter, but not all stockshooters could aspire to be top performers.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #671 on:** August 13, 2013, 06:43 »

Quote from: LesPalenik on August 13, 2013, 05:38

Very true, I apologize for the hasty writing. It's just when I noticed that big warning sign, I saw red.
However, one nice day a torero could become a matador and make the kill.

Back to the original topic. Somewhere, I read that all matadores are toreros but not all toreros are matadores.
Same as saying that a top performer like Yuri is a stockshooter, but not all stockshooters could aspire to be top performers.

I really hope you aren't calling me a torero and worst that I can kill, just so you know I don't enjoy the all spanish/portuguese tradition

ShadySue · « **Reply #672 on:** August 13, 2013, 06:58 »

Quote from: tickstock on August 12, 2013, 12:12

I don't know about that at all, most all the searches I do have way more exclusive files in the first 200 than nonexclusive files, like 90% on a lot of searches. 92% of the first 200 for 'new york city', 95% for 'businesswoman'.

Businesswoman is such a common search that the first page is pretty relevant, best match in this case has done a pretty good job on cleaning up that keyword.

Some inspector input at ingestion or rapid checking of wikied files is necessary for less common searches. Most of my files I've checked so far have totally irrelevant 'similar' files at the bottom of the page in this new file page shenanigan, because of severe spam in low-supply, low demand areas where the system just doesn't work. Good for me, I guess, but it just looks stupid.

But I digress.
Look at the second last page of the search, where the results mostly contain a businesswoman but are, perhaps, less relevant to a simple search for a businesswoman.
http://www.istockphoto.com/search/text/businesswoman/filetype/photos/source/basic#136116fb
There is some factor in the best match algorhythm which is penalising 'certain' exclusive files which have sold over similar indie files which have not sold. Of course, the business woman search is so large, I'm not going over it with a toothcomb, but in the middle, there are pages which are almost 100% indie, compared to that second-last page.

(I know, now that it seems to be working again, buyers can filter down with the left hand keywording thing to refine their search, but I'm just pointing out a pattern.)

EmberMike · « **Reply #673 on:** August 13, 2013, 08:16 »

Quote from: LesPalenik on August 13, 2013, 04:26

...And lastly, it's his business, and none of our business. I don't see him criticizing other stock shooters...

I'm sorry, who started this thread and made it public business?

And he hasn't criticized other stock shooters? I guess you missed the part where he declares himself the most important thing to ever happen to microstock and suggests that none of us independents are professionals, nor are any companies other than Getty and istock "professional".

LesPalenik · « **Reply #674 on:** August 13, 2013, 08:37 »

Quote

I'm sorry, who started this thread and made it public business?

Starting a thread on the forum (and fortunately not all participators take it as seriously as some) is one thing, and trying the second guess, speculate, or advise him how to operate his business is another matter.

Most of those speculations are as naive as Yuri's conclusion that he caused a run on SS stock price.
I'd bet that creation and growth of Symbiostock image pool, along with withdrawal of those images from the agencies, will have much stronger and more lasting effect on many agencies than any single contributor who enters or leaves an agency.

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Author Topic: Yuri Arcurs First Public Statement (Read 146677 times)

tickstock

cobalt

borg

cthoman

somethingpretentious

tickstock

jjneff

luissantos84

cthoman

ShadySue

cthoman

LesPalenik

sharpshot

Beppe Grillo

LesPalenik

ShadySue

LesPalenik

ShadySue

LesPalenik

luissantos84

LesPalenik

luissantos84

ShadySue

EmberMike

LesPalenik

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