MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => iStockPhoto.com => Topic started by: Karen on February 24, 2014, 04:50

Title: abandoned ship?
Post by: Karen on February 24, 2014, 04:50
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=359418 (http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=359418)
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: roede-orm on February 24, 2014, 04:53
A ghost ship floating on the ocean 8)
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Beppe Grillo on February 24, 2014, 06:29
Titaistock…
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: ShadySue on February 24, 2014, 06:48
"Only on iStock" does the phrase 'in due course' mean 'this month, next month, sometime, never' rather than 'when it is due', which in this case was ten days ago.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Red Dove on February 24, 2014, 06:49

(un)professional
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: cobalt on February 24, 2014, 06:59
Maybe they are waiting for the next new manager and are not making decisions until he or she starts to work.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Karen on February 24, 2014, 07:19
Titaistock…

"Please place your head between your knees for the crash position."  ???
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: StanRohrer on February 24, 2014, 07:36
With the lack of discussion or major WooYay strings in the iStockalypse 2014 topic I think another sign of crashing. Similar previous threads were very long.  The buzz is gone - whether by intent or reaction.

http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=359006&page=1 (http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=359006&page=1)
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Ploink on February 24, 2014, 07:39
I think you are being unfair, Kelvin stated twice that things will be updated in "due course".

The fact that six days are between these statements, that Valentine's Day was ten days ago and that nothing was changed yet, at least gives us a lower boundary of what IS considers "due course". If all of us live long enough to see the upper boundary of that interval remains to be seen, but I have high hopes for those aged 25 or under  :o ;D
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Karen on February 24, 2014, 08:06
"Rawpixel" dropped the crown
http://www.istockphoto.com/Rawpixel (http://www.istockphoto.com/Rawpixel)
but all his photos still priced as exclusive? Another deal?
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: JPSDK on February 24, 2014, 08:43
Folks, be happy. It could have been worse. It could have been christmas pictures.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: cobalt on February 24, 2014, 08:47
If they don´t want to offer exclusive images, then at least they should offer the possibility of a second "exclusive" account, for those who want to send them exclusive stuff.

It is a shame they are offering these deals only to artists that come in from getty instead of offering it to their own community of exclusives.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: JoeClemson on February 24, 2014, 08:48
Continuing the abandoned ship metaphor, are we thinking more the Marie Celeste or the Titanic? Both seem to be appropriate metaphors to me.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: JPSDK on February 24, 2014, 08:55
Continuing the abandoned ship metaphor, are we thinking more the Marie Celeste or the Titanic? Both seem to be appropriate metaphors to me.

None of those were pirate ships.

I more think of "The flying Dutchman"
Cursed and forever sailing the bloody red skies with no  contact to real the humans below.
Also the ancient Mariner comes to mind.

Not to mention Red October, or better, the K 19, widow maker.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Mantis on February 24, 2014, 08:58
Everything is fine, folks. Solyndra, I mean Istock, is doing just fine! ;)
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Beppe Grillo on February 24, 2014, 09:03
[…] are we thinking more the Marie Celeste or the Titanic? […]

Are we thinking ?

No, they are sinking…
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: StanRohrer on February 24, 2014, 09:18
Nobody is at the helm and there is an iceberg (storm, island, problem object) ahead. That "Nobody" could be a nonfunctional life form or could be a complete vacancy. We just don't know from this view from the engine room.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: jjneff on February 24, 2014, 09:22
They are looking for new images and can't find them!
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: ShadySue on February 24, 2014, 09:44
I've just had two of my worst-for-$$ weeks ever, following two consecutive weeks that were in my top ten ever for $$$.
Ebb and flow seems to have become flood and drought.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Uncle Pete on February 24, 2014, 10:00
Reminds me why I stopped reading IS forums. So don't yell when I don't know the obvious that something new was announced a month ago there. It's a waste of time reading. Here's the most common forum response from people there, when asked a difficult question or something flawed is pointed out...

"This thread has been locked."

(this topic has been declared a non-issue, stonewalled, by moderator decree)
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Mantis on February 24, 2014, 10:02
Reminds me why I stopped reading IS forums. So don't yell when I don't know the obvious that something new was announced a month ago there. It's a waste of time reading. Here's the most common forum response from people there, when asked a difficult question or something flawed is pointed out...

"This thread has been locked."

(this topic has been declared a non-issue, stonewalled, by moderator decree)

Exactly why I stopped going there. It's a woo yay forum if you don't want a thread to be locked.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on February 24, 2014, 10:19
With the lack of discussion or major WooYay strings in the iStockalypse 2014 topic I think another sign of crashing. Similar previous threads were very long.  The buzz is gone - whether by intent or reaction.

[url]http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=359006&page=1[/url] ([url]http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=359006&page=1[/url])


Why would you want to go a city you've never been to and be responsible for arranging your own 'side shoot' with locations and models?  I wouldn't.  As far as I can tell, there are no company planned shoots.  Just discussion panels.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Goofy on February 24, 2014, 10:22
Folks, be happy. It could have been worse. It could have been christmas pictures.


at least Christmas pictures are an up and coming holiday  8)


Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: ShadySue on February 24, 2014, 10:22
With the lack of discussion or major WooYay strings in the iStockalypse 2014 topic I think another sign of crashing. Similar previous threads were very long.  The buzz is gone - whether by intent or reaction.

[url]http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=359006&page=1[/url] ([url]http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=359006&page=1[/url])


Why would you want to go a city you've never been to and be responsible for arranging your own 'side shoot' with locations and models?  I wouldn't.  As far as I can tell, there are no company planned shoots.  Just discussion panels.


The buzz seems to have moved to various Fb groups; but I agree 100% with Sean - makes no sense whatsoever. But I think a lot of people go for the fun and the craic.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Karen on February 24, 2014, 16:37
They are looking for new images and can't find them!
Files still ARE showing in portfolios but ARE NOT showing up in searches.
Ghost ship, ghost files... :(
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on February 24, 2014, 16:46
Going to a site and seeing Valentine stuff promoted 10 days after the holiday looks ridiculous. Locking contributor threads doesn't alter what buyers and prospective buyers will see.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: loop on February 24, 2014, 16:49
They are looking for new images and can't find them!
Files still ARE showing in portfolios but ARE NOT showing up in searches.
Ghost ship, ghost files... :(

Search works very well and very fast.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: cobalt on February 24, 2014, 16:50
So they are closing jupiter and photos.com, they have sold iclipart...and people are reporting unusually low sales and seeing less ads for istock. Looks like a major overhaul of marketing and direction. Let's see if they can change their front page on March1st.

Honestly, if I was exclusive this would drive me crazy. What is so difficult about changing a picture? Why keep embarassing yourself to the whole world instead?

It is not the first time they do things where you wonder if there is anyone left at all at istock who is allowed to make decisions.

It's a great pity for the people that work on the team. All they can do is watch while the internet makes fun of istock.

Not fair on them, not fair on the exclusives, but again a lot of fun for the competing agencies who are watching istock fold onto itself.

Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Red Dove on February 24, 2014, 17:23
"In Due Course" they said on the forum - which I'm reliably informed is their new mission statement, having received the most votes after a three day workshop attended by their most talented people.

Other suggestions from an intense brainstorming focus group that were not deemed as "impactful" or "sustainable" included "all in good time" and "as and when."
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: ShadySue on February 24, 2014, 20:20
They are looking for new images and can't find them!

Files still ARE showing in portfolios but ARE NOT showing up in searches.
Ghost ship, ghost files... :(


Search works very well and very fast.


http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=359422&page=1 (http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=359422&page=1)
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Goofy on February 24, 2014, 20:28
if they are an 'Abandoned Ship' why are they collecting money from all us for their overpayment on PP.  :-[


Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: loop on February 24, 2014, 20:36
They are looking for new images and can't find them!

Files still ARE showing in portfolios but ARE NOT showing up in searches.
Ghost ship, ghost files... :(


Search works very well and very fast.


[url]http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=359422&page=1[/url] ([url]http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=359422&page=1[/url])


That just affects a handfull of files. Btw, I just sold one uploaded yesterday.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Karen on February 25, 2014, 01:14
If they don´t want to offer exclusive images, then at least they should offer the possibility of a second "exclusive" account, for those who want to send them exclusive stuff.

It is a shame they are offering these deals only to artists that come in from getty instead of offering it to their own community of exclusives.

If I was exclusive this would drive me crazy.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Karen on February 25, 2014, 02:24
photo contest on the Getty
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=359432&messageid=6987512 (http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=359432&messageid=6987512)
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Hobostocker on February 26, 2014, 01:36
Istock is looking like a textbook case of bad management, they finally managed to tank the company with total disregard for both suppliers and buyers along with their notorious lack of vision and long term planning.

There must be a major re-org going on at Getty, they will probably merge IS + Thinkstock and other underperforming divisions, in any case their grand plan for microstock domination totally backfired so far.

Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: prill on February 26, 2014, 01:50
posted by kelvinjay:
You don't have to do anything. If you do want to spend your time checking recent uploads to see if you are affected, then obviously feel free to do that. But we don't need the information and it won't make any difference to what the developers do to resolve it and won't speed up the process in any way.

Is that not cool?? :-)
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on February 26, 2014, 03:22
Continuing the abandoned ship metaphor, are we thinking more the Marie Celeste or the Titanic? Both seem to be appropriate metaphors to me.
Perhaps the Costa Concordia, which the captain deliberately drove too close to the rocks in the mistaken assumption that he could get out of the situation he was getting everybody into. Then he tried to run away when the thing started sinking.
Speaking of which, it strikes me as odd that the mysterious Rebecca Rockafellar no longer seems to mention iStock in her job title. Everywhere I look she refers to herself as Getty Images' senior VP of e-commerce.  It's as if iStock has ceased to exist as an independent entity .... is that something to do with "istock 'from Getty Images' "? Is it just one more GI collection, like Photographers' Choice?
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: ShadySue on February 26, 2014, 03:44
Continuing the abandoned ship metaphor, are we thinking more the Marie Celeste or the Titanic? Both seem to be appropriate metaphors to me.
Perhaps the Costa Concordia, which the captain deliberately drove too close to the rocks in the mistaken assumption that he could get out of the situation he was getting everybody into. Then he tried to run away when the thing started sinking.
Speaking of which, it strikes me as odd that the mysterious Rebecca Rockafellar no longer seems to mention iStock in her job title. Everywhere I look she refers to herself as Getty Images' senior VP of e-commerce.  It's as if iStock has ceased to exist as an independent entity .... is that something to do with "istock 'from Getty Images' "? Is it just one more GI collection, like Photographers' Choice?
Didn't someone discover that RR had been replaced, quite some time ago, by another woman, though it was never officially announced?
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on February 26, 2014, 03:49
Continuing the abandoned ship metaphor, are we thinking more the Marie Celeste or the Titanic? Both seem to be appropriate metaphors to me.
Perhaps the Costa Concordia, which the captain deliberately drove too close to the rocks in the mistaken assumption that he could get out of the situation he was getting everybody into. Then he tried to run away when the thing started sinking.
Speaking of which, it strikes me as odd that the mysterious Rebecca Rockafellar no longer seems to mention iStock in her job title. Everywhere I look she refers to herself as Getty Images' senior VP of e-commerce.  It's as if iStock has ceased to exist as an independent entity .... is that something to do with "istock 'from Getty Images' "? Is it just one more GI collection, like Photographers' Choice?
Didn't someone discover that RR had been replaced, quite some time ago, by another woman, though it was never officially announced?
I didn't know that. If true it's just another sign that they don't have a clue what to do with the place. What a come-down from the days when Bruce would have tech mag staff queuing to report the latest pearls of wisdom from the genius behind the iStock brand. Now it seems you have to struggle to find out who's supposed to be running it.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Newsfocus1 on February 26, 2014, 04:03
Continuing the abandoned ship metaphor, are we thinking more the Marie Celeste or the Titanic? Both seem to be appropriate metaphors to me.

Perhaps the Costa Concordia, which the captain deliberately drove too close to the rocks in the mistaken assumption that he could get out of the situation he was getting everybody into. Then he tried to run away when the thing started sinking.
Speaking of which, it strikes me as odd that the mysterious Rebecca Rockafellar no longer seems to mention iStock in her job title. Everywhere I look she refers to herself as Getty Images' senior VP of e-commerce.  It's as if iStock has ceased to exist as an independent entity .... is that something to do with "istock 'from Getty Images' "? Is it just one more GI collection, like Photographers' Choice?

Didn't someone discover that RR had been replaced, quite some time ago, by another woman, though it was never officially announced?




Ellen Desmarais: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/getty-images-names-ellen-desmarais-general-manager-of-istockphoto-215622531.html (http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/getty-images-names-ellen-desmarais-general-manager-of-istockphoto-215622531.html)

Not that we've heard anything from her either.....
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on February 26, 2014, 04:20
Continuing the abandoned ship metaphor, are we thinking more the Marie Celeste or the Titanic? Both seem to be appropriate metaphors to me.

Perhaps the Costa Concordia, which the captain deliberately drove too close to the rocks in the mistaken assumption that he could get out of the situation he was getting everybody into. Then he tried to run away when the thing started sinking.
Speaking of which, it strikes me as odd that the mysterious Rebecca Rockafellar no longer seems to mention iStock in her job title. Everywhere I look she refers to herself as Getty Images' senior VP of e-commerce.  It's as if iStock has ceased to exist as an independent entity .... is that something to do with "istock 'from Getty Images' "? Is it just one more GI collection, like Photographers' Choice?

Didn't someone discover that RR had been replaced, quite some time ago, by another woman, though it was never officially announced?




Ellen Desmarais: [url]http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/getty-images-names-ellen-desmarais-general-manager-of-istockphoto-215622531.html[/url] ([url]http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/getty-images-names-ellen-desmarais-general-manager-of-istockphoto-215622531.html[/url])

Not that we've heard anything from her either.....


Hmm.... as soon as you see that the new girl has skills in "impactful growth initiatives" and has a "remarkable ability to drive impactful results" you know that nothing has changed.

You'd think changing the wallpaper on the landing page would be an impactful result, and not one that required "remarkable ability", either.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: ShadySue on February 26, 2014, 04:41
It's no wonder we think it's an abandoned ship.
What else does the 'front pages designer' actually do?
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Perry on February 26, 2014, 05:57
LOL.. they are even answered the question this time:

Hi,

Thanks for your feedback but, as pointed our in a previous thread on the same topic here, it's something we are already aware of. The site has most definitely not been abandoned and the various landing pages will be updated in due course.


They are "aware of" it! :D
How hard is it to know that Valentine's day images are not the hottest thing to sell february 15th? Why don't they have the next images ready? Are they just plain stupid? They always seem to need a couple weeks of "aware of"-time before doing any simple task... :P
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on February 26, 2014, 06:51
I always thought they couldn't fix all the bugs they are aware of because the computer code was fiendishly complicated, but if the GM can be aware of the Valentine's picture issue and can't be bothered to pick up a phone and tell someone to drop an Easter picture and text into that slot, then maybe the problem is ineffectual leadership and a command structure that is so rigid and moribund that it is incapable of even deciding to wipe its own bottom when the need arises.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Ploink on February 26, 2014, 07:07
...then maybe the problem is ineffectual leadership and a command structure that is so rigid and moribund that it is incapable of even deciding to wipe its own bottom when the need arises.

They are past caring, which, in light of your colorful analogy, is a bit scary...
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Karen on February 26, 2014, 09:03
The captain of this ship is busy investigating September and October 2013 payouts irregularities.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Red Dove on February 26, 2014, 09:47
I always thought they couldn't fix all the bugs they are aware of because the computer code was fiendishly complicated, but if the GM can be aware of the Valentine's picture issue and can't be bothered to pick up a phone and tell someone to drop an Easter picture and text into that slot, then maybe the problem is ineffectual leadership and a command structure that is so rigid and moribund that it is incapable of even deciding to wipe its own bottom when the need arises.

In the western economy companies I've worked for or with, it is not considered wise to tell other departments or employees they are useless or what to do on their manor. Mostly this is not about company policy or even good diplomacy but down to the fear that if you do say something the problem ends up in your in tray.

Too often senior managers use words like "empowering" their people to do their jobs properly when what they really need is the hairdryer treatment and a swift kick up the arse as they leave the room.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: gbalex on February 26, 2014, 11:33
I always thought they couldn't fix all the bugs they are aware of because the computer code was fiendishly complicated, but if the GM can be aware of the Valentine's picture issue and can't be bothered to pick up a phone and tell someone to drop an Easter picture and text into that slot, then maybe the problem is ineffectual leadership and a command structure that is so rigid and moribund that it is incapable of even deciding to wipe its own bottom when the need arises.


As we know Istock dropped the ball, the site needed to be revamped long ago. The code is outdated and was never meant to scale to the size it is today.  Other sites are having the same issue. Including SS. If you don't invest in the underlying technology, bugs crop up that can not be resolved. They might be able to patched some short term, but not resolved. Hence the long missing image and keyword thread at SS that never ends in the Bug Forum.

Snip
Q: Someone said if Bruce was controlling iStock now, iStock surely will be different from what it is today.  Do you agree?  Can I have your comments on today’s iStockPhoto?

B: If I were controlling iStockphoto, I would be investing in a long term strategy, not managing the budget by the quarter. I would firstly work on the underlying technology as it's old and outdated. It was never designed to be as big as it has become. The "best match" needs a lot of work, or could be removed entirely. The most important thing I would be doing is giving a larger share of the royalties to photographers. They should be fairly paid.

http://www.tukusheying.com/info/es_t_20130506102659.html (http://www.tukusheying.com/info/es_t_20130506102659.html)
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: ShadySue on February 26, 2014, 11:40
.
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: runeer on February 26, 2014, 12:04
Knock knock... anyone in the iHQ?  :-\
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on February 26, 2014, 12:54

Hmm.... as soon as you see that the new girl has skills in "impactful growth initiatives" and has a "remarkable ability to drive impactful results" you know that nothing has changed.

You'd think changing the wallpaper on the landing page would be an impactful result, and not one that required "remarkable ability", either.

Ms. Rockafellar left Getty last October, according to her LinkedIn profile. Not sure who was ticked off with whom, but she doesn't list a new job, just "Expert in large scale business and technology project management.", and I seem to remember something from last fall where she wrote she was taking a break from the coroprate grindstone..

She'd been with Getty for 10 years and running iStock finished her off, apparently :)
Title: Re: abandoned ship?
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on February 26, 2014, 13:59
Who's running the place now?

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151707375027654&set=a.418785722653.191287.623337653&type=1&stream_ref=10 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151707375027654&set=a.418785722653.191287.623337653&type=1&stream_ref=10)