Quote from: caspixel on October 23, 2010, 14:03

Quote from: zzz on October 23, 2010, 13:27

People want to feel they are valued as employees. They want to enjoy their job. So your studies stand against my studies ;-)

Nothing says "I value you" more than cash compensation.

Even the best jobs breed resentment if you are working as hard as you can with ever decreasing returns.

That's Another fallacy. Point me to a single person who has had decreasing returns at iStock. The absolute figures people have earned over the years has risen constantly. That's what people keep admitting on iStock's forums.

Oct 2007 - 148 - $118 (exclusive)
Oct 2008 - 108 - $161 (first full month after dropping exclusivity - best month of any between 2003 and 2010)
Oct 2009 - 79 - $87 (independent)
Oct 2010 - 31 - $40 (independent)

Uploaded 150 images from 2008 to 2010.

The contest is simply a ploy to try to get your mind off the last few weeks. Several states and countries are ineligible due to laws and the there is one $2,000 prize. Not $2,000 per category. Even though they can't win they are encouraging people from the banned states/countries to enter so that their images will be in the lightbox, the images will just be disqualified in the contest. In addition they have removed the "previous year" rule. So you can nominate anything you want - as long as you don't delete it from the site.

If others are doing what I'm doing then they need this contest to stop people from deleting their portfolios one image at a time.

 there is one $2,000 prize. Not $2,000 per category. Even though they can't win they are encouraging people from the banned states/countries to enter so that their images will be in the lightbox, the images will just be disqualified in the contest. In addition they have removed the "previous year" rule. So you can nominate anything you want - as long as you don't delete it from the site.

If others are doing what I'm doing then they need this contest to stop people from deleting their portfolios one image at a time.

I read this differently, not that I have interest in entering:

"On December 15 we will award 10 Stockys to iStock artists in categories like Artistic Vision, Technical Achievement, and Most Useful. Each award comes with a fancy icon, pride, and $2000 cash."

It will be interesting to see how many of these go to non exclusives. I'm guessing.....errr.....zero ?

My perception is that 90% of the posts are just bitching and moaning.

Everyone is wrong except you? Nice

Might be sunday in the west, but dont forget that its monday in different parts of the world.

Quote from: Microbius on October 24, 2010, 11:42

It will be interesting to see how many of these go to non exclusives. I'm guessing.....errr.....zero ?

Nah __ they'll be at least one token independent chosen as a newbie who they're pretty sure will go exclusive as soon as able. Same thing happens on the 'Hot Shots' thingy they send out. It's a painfully predictable formula that they work to.

+1

If the 'Stockys' are genuinely awarded by true popular vote, it'll be interesting to see what 'the community' goes for.

At Participate / Contributor Lounge / Trends, the second highest rated file is a six year close-up of a screw, the only image left by Umbris after he removed the rest of his portfolio in disgust.  196 ratings in the last three months. 

An appropriate image to be second highest, it really should be first. That will be funny if some similar type of image wins this year. 

Quote from: azurelaroux on October 24, 2010, 08:20

 there is one $2,000 prize. Not $2,000 per category. Even though they can't win they are encouraging people from the banned states/countries to enter so that their images will be in the lightbox, the images will just be disqualified in the contest. In addition they have removed the "previous year" rule. So you can nominate anything you want - as long as you don't delete it from the site.

If others are doing what I'm doing then they need this contest to stop people from deleting their portfolios one image at a time.

I read this differently, not that I have interest in entering:

"On December 15 we will award 10 Stockys to iStock artists in categories like Artistic Vision, Technical Achievement, and Most Useful. Each award comes with a fancy icon, pride, and $2000 cash."

As usual IS has posted conflicting information. From the last bullet point under "How this works"

"From November 22-December 3 the whole iStock community is invited to cast one vote in each category. Voting will give you an entry into a draw for $2000 and 2000 iStock credits."

Quote from: cclapper on October 25, 2010, 07:22

Quote from: scorb on October 25, 2010, 04:11

If the 'Stockys' are genuinely awarded by true popular vote, it'll be interesting to see what 'the community' goes for.

At Participate / Contributor Lounge / Trends, the second highest rated file is a six year close-up of a screw, the only image left by Umbris after he removed the rest of his portfolio in disgust.  196 ratings in the last three months.  

An appropriate image to be second highest, it really should be first. That will be funny if some similar type of image wins this year.  

Incidentally, the 'Screw' image (#308048) has been screwed itself.  An admin obviously decided to get rid of the embarrassment by giving it a somewhat harsh 1 / 5 review.

That's a shame. Maybe we should get another appropriate image up there. I'm thinking this one sums up IStock at the moment:
http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-2386660-where-are-my-keys.php

Quote from: microstockphoto.co.uk on November 04, 2010, 09:29

$20,000 is nothing for propaganda. Whether it's working, it's another issue.

Agreed, it's not much if it worked, their problem is that it has totally backfired. You can't screw your contributors for millions then chuck back loose change to some sycophants and hope that's going to help heal the rift.
It just feels like a slap in the face.
 

That's just a re-distribution of the Punctum Adwards, wich existed long before the comission changes.

Quote from: cclapper on November 04, 2010, 12:03

Has it backfired? The people who are done with istock aren't going to enter anyway. The people for whom these contests were created, exclusives, "club members", and cheerleading woo-yayers, are going to participate. Mission accomplished. Does it change anything for me? I was disgusted a long time ago, this just goes on top of the pile of stupid pet tricks. But then they don't give a rats ass if I participate anyway.

I don't know, Cathy. You could get your entry printed on a ceramic mug, take it there personally and hit someone over the head with it!

$20,000 is nothing for propaganda. Whether it's working, it's another issue.

If only it was just $20,000. How much additional money is going into this thing in the form of salaries for the employees who run the thing and moderate it? Site development to add the awards features, voting system, etc?

This was my issue years ago with all of these so-called perks of iStock. They cost money, and not just prize money or the cost of printing some special business cards or organizing events. These things take manpower, manpower costs money, and that additional money has to come from somewhere. Guess who really foots the bill for this stuff.

iStock might be a little more "sustainable" if they weren't pissing away money on all of these silly perks, events, and other distractions. I suggested years ago that iStock should cut the free business card program and convert the financial resources involved in that to a royalty increase for exclusives. Of course they wouldn't do that because they do far better by keeping these silly programs and making people think they are getting something valuable in exchange for their loyalty to iStock.

It's all garbage, it all costs money (more than we'll ever know), and it's all just a distraction to keep us from remembering how much less money we're making at iStock these days.