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Author Topic: Istockphoto Down For Maintenance or Hacked?  (Read 61428 times)

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« Reply #75 on: November 28, 2011, 14:18 »
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Aside from all the other issues I am a bit concerned about my 20+ editorial images that are now showing on both Photos.com and Thinkstock. None of them mention that they are for editorial use only. We seem to have gone from a "connector" that wasn't working to one that's being a tad over keen to push images across. I'll be interested to see if I get paid if any images (that shouldn't be there) get downloaded. Regards, David.


lisafx

« Reply #76 on: November 28, 2011, 14:26 »
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I'm astonished people agree to images of their location/staff potentially being used by local rivals, but there you go.

Absolutely right.  I believe I have an ethical obligation to explain this to business owners.  Once I have explained it to them, I have yet to have a single business owner or professional who is willing to be photographed doing their actual job.  I am skeptical that many of them would.

What works for me is to bring my own models, then have the business owner give technical advice, help with the posing and presentation, so that it authentic.  Then they can use the pictures, and I can upload them as stock without their having to worry about competitors using them, or worse yet, having them misrepresented or seen to endorse something they don't endorse.  
« Last Edit: November 28, 2011, 14:28 by lisafx »

lagereek

« Reply #77 on: November 28, 2011, 16:26 »
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Im sure the place is hacked!  not even a bunch of morons could screw up something like this. I have now lost complete interest in this place and its just a pain in the ass and a total insult against contributors, buyers, the whole industry in fact.

Cogent Marketing

« Reply #78 on: November 28, 2011, 16:36 »
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Im sure the place is hacked!  not even a bunch of morons could screw up something like this. I have now lost complete interest in this place and its just a pain in the ass and a total insult against contributors, buyers, the whole industry in fact.
It is weird - I got an email this afternoon from the administration team stating my forum privileges have been locked - I have not posted a message on the istock forum for over three weeks! I checked and I can still post messages (potentially). Something is definitely not right, maybe their in meltdown. Happy days.

lagereek

« Reply #79 on: November 28, 2011, 16:45 »
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Im sure the place is hacked!  not even a bunch of morons could screw up something like this. I have now lost complete interest in this place and its just a pain in the ass and a total insult against contributors, buyers, the whole industry in fact.
It is weird - I got an email this afternoon from the administration team stating my forum privileges have been locked - I have not posted a message on the istock forum for over three weeks! I checked and I can still post messages (potentially). Something is definitely not right, maybe their in meltdown. Happy days.

Yep, thats it!  the place has finally come to an end, meltdown, whatever. Too much of a coincidence its happening right now, isnt it?

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #80 on: November 28, 2011, 16:56 »
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Im sure the place is hacked!  not even a bunch of morons could screw up something like this. I have now lost complete interest in this place and its just a pain in the ass and a total insult against contributors, buyers, the whole industry in fact.
It is weird - I got an email this afternoon from the administration team stating my forum privileges have been locked - I have not posted a message on the istock forum for over three weeks! I checked and I can still post messages (potentially). Something is definitely not right, maybe their in meltdown. Happy days.
It'll likely take place at the next update. But why you'd be banned when you haven't posted for three weeks is a mystery.

Cogent Marketing

« Reply #81 on: November 28, 2011, 17:07 »
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Im sure the place is hacked!  not even a bunch of morons could screw up something like this. I have now lost complete interest in this place and its just a pain in the ass and a total insult against contributors, buyers, the whole industry in fact.
It is weird - I got an email this afternoon from the administration team stating my forum privileges have been locked - I have not posted a message on the istock forum for over three weeks! I checked and I can still post messages (potentially). Something is definitely not right, maybe their in meltdown. Happy days.
It'll likely take place at the next update. But why you'd be banned when you haven't posted for three weeks is a mystery.
Lobo finds me an intellectual challenge - he can't handle it. Either that or he's still smarting at my comment, "Every morning Lobo goes to work, a village somewhere misses their idiot".

« Reply #82 on: November 28, 2011, 17:42 »
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Im sure the place is hacked!  not even a bunch of morons could screw up something like this. I have now lost complete interest in this place and its just a pain in the ass and a total insult against contributors, buyers, the whole industry in fact.
It is weird - I got an email this afternoon from the administration team stating my forum privileges have been locked - I have not posted a message on the istock forum for over three weeks! I checked and I can still post messages (potentially). Something is definitely not right, maybe their in meltdown. Happy days.
It'll likely take place at the next update. But why you'd be banned when you haven't posted for three weeks is a mystery.
Lobo finds me an intellectual challenge - he can't handle it. Either that or he's still smarting at my comment, "Every morning Lobo goes to work, a village somewhere misses their idiot".

maybe they are now banning people for stuff they post in offline places like here.  ;) 

SNP

  • Canadian Photographer
« Reply #83 on: November 28, 2011, 18:09 »
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Im sure the place is hacked!  not even a bunch of morons could screw up something like this. I have now lost complete interest in this place and its just a pain in the ass and a total insult against contributors, buyers, the whole industry in fact.
It is weird - I got an email this afternoon from the administration team stating my forum privileges have been locked - I have not posted a message on the istock forum for over three weeks! I checked and I can still post messages (potentially). Something is definitely not right, maybe their in meltdown. Happy days.
It'll likely take place at the next update. But why you'd be banned when you haven't posted for three weeks is a mystery.
Lobo finds me an intellectual challenge - he can't handle it. Either that or he's still smarting at my comment, "Every morning Lobo goes to work, a village somewhere misses their idiot".

you're flattering yourself. what exactly qualifies you as the expert you seem to have become around here?  ::)

« Reply #84 on: November 28, 2011, 18:27 »
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"I'm astonished people agree to images of their location/staff potentially being used by local rivals, but there you go.

Absolutely right.  I believe I have an ethical obligation to explain this to business owners.  Once I have explained it to them, I have yet to have a single business owner or professional who is willing to be photographed doing their actual job.  I am skeptical that many of them would."

The ones I know, dont care. Why would a local competitor advertise with their team? And if someone from overseas uses it, it doesnt affect their business. I always explain in detail what stock is and that we cannot control who buys the file. Local baker, vet, restaurant, car repair, school teacher..only the generic images would probably be bought  by any competition and if it is generic it wont affect them.

Ive seen a lot of photographers do these "real people working in real environments" shots.

But back to the thread, sorry for the diversion.

I agree you have to explain stock carefully, but that is the same as working with any model.

« Reply #85 on: November 28, 2011, 18:33 »
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The ones I know, dont care. Why would a local competitor advertise with their team? And if someone from overseas uses it, it doesnt affect their business. I always explain in detail what stock is and that we cannot control who buys the file. Local baker, vet, restaurant, car repair, school teacher..only the generic images would probably be bought  by any competition and if it is generic it wont affect them.

Ive seen a lot of photographers do these "real people working in real environments" shots.

You think they don't care, until it happens.  I did a favor for a friend and did a series of him doing his trade job for their website, and he signed a release.  They were good with the whole stock thing.  Series goes up, a couple images get sales, and wallah - they show up on a competitors website here in town.  She paid me cash in return for taking them down.

« Reply #86 on: November 28, 2011, 18:37 »
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So you always bring in your own models to a location? (Apologies if this is a VERY stupid question...)

Ill keep that in mind. So everyone I know who does this has been lucky? I know people who specialize in exactly that, have been doing it for years.

ETA: I am wondering if it is because of different laws on advertising, that people might be less concerned about this in Germany. Even if I buy a picture of my competitor with a RF license, I am pretty sure that would still not allow me to advertise with his face. It is also not possible to do comparative advertising (my steak costs 5 dollars, at restaurant x it costs 7). As a business manager "never allude to your competitor in advertising" gets drummed into you. I am sure if I even used my competitors shadow on a flyer and he could somehow prove it was him, even if I got the shadow from a RF file he volunteered in,  Id pay a huge fine in court. Still, if it does happen, it is a problem I agree.

As you know I usually prefer inanimate objects, but I am still well connected in the local business community and have brought a lot of photographers looking for contacts with "real people" in touch with local business.

Anyway, off topic.
« Last Edit: November 28, 2011, 19:44 by cobalt »

« Reply #87 on: November 28, 2011, 18:55 »
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The ones I know, dont care. Why would a local competitor advertise with their team? And if someone from overseas uses it, it doesnt affect their business. I always explain in detail what stock is and that we cannot control who buys the file. Local baker, vet, restaurant, car repair, school teacher..only the generic images would probably be bought  by any competition and if it is generic it wont affect them.

Ive seen a lot of photographers do these "real people working in real environments" shots.

You think they don't care, until it happens.  I did a favor for a friend and did a series of him doing his trade job for their website, and he signed a release.  They were good with the whole stock thing.  Series goes up, a couple images get sales, and wallah - they show up on a competitors website here in town.  She paid me cash in return for taking them down.

^^^ Great story! I'd have thought they could have used it to their own advantage though. It could make their competitor look pretty stupid. Also, paying you cash to take the images down strikes me as 'bolting the stable door' a bit too late. The images were already out there and in use.

SNP

  • Canadian Photographer
« Reply #88 on: November 28, 2011, 19:25 »
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The ones I know, dont care. Why would a local competitor advertise with their team? And if someone from overseas uses it, it doesnt affect their business. I always explain in detail what stock is and that we cannot control who buys the file. Local baker, vet, restaurant, car repair, school teacher..only the generic images would probably be bought  by any competition and if it is generic it wont affect them.

Ive seen a lot of photographers do these "real people working in real environments" shots.

You think they don't care, until it happens.  I did a favor for a friend and did a series of him doing his trade job for their website, and he signed a release.  They were good with the whole stock thing.  Series goes up, a couple images get sales, and wallah - they show up on a competitors website here in town.  She paid me cash in return for taking them down.

I've all but stopped using people I know as models, mostly because I've read comments like this about situations other photographers have had. I haven't taken stock photos of real people in their real job setting though. there are too many potential layers of conflict. I'm always worried about something happening.

the problem is that you then have to build convincing sets for real job stock photos.....your sets are so realistic Sean, but I know you put a lot of resources into them sometimes. I'm thinking specifically of your pharmacy shots. they are so realistic. for someone like me, mid-range, it's always a question of cost:benefit....without being able to guarantee the series will sell, it's such a gamble to set up expensive shoots.

« Reply #89 on: November 28, 2011, 21:47 »
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So you always bring in your own models to a location? (Apologies if this is a VERY stupid question...)

Definitely.

BTW, I got called out on my "a couple images get sales, and wallah - they show up" spelling - not to worry.  That's how we spell it on another board to make fun of people who can't spell it and continuously spell it wrong, and I forget the world isn't in on that joke.  So, voila!

« Reply #90 on: November 28, 2011, 21:55 »
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So, voila!
voil  :P (so amature amateur!)
« Last Edit: November 28, 2011, 21:58 by AttilaTheNun »

« Reply #91 on: November 28, 2011, 22:27 »
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with all of these errors and bugs lately, downloads basically stopped,  it is really shaking my confidence. Also, when they did the reset RCs to 0 and brought em back, I think I was a few hundred lower than I was before. Can't prove it (my own fault) of course I posted in the bug thread and like every other time I post a question in the help thread, it gets ignored......

« Reply #92 on: November 28, 2011, 23:54 »
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So you always bring in your own models to a location? (Apologies if this is a VERY stupid question...)

Definitely.

BTW, I got called out on my "a couple images get sales, and wallah - they show up" spelling - not to worry.  That's how we spell it on another board to make fun of people who can't spell it and continuously spell it wrong, and I forget the world isn't in on that joke.  So, voila!

It does make sense. Ill recommend this solution from now on. Maybe you have now saved a photographer and a business in Germany, who knows ;-)

« Reply #93 on: November 28, 2011, 23:59 »
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...my post has been cut  - and I got yet another email telling me my forum privileges have been revoked and telling me to contact CR (I did, but they won't reply).


This is getting hilarious.   I quit submitting to IS long ago; their value to me now is entertainment.

I have gotten two message this month that my forum privileges have been re-revoked. They think I still care? LOL. I think I'm going to close my account there.

« Reply #94 on: November 29, 2011, 01:27 »
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... BTW, I got called out on my "a couple images get sales, and wallah - they show up" spelling - not to worry.  That's how we spell it on another board to make fun of people who can't spell it and continuously spell it wrong, and I forget the world isn't in on that joke.  So, voila!

I'm so glad you explained. I hadn't pegged you as someone who said "prolly" "wallah" and "nuculer". My world is back in an orderly orbit again :)

lagereek

« Reply #95 on: November 29, 2011, 01:41 »
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Way up in the hierarki,  rumours has it that the place is finally coming to an end. How about that? Not that I care, I have already taken down my most commercial stuff.   Can you imagine being an exclusive and on top of that being totally dependant on this as your sole income, for survival, etc. I mean even if they were selling in droves, just the management of it all is so unstable and shakey, its a nightmare.

« Reply #96 on: November 29, 2011, 02:12 »
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.
« Last Edit: November 29, 2011, 10:22 by retrorocket »

« Reply #97 on: November 29, 2011, 02:15 »
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Way up in the hierarki,  rumours has it that the place is finally coming to an end. How about that? Not that I care, I have already taken down my most commercial stuff.   Can you imagine being an exclusive and on top of that being totally dependant on this as your sole income, for survival, etc.

Yes, I can imagine that. I am.

Does your rumour explain the reasoning behind destroying what is or was until recently the world's most widely recognised brand in stock photography? It sounds insane.

By the way, I was at a party of South African media people at the weekend, mostly editorial types from magazines. Mentioning price, nothing else, they said they'd shifted most of their stock buying from IS to SS, with the occasional splurge on Getty and Corbis. No mention of Thinkstock at all. I'm really starting to get scared now.

lagereek

« Reply #98 on: November 29, 2011, 03:01 »
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Way up in the hierarki,  rumours has it that the place is finally coming to an end. How about that? Not that I care, I have already taken down my most commercial stuff.   Can you imagine being an exclusive and on top of that being totally dependant on this as your sole income, for survival, etc.

Yes, I can imagine that. I am.

Does your rumour explain the reasoning behind destroying what is or was until recently the world's most widely recognised brand in stock photography? It sounds insane.

By the way, I was at a party of South African media people at the weekend, mostly editorial types from magazines. Mentioning price, nothing else, they said they'd shifted most of their stock buying from IS to SS, with the occasional splurge on Getty and Corbis. No mention of Thinkstock at all. I'm really starting to get scared now.

Hi!
Insanity, yes indeed, must have been an interesting party! and Im not surprised at all. I know myself, 2 large ad-agencies in London who has shifted from IS to SS and sometimes buying from the Getty-RM, but for RF and micro, they have shifted.

« Reply #99 on: November 29, 2011, 03:54 »
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Another bug: I tried to request a payout today. I filled in the paypal email address. Then confirmed the request. After that I got red error message saying that the request could not be processed due to DB error. Yet the amount was deducted from my balance.


 

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