Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on October 01, 2013, 09:08

If I had produced an identical artwork, you would consider that because I have no reputation it is just a tedious and dull picture of a landscape that lacks a subject. But my thought processes might have been identical to Gursky's, you simply don't know, but you make a value judgement anyway.

No. And your argument falls apart because it hinges around this assumption. It ultimately has nothing to do with who you are or your reputation. I could look at your picture and perceive it exactly the same as the Gursky - by imagining what it would mean if it were considered as a cultural artifact, or art object.

However, you reject the idea of intellectual art and therefore would not produce a piece with the same meaning or intent and which therefore existed in an art context. Because Gursky's picture exists within an art context and is therefore partly about that. Outside of that context it begins to be meaningless. The meaning of things changes depending upon their context.

But you really couldn't tell the difference between mine and his. Which is why it is actually your argument that falls apart. (You haven't deleted the bit you wrote about a single dot on paper meaning one thing from one artist and another thing from an artistic genius, because of they way they thought, have you? I don't seem able to find it but maybe that's my error).

@BHR : please ... the whole cr-ap about modern art started in paris by a cartel of greedy art dealers, it was a mafia at the beginning and it's a mafia nowadays, i've seen better conceptual photos on DeviantArt done by students than the sh-it sold by Gursky & friends, and i won't even start ranting about Cattelan, Hirst, Duchamp ...

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on October 01, 2013, 11:16

(You haven't deleted the bit you wrote about a single dot on paper meaning one thing from one artist and another thing from an artistic genius, because of they way they thought, have you?

Beppe Grillo wrote that.

OK, sorry, my confusion

One piece everyone in the creative department hated was a chunk of driftwood

Let's be honest: nearly everyone hates driftwood art. And quite right too. But it's the mainstay of crafty little waterfront galleries.

http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=1586

The whole "free the creative" thing makes me laugh.  "Warning, Will Robinson, Creativity Under Fire!!!"

When they say creatives will be able to find files faster, does that mean it doesn't take a minute or two for each page to load if you are a buyer?

Shhhh - Lobo's Academy of Semantic Gymnastics has rewritten the meaning of 'creative'. No-one has been found who qualifies, so no problem with Trades Description.

What is the free files section?

I can still make a cup of tea whilst I'm waiting for my stats page to load. On the plus side, watching the progress bar keeps Flash Harry* entertained.

* The Cat

newbielink:http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=1586 [nonactive]

The whole "free the creative" thing makes me laugh.  "Warning, Will Robinson, Creativity Under Fire!!!"

Me, too! There's also this.
"Study: Fish swim farther when removed from bowl."

?!? No, they don't. Obviously, they die.

Perhaps it's only a partial thought? "Fish swim farther when removed from bowl [and freed into open water]."

That creates a fairly decent analogy: Fish = exclusive artists, Bowl = Istock, Open water = non-exclusivity/self-hosting.

I have a tiny exclusive portfolio, Istock has not inspired me to bother trying the last three years, but I feel the creative itch once again and I am putting together a multi-faceted fine art/stock photography business plan. I see the open water from my little bowl and I'm about to jump out. I am determined to swim far away. =)

http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=1586

The whole "free the creative" thing makes me laugh.  "Warning, Will Robinson, Creativity Under Fire!!!"

Yeah, the whole "Creativity Under Threat!" is just weird. Like a Weekly World News Headline "Bat Boy Seen With Bill Clinton!" The whole campaign is just wrong. White lettering on a big black square... great idea for an IMAGE company. And I've never heard anyone in the business use the word "creative" anyway. It's like a group of old businessmen sat around and said "You know what we need to focus on? The Creatives! Those creatives are our market you know!" Cue old man in pinstripe suit - "Yes... What are the creatives doing?" And then he leans forward and says "And why are we are paying these people so much in royalties? We need to cut that back!"
It's like talking to someone from the animation world and saying "I love toons!" No, it's not toons, it's cartoons or animation. No one says "toons" in the industry. 

Did something really change?
I have had more sales during the first 3 days of october than during the whole month of September� 

Ah, it was you who got my sales.
Please return them forthwith.

  Felicitations.

Maybe it is an anomaly but both sales and $ have bumped up nearly double since the changes last month or whenever they happened.  The lower pricing is certainly working for me so far.

Hope it keeps up for you.  At least someone is reporting better news.