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Author Topic: Picturk to harness Irish camera clubs to provide stock imagery.  (Read 18990 times)

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« on: January 12, 2011, 17:17 »
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Someone in Ireland has had a BIG IDEA that they've named 'ethical crowdsourcing'. Camera clubs will enter competitions to provide stock images to designers' requests. No really. Read all about it here;

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/start-ups/item/19913-irish-start-up-picturk-to/


RT


« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2011, 19:13 »
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"they get some money, bragging rights, they get a credit and thats the value they get"

I'm going to contact him and ask if he'll design me a new website and marketing campaign, in return I'll throw him a couple of dollars but the main appeal will obviously be the credit and bragging rights he'll get.

PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2011, 20:30 »
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"they get some money, bragging rights, they get a credit and thats the value they get"

I'm going to contact him and ask if he'll design me a new website and marketing campaign, in return I'll throw him a couple of dollars but the main appeal will obviously be the credit and bragging rights he'll get.

How much is "some money"? Any time bragging rights and credit are mentioned it usually means the money is peanuts.

So from what it sounds like this company is getting amateurs to do a custom photo shoot that would normally cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. I can't wait to see the dollars part to see how "ethical" this model is.

« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2011, 20:33 »
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'custom stock shoots' sites have failed before.  This guy is no different, especially when you're trying to promote 'professional' work and all you have is weekend snappers.

rubyroo

« Reply #4 on: January 12, 2011, 20:47 »
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What use are "bragging rights" to anyone over the age of 12?

« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2011, 21:00 »
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"Ireland has produced world-class companies that have exploited the potential of supplying images online before."

Boy, he nailed it there.  "Ethical crowdsourcing".

Microbius

« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2011, 03:58 »
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He's sat down and thought hard about how to translate the shafting designers get on sites like "99 designs" to photographers.
Now we can all share in the anal discomfort yay!
Problem is people go for it because they think "okay work is short and the fee for winning isn't all that terrible right?"
No wrong! you need to think that actually the commissioning party isn't just getting the one photo or design. They are getting hundreds of hours of spec work from hundreds of people for fractions of a cent an hour.
Never has so much time been given up by so many for so little.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2011, 06:00 by Microbius »

« Reply #7 on: January 14, 2011, 07:44 »
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Must admit I can't see how this is any different to the "Request New Content" forum on IS, other than it being much more complicated and not being addressed to a stock-shooting fraternity who understand the technical requirements, etc.

On the IS forum there is a magazine that every month gives out 3 recipes and requests vertical and horizontal shots of each. The 'lucky winner' gets to sell ... er, two images for their trouble. Oh, nearly forgot, they also get a 'credit' and a copy of the magazine too. Invariably the recipes are in tiny niche subjects which are unlikely to get many further sales (apart from the fact that the recipes themselves have all been done to death anyway). It always amazes me how many contributors beaver away in response to the request.

Here's one of the posts. Never in the field of stock photography have so many mushrooms been stuffed (with macadamia) by so many for so few potential sales. Makes me wonder who is getting the greater stuffing __ the mushrooms or the participants?

http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=260401&page=1

« Reply #8 on: January 14, 2011, 09:11 »
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It sounds a lot like FocalPop to me.

« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2011, 13:03 »
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I liked the idea of ethical crowdsourcing, but honestly don't see how this idea could possibly end up being a successful business. At 30K competitions a year, they'd have to sell the photos for a lot - or charge the camera clubs a ton for these competitions in the cloud  - to make any money.

Even if you forget the thought that camera clubs will deliver lovely black & whites to hang on a wall vs. the type of stock that gets bought, even if you don't worry about model releases, IP and other legal issues, even if you ignore the issue of not many camera clubs in some of the locations that sell a lot of stock, aren't the club members going to lose interest if one or two of the members always make the sale (the sjlocke of Celbridge Camera Club)?

« Reply #10 on: January 14, 2011, 13:18 »
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Where was the "ethical" part of it?  I must have missed that.

« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2011, 13:54 »
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Where was the "ethical" part of it?  I must have missed that.


I think that's the spin they're giving to the fact that they're not handing out money. Money is dirty and 'unethical' you see. This is confirmed by Kelly Thompson of Istockphoto who recently told us we don't really come to his website for it.

It would appear that the first competition is up & running too;

http://www.picturk.com/?p=1

Bizarrely the 'Leader Board' is currently topped by a Mr Joris Vreeke, who has 3 votes, and who also happens to be one of the three judges. Just as well they're so very 'ethical' otherwise we might think something funny was going on.

« Reply #12 on: January 14, 2011, 15:19 »
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Well hope no one from Ireland is hoping to join the club in anticipation of a revenue stream. From the site:

Prizes will be in the form of Vouchers for Conns Cameras, Dublin


And what if no one wins? Personally for even a corporate gig I see crotchety old cam club members submitting a pool of puppydogs and sunsets. Contests are subject to complex lottery and gaming laws that vary from country to country, and in order to fulfill the legal, terms, conditions, and prohibitions must be posted for the entrants.

I really thought Jerry Kennelly was much smarter than this.

And a judge submitting entries? Really, this is all too funny  :D
« Last Edit: January 14, 2011, 15:23 by stormchaser »

« Reply #13 on: January 14, 2011, 15:55 »
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Well hope no one from Ireland is hoping to join the club in anticipation of a revenue stream. From the site:

Prizes will be in the form of Vouchers for Conns Cameras, Dublin


You know, if I wanted to harness the mighty power of the interweb to do some "ethical crowd-sourcing", I probably wouldn't choose a little Irish camera shop as the only place that prize vouchers could be exchanged.

According to the Siliconrepublic report Geraghty "... spent 3 months developing his idea for Picturk". Yeah right.

michealo

« Reply #14 on: January 14, 2011, 16:46 »
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I really thought Jerry Kennelly was much smarter than this.

This isn't his venture, the article merely mentions that he was forthcoming with advice

« Reply #15 on: January 14, 2011, 17:01 »
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I really thought Jerry Kennelly was much smarter than this.
This isn't his venture, the article merely mentions that he was forthcoming with advice

Probably was "Don't quit your day job...".

michealo

« Reply #16 on: January 15, 2011, 08:02 »
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I really thought Jerry Kennelly was much smarter than this.
This isn't his venture, the article merely mentions that he was forthcoming with advice

Probably was "Don't quit your day job...".

& I'm sure that is what would have been said to a couple of bicycle makers from Dayton Ohio or two a couple of Steves making computers in a garage ....

« Reply #17 on: January 15, 2011, 08:28 »
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& I'm sure that is what would have been said to a couple of bicycle makers from Dayton Ohio or two a couple of Steves making computers in a garage ....

Huh? You are comparing this obviously hopeless (and way behind the time) enterprise with the invention of flight, etc? Oh I see.

michealo

« Reply #18 on: January 15, 2011, 08:47 »
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& I'm sure that is what would have been said to a couple of bicycle makers from Dayton Ohio or two a couple of Steves making computers in a garage ....

Huh? You are comparing this obviously hopeless (and way behind the time) enterprise with the invention of flight, etc? Oh I see.

No just saying that in generally it is best not to listen to naysayers ...
Particularly those who have to cower in anonymity because they fear reprisal from their agents for speaking their mind ...

« Reply #19 on: January 15, 2011, 11:02 »
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Quote
Particularly those who have to cower in anonymity because they fear reprisal from their agents for speaking their mind ...

I'm curious who is the one "cowering in anonymity" when we all know (and respect!) Sean but you have no website, portfolio links or anything else to identify YOU? Something about a pot and a kettle comes to mind, but in this case the kettle isn't even black!

« Reply #20 on: January 15, 2011, 13:54 »
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Quote
Particularly those who have to cower in anonymity because they fear reprisal from their agents for speaking their mind ...

I'm curious who is the one "cowering in anonymity" when we all know (and respect!) Sean but you have no website, portfolio links or anything else to identify YOU? Something about a pot and a kettle comes to mind, but in this case the kettle isn't even black!

It's not that hard to work out who I am, it wouldn't take a plane scientist much less a rocket scientist

& I wasn't referring to Sean but rather Gostwyck, to whom my most recent reply was directed to ...


Sean's an iStock exclusive and they aren't the agency that has taken reprisals against people speaking out in off-site forums.

One of the other agencies has. They are a pain in the butt, but it's the reality. There are a number of anonymous people here who have been around microstock a while, have portfolios at most of the big agencies and have a lot to lose if they get their account cancelled at this agency that doesn't take criticism well. Don't blame the anonymous posters, blame the agency that plays hardball.

I do know who Gostwyck is, but I have no idea who you are. And I do think that one anonymous poster calling another out for being anonymous is a bit rich.

michealo

« Reply #21 on: January 15, 2011, 15:34 »
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Quote
Particularly those who have to cower in anonymity because they fear reprisal from their agents for speaking their mind ...

I'm curious who is the one "cowering in anonymity" when we all know (and respect!) Sean but you have no website, portfolio links or anything else to identify YOU? Something about a pot and a kettle comes to mind, but in this case the kettle isn't even black!

It's not that hard to work out who I am, it wouldn't take a plane scientist much less a rocket scientist

& I wasn't referring to Sean but rather Gostwyck, to whom my most recent reply was directed to ...


Sean's an iStock exclusive and they aren't the agency that has taken reprisals against people speaking out in off-site forums.

One of the other agencies has. They are a pain in the butt, but it's the reality. There are a number of anonymous people here who have been around microstock a while, have portfolios at most of the big agencies and have a lot to lose if they get their account cancelled at this agency that doesn't take criticism well. Don't blame the anonymous posters, blame the agency that plays hardball.

I do know who Gostwyck is, but I have no idea who you are. And I do think that one anonymous poster calling another out for being anonymous is a bit rich.

I know Sean is an iStock exclusive, in fact I would say he is the iStock exclusive.

I also know who Gostwyck is, there is no real anonymity on the web ...

« Reply #22 on: January 16, 2011, 08:48 »
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I know Sean is an iStock exclusive, in fact I would say he is the iStock exclusive.

I'm _the_ big fat panda...

Quote
& I'm sure that is what would have been said to a couple of bicycle makers from Dayton Ohio or two a couple of Steves making computers in a garage ....

I don't think you can compare.  This "crowd sourced" requested stock thing has been tried multiple times, with multiple failures.  Even on IS where there were real photographers, and real cash payment and not a gift card to some obscure store.  There is nothing new here, and it is an even lamer idea than the others.

« Reply #23 on: January 26, 2011, 08:17 »
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I think that's the spin they're giving to the fact that they're not handing out money. Money is dirty and 'unethical' you see. This is confirmed by Kelly Thompson of Istockphoto who recently told us we don't really come to his website for it.

It would appear that the first competition is up & running too;

newbielink:http://www.picturk.com/?p=1 [nonactive]

Bizarrely the 'Leader Board' is currently topped by a Mr Joris Vreeke, who has 3 votes, and who also happens to be one of the three judges. Just as well they're so very 'ethical' otherwise we might think something funny was going on.


Thank you for the link and spotting the bug. Joris name was there in error and has been removed from the leader board.
Picturk

« Reply #24 on: January 26, 2011, 08:59 »
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You're going to all the trouble to join up, and that's all you're going to post?

Come on, elaborate on the "ethical"-ness of your new "innovative" venture for us.


 

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