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Messages - Axel Lauer
101
« on: April 24, 2013, 15:13 »
I don't know what the rules are for contributing as a company with Istock but if you are claiming the copyright as Axel Lauer and have other photographers under you then I would guess you would need a contract or releases to do that.
Thats what i said above.... I do not upload images which are not shot by myself !!!
102
« on: April 24, 2013, 15:11 »
double post -- Sorry
103
« on: April 24, 2013, 15:09 »
Its very simple.
I have my account there since (its a rogh estimation) a year and i do not sell exclusive
I gave a critic by mail
Some Minutes later she asked me to clearify how many people are contributing to my account!!
It really looks like she is searching for a "hanger", a hook to get my account closed, to make me shup up.
Is that clear now?
regards axel
104
« on: April 24, 2013, 14:57 »
Hi everybody, i just experience a very interesting encounter with Misses K. N. from Istock. It started with one of these weird rejections you normaly get only with little agencies (MR for a flower-bouquet or PR for a governmental building etc...). I answered with a critique and suddenly Misses N. found some "Issues" in my profile and now it seems like she is searching desperate for a reason to get me kicked out . And it seems like she tries that in a way that noboy can say its censorship against photographers who are not willing to shut up with every thing they do. She digged very deep for a reason and now they suspect me that i upload images which are not mine. Of course i only upload images which are made by myself. They come across with the argument that with companys (i run a company - but that does not mean necessarily that i upload images as a company) it might be a bit tricky. Quote Istock: "Since iStockphoto is really set up to deal with single photographers, it is a bit tricky to work with a company that may employ several photographers or artists." I answered: "-All required fields in the profile-section of your backend are filled out. -I dont hire other photographers. -All images are made by myself. " If i am right with my "feeling" its one of the most unserious behaviors i encountered in 35 years of businesslife. I really hope that this is just a severe misunderstanding and to clearify that i invite Misses K.N to give her statement here. regards axel Lauer. www.axellauer.de
105
« on: February 23, 2013, 05:14 »
Why not just accept what the Micro-stock company ask you do? Just a thought...
as i said many many times before: If they would have rules (even if the rule was that they only except red photos, or whatever) i would adapt. They have no rules you can rely on. Its like having a partnership with a schizo / psycho. They as well change their opinions and rules every day. Axel, you have very very nice photos and obviously too too much time.
WThell is PD, anyway?
Another 3$/year agency? !
Thats right but i have for sure one character fault - i become very stubborn if people behave incorrect or unfair and what pisses me most is illogical and stupid people. Might be my scorpio ;-) Most of the sites have tightened up their rules on model and property releases over the last few years. So finding something from a couple of years back that doesn't follow today's rules will happen at every microstock site.
I understand that but the case i was talking about (logo of mercedes benz) is most actual!! I estimate according to the law of my country (and accordung to human sanity) if a picture needs a MR / PR or not. If an agency wants me to estimate according to their rules they must set up rules. Otherwise this agency is just a bunch of unprofessionals. Bottom line on model releases is that if you want to sell RF stock, you should have releases for anything that has shots of individuals (i.e. I'm not talking street scenes), even if it's body parts.
People can be very recognizable without faces and you don't want to be on the receiving end of legal action.
When you have borderline cases - your bridal bouquet example has more of the bride showing in one case than the other - decisions could go either way. It's a judgment call. If you had a release from the bride it wouldn't be an issue.
Do you know what the bride would tell me if i ask her for a MR ?? Something like:" Go to hell you bloody idiot. Why should i sign a MR if you want to sell a picture of a flower. Ask the flower, you moron" And hey....... she would be perferctly right with that reply. And if a bride wants to take legal action the judge would tell her that she better should go home, do something more useful than to waiste the courts time whith kindergarden-crap like that. But maybe its different in USA agencies (and some australian too). Seems like they are sitting like cowards under their desks, trying to get rid of all risks and lost their marbles - far away of any reason.
106
« on: February 22, 2013, 09:04 »
@Click_Click Thats right. What really pisses me is if an agency wants exclusive material (PD as well) and then they do not provide a set of standards. Let me quote from another Post: Say what you want about IS (or any other top 4 site for that matter), at least they are consistent. And that's what matters the most consistency, so at least you can adjust to their standards (you obviously want to have the highest possible AR with your best selling site). And I also understand better you arguments against exclusivity now. Imagine this lack of clear set, any set of standards of inspection, topped with a search engine shakeup. It could lead to a disaster. Thats why i never ever would become an exclusive author with PD and i really dont know why anyone else would do. if one does he must be very desperate. Clipdealer? We tried too, but thats not worth it. Panthermedia? They are the next one we will give the axe!
107
« on: February 22, 2013, 08:33 »
I have been through the same frustration with FT and the only thing I could do is accept it. Believe me, FT is far more frustrating. But I learned to deal with it. Thats why I am telling you, accept it and move on, its the best thing to do.
FT? Fotolia?? I deleted my account over there (even if they sold good) because this was really much tooooooo stupid. Their reviewers cant even count to 18. Over 300 images rejected because the "model was not of full age" , but the model was 18 since 10 Month and the reviewer just couldnt handle his calculator :-) And then all that hassle with that arrogant and stupid support (was a german guy - so its not only americans who can be morons). I thought it could not become worse than Fotolia - until i ended up in the hands of PD Reviewers. Oh boy - i am so glad that i dont depend on this stock-crap. But you know the positiv thing on it?? I can tell what i think without beeing afraid of PDs censorship. Even if they delete my account - so what? Missing some dollars - who cares!
108
« on: February 22, 2013, 07:40 »
You seem to of missed the fact that PD are Australian.
Why shouldnt australians sometimes be as "intelligent" than americans? Shi* happens
109
« on: February 22, 2013, 07:37 »
it wont change a thing.
I am not sure if you are right. The best is to support good agencies and critic the bad ones. I still carry the hope that crap dies out and good plattforms make their way.
110
« on: February 22, 2013, 06:57 »
LOL, if you are this upset after uploading 160 photos, you'll have a heart attack by the time you are done with your 40.000.
Play by their rules, or dont submit. Its a free world. If you want the money, you have to play, otherwise, drop them. I dont see an issue here.
And you apparently already have the same bouquet accepted, so why go nuts when the second one is rejected? Its a similar photo, move on.
again: -Its not one image -I am not complaining about rejects in general I am complaining about arrogance, stupidity and missing reliable rules and the way how PD treats photographers. You want one more "funny cases" Here we go: - Picture of a boat shed photographed from a public place was rejected because of missing PR - I asked for a review and image was accepted- 4 hours ago i got an email and PD changes their mind - same picture again rejectedWhat a laugh , what a Kindergarden !!! They seem to play "reject-roulette" over there
111
« on: February 22, 2013, 06:50 »
In general the annoy factor when working with an agency, means a lot to me.
And nothing annoys me more than arrogance. I have stopped working with a few because of that.
Thats the point. There are so many german or european agencies where it is so easy to work with. Smart, reasonable people , good support.. On th other hand US-american agencies and lets face the facts, often enoogh arrogant, ignorant and - thats the pain in the ass - same time a huge lack of knowledge and logic. And PD is a good example for that. Not to talk about their way to cope with critic. Reminds me on 1996 - where i have a been as a photojournalist in Northkorea.
113
« on: February 22, 2013, 05:06 »
I dont care about rejects in general. I care about the stupidity of their reasons, their arbitrariness, their arrogance / ignorance and the lack of reliable rules !! Here is one (out of many) actual cases which shows the "highly skilled & qualified" work of their reviewers: www.axellauer.de/absurd-pd.jpgyou can not be pregnant and not pregnant at the same time !!!
114
« on: February 22, 2013, 04:37 »
Hello everybody probably you face the same absurd rejects with PD the wa did. After i tried to get some reliable advices or rules from them and all tries failed because they only answer with empty phrases all my amployees told me to give PD the axe but i always believethat people are reasonable and fair and so i tried and tried - withot any results. How do you cope with these absurd situation?? Lets face rhe facts: PD rejects obviosly public buildings (churches, cathedrals, governmental buildings etc) with the argument that you need a PR. PD rejects pictures like these ( http://www.axellauer.de/photodune-rejects/ )because of missing MR , at the same time they accept pictures like these ( ) and i am sure that the photographer has no MRs PD rejects a image of a flower bouquet with the reason that you need a MR (!!!) and accepts another image from the same situation (just the crop and the perspective is slightly different. All in all you can say that they prrof with every single upload that they havent got the faintest idea what they do and (this is the most upsetting thing) they are not willing to provide photographers with reliable rules or train their reviewers. We replied in their forum like that (just one part and you can read the whole locked post here (maybe they will delete it because they are no fans of democratic structures) HiHo as you might see im quite new as a seller on Photodune but we are selling at almost all major stockagencies but what we realized here is, sorry to say that, the most absurd ever.
1: A image of a governmental building, shot from a public place without any gear like multicopters has been rejected because of missing property release. This is absurd and we sell that image even on istock, shutterstock and getty and no one of these are asking for a PR.
Who shell i ask for a PR ??
Angela Merkel?
2: it gets even more absurd!
A image very very similar to this one
http://www.axellauer.de/wp-content/gallery/hochzeitsfotografie/mg_8397.jpg
was rejected because of missing Model-Release.
Shell we ask the flowers for a signature?? Boys, its flowers, not the bride. You cant even tell if its a female, how can you tell that it is a specific person!!
thats soi dont even have words for
Right now we have 169 accepted and 20 rejected.
about 600 are still in process .
about 40.000 we have in our stock.
I am interested if photodune stays on our list of delivered stockagencies. we will see Regards axel
After some "kind but empty phrases of an Mod" we had to answer like this: Hi there at first i want to say that this is your plattform and therefore you have the rights to set up any rule you like however they are.
Conclusion: We accept that! We upload, you accept or reject we dont care.
And now please have a closer look at some images you rejected. Remember: You rejected them because of missing Model-release!!! Qoute Photodune:
providing signed release forms for images containing recognizable humans
And we remember one topic more: People (even in America) must accept that they might be on photos even without their explicit affirmation if they are...
- not the main motive
- or blurred (means in most cases that they are not the motive)
- or if they are ( dont know the proper english word) padding / attachment in photos of general charakter like streetscenes
Even if they are the full motive (but that might not be the case here) they maybe can be published without their confirmation if the picture has a state of art and in that case the personal rights of the person shown, has to step back behind the public rights for art. Or do you think photographers like Nachtwey or Curry do have MRs But thats not the topic!
And now lets have a look at some photos which have been rejected:
http://www.axellauer.de/photodune-rejects/
Lets beginn with Number 2 (bridal bouquet / red flowers):
Sergey (***a meber of PD-Support-team) replied in an email like this:
Though the face of the person is not visible, she may be recognised by other relatively unique objects: - the dress; - the wedding ring; - the bouquet. Thats why the request for model release form is justified in this case.
The Dress??
I dont now how it works in america but in germany brides usualy do not knit their dresses themselves they buy them in shops where the same dress is available a second , and yes, unbelievable, maybe a third or a fourth time (and so on). Very individual though isnt it??
The Wedding ring??
Can you tell me the colour of the ring???
Yes?? Wow, youre a Mentalist Congratulations. I cant not even in a 100% view!
So if you even cant tell the colour, how can you tell that this is Misses XY ??
The Flowers:
Ah.Yes, they have been grown by the bride herself and she knows every single blossom by its name and in the evening when nobody listens the bride exchanges her deepest secrets with them. Very intimate relation they have.
---The Motive is flowers !
--- Its Flowers we shot !
---We shot flowers !
Once more?? Look at the focus !!!!
Thats perfect according to american law.
Next time i will ask my MOTIV (the bouquet) if they would sign your MR. But i think it will fail because flowers have no thumb to hold a pencil.
What a bummer!
And with all the other pictures its much more absurd than in this case.
We work together with 27 international agencies including your direct competitors on the american market and not a single one asked for a MR in cases like that. Do you really believe that all of them have no idea when a MR is needed???
A little bit more What about these images you sell?? http://photodune.net/item/passengers/404429?WT.ac=category_thumb&WT.seg_1=category_thumb&WT.z_author=jeancliclac http://photodune.net/item/crowd-crossing-over/260280?WT.ac=category_thumb&WT.seg_1=category_thumb&WT.z_author=Lifeonwhite
These people are much much much more recognizable than on every single picture we send you!
You want to tell me that this author sended you over 30 different MRs ?
Another Sentence of Sergey:
Axel, youve mentioned that you have about 40.000 items to be uploaded. Im looking forward to seeing your works soon!
Yes, we do. And we have rules as well and they are very simple. We deliver our good work (not only the C-Class-Stock-Stuff) only to agencies who fullfill the following:
- reliable standards concerning MRs & PRs based on the law in the country they are located
- They accept our releaseform (sometime we make exceptions like we did with photodune)
- They do their job as good as we do ours. That means at least correct reviewing (have a close look at the case with the governmental building)
Regards axel
PS: and one last remark concerning the rejected image with the building you first rejected because of missing PR although its governmental
This one is not governmental: http://photodune.net/item/manhattan/1452887?WT.ac=category_thumb&WT.seg_1=category_thumb&WT.z_author=Galyna_Andrushko Does the author have a PR?? Im in doubt. Like mentioned before: This is the most stupid "review-situation" we had under all (meanwhile) 40 agencies we work with and every day it becomes worse with PD. Shall i give them more chances or give them the axe?? What do you think?? Did you ever made the experience of fair conversation with PD ? Regards axel BTW: Now they proofed that they have a understanding of democracy which is definitelly more "J.Edgar Hoover-style" than what we europeans call democracy. Not only that our posts are locked - our posts have been deleted with strange reasons and we are banned from their forum. They obviously dont like critic!
115
« on: February 20, 2013, 05:51 »
If i am right then all albums are gone.
Is that the same in your accounts?
Do they really expect that i go through almost 3.000 images and do that work again??
If its really like that i leave mostphoto
regards A.
EDIT
The albums are still visible in the frontend but im not able to add new pictures to albums because you cant reach them over the backend
116
« on: February 19, 2013, 14:17 »
@somethingpretentious
tell us more
117
« on: February 19, 2013, 12:51 »
And no support at all.
They dont answer supportmails or dont drop by here.
That agency is not really worth the effort and might be doomed.
Specially after that famous relaunch
118
« on: February 19, 2013, 11:50 »
Oh boy, my 12 year old son can do that better....
1: If i filter the "Mediacloud" by Unpublished it says 1800 pictures (thats not possible because i only uploaded 150 new ones)
2: If i go to the section "Publish" (looks like the new darkroom) it says "You have nothing to publish"
Who coded that crap? Franz Kafka?
Has somebody a hint?
Regards A.
119
« on: February 16, 2013, 05:24 »
Hi there,
did anyone else than me face problems with the FTP-Upload?
Yesterday i uploaded around 100 images by FTP.
I can still see them over Filezilla on their server - but i dont find them in their backend.
i searched for almost 20 Minutes on their site but e cant even find a hint / way / link to something like "transfer from FTP"
Does someone has an idea how it works?
regards axel
btw: Their Relaunch is a pain in the ass - its a "webdesigners 2.0 playground" - but far away from usabilty and so much worse than the old one. Unbelievable
120
« on: January 09, 2013, 04:12 »
Hi there To get that clear i posted a a very detailed question in their forum and requested a staff reply. Until now i wait since two days - no answer. Today i reminded them and i hope that they will answer in an appropriate manner and detailed so that we all get a reliable standard. Here is the URL: http://photodune.net/forums/thread/rules-for-ftp-mr-if-more-than-one-model/84291regards axel
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