there has to be some advantage to getting the 70-200 f2.8L over the 70-200 f4.0L.
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To add my two cents.... I'm not sure which brand lens you are asking... but I have two Nikon 70-200 lenses - I think one is 3.5/5.6 I paid about $300 for in 05 and the 70-200 2.8 VR that I paid about $1800 for in 06.  

Big price diff huh?  But, I was blown away by the difference in the quality.  And it focusses FAST.   I got this lens for sports and nature and the speed and quality definitely makes a significant difference FOR MY NEEDS.   Does the average shooter need the speed?  It's not the funnest thing to have strapped around your neck on a nature hike though as it's bulky and heavy.    I also have a 2x converter which reduces it to a 5.6 but brings me nice and close to the action.

I'm still paying for this lens by the way - but if I treat it right I expect that it will be in my kit for years if not decades... wonder how many bodies we will all go through in the next 10 years?

I'd take just my p&S if I was hoping to get some cute pics of the kids... but never if there was a slight possibility of catching something special.  But for the record, I do have 4 or 5 stock images that I took on a Sony P&S.  Never say never.

I really feel like I have a touch of stardust these days.  A couple weeks ago I was celebrating having an EL sale and finally realizing some modest but consistent sales from a model released shoot... 

I entered some pictures in the Lucky Oliver Turn Down that Noise contest and they liked my "Little Boy Gots da Blues"
http://www.luckyoliver.com/blog/show/182

There were only 130 or 140 sumbissions including a dozen or so from myself, but I just can't believe how good the recognition feels!  I hope it's okay to share with my MSG friends?

I'm not usually very big on entering contests, but I'm glad I tried this time.  I set up this shot just for the contest, and I liked the winning photo of my son so much I had already printed up a large print (of a slightly photoshopped version). 

Now that I feel so inspired I better get busy!

Still hardly any views at FT.  Lots of views of the same images at other agencies.

When you hover over a photo on Fotolia, you can see a quick view of the image.  I don't think you would actually get credit for a "view" unless they click on the image for more detail.    So - it's really impossible to compare views with another site - like Dreamstime where they have to click through to see a larger version of the photo.

But then again.. I may be wrong about this.  But sales verses views on FT are very close.

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I like Joss's work as well but have you noticed he hasn't uploaded since the end of July 2006?  I'm basing this on his last upload image number.  I thought with someone as successful as he is, it was very strange.  Am curious what he's been up to.
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Oh, I forgot to state that and that was part of my point...if a designer is interested enough to click through to a portfolio - a good portfolio would engage the designer to look through it to the end...  and hopefully bookmark it - rather than becoming bored with patches of mediocre images and exiting after a couple page views and forgetting.    Joss does seem to get good sales without uploading often.   

So... back to the question... is it better to have an image that "might" sell at somepoint - or to just keep the really good stuff?  In which case, I'll have a pretty empty portfolio.

Very happy for you Peiling!  Way to go!

This is a good example of what is WRONG with the comments feature.  Look at the incoherent mean spirited crap this "Carnie" is posting.  Seems to be focused on photos accepted today. 


I removed the link since it's been taken care of.

Sure, happy to!  I guess a link to my Dreamstime portfolio?  They are the most recent uploads. 

http://www.dreamstime.com/pixart_portfolio_pg1

This was the e/l sale.

http://www.dreamstime.com/learning-image1830425

This is a great way to start off a Monday.  I'm still grinning a couple hours later.

I think I've commented at least once on everyone above.

I've had a great time kicking around in everyone's portfolios the past couple days.  Seems like I know know you better.   Berryspun - Iowa looks a lot like Saskatchewan/Manitoba (but I bet it's not -20 down there tonight though).

Thanks, everyone, for all the encouraging comments that have come my way. 
-Lorraine

I'm in Canada and am familiar with Paypal... I somehow have the idea in the back of my mind that MoneyBookers is a European option (I'm likely wrong about that as usual!)

As a new agency - I'd urge you to set a low minimum payout to contributors - perhaps $50 - it could be months or years for a $100 payout - and would be more attractive for contributors to sign on.   

Mikko's Dreamstime upload comment... I'm guessing here too, but I think Mikko perhaps meant once you categorize and keyword an image Dreamstime has an option where you can apply the same details with a click instead of picking categories and keywording manually.  Saves a ton of time.  The drawback is... I think you can only use the information from the most recent 10 uploads or so (but YOU could likely improve on that!)

One thing I'd like to see on more sites is a way to categorize your portfolio.  Mine is small but growing to a few pages... I also do a bit of design and when I click into portfolios sometimes they are just too overwhelming.... thousands of images to sort through..... it would be nice if it would be narrowed down a bit.... perhaps portfolios could be owner-categorized i.e. "All", "Business", "Romance", "Nature", "Youth"... etc.   

Also- "See more images from this model" is a useful feature for designers.

Good luck to you.  You picked a good place to come looking for info.  Tyler's little site here ROCKS.

"Money directly to bank account".  I don't think many will go for it. We transfer it from Paypal to bank account and this keeps our sensitive information between us and Paypal.  If you read through this forum there have been several imaginative scams out there and I personally wouldn't give my banking info to an upstart.

Well, this is funny because I just asked this question this morning, and this afternoon Bryan at LO has commented on a new image saying "Naughty Little Boy is a great title".  Maybe a site like LO could use more hip titles and keep it fairly straight for the others (if I can keep track of things that is!)

Can't figure out how to insert a photo... so here's a link to my "Naughty Little Boy"

http://www.luckyoliver.com/photo/1284852/naughty_little_boy

"Ha!  Pixart, I ask myself this everyday. " --
--If you are really 2 people or if you get to sleep today?

BTW, I get the impression that a lot of us on this board are really rooting for LO and appreciate the fact that you do not attempt to be anonymous.   Hopefully when LO is a huge success your team will still be known for the personal touch!