http://istockphoto.com/sell-stock-photos-exclusivity.php

Quote from FAQs:

QuoteExclusivity only covers your royalty-free stock files. iStock does not require Exclusivity for:

    * Rights-managed files with other organizations
    * Personal portfolio sites
    * Work for hire/editorial work contracts
    * Prints for sale
    * Prints, t-shirts and the like produced on art-only sites such as cafepress.com

I had a RM sale there a few days ago, sold to the World Bank / IMF. Was not a lot of cash, but enough to want to go through with the sale. Although, I could not decipher their tax documents for non-US residents and things didn't get past that. Anyone had any luck working out a payout from PhotoShelter, while not being resident in the US?

The mere fact of so many successful (some massively so) macro artists launching and preparing to launch collections inside micro seems to make his comments a bit off target. Lucky Oliver's success or demise can hardly be seen as an industry trend, as it wasn't typical of the industry, didn't invest in any form of marketing and probably paid too higher commissions of too little revenue.

With macro artists entering the microstock arena, I would expect rather than to see the end of micro or macro, there will just be increasing redefinition of the markets. Along with the increase in quality images, there will naturally be a niche for a slightly more select bunch of images. This is where Fotolia's infinite collection  and similar initiatives by other agencies will prove very interesting.

I do agree.

Though, i do have doubts about the way your message comes across. Is it necessary to make such a bold statement? Does anyone care that you don't care?

But, you're right. And, from talking with some macro photographers that i know read this micro- forum and others, they have a good chuckle amongst themselves when things like rejections get discussed. Those photographers are used to getting batches of 100+ images rejected just because that reviewer doesn't like the colour of a t-shirt or the look of the model. Rejections can be subjective. Its a dynamic and shifting market and maybe its about time people started listening to what they're being told when they get such large amounts of images rejected, instead of blaming everyone else. The only agencies that don't know what they're doing are the ones that are approving indiscriminately.

Hmmm... yes interesting indeed..

I meant that is it worth the investment in time, uploading to a site that you couldn't imagine will do well, anyway? I will upload to some sites because I respect their approach and their business plan, or their potential. If one of those potential sites pulls thru, then its worth being on board when it does. Its not worth it for current earning but for future earnings.

I will continue to upload to Crestock, SnapVillage and Yaymicro (when its released) because they are sites that i have and will buy images from, and can see legitimate reasons why other people would too.

Hi,

I noticed in my last payout that paypal was taking a lot of the fees through bad currency rates and fees. I estimate that i lose about 10-15% of my income to paypal, which isn't ideal.

Has anyone had a better experience with moneybookers? Is moneybookers compatible with paypal?

I've only recently started uploading my own work for the first time. I started it just out of interest and its become a little addictive so i'm taking it further..

At the moment, I'm trying a mix of different sites with different pricing models.

IStock
Shutterstock - I will when I have a larger portfolio ready and keyworded, start with a bang there.
Dreamstime  - Have just started uploading and to the editorial, too.
Fotolia - Limited views, and perhaps harsh rejections.

The rest of the big 6 will come in time.

Crestock - Great site, nice UI. Small investment in time and hopefully sometime in the near future this site will pay dividends
SnapVillage - Simple site, just waiting for it to come alive. Its backed by Corbis, which shouldn't be sneezed at. Not paying notice to current activity.
YayMicro - Another site with potential, started by 3 guys from ScanPix with a realistic outlook and a simple approach.

Alamy, Photoshelter Panthermedia, and Mediamagnet.

Having been a microstock buyer, keyworder, photo editor and uploader I'm lucky to have a bit of insight here. And, i would never upload to a site I wouldn't want to buy from. Like Canstock or mostphotos for instance.

Definitely go with the newer f4. I've used both and now just own the f4 version as it seems at least as sharp, as well as being. cheaper and lighter.

Am also being left high and dry waiting for the new 5d...

Quote from: hatman12 on April 08, 2008, 22:13
In the last few years Kenya has become a politically unstable and violent place, so be very, very careful and keep your wits about you.

I was saddened to see that Guiseppe di Stefano, a famous tenor in the 60's and 70's and who had probably the best relationship with Maria Callas on stage and on record was recently mugged at his home in Kenya, and being now in his 80's he died from the injuries.

I've never been there and don't intend to, but I suggest you stick very close to your guides and have plenty of dollar bills in your pocket for gratuities and bribes.

Indeed, though travel restrictions have now been lifted on a country that was considered in recent times to be one of the most stable in africa.

I've ordered the 2x extender, was a bit of an impulsive purchase as i'm yet to really see if it can still produce any sharp images. A larger lens wasn't really an option. I'll be sure to give an update when it arrives.

Quote from: RT on April 08, 2008, 19:42
Without sounding too condecending, you ain't going to notice a lot of  difference in quality between a 24mm and a 24-70mm using a 40D, both lenses are top quality and can give great results.

If it was me out of those two I'd go for the 24-70, but then to be totally honest I wouldn't choose either, in the situation you describe I'd go for the 24-105mm, that way you can shoot landscapes and have a bit extra reach for some wildlife.

Either way it sounds like a nice trip, have fun.

Thanks, you're probably right. I use a 1ds Mark 2 as well, which i've been using someone else's 28-70 on, but i'm still not completely satisfied with the quality (maybe i need to give myself a break and focus on the content of the image ).. I think quality is more dependent on the glass than the body. I'm hesitant to take the 1ds to africa (kenya), tho without any assistants or any such things.

I have a canon L 70-200 with a 2x extender so i'm hoping thats enough to capture some of those furry critters.

This is probably an endless discussion. I started off wondering about the difference between the prime and the zoom at around 24mm of zoom, but there are just so many lenses and any L glass seems to be pretty top notch.

Anbody been or living in Africa with some essential tips?

Quote from: Chode on April 08, 2008, 13:19
24mm is not a wide angle on cameras with crop factor (eos 3**D, eos 4**D, eos 20D, eos 30D, eos 40D)

I will probably be taking my 40d and not a full frame camera (why won't they just release a new 5d already)..

Thanks, leaf. I just read that article the other day, though. It'd be nice to hear if anyone can confirm or deny that from experience. It does sounds like at the higher f-stops the difference in sharp is so little that it might be worth going for the zoom, and having a slightly more versatile lens.

Hi again,

Would like to know if anyone could offer some input on whether to go for a Canon prime wide angle lens (24mm f/1.4) or the similarly priced Canon L 24-70mm f/2.8??

I'm looking to get one before I head off on a trekking and safari trip in Africa within a couple of months. So, I'd like something that could capture some very sharp landscapes. I'm worried about the sharpness difference between the prime and the zoom, after having been using a Canon L 28-70mm lately and not being all that impressed.

Has anyone used the 24mm f/1.4? With which body?

I'm mostly worried about the sharpness of the 24-70mm at the the wider zoom, where it will get much more use.

I have a sigma 10-20mm, which is good fun with the extra width, but its not all that sharp at all.

Cheers.

I bought the Wacom Bamboo tablet a few weeks ago. I think it has 6x4 of area with 512 points. Its a bit too small, should have saved up for the larger Intuos model. Its a shame cause its my first tablet, and it really does speed things up, its just a little too frustrating to use to justify giving up the mouse forever.

Thanks mate,

I found the same with aperture, whether using it on a Macbook 2.0 or a Mac pro workstation with 2 & 4gb ram, respectively. I think i'll go back to Lightroom, at least then I can have more than one program running at a time. Aperture also seems to take a ridiculous amount of time to both import and export files...

Any thoughts on Capture One Pro?

Cheers

G'day,

I've recently started using Aperture, switching over from using Lightroom for processing and storing RAW files. This was after getting a couple of rejections on istock for artifacts. Has anyone else noticed Lightroom producing artifacts when exporting to JPG?

And for those who use these programs more intensively than i do, whats your preference?? Pros, cons..

I've used Capture One Pro a bit too, but don't feel very comfortable in it. Is there a good reason to use that over the other two?

Thanks for your input

Thanks guys, thats some quality advice. I've been watching tutorials by Dan Margulis on LAB colour correction in CS3 via Kelbytraining.com which i highly recommend btw.

very nice bunch of pictures. anyone got any ideas on achieving colours like that without ruining an image? suggestions of tutorials, resources would be really appreciated. thanks