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Messages - Graffoto
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176
« on: January 09, 2011, 11:55 »
^^
I say it because it is true in my case, for my bodies.
Two bodies, same lenses (85mm1.8, 28-70 2.8L, 70-200 2.8L IS), same software.
I believe that there is a stronger anti-aliasing filter on the MK2 accounting for a slight softness in the out of camera images.
PS- I only shoot RAW, so there is no in camera sharpening going on.
The noise is only in the darker areas of the image and easily cleaned up.
This is a known problem and complained about vociferously on DP Review.
Thank goodness I don't also have the banding issue.
At any rate I have learned to always expose to the right on the MK2 whereas with the MK1 I had a but more leeway.
177
« on: January 09, 2011, 11:20 »
I have the original 5D and the MK2. To be honest the original has less noise at 100 ISO and is a tad sharper straight out of camera. I don't need more megapixels to clog up my post processing speed, thank you very much. What would compel me to upgrade would be better dynamic range and more + more accurate focus points. The array of focus points is not wide enough in the 5D series. If I am in portrait orientation and use the top point to focus on a models eye for instance, then there is a ton of frame left over above the models head that I have to crop out later. If I focus and recompose, I risk losing critical focus on the eye unless shooting at f16 or greater. Also shooting action is really not the forte' of the 5D bodies. Need to go to a 1D or a 7D to shoot action. Maybe that's my solution. A 7D for action and a  for portrait work? Are you listening Canon!?
178
« on: January 08, 2011, 21:25 »
I use the term 'fear' because whenever the federal government starts messing around in business affairs, they tend to overdo it, screw it up or make gigantic loopholes for the mega corps that make the biggest campaign contributions.
I spent three years working for the federal government. I have little faith that they can ever do anything right.
I ran as far and fast from government work as I could as soon as I was able.
179
« on: January 08, 2011, 19:35 »
When you think about it Lisa, the crowd sourcing model of microstock is very similar politically to the outsourcing of other jobs from the US to the - ahem- 'Third World".
The microstock model brought in the cheap labor of the former Soviet block countries, South America, Asia, etc. etc. to the detriment of traditional US and UK high end photographers.
At any rate the damage is done and there is no going back.
As for outsourcing mfg and IT jobs... if US business does not bring some of the work back home I fear that the government may just step in with protectionist measures to make it happen. Otherwise, our jobless recovery will remain largely that. Jobless.
180
« on: January 07, 2011, 13:01 »
I'm beginning to think they have outsourced their IT to India.
More like China. LOL
So you saw the movie Outsourced? And if you didn't, you should - it was a lovely cross-cultural misunderstandings movie.
Never saw it, don't need to. I have an abundance of first hand experience working with Indian IT people.
On the plus side they are very astute and knowledgeable.
On the minus side, they are as a general rule not innovative, preferring to adapt existing open source software for their own purposes rather than build to suite.
Due to their culture, it generally takes a good hard push from the client side to get them to complete anything on time.
Communication? What's that? While they may THINK they are speaking English it's not a form anyone in the US can fathom.
But, "we will do the needful"!
I could go on about this for hours, but I doubt anyone here wants to read a novella on the subject.
181
« on: January 07, 2011, 11:01 »
I'm beginning to think they have outsourced their IT to India.
182
« on: January 06, 2011, 18:02 »
I find it difficult to believe that he makes a living doing that.
183
« on: January 06, 2011, 09:49 »
Yup, iStock runs sales on the price of credits and then makes the contributor take a hit when the lower cost credits are used. Great business model, for them.
Only type of business in the world that I'm aware of where the supplier takes a hit because the reseller runs a discount! On top of that, the reseller in this case gets it's product for free. Plus its also the only legitimate business on the planet where the cycle runs like this: You got, you sell it, you still got it to sell again.
There is another business that works like that though. It's known as the 'worlds oldest profession'.
184
« on: January 06, 2011, 09:42 »
^
It may be nothing new, but these are the most snafus, so close together that I have seen since 2005 when I joined. It really does have the feel of a sinking ship.
185
« on: January 05, 2011, 21:52 »
The problem isn't so much that the commander appeared in the videos as much as it is that he produced them.
Personally, I would have a real problem with my boss/commander if he showed my entire workplace this type of video. If it isn't considered sexual harassment of his female subordinates, it's pretty darn close.
As an ex-submariner myself, trust me this is pretty low-key stuff on the scale of things. Don't forget that the primary job of the armed forces is kill people whilst at the same time risking being killed or seriously maimed yourself. It doesn't even start to compare with a standard office job and the same rules of attitude or sensitively simply do not apply and nor should they. You need aggressive, brave and relatively insensitive people working together in a relatively aggressive insensitive environment to have a hope of getting the job done when it needs to be. If you try to apply all the modern culture and sensitivities then you'll just end up with a hugely less effective armed forces __ because when the time comes they'll lose out to their more ruthless enemies.
I was going to say something similar but you put it well and succinctly. The media is full of itself with PC this and that and everyone is so easily offended. Sorry boys and girls, but in the real world of military life PC doesn't get the job done.
186
« on: January 05, 2011, 21:35 »
I was despairing of IS customers ever coming back to the site, then I had possibly my BDE today ... about 5 days of downloads at once. Looks like the customers finally got over their hangovers.
Good on you! My month is still Cr@p thus far.
187
« on: January 04, 2011, 17:53 »
^^^
Not really a surprise, this.
I am somewhat astonished that they let it go on for as long as they did.
188
« on: December 30, 2010, 09:47 »
Apparently you fail to realize that they were only granted editorial release only. There is a big step up for even no-name models for any promotional or advertising releases.
This is NOT news for anyone who works in editorial fashion at any level.
You sir, have no sense of humor/irony.
I failed to realize nothing, and am well aware of what the editorial fashion world thinks is 'fair'.
Which is one reason that I shoot and license for stock rather than work for free in a vain attempt to get 'exposure' that may or may (most probably not), result in a paying gig.
What I was really attempting to point out is that attitude of 'you are really worthless, but we will pay you a little bit and make a profit from your efforts" seems to have extended into the stock area as well.
189
« on: December 30, 2010, 05:29 »
You've got to admire the honesty of the CEO, bragging about how well they're doing while shafting the very people who lead to its success.
Seems to be the current trend.
Yes, my thoughts exactly. Worrying similarities abound.
191
« on: December 29, 2010, 13:39 »
oh, boiling frogs... great analogy! I'm beginning to feel parboiled myself 
192
« on: December 29, 2010, 01:27 »
^^^
Thank you SNP, succinct and on point!
193
« on: December 27, 2010, 22:00 »
Great stuff! Be prepared to get wet 
194
« on: December 25, 2010, 15:47 »
And yet there was a whole discussion about it. If it wasn't at all confusing, no one would have even mentioned it. 
The discussion was about the reporting issues, not that no one could figure out the UI on the details page.
The EL area isn't open all the time because it would take up real estate on the screen that a relative few people would be interested in. It's clear enough right there with the radio buttons what the options are. Could they ask an additional question along the line or have an unobtrusive pop up asking to make sure the buyer doesn't need an EL? Maybe, but I don't see the big deal (and I'm one for maximizing revenue, trust me).
I really have to agree with Sue on this one. That radio button is very easy to overlook. I never even paid any attention to it, until Sean mentioned it. Further, there is a drop down IF you hover over the word "extended" that is totally invisible. Not intuitive at all. The simple and very real fact is that most buyers aren't aware that extended license is required for certain use and making the fact that they are there and sometimes needed more obvious would be in everyone's best interest.
195
« on: December 23, 2010, 11:16 »
Another apparent fiasco:
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=284542
More of a software "we didn't anticipate the consequences of our actions" type thing. I'm glad to see that they are upping the value of the collections, and picking up the bill for it. Aside from the reporting fiasco, this is a plus on both sides.
Dosen't anyone at IS test the software changes before pushing them through live? In keeping with the spirit of this thread: FAIL
196
« on: December 23, 2010, 10:13 »
Another apparent fiasco:
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=284542
Yeah, that messed with my head big time yesterday. Showed I had an extended license sale, but did not show the size of file sold and the royalty looked all wrong:( I called CR and they gave me a half assed explanation that I only partially understood. Weak. Thanks for the link to the forum discussion, now I get what happened.
197
« on: December 17, 2010, 01:27 »
It applies to me, but I have a very small port. My top month is 300$
&chds=0,325.5)
Well its rather easy to see why, the majority of your tiny port are Christmas themed files. Add a few for each major holiday and I'm sure your downloads will be more even throughout the year.
198
« on: December 16, 2010, 01:05 »
199
« on: December 14, 2010, 22:12 »
Not a single sale for me on IS since the 10th, and I've been getting daily sales for the past couple of years. Something's amiss.
Yup, pretty much the same here. This is looking like my worst month in two years.
200
« on: December 12, 2010, 00:59 »
OK, I'm not much of a typist so I tend to say things in as brief a way as possible.
Of course we have more in common than language.... but our governments work much differently.
People generally don't mind paying taxes when they see services that they can use being implemented with that tax money.
It just does not work that way in the US.
OK, maybe we give less in reported aid per capita... but that is on top of all the military spending.
Frankly is would take volumes of books to explain the where all the tax dollars are going... pay-offs to corrupt third world regimes, monetary & military hardware support for out allies, etc, etc.
My late father worked for the CIA for a few years, based out of Turkey.
I learned some things about how the world really works from him.
Trust me, its a messy game we play.
I also held a federal government job for a few years in the 1980s.
I had a good up close and personal look at how it works.
Mostly it doesn't work.
Scads of people are employed whose only real job is trying to figure out how they can justify their positions!
Its ludicrous. Anyone that has worked for the US Federal government, will understandably be miffed about how our tax dollars are (mis)spent.
The US taxation system is broken. There are large loopholes for the very, very wealthy, while the middle class gets raped.
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