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Topics - oxman
26
« on: January 15, 2013, 21:09 »
A wonderful woman has come into my life recently bringing a passion for photography. Her current experience is primarily point-and-shoot of landscapes.
I am enjoying teaching her what I know about photography and professional equipment and she has fully embraced the experience.
She mentioned that she was a ballerina in her teens and still had her cherished ballet slippers. I suggested shooting them. Her eyes lit up.
After a few days of lessons about histograms, high-light alerts, DOF, lens, strobe lights and just getting comfortable with my 5DM2 I let her go solo in the studio.
The other morning at 6:00 a.m. (before coffee or breakfast) I discovered her taking photos of her beloved ballet slippers. I snapped an iPhone candid of the moment and wanted to share it with you to remind us of what we do.
Sure, we all get charged up by the unfair treatment by the agencies and for many, that is overwhelming. But let's not forget that we are artists creating memorable images that tell a story. It is what we do and who we are.
I saw that in Beverly that morning as she reconnected with and paid homage to a very special time in her life through my camera. As she sat down and viewed her work all of the strobes, stands, laptops, and software faded away -- and she cried warm tears of joy.
OX
...keeping it real
27
« on: January 06, 2013, 11:18 »
I broke up with my girlfriend last summer. Even though it was my doing and necessary it hit me really hard and I have not felt like shooting much. The stress had left me kinda hollow. Feeling much better now and starting to shoot again. Even have awesome (and much better) girlfriend.
The projects I HAVE shot have felt forced and somewhat on auto-pilot. And not from the zen-zone or heart.
How do you deal with staying motivated to shoot when there is stress in your life?
OX
...zen shooter
28
« on: December 17, 2012, 20:19 »
My niece has a pretty good eye for photography and has shot some very good images. I was speaking to her about purchasing the rights to some of the photos and submitting them to my iStock account. I guess this might be similar to Yuri hiring shooters for his various portfolios. She has no interest in becoming a regular microstock shooter.
Does anyone know how submitting other shooter's images would fly at iStock or elsewhere? I guess I would need to get a "All Rights Ownership" contract signed by the photographer.
Thanks for your input.
OX
29
« on: November 07, 2012, 00:33 »
Does anyone have any experience dealing with a property settlement from a divorce which involves a stock photo portfolio? I was wondering how one would divide up an asset like a portfolio generating an income stream if there was a divorce. Anyone been down that road? 
30
« on: October 04, 2012, 00:15 »
After reading this thread at IS, I am kinda shocked with the massive SUDDEN downward shift in sales and income for 99% of the iStock community. And since IS is one of the major players, this trend must be industry wide. http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=347763&page=1SO what is going on? Is it IS's site issues or something else? It does not feel like a gradual trend since September is usually the bounce-back month. Hopefully it is related to the zoom and add-to-library issues (that should be fixed) but that seems odd that those simple features would slam the sales activity. Have any of you veterans seen anything like this? Any ideas?
31
« on: September 18, 2012, 12:52 »
I was kinda expecting September sales to be impressive with summer over but I am way down from my forecast here at mid-September.
It looks like IS is jerking around the search algorithms like a monkey on crack.
How is your September going so far?
OX
...not sure if monkeys really do crack
32
« on: September 17, 2012, 17:24 »
33
« on: September 09, 2012, 14:13 »
What is that background image behind the Microstock Group header banner or perhaps logo. Mebbe we should have a contest to redesign that. At least show a camera ?  OX ...going OCD again
34
« on: September 07, 2012, 10:25 »
Well, since IS opened the door to mobile phone photos and I just bought a new iPhone 4s, I thought I would give it a go. My first shoot was actually some test shots at a local music store where I was planning a full on 5D-with-strobes shoot. The iPhone shots came out pretty good for an iPhone using Camera+ app and some light post in LR and PS. All were accepted but one. Surprising.
Yesterday I was at Oceanside Pier and snagged a bunch of nice photos and just ULed them. I got some, IMO, nice shots with good compositions and subject matter. BUT while doing post, I kept thinking, why . didn't I just bring my 5D and not have to deal with all this noise, color distortion, jpeg format, and other issues inherent in a freaking iPhone sensor.
I guess my point is, just because you can doesn't mean you should.
I am looking at beautiful captures that have a 50/50 chance of acceptance depending upon an inspector's tolerance of all this iphone stuff. With a FF sensor and speed light fill, that goes up to 85%+ chance of acceptance.
Anyway, that is my morning ramble and first experience with mobile phone shooting.
What you got?
35
« on: August 29, 2012, 16:30 »
Mobile Photography
Social media defines the trends in imagery right now. People want images that look and feel like those streaming past second-by-second online. We think the best way to deliver that is to encourage mobile photography submissions from our contributors.
Dunno if this is a good thing...or not. But expect the floodgate opening from everybody with a mobile camera. And then there will be the blog posts "YOU CAN MAKE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AT ISTOCKPHOTO WITH YOUR IPHONE CAMERA!"
36
« on: July 18, 2012, 12:02 »
I can't figure out what the Vetta inspectors think is Vetta quality. Apparently - since I've never got anything accepted. Go take a look at recent files. Really? Sure some of it is awesome and fits the criteria below but there are many others images that make ya wonder what the inspectors saw that allowed it to pass through the Vetta golden gates.
Here is how iStock describes Vetta:
Content in the Vetta collection, Italian for peak, has seized its own artistic destiny and created a whole new caliber of art.
Vetta content is handpicked by a team of top-rate iStockphoto editors for:
-Exquisite art direction
-Intelligently executed concepts
-Rarity
37
« on: July 15, 2012, 09:04 »
Consider the state of microstock sites' inventory. It is mostly massive quantities of about 80% weak images (crap) and growing. Searching for quality images is difficult and will become more so.
That is the nature of amateur crowd sourcing business models (even though I feel the same about RM).
So, here comes Yuri and peopleimages.com. It changes the game with 90%+ cherries. Searches are significantly more productive using his Model Properties and Search Options. It blows away RM in regards to pricing. He has built a massive, prolific photo factory churning out 5,000 quality images a week!.
Currently, peopleimages.com is in its infancy much like iStockphoto was in 2000. They were a game-changer. Once the years roll by and PI gets traction, loyalty, word-of-mouth, a strong organic Google placement and Adwords presence, it may also become a game-changer for people/lifestyle photos and perhaps dominate people stock photography worldwide.
39
« on: July 03, 2012, 03:50 »
Some folks gripe on and on about everything microstock (and probably this poll).  Others enjoy the whole thing with good results. Here is a simple blind poll to get to the bottom of how you folks are doing in regards to your microstock experience and return-on-investment. Now you silent success stories can discreetly cast your vote 
40
« on: June 17, 2012, 14:01 »
I just started using this technique and it's awesome. Takes a little while to get used to it's but worth it. Anyone else do this? OX
41
« on: May 17, 2012, 20:22 »
Just did a quick scan of the newest 500 images in the Agency Collection with the oldest of that set ULed 9/17/2010.
Of 500 images at the higher pricing Agency Collection, only FOUR have sold.
I wonder if Getty will get the message buyers are sending?
42
« on: May 16, 2012, 20:28 »
I am exclusive at IS and was thinking about opting-in to the Partner Program to move some "dead wood" files over to those sites to see if they will sell at that lower price point.
For those in the IS Partner Program, how is it going for you? Do those sites (Photos.com and Thinkstock.com) get much traffic and sales? Is it worth moving some images over to those sites?
Thanks
OX
43
« on: May 08, 2012, 13:32 »
LOL... this has to be a new IS approval record. I just uploaded an image from a group of test shots... and exactly 13 minutes later I got the Acceptance email. Cool 
44
« on: April 27, 2012, 21:47 »
Of the various fields of commercial photography, do you feel micro-stock has the most stringent technical standards?
Macro-stock appears to me to be less technically demanding according to the images I have purchased over the past 20 years. Weddings, corporate work, PR, newspapers etc all have non-technical buyers, for the most part so noise, artifact, CA and such is not as critical as in micro-stock.
Perhaps, photo book publishers, national magazines and advertising art directors set the bar up high but are the micro-stock inspectors consistently the toughest?
Your thoughts?
OX
45
« on: February 17, 2012, 02:55 »
When shooting on public land like state parks and beaches, do you purchase usage permits and the required insurance? And let's say you have a model on location and he/she gets injured. Are you liable? Do you do anything to waive your liability?
Thanks
OX
46
« on: December 02, 2011, 03:14 »
Well, 2011 is about over and now would be a good time to make some predictions about iStockPhoto for the next year - 2012.
Here are mine:
- IS will become Exclusives ONLY. Independents will no longer be allowed to upload.
- Most low selling Independent's files will be moved to Getty's middle Tier sites
- 20% commission for everyone (everyone meaning all the exclusives remaining)
- Discontinue tiered commissions based on credits sold
- Many low selling Exclusive files will be moved to Getty's middle tier sites
- Prices may rise a little to test the reaction
- Getty will try to position IS as (what I call) a "tweener" site with higher quality images at a higher price point. Images that you cannot find elsewhere (hence exclusive only).
- The techno bug issues will force Getty to build a completely new site causing significant migration issues, and a nightmare of lost commissions and file status. There may be class action law suits as well.
- By second quarter 2012 the site will be healthy and working well. A new programming maintenance team (hopefully from the banking industry) will be hired to ensure smooth running.
- Anger among contributors will reach a boiling point and Getty will attempt to appease them with unsuccessful PR promotions.
47
« on: September 22, 2011, 17:11 »
Does anyone know if IS assigns value ratings to individual contributors other than what comes with Exclusive status (which may just be an image rating). For instance, if someone is selling many images and maxing out their uploads, will the system assign that contributor preferential algorithms in regards to file placement, faster inspections, foot massage etc? Or are all contributors treated the same according to status?
49
« on: July 13, 2011, 23:24 »
IS is no longer accepting any Apple products. Guess Jobs and Company made a phone call...
The images submitted did not contain any logos.
__________
We regret to inform you that we cannot accept your submission, entitled Computer keyboard testimonial for addition to the iStockphoto library for the following reasons:
++ We do no longer accept product shots of Apple Macintosh.
This file includes content that may be subject to copyright or trademark protection. Certain use of this file creates risk of copyright/trademark infringement and we regret that it cannot be accepted, unless this content is removed from the file.
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