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Messages - ClaridgeJ

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301
Alamy.com / Re: Alamy cutting all commissions by 10%
« on: November 20, 2012, 17:31 »
SS will be next.  New investors want one thing: "growth", defined as a a rapid increase in short-term profits.  Typically, any  constructive ways to increase profits were already used in the run-up to the IPO.    To feed new investors anxious to sell their shares at a nice profit, new management has to cut costs.

Ofcourse! spot on! its unavoidable and for us its hardly going to be in a positive direction. The question isnt, if its going to hit us but rather when its going to hit us and how hard.
Its a complete fallacy to imagine anything else. Just look at the track record of other agencies.

302
General Stock Discussion / Re: $365 sale on Alamy
« on: November 20, 2012, 16:42 »
I need a V8 now! Wait, isn't that a commercial  :D

Thats right! originally we did it as a TV commercial with the Castrol lubricant moving along the cylinders, pipes, etc. Just 30 seconds but over 100 litre of castrol went through. :)

303
General Stock Discussion / Re: $365 sale on Alamy
« on: November 20, 2012, 15:23 »
Yes that is what we used to get on RM sales.

That's a good sale these days - especially on a RF image.

Not really. I have had many RF sales at Gettys for over 500 dollars. Unless there are rights, worldrights, this and that involved, I dont think there is too much basic price differance between RM and RF.

An example is a shot I took of a V8, engine, just showing the cylinders in action, client bought it last year with all the rights, etc, something like a 6 months exclusive if I remember correctly, 3K. few months ago exactly the same shot sold as RM without rights for 450 dollars.

304
Shutterstock.com / Re: Dinner with Shutterstock & Jon Oringer
« on: November 20, 2012, 15:04 »
Ever heard the expression?  been taken for a ride?

305
Alamy.com / Re: Alamy cutting all commissions by 10%
« on: November 20, 2012, 07:39 »
Thats quite in order and will probably benefit us long term. :)

The last cut, to fund the US offices, didn't.

I know! but one can hope. Only thing to do.

306
Alamy.com / Re: Alamy cutting all commissions by 10%
« on: November 20, 2012, 07:13 »
1:07 - "We have to modify our commission split to bring us in line with the competition"

In other words, everyone else is taking a grotesque amount from the photographer, if we are going to compete, we need to as well. 

50% is still good and what I'd call fair but it is still a big disappointment seeing them pressed to do this.  Interestingly he corrects the interviewer when she says that alamy is getting 10% more.. he corrects her saying "10 more percentage points".. really Alamy is getting a 25% increase in the share of a sale which is a seriously big amount.  All I have to say is hopefully they do something smart with it.

50% is not just good in comparison to others, its very good!  and if they are pressed to do it, well not much one can do, is it.

307
Alamy.com / Re: Alamy cutting all commissions by 10%
« on: November 20, 2012, 06:58 »
Thats quite in order and will probably benefit us long term. :)

308
I find it bizarre that we have all these hand-wringing depressives on here who assume that SS will follow the path of IS and FT in reducing commissions, increasing prices, etc. Why would SS do that?

Just to be clear, I don't think that at all. I think of it more from the perspective that as they get bigger and accept more and more contributors, it gets harder to get your files seen. Basically, their collection grows faster than their customers until it gets too hard to make money. They've done a good job of mitigating that so far by adding single sales and on demand, so you don't have to sell as many files to maintain or increase earnings.

I don't know if this will be the eventual outcome, but it seems like one of the more likely ones.

I think you are absoloutely right! and so does many market analysts here. I am sure that we will start seeing major changes within a year from now on. Shareholders will want to see profits and more profits and ultimately it just becomes a matter of just bleeding the whole thing.
If history has taught us anything during the last 7 years, its got to be that any take-overs, buy-outs, IPOs, in our business often result in negative changes for its members/contributors.
I am not painting evils on the wall just trying to be realistic, going by past track records. So, I have a good escape route out of it.

309
General Stock Discussion / Re: $365 sale on Alamy
« on: November 20, 2012, 03:42 »
I have a question regarding RM sales:

Is OK to upload on RM sites files that are in sale on RF agencies?

No. You cannot upload an image as both RM and RF. it's either or.

It worth creating images only for RM???

I agree!  strictly for RM.

310
iStockPhoto.com / Re: Stats haven't updated since Nov. 14th?
« on: November 20, 2012, 02:23 »
A few years back I worked for the FT (the Financial Times that is, not f**king Fotolia!). I worked in the splendid new printing plant, designed by architect Nicholas Grimshaw and opened by Mrs Thatch at a cost of 65M in 1989 (it was the plant that cost that much btw, not Mrs Thatch). It was a cathedral of glass and steel, set in the East End of London, just down the road from the under-construction Canary Wharf. Eye-wateringly high salaries and superb conditions made it a fantastic place to work. Happy days.

Anyway, one day in 1995 we were all invited to a meeting the next afternoon, by a letter delivered by motorcycle courier to our homes the evening before. Yes really, my invite arrived at 9.30pm. The next afternoon we got the news __ production was to be transferred to another printer, our plant was to be shut down and redundancy was the probable option for most of us. It would take a year to dismantle one of our two presses and re-assemble it in the new printer so until then we still had our jobs. The next 12 months had a really peculiar feeling about it. As a manager my main job, making things better tomorrow than they are today, became pointless. You couldn't spend any money on making things better for a start.

I really don't know why but somehow I sense the same bizarre atmosphere about iStock as I felt back then. Makes me wonder if the Calgary office functions are about to be absorbed into Getty HQ. Hmmm.

Yes and the funny part is after photographing the London Stock-excange, in 89, just after the automation I actually delivered pics to some place down there ( Canary wharf) that is and the entire wharf is just wonderful, a dream to work at. In those days it was relativly cheap coinsidering the area.
Then came Michael Caine and other celebraties and started to buy penthouses and 10-room flats, etc and after a few years the Canary Wharf became one of the most expensive places in London. Still lovely though.

311
General Stock Discussion / Re: $365 sale on Alamy
« on: November 20, 2012, 02:14 »
Good on you!  wish you many more. :)

312
Or me?

Clarige.. Say things directly, or keep your mouth shut. That kind of argumentation is called intrigant and mostly found among college girls with cellphones.


Why dont you know?  I am a Danish college girl from Nyhaven with a short miniskirt who is saying: you are not important enough to mention in this thread, so where did you emerge from?
Now watch my backside wiggle under my miniskirt.  Tisk, tisk.

Oh Chris, you where doing so much better as ClarigeJ than as LagerEek and there you had to relapse again.  Leaving soon again?

Chris?............... Think you got your knickers in a twist, or is it underpanties?

You are really struggling to hold your own with one, so you should perhaps consider dropping the multi personality thing. Already forgot when you got your personalities all tangled up in the forum?
Now take your little nickers of your head and behave again like a good litlle boy or they are going to put you back into the soft room again, CHRIS..   ;)

Chris?........................Charl?  short for Charlotte I suppose?

313
iStockPhoto.com / Re: Stats haven't updated since Nov. 14th?
« on: November 19, 2012, 18:45 »
It seems to me that IS are slowly disintergrating. It's just one thing after another in the ever-reducing functionality of the site. I've never seen anything like it for a business that big. It's not as if they haven't got the resources, it just seems that nobody cares enough any more to do anything about it.

Sigh!.... Cant you find it in your heart to just say one single little positive thing about IS ? youre beginning to sound like a broken record.
Whats next on your hate-list? or do you just hate everybody and everything that doesnt include you.
Just wondering which part of Gostwyck's post you don't agree with because I agree with every single word.

You would.

314
Or me?

Clarige.. Say things directly, or keep your mouth shut. That kind of argumentation is called intrigant and mostly found among college girls with cellphones.

Why dont you know?  I am a Danish college girl from Nyhaven with a short miniskirt who is saying: you are not important enough to mention in this thread, so where did you emerge from?
Now watch my backside wiggle under my miniskirt.  Tisk, tisk.

Oh Chris, you where doing so much better as ClarigeJ than as LagerEek and there you had to relapse again.  Leaving soon again?

Chris?............... Think you got your knickers in a twist, or is it underpanties?

315
iStockPhoto.com / Re: Stats haven't updated since Nov. 14th?
« on: November 19, 2012, 18:29 »
It seems to me that IS are slowly disintergrating. It's just one thing after another in the ever-reducing functionality of the site. I've never seen anything like it for a business that big. It's not as if they haven't got the resources, it just seems that nobody cares enough any more to do anything about it.

Sigh!.... Cant you find it in your heart to just say one single little positive thing about IS ? youre beginning to sound like a broken record.
Whats next on your hate-list? or do you just hate everybody and everything that doesnt include you.

316
Veer / Re: Not getting paid?
« on: November 19, 2012, 18:25 »
I sent an e-mail and got this reply:

"We are apparently having an issue sending payments at the moment, our apologies for the delay, we should have this corrected shortly."

Got the same. Wonder what this issue is?  no lolly?

317
Lots of people here keep mentioning "closed shop"  etc, ofcourse and why not?  show me any profession that isnt closed for the ones not educated for it?  joke isnt it?
'Not educated for it' is a total red herring.
As far as I know, Salgado, my all-time favourite photographer, had no formal photographic education.
Nuff said.

Salgado?................... whos he?  sounds like a Gyenocologist.

318
Or me?

Clarige.. Say things directly, or keep your mouth shut. That kind of argumentation is called intrigant and mostly found among college girls with cellphones.

Why dont you know?  I am a Danish college girl from Nyhaven with a short miniskirt who is saying: you are not important enough to mention in this thread, so where did you emerge from?
Now watch my backside wiggle under my miniskirt.  Tisk, tisk.

319
I was looking for ways to defend myself when put in the situation that I was in but now I will just run like hell   :(

No youre op was perfectly in order. Just that you get some people and all they have done is 5 or 6 years in micro, nothing else and they will defend this industry even if they earnt zero money to the very death, simply because they dont know any other form of photography outside micro, walking around with blinkers really.

It does not matter if someone has only 6 years or 1 year in micro for that matter.  Stock Photography wether it is micro or RM are forms of art of their own. Most people will understand the technical aspect of photography within a month. However, the art you get out of it, is not something you can teach. It is either you naturally become to be knowledgable in your art or you don't. Some people will never get it, others will be good at it and the few will be brilliant. It is the way how art works wether it is music, drawing or photography.


Isnt it quite obvious that the people who started their photography in micro and nothing else, the very second you even mention a world outside micro, well? you see what happend some posts further up. I mean its catastrophy, all hell breaks out.

You indicated your disdain of micro by saying "some people and all they have done is 5 or 6 years in micro".

Therefore on the contrary to most microstockers, it is the other way around. Your sentence should therefore read this way:

Isnt it quite obvious that the people who started their photography in RM , the very second you even mention the micro world, well? you see what happend some posts further up. I mean its catastrophy, all hell breaks out.

Quote
Alln stock photography is a commercial cogwheel, nothing else and its as far from art as it can be.

I disagree, it is an art on its own, I agree that it is a generic form of art but still art.  What I mean as an example, after a session shooting a model.  For each scenario, I may have 40-50 technically perfect shots, to choose from for which I will choose the best one based on the model posture, her/his smile, the appeal and how the image best represent the scenario I want to promote. And that is an art. How to recognise the best posture for a given scenario is an art. How to put an arrangement of fruits and vegetables together is an art. How to photograph wildlife is an art. How to recognise the best posture of an animal is an art.  Regardless if an object is isolated or not, its placement still matter and is an art.


Well it seems we are approaching a stage where everything is called ART and therefore, ofcourse, nothing is art.

Ultimately, what is appealing, is in the eye of the beholder and it is up to the image creator to create something that is appealing to as many prospective buyers as possible.  What make an image more appealing than another similar one, is by how much the image clearly represent the wanted scenario. As human, It is the inexplicable natural appeal that we have for certain shapes, forms and placement that make it art.  If you have an appeal for something (other than sex and hunger) that you cannot explain technically, than it is art.

Well I must say you seem very concerned about the appreciation of art, etc. Many of my engineering images have graced the walls of the Rondannini gallery in Rome, Modern museum in Stockholm, Hamilton Gallery in London, etc. I have never looked upon nor called myself an artist. In fact the very word have never enterd my head.
To me, photography is far too young a media to even come close to being called art but rather an experession if you like, not art.

Art is for ones self and if others appreciate it then its a bonus. Somehow I dont think a true arty photographer would fraternize with us here in the micro sphere.
Now about the OPs defending the micro industry. How can anybody defend anything, in this case micro if thats the only form of photography they have experienced? surely you must also have experienced other avenues before you even think of responding.

Unless ofcourse you do what a certain self-proclaimed artist here does, just blast your mouth off without the slightest bit of evidence, knowledge or experience. BTW, not you.
However I will give you this,  in its generic form, yes!  but then its more an art of trying to figure out saleable concepts and earning money.

320
I was looking for ways to defend myself when put in the situation that I was in but now I will just run like hell   :(

No youre op was perfectly in order. Just that you get some people and all they have done is 5 or 6 years in micro, nothing else and they will defend this industry even if they earnt zero money to the very death, simply because they dont know any other form of photography outside micro, walking around with blinkers really.

It does not matter if someone has only 6 years or 1 year in micro for that matter.  Stock Photography wether it is micro or RM are forms of art of their own. Most people will understand the technical aspect of photography within a month. However, the art you get out of it, is not something you can teach. It is either you naturally become to be knowledgable in your art or you don't. Some people will never get it, others will be good at it and the few will be brilliant. It is the way how art works wether it is music, drawing or photography.


Isnt it quite obvious that the people who started their photography in micro and nothing else, the very second you even mention a world outside micro, well? you see what happend some posts further up. I mean its catastrophy, all hell breaks out.

You indicated your disdain of micro by saying "some people and all they have done is 5 or 6 years in micro".

Therefore on the contrary to most microstockers, it is the other way around. Your sentence should therefore read this way:

Isnt it quite obvious that the people who started their photography in RM , the very second you even mention the micro world, well? you see what happend some posts further up. I mean its catastrophy, all hell breaks out.

Quote
Alln stock photography is a commercial cogwheel, nothing else and its as far from art as it can be.

I disagree, it is an art on its own, I agree that it is a generic form of art but still art.  What I mean as an example, after a session shooting a model.  For each scenario, I may have 40-50 technically perfect shots, to choose from for which I will choose the best one based on the model posture, her/his smile, the appeal and how the image best represent the scenario I want to promote. And that is an art. How to recognise the best posture for a given scenario is an art. How to put an arrangement of fruits and vegetables together is an art. How to photograph wildlife is an art. How to recognise the best posture of an animal is an art.  Regardless if an object is isolated or not, its placement still matter and is an art.


Well it seems we are approaching a stage where everything is called ART and therefore, ofcourse, nothing is art.

Ultimately, what is appealing, is in the eye of the beholder and it is up to the image creator to create something that is appealing to as many prospective buyers as possible.  What make an image more appealing than another similar one, is by how much the image clearly represent the wanted scenario. As human, It is the inexplicable natural appeal that we have for certain shapes, forms and placement that make it art.  If you have an appeal for something (other than sex and hunger) that you cannot explain technically, than it is art.

Well I must say you seem very concerned about the appreciation of art, etc. Many of my engineering images have graced the walls of the Rondannini gallery in Rome, Modern museum in Stockholm, Hamilton Gallery in London, etc. I have never looked upon nor called myself an artist. In fact the very word have never enterd my head.
To me, photography is far too young a media to even come close to being called art but rather an experession if you like, not art.

Art is for ones self and if others appreciate it then its a bonus. Somehow I dont think a true arty photographer would fraternize with us here in the micro sphere.
Now about the OPs defending the micro industry. How can anybody defend anything, in this case micro if thats the only form of photography they have experienced? surely you must also have experienced other avenues before you even think of responding.

Unless ofcourse you do what a certain self-proclaimed artist here does, just blast your mouth off without the slightest bit of evidence, knowledge or experience. BTW, not you.

321
I was looking for ways to defend myself when put in the situation that I was in but now I will just run like hell   :(

No youre op was perfectly in order. Just that you get some people and all they have done is 5 or 6 years in micro, nothing else and they will defend this industry even if they earnt zero money to the very death, simply because they dont know any other form of photography outside micro, walking around with blinkers really.

It does not matter if someone has only 6 years or 1 year in micro for that matter.  Stock Photography wether it is micro or RM are forms of art of their own. Most people will understand the technical aspect of photography within a month. However, the art you get out of it, is not something you can teach. It is either you naturally become to be knowledgable in your art or you don't. Some people will never get it, others will be good at it and the few will be brilliant. It is the way how art works wether it is music, drawing or photography.


Isnt it quite obvious that the people who started their photography in micro and nothing else, the very second you even mention a world outside micro, well? you see what happend some posts further up. I mean its catastrophy, all hell breaks out.

You indicated your disdain of micro by saying "some people and all they have done is 5 or 6 years in micro".

Therefore on the contrary to most microstockers, it is the other way around. Your sentence should therefore read this way:

Isnt it quite obvious that the people who started their photography in RM , the very second you even mention the micro world, well? you see what happend some posts further up. I mean its catastrophy, all hell breaks out.

Quote
Alln stock photography is a commercial cogwheel, nothing else and its as far from art as it can be.

I disagree, it is an art on its own, I agree that it is a generic form of art but still art.  What I mean as an example, after a session shooting a model.  For each scenario, I may have 40-50 technically perfect shots, to choose from for which I will choose the best one based on the model posture, her/his smile, the appeal and how the image best represent the scenario I want to promote. And that is an art. How to recognise the best posture for a given scenario is an art. How to put an arrangement of fruits and vegetables together is an art. How to photograph wildlife is an art. How to recognise the best posture of an animal is an art.  Regardless if an object is isolated or not, its placement still matter and is an art.


Well it seems we are approaching a stage where everything is called ART and therefore, ofcourse, nothing is art.

322
I was looking for ways to defend myself when put in the situation that I was in but now I will just run like hell   :(

No youre op was perfectly in order. Just that you get some people and all they have done is 5 or 6 years in micro, nothing else and they will defend this industry even if they earnt zero money to the very death, simply because they dont know any other form of photography outside micro, walking around with blinkers really.

It does not matter if someone has only 6 years or 1 year in micro for that matter.  Stock Photography wether it is micro or RM are forms of art of their own. Most people will understand the technical aspect of photography within a month. However, the art you get out of it, is not something you can teach. It is either you naturally become to be knowledgable in your art or you don't. Some people will never get it, others will be good at it and the few will be brilliant. It is the way how art works wether it is music, drawing or photography.

Denis. we are not discussing art or not. Its about defending microstock which is fair enough but hey, lets not go overboard with it.

Isnt it quite obvious that the people who started their photography in micro and nothing else, the very second you even mention a world outside micro, well? you see what happend some posts further up. I mean its catastrophy, all hell breaks out.

Alln stock photography is a commercial cogwheel, nothing else and its as far from art as it can be.

323
I was looking for ways to defend myself when put in the situation that I was in but now I will just run like hell   :(

No youre op was perfectly in order. Just that you get some people and all they have done is 5 or 6 years in micro, nothing else and they will defend this industry even if they earnt zero money to the very death, simply because they dont know any other form of photography outside micro, walking around with blinkers really.

324
Lots of people here keep mentioning "closed shop"  etc, ofcourse and why not?  show me any profession that isnt closed for the ones not educated for it?  joke isnt it?
Micro shooters has got to be among the very few "professions" where you can get the tools for it but dont need to know how to use them properly, hence you have 100 million images out there, with approx 80% of total irrelevant garbage.

Photography isn't a 'profession' but a form of art. Proper 'professions' have technical qualifications because they can significantly affect people's lives like doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc. Nobody ever died because they employed a poor photographer. Ask Leibovitz what bits of paper she has that qualifies her to take people's portraits?

No point in you being so up yourself. Microstock is a great leveler. It doesn't matter how long you've been doing photography, which agencies you once belonged to or how many art directors you know. You're only as good as your sales record __ which in your case isn't anything to write home about.

Getting personal are we? couldnt restrain yourself could you?  youver been a few years in micro and think you know it all dont you?
For starters, you havent got a clue of my sales record exept in micro, where Im a diamond at IS, same as you, which is nothing at all to be proud over and if you think I supply the entire industry under my personal name, youre badly wrong.

As usual you are all mouth, nothing else, same glib in every post, same hate towards IS in every post, been 6 years in micro and fling around with names like Leibowitz, etc.

who do you think youre kidding, go play in another playpenn will ya. or even better why dont you hit the ignore button! youre very good at that, arent you.

BTW, I know youre port, cant hide behind pseudos, stuff you see on an everyday basis.

325

Lots of people here keep mentioning "closed shop"  etc, ofcourse and why not?  show me any profession that isnt closed for the ones not educated for it?  joke isnt it?...

I thought this was why there were bad mechanics, chefs, artists, musicians, businessmen, politicians, etc.  ;D

weak argument and not the same. You know exactly what I am talking about.

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