Great ! thanks

Yes, it would be bad - especially in the interim period. But there is also now, since the digital camera became more available, a glut of contributors, and if this economic model is correct then there will be a rationalisation of contributors as well, and eventually only those who can maintain a good income from it will remain.

It is not a pleasant time for all concerned when there is market over-saturation - a very turbulent time. But eventually the market corrects itself and the main players who remain and survive will do well.

Its been a few years since I studied economics, but I remember there are exceptions to the rule, so depending on the market tolerance, sometimes a small group of businesses rather than just one take over the industry, such as in the petrol industry - an oligopoly instead of an monopoly. And maybe we will be left with just the Big 4 stock agencies, if they do the right thing and look after both contributor and customer.

When I submit photos from a portrait shoot, I select a small handful of the best ones also in B&W, so that the client gets both color and B&W for those. The client is usually very appreciative and sometimes wants more in B&W.

Personally I think most portraits look best in B&W, but it's good to give clients a choice. Often they can't visualise it for themselves, so you have to show them.

I remember studying a business model at university that may explain what is currently happening in the micro stock market.

The model explains that when someone invents new technology or product that consumers want, the market takes off and more and more businesses jump onto the bandwagon, and soon the market becomes over saturated, and eventually this forces down the price. But with the falling prices, eventually the price gets too low for anyone to profit, and the bulk of businesses either go broke, shut down or do something else.

However, if the product is still desirable by the consumers, often one large organisation will dominate and take over the market. The organisation that succeeds will be the one that has the best internal management, systems, etc. For example in the past, IBM with computers, Microsoft with software.

That one organisation will then continue to dominate that market until new technology comes in and takes over. Eg Apple with iPod, iPhone technology.

I think this business model can demonstrate what is happening here with micro stock, and they have hit the top of the market saturation point, and prices have to then naturally decline, until one large organisation remains.

So who will it be? Shutterstock perhaps, if they are smart enough.

Quote from: Anja02 on June 28, 2014, 19:06

Hi Guys

thank you for excellent thread and comments. I was so impressed with your comments that I just purchased the Nik Collection, however I have a minor problem.

Where do you find the filters? In the little box that comes up within PS, it says: 'to add filters to this view, mark a filter as a favourite by clicking on the star icon next to the filter name within the filter interface".

I tried looking through the website but couldn't find anything - maybe I missed it. So I thought it might be easier asking you.

Thanks

You actually have two choices

1. Go up to the very top and click on Filters, then scroll down almost all the way and you'll see Nik Collection - highlight that and you'll get the options.

2. You'll see a little gray box on the right - it might be closed up and just be like a little toolbar line in which case you hit the little box to open it. It will show you all the filters and you double-click on the one you want to use.

You can also access them all from LR. Have fun!

Ah!! Thank you, thank you !! I didn't realise that there was a new item under the PS filters drop down menu - silly me

Thank you once again .. and it looks fantastic !! Great plug-in ... thank you again !!

Hi Guys

thank you for excellent thread and comments. I was so impressed with your comments that I just purchased the Nik Collection, however I have a minor problem.

Where do you find the filters? In the little box that comes up within PS, it says: 'to add filters to this view, mark a filter as a favourite by clicking on the star icon next to the filter name within the filter interface".

I tried looking through the website but couldn't find anything - maybe I missed it. So I thought it might be easier asking you.

Thanks

Windows 8 has apps now - although that would defeat the purpose of mobility, unless I use a laptop - but it would be faster.  I store all my generic often-used keywords in a separate word document, and I have quite a few categories now - and its starting to take longer to scroll through looking for the right set.

Maybe I should design an access database to store them, but not sure how easy it would be to access them. Anyone with any other ideas?

Oh, and spell check too would be an important feature.

I think your photos are lovely. The colors are so vibrant - you have lovely style and eye for color.

Well done

Thank you 

Thanks, Ethan 

Oops, this last post was to PixelBytes - I am newly registered here and still learning how to post.

Oh, I forgot to say, to conform to Shutterstock's severe review standards, a photographer has to compromise their artistic work. SS review standards will only produce bland, overexposed white background stock.  And that is behind the current image trends ... if they are not careful, and keep insisting on this criteria for stock, they will eventually lose the number one position.