Archives: October, 2006
News
Digital Light Source launches new stock photography collection
A new rights-managed stock photography site has emerged from Clayton, MO called Digital Light Source featuring more than of 11,000 new images. Digital Light Source is boasting a collection of imagery focused on education, travel, nature, architecture, and history, available in its entirety from http://www.digitallightsource.com. In addition a commission-based photo shoot service is also available for clients with specific image requests.
News
Corbis acquires Australian Picture Library
Corbis announced today the acquisition of one of Australia’s leading stock photo agencies, Australian Picture Library (APL,) based in Sydney. APL, established in 1979, has represented Corbis in its market for the past three years. The companies plan to fully integrate APL’s operations into Corbis by March of 2007.
News
Getty launches Gestalt promo with big prizes for contest winners
When Getty Images' CEO, Jonathan Klein, presented the company's 2005 results to analysts earlier this year, he mentioned Getty felt compelled to spend more on advertising and promoting its RF sales in the US market in 2006. In keeping with that plan, the company has recently launched an online contest that is both creative in terms of its originality and aggressive in terms of the value of the rewards offered to winners.
News
Reuters expands in Switzerland
Reuters has announced its intention to expand and restructure its Swiss picture service. According to the agency, “quality, selection and real-time speed” will be improved. Six Reuters staff photographers and the same number of freelances will cover political, business, sports and entertainment events in Switzerland. Rubens Sprich, Reuters Switzerland’s chief photographer, has been appointed to run the new service, which launched on 1 October. Stefan Hartmann, VISUELL
News
George Sinclair expands Virtual Picture Desk to Europe
George Sincliar, whose stock photo industry management and syndication consutlancy helped Panoramic Images secure distribution deals with Getty Images and Amana, and brought Discovery Channel and Getty together, among other deals, has signed on several new clients in Europe.
News
Photo industry associations to collaborate
The Picture Archive Council of America (PACA) and the American Society of Photography Professionals (ASPP) will bring together an international group of leading trade associations and organizations representing various participants in the stock photo industry, from individual photographers to stock photo companies, to meet in New York City on October 31, 2006, to discuss topics of common interest and establish plans for collective action. This marks the first time such an extensive list of photo business-related trade organizations (see below) have met to coordinate their efforts on behalf of their respective memberships.
News
Micro-stock site Crestock launches subscription service
Crestock, a new micro-stock site, based in Bodø, a town in Northern Norway, has launched a subscription service offering image buyers 20 image downloads per day for $149.00 for one month or $1,499 for one year. Image file sizes vary, but the largest size offered for most allows for a 7" x 10" reproduction at 300 dpi, roughly the equivalent of the medium-res. files offered for most RF images. The company's single image prices slightly exceed those of the typical micro-stock sites; 4 mega pixel images go for $5 each and 6-8 mega pixel images (the medium res.) go for $10 each.
News
Stock photography industry experts to lead international marketing seminar
Industry veterans Christina Vaughan, and Colin Finlay are conducting a seminar on international marketing for photo libraries at the upcoming BAPLA AGM, being held at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London on October 10th. The seminar was prompted by a recent BAPLA survey where 77% of members said exporting would be a major priority in the next five years. This seminar, entitled “International Marketing and Tips on Going Global”, will discuss the stages involved in sourcing and building international relationships, and working with international agreements.
News
Kai Chiang launches Golden Pixels stock production company
Former COO of Superstock, Kai Chang, has announced the launch of his own stock photo production company, Golden Pixels LLC. In 1996 Chiang formed the production studios aSut perStock, credited with creating tens of thousands images that have been widely distributed throughout the industry. In 1997, in collaboration with Adobe Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE), he headed the team that created the material for the Adobe Image Library, much of which continues to be found at Getty Images as part of its Photodisc product. Other images created under his direction formed the core of the SuperStock Rights-Managed and Royalty-Free collections, which continue to be sold by SuperStock and distributed worldwide through various channels, including PictureQuest, Alamy and Fotosearch.
News
NPPA Partners with Digital Railroad
The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) has announced a partnership with Digital Railroad. The new partnership allows Digital Railroad to provide new programs and services to NPPA's nearly 10,000 members, including online workflow tools to efficiently manage and sell images to photo buyers around the globe. In addition Digital Railroad will work with NPPA to produce educational seminars and workshops at NPPA events to help NPPA in its mission to keep its members educated and informed about the technical, copyright and business issues that impact their careers.
News
Photolibrary purchases Dubai agency CDI
Continuing an aggressive global expansion, Photolibrary Group has purchased CDI The Image Library in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The acquisition represents another in a series of acquisitions by the Sydney based company that has spanned the globe.
News
John Ferguson, former Getty executive, to become CEO at A21
The A21 Group, owners of Superstock and ArtSelect, announced today the appointment of John Z. Ferguson to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the company. Mr. Ferguson has also joined A21’s Board of Directors. At the same time, the company announced the appointment of interim president and Chief Operating Officer, Philip Garfinkle to the position of Executive Chairman. Mr. Ferguson served most recently as Senior Vice President of Sales – Americas at Getty Images, after having managed sales at Art.com Getty’s on-line art delivery subsidiary. He left Getty in October of 2005 after seven years with the company.
News
PunchStock to offer rights managed licensing with 25 new RM suppliers
PunchStock, a well known channel distributor of royalty free imagery has announced the addition of rights managed imagery to its on-line offerings. In addition to its comprehensive selection of RF imagery, the Madison, Wisconsin, based company now represents on its web-site the collections of 25 rights managed image suppliers including UpperCut Images, a rights managed collection produced in-house by Punchstock itself.
Features
L’Osservatore Romano launches papal photo library
The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano has launched an online photo library with papal photos going back to the 1930's. Thousands of images have been added to the library, which includes the Wojtyla Fund, 1,000 images of Pope John Paul II from his life before becoming Pope. Images are available as electronic files or as prints for personal use at prices varying from €2.00 - €64.00 (approx $2.50 - $80). The images are also available with a rights-managed license for commercial uses by submitting an online request form.
News
Inovartis releases alpha channel Flash video clips
Inovartis, a leading resource for Flash footage clips from Quebec Canada, has announced the release of a new line of Alpha Channel Flash Video clips. A Flash Video (FLV) file with an alpha channel allows designers to have flash objects or animations that show through in the background allowing the user to stitch together flash video elements with greater ease and more realistic results. Designers of any skill level will be able to create stunning Hollywood-style visual effects using the advanced video technology featured in Adobe’s Flash 8.
News
OnAsia Digital keywording Britain’s National Trust Photo Library
Bangkok Thailand based OnAsia Digital has announced a contract to begin keywording the image collection of Britain’s National Trust. OnAsia Digital had completed a similar assignment for the UK’s National Gallery in 2005. The company launched its keywording service four years ago based on its own proprietary metadata management technology including a thesaurus of more than 30,000 terms. OnAsia Digital boasts that it has keyworded over 200,000 images and has stated plans to release a desktop version of its keywording technology before the end of 2006.
Features
Regional concerns for stock agencies in the Middle East
Abouttheimage recently reported about the acquisition of CDI The Image Library, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, by the Photolibrary Group. To most of the world, Dubai and the Middle East represent a mysterious place, often difficult to understand. The feature story below, by Celia Peterson, the Director of ArabianEye, a specialist stock photo agency focusing on the Middle East and Islamic Culture offers an insider’s perspective on the special challenges facing our colleagues in that part of the world.
News
Image Source opens LA office managed by Hugh Yarbrough
The UK-based RF company, Image Source, one of the largest independent providers of RF material, has announced the opening of an office in Los Angeles. Hugh Yarbrough, formerly International Sales and Operations Manager for Corbis, will manage the office as ‘Territory Director – Americas.’ The move represents further expansion by Image Source into the North American market. The company also has an office in New York City, in addition to its offices in London and Cologne, Germany.
News
Corbis appoints Beate Chelette as Senior Director of Photography, Entertainment
Beatte Chelette, the entrepreneur behind Beateworks and the RF brand insideoutpix acquired by Corbis in March 06, appears to have found a new home at Corbis where she has accepted the position of Senior Director of Photography, Entertainment. In her new role, Chelette will be responsible for managing Corbis' global entertainment offering including Outline, Outline@Home (formerly Beateworks), as well as Corbis’ entertainment events and archival offerings. Additionally Chelette has been charged with expanding Corbis’ collections of celebrity portraits and images from the red carpet.
News
Paul Brown takes the helm at Mary Evans Picture Library
Mary Evans Picture Library, a specialty archive of historical imagery based in London, has announced the appointment of Paul Brown to the position of Managing Director. Paul will take over the job of running the archive from Valentine Ward Evans whose parents founded the agency in 1964. Paul brings a wealth of industry experience to the job, having risen through the ranks at Rex Features where he worked for over 20 years. He also currently serves on the Executive board of BAPLA and as the UK representative to CEPIC. He also served a term as CEPIC President and was given the BAPLA award for outstanding service to the industry in 2001.
News
PhotoAlto launches new website services
The French royalty free supplier PhotoAlto has launched a new version of their web-site with two features designed to enhance searching. First, the web-site now allows clients to search for images by photographer. Given the unique and distinctive style Photo Alto and its 54 photographers have cultivated, this feature should be of special interest to the company’s customers. PhotoAlto added this feature in direct response to designer’s request for a simpler way to find images from photographers who share their stylistic approach.
News
Stephen Hearn departs from Jupiter
Stephen Hearn, the former VP of Worldwide Sales at PictureArts (acquired last year by Jupitermedia Corp) and recently VP Emerging Markets at Jupiterimages, has left his post at Jupiter to pursue other opportunities. Contacted for comments, Hearn stated that he had given the new tasks at hand a good try but it was not to be, and he felt that his job within Jupiterimages was completed. “As to what is next, I intend to complete some personal photography projects and then consider the many options in the stock image and associated industries.” Prior to his engagement at Jupiter, Hearn was the Director of the 3rd Party Distribution Channel at Corbis and a Partner at Matton Images USA.
News
ZUMA Press photographer abducted in Afghanistan
On 12 October, five armed men recently abducted the Italian photojournalist Kash Gabriele Torsello, a photographer and convert to Islam working for the American agency ZUMA Press, on a bus journey between Lashkar-Gah and Kandahar. The Taliban said they had nothing to do with the kidnapping.
Five days later, his abductors contacted the authorities and said they would release him in exchange for Abdul Rahman, a Moslem who has converted Christianity and was able to leave the country and obtain asylum in Italy. The ultimatum for the exchange expires in Monday, October 23.
News
Rumors of staff lay-offs at Getty Images
Rumors of significant lay-offs at Getty Images (NYSE: GYI) have circulated over the last several days. When contacted for comment, Getty spokesperson, Bridget Russell wrote by email: "Yesterday [10/18/06] Jonathan Klein outlined to employees a strategy for growth going forward. There is a small reduction in headcount in some areas, and additional new hires and resources in others. Jonathan will share additional details externally during our regularly scheduled quarterly earnings call, next Tuesday [10/24/06] at 2pm PST." Anonymous sources claim the lay-offs may be as much as 10% of the force and will span all offices, which was neither confirmed or denied by the company.
Editorials
The storm before the calm
PACA’s 2006 International Conference Welcoming Address
Hello! On behalf of PACA’s board, committee chairs and staff, welcome to the 2006 International Conference here in exotic Key West. Ever since PACA started planning this event, I’ve been worried about hurricanes. Big ones...the kind that could sweep us into the Gulf of Mexico. Luckily, the weather isn’t being naughty at all this weekend. We are safe from Mother Nature.
News
Jupitermedia launches on-line greeting card subscription
Jupitermedia announced the launch of a new business under its Jupiterimages division; JupitererGreetings.com, a subscription service providing on-line greeting cards. Customers may purchase an annual subscription to the service for $7.95. The service offers access to a growing collection of email greeting cards featuring 3D animations and movies from the Animation Factory, a flash animation production company Jupiter purchased earlier this year. In addition to the on-line greeting cards, the service offers email reminders of important dates and an address book feature.
News
Stock production companies form International Stock Producers Alliance (ISPA)
Representatives from a group of royalty free and rights managed production companies held a separate meeting at the PACA International Conference in Key West to discuss issues of common interest. The meeting resulted from a building sense of frustration with distributor companies the suppliers share who have not met the obligations of their representation contracts; specifically, late reporting and even later paying of commissions. The participants decided to form a trade organization, tentatively named the International Stock Producers Alliance (ISPA,) to address these problems.
Editorials
The future of a traditional stock agency is in its own hands
There is currently much debate about the future of the stock photography industry and how the traditional stock agency is able to compete in a market place continuing to be dominated by three large global players.
For the traditional stock agencies life is tougher than it was. The market is becoming more competitive and image buyers more demanding of greater choice, improved service, lower prices. Competitor websites are continually developing and their sales and marketing initiatives are increasingly prominent in today’s market.
News
Jupitermedia CFO, Chris Baudouin, announces resignation
Christopher J. Baudouin, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Jupitermedia Corporation (Nasdaq: JUPM) has submitted his resignation to the company effective January 1, 2007. Mr. Baudouin, Jupiter’s only Chief Financial Officer since its inception in 1998, will continue with the Company through December 31, 2006 to ensure an orderly transition of his responsibilities. Christopher S. Cardell, Jupitermedia's President and Chief Operating Officer, will serve as interim Chief Financial Officer until a successor is appointed.
News
Corbis collaborates with illustrator Tristan Eaton on promotion
News
Klein outlines plan for growth after disappointing 3rd quarter; Getty’s stock hits new low
During Getty’s analyst conference call CEO Jonathan Klein stated without hesitation that the results for the 3rd Quarter of 2006 and the for the year thus far have been “extremely disappointing.” He then outlined a plan for growth that takes into account a decrease in the company’s guidance revenue figures for Q4 and a decrease in revenue estimates for all of 2007. As of this writing, Wall Street has taken little comfort from the plan and Getty’s stock price hit a new 52-week low of $41.25.
News
Jupiter Media acquires Spanish agency Cover Images
Jupiter Medio CEO, Alan Meckler, is en route to Barcelona Spain where he is sizing up Jupitermedia’s (Nasdaq: JUPM) latest acquisition Cover - Imagen y Publicaciones, S.L. (Cover Images). With a staff of more than 25, and offices in Barcelona and Madrid, Cover Images has become one of the most important Spanish photo agencies. The company currently represents the work of more than 200 photographers.
News
SAA launches magazine for stock photographers
The Stock Artists Alliance (SAA) has launched a new educational magazine titled Keywords to share the breadth of knowledge SAA with other photographers. The new publication intended to be a guide to the business of stock is available for download online free of charge. The first issue is entitled “Stock Essentials.” offers more than 50 pages focused on the fundamentals of stock licensing, definitions, insights, resources, and visual inspiration, from SAA members who share their expertise about all aspects of the industry.
Editorials
Musings from PACA’s 2006 International Conference in Key West
The sun was shining in an azure sky, from which pelicans dived into a tranquil sea in search of fish. Palm trees waved in a light breeze, their leafy fronds giving shade to a buzz of activity that was somewhat at odds with the relaxed feeling of the environment at the Casa Marina resort. Yet surely this is the hallmark of a successful congress; a great location where doing business is a pleasure and plenty of opportunity to do such.
News
NewsCom partners with JPI Studios to represent exclusive content from film and television
NewsCom has just announced deal with John Paschal International (JPI Studios, Inc.) to represent two distinct collections from JPI, one specializing in gallery and studio photography for daytime and primetime television, and a second collection of celebrity-driven, red-carpet and award events including, award shows, movie premieres, television and movie sets, fashion shows, celebrity charity events, Etc. The representation agreement also includes images in the daytime television soap opera market, with daily exclusive access to CBS’s “The Bold & The Beautiful” and “The Young & The Restless,” and NBC’s “Days of Our Lives” and “Passions.”
