Archives: December, 2008
News
ITN Source signs exclusive deal to represent footage from Asian News International
ITN Source, a leading provider of stock footage from the UK, has announced an exclusive representation deal with Asian News International (ANI), to represent the media company’s footage exclusively for global distribution. ANI is is known for its comprehensive collection of footage from South Asia including the Asian Films library which dates back to the late 1930s. “We’re delighted to have ANI on board. We’ve been looking to build up our Asian content for some time and ANI is the perfect partner with its mix of news, Bollywood and unusual videos. The addition of ANI significantly expands the global content base we represent and will deliver even greater value to our customers’ content needs,” states Asha Oberoi, ITN Source Content Director.
News
Reflex Stock to distribute The Irish Image Collection
Reflex Stock, a stock photography portal from Ireland with offices in the UK, New York City, has announced that it now represents rights-managed (RM) images from The Irish Image Collection. The Irish Image collection was founded more than 20 years ago by George Munday and later acquired by Design Pics of Edmonton Canada which markets the collection as “your comprehensive source for images of Ireland and its people”.
Editorials
Mr. Stock Smarty Pants weighs in on stock licensing in a troubled economy
I feel your pain… Well, actually I don’t…after all, Mr. Stock Smarty Pants happens to be writing his latest words of wisdom while reclining under a dazzling sun and gently bobbing up and down on the deck of a sailboat anchored off Barbados. However, I’m trying my best to employ the technique known amongst us professional writers as “empathizing with your audience.”
What does MSSP hear over and over again these days? Wailings of doom and gloom, punctuated by exclamations that the sky is falling. BORING. E-mails filled with complaints about the state of the world economy. SO WHAT’S NEW? Phone calls (yes, every once in a while some lucky individual happens to stumble upon Mr. Stock Smarty Pants’ satellite phone number) in which people go on and on and on about the dire financial straits they’ve found themselves in. DIRE STRAITS…GREAT BAND, LOUSY CONVERSATION TOPIC. Letters (amazingly in this day and age, some people still like to spend money on postage stamps) detailing the many ways in which the stock picture industry is headed right into the dumpster. HEARD IT ONCE, HEARD IT A HUNDRED TIMES.
Dreamstime teams up with Other Images to launch Latin American microstock agency
Dreamstime, a Brentwood Tennessee based micro-payment stock photography business, has announced that it is joining forces with Other Images a stock agency created by Colombian photographer Carlos Angel in December 2003 that serves customers in Central and South America from its headquarters in Panama. The new site will be located at dreamstime.otherimages.com “Partnering with Other Images is just a minute part of our aggressive marketing strategy to open the door to international markets and lessen the language barriers to reach out to photo-shoppers we otherwise could not attract.” said Serban Enache, CEO and co-creator of Dreamstime. “Following on the heels of the successful Korean launch, we will now also provide the best microstock service in Spanish, the second most spoken language in the world.”
News
Masterfile boosts offering with 10 new rights-managed collections
Masterfile, a stock photography company based in Toronto with offices in France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, has announced that it has added more than 50,000 new RM images from 10 new image collections in the past two months. The new collections include lifestyle images from Creasource, conceptual and business imagery from I Dream Stock and eC Pro, Asian lifestyle content from the iRepublic collection, landscape and nature from the Irish Made Collection, and international lifestyle imagery from Blend Images making 6 new collections loaded in October.
News
Imprezzeo launches visual image search product
Imprezzeo, a start-up based in London, has launched a new visual search product that allows users to search for images with an image-based search. Typically users search for images based on text information (keywords and descriptions) that are associated with an image but Imprezzeo is hoping that their technology can help change or enhance how images are found. With their new technology users can enhance their search experience by matching visual results with an example image or even upload their own image to find something that is visually similar.
News
a21 the parent company of SuperStock and ArtSelect files for bankruptcy
a21 Inc. (ATWOE) has filed for bankruptcy court protection yesterday on behalf of both its subsidiaries, the on-line wall art business, ArtSelect, and the stock photo division, SuperStock. Under the proposed terms of the filing, Masterfile Corporation will purchase the assets of SuperStock, excluding cash and accounts receivable, for US$1.5MM. Another company, Metaverse, will purchase ArtSelect for US$700K.
News
Dreamstime partners with Phototimes to offer micro-stock in Russia
Dreamstime, a Brentwood Tennessee based micro-payment stock photography business, has announced that it has partnered with Phototimes (located in Rostov-on-Don, Russia) to effectively cater to the Russian market. The companies are launching what is being billed as the first micro stock photo outlet in Russia at PhotoTimes.ru. “Dreamstime is simple and logical and purchasing Dreamstime images will be made easy for our customers,” said Tamara Kvikviniya, who overseas Phototimes’ foreign economic and trade relations. “We intend to follow that very same model to provide a good service that makes good sense.”
News
NordicPhotos acquires Spegla image agency
NordicPhotos, a stock photography agency with offices in Stockholm, Reykjavik and Oslo has announced the acquisition of the Swedish image agency Spegla. Spegla was founded in 2006 by photographer Eva Lindblad and designer Niklas Lindblad and currently represents 20 photographers. Eva Lindblad states “Spegla is a unique collection of Scandinavian images that values character over popularity, and self-made more than ready-made. A collection that stick out rather than fit in. All of the photographers have their own, personal visual expressions.”
Features
Book Review: The Life of a Photograph by Sam Abell
The Life of a Photograph by Sam Abell
National Geographic Focal Point (October 21, 2008)
208 pages/hardcover/200 photographs/$40.00
Sam Abell’s purpose permeates all the way through the weighty pages of his latest book, The Life of a Photograph. Abell provides an important insight to his success: He instinctively and deliberately makes photographs, he does not take them. Abell’s definition of the life of a photograph is all about the progression of a scene. He has trained himself so deeply in this practice that at the end of the day, individual images matter less than staying true to his formula for making them.
News
Mary Evans Picture Library representing the Robert Hunt Library
Mary Evans Picture Library, a specialist library from the UK featuring historical images, has announced that it is now exclusively representing the Robert Hunt Library. Founded by Bobby Hunt, a noted artist, art teacher and cartoonist, The Robert Hunt Library became a leading archive covering all aspects of 20th century warfare, and today the collection encompasses comprehensive material on World War I and World War II as well as other notable conflicts such as the Korean War and Vietnam War. In addition, the Black Star London collection which now forms part of the Robert Hunt Library, adds over 100,000 images on modern politics, 20th century personalities, show business and, in particular, royalty.
News
Redferns Music Picture Library acquired by Getty Images
Getty Images, the worlds largest stock licensing company has announced the acquisition of the London-Based Redferns Music Picture Library. Founded by British photographer David Redfern in the early 1960’s, the Redferns music picture library offers music imagery ranging from 18th century classical composers to the headliners of today. The collection of more than 30,000 images will be incorporated into the Getty Images site under the respected Redferns brand name as soon as February 2009.
News
TAO Images launches RM Collection featuring lifestyle imagery of China
TAO Images Limited, a stock photography production company from Beijing, has announce the launch of a new rights-managed (RM) image collection entitled ‘Silk’ featuring more than 4,000 images of Chinese culture and travel. Tao Images was founded by by industry veterans Risong Na and Jenny Hu in 2008 “With combined experience in media/publishing industry for over twenty years, we have appreciation in clients’ expectations,” says Jenny Hu.
News
Vario Images now representing content from First Light
Vario Images, a stock photography agency based in Bonn Germany has announced that it has signed a deal with First Light of Toronto Canada to represent its collection in Germany. “The rights-managed (RM) collection of First Light is an extraordinary good addition to our own visual content. Furthermore, First Light meets our high demands on quality, marketability and originality”, states Susanne Baumgarten president at vario images.
News
Demotix launches user-generated newswire to empower citizen journalists
London based Demotix, who is billing itself as an uncensored, unedited user-generated newswire, has officicially launched its new site at Demotix.com. The platform is intended to empower anybody to upload images or video to be made available to for licensing to media publisher. Content is represented on a non-exclusive basis and images offered at prices varying from $150-$3,000, with video fetching prices of $500-$1,000/minute. All revenue is split 50/50 with the contributor.
News
Glow Images launches Décor collection featuring contemporary interiors
Glow Images, a stock photography production company based in Miami, has announced that it has produced a new rights-managed (RM) collection called Décor with more than 4000 images of contemporary interiors. The collection focuses on the clean, uncluttered spaces of modern living with property releases for all images making them suitable for commercial applications “By producing a diverse collection of Glow brands featuring a wide variety of subject matter and both RF and RM license models, we are providing our distribution partners with the range and variety of images their clients are asking for,” states Gustavo Baez of Glow Images.
News
Masterfile launches new image search technology dubbed “Endless Media”
Masterfile, a stock photography company based in Toronto with offices in France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, has announced that it has launched a new online image search user interface called Endless Media. The company is touting that it spent more than a year re-thinking how to search for images and waiting for international patents on the unique methodology and its underlying logic. John McDonald, Masterfile’s Vice-President of Product Development and the technology’s creator, says “Think of it as visual logic for designers with the extreme speed of a desktop application. It’s a ‘type less and see more’ paradigm where users follow their own visual instincts to direct the search. There is nothing out there with its speed and simplicity… and this is just the beginning.”
News
John Birdsall to be represented exclusively by PA Photos
The John Birdsall Social Issues Photo Library has signed an exclusive representation agreement with PA Photos, who will now manage the library and serve John Birdsall customers effective January 1st 2009. The John Birdsall collection was launched in 1985, aiming to challenge stereotypical perceptions and promote awareness of subjects such as disability, race and gender. “We are very excited about working with PA Photos, who are also based in Nottingham. They show the same professionalism, customer service and sensitivity in releasing our material. This arrangement frees us up to concentrate on commissions and new photographic projects in the next year, so our collection will continue to be updated and remain fresh,” John Birdsall stated.
News
JupiterImages accused of shaving commissions in Europe
[Excerpted from article by Stefan Hartmann, Visuell] The good old days of being able to charge clients administrative fees for image research and delivery on top of the reproduction charges are a thing of the past within the stock photo industry.But Jupiterimage has recently found a way to re-introduce this fee with all rights managed sales, albeit secretly.With this new variation it is not the clients but the contributing photographers and agencies that pay the fee.
Features
Mr. Stock Smarty Pants discusses stock photography in the winter season
As the song says: Baaay-beeee, it’s c-o-l-d outside.
However, I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know that’s it’s a cozy 75 degrees inside Mr. Stock Smarty Pants’ Aspen retreat, with a roaring fire blazing just a few feet away while I recline in my La-Z-Boy and sort through the latest pleas for help from readers of About The Image. I’m tempted to knock back my third toddy of the evening but realize that I need to keep at least a somewhat clear head in order to provide the thoroughly professional level of expertise that’s required for this sort of work. Plus, I really detest getting on the ski lift in the morning and then flying down a double-diamond run with a throbbing head, so let’s just get right to it, shall we?
News
PicApp now representing paparazzi imagery from Pacific Coast News
Image details: Mya spotted on the beach in Barbados served by picapp.com
Picapp, a service of the Israel based technology company PicScout offering bloggers an ad-supported solution to use celebrity, sports, and news, images free of charge, has announced that it has added paparazzi content from Pacific Coast News(PCN). PCN is one of the more prominent sources for entertainment news and pictures. “We at Pacific Coast News are witnessing a substantial change in the photo industry, with a growing demand for the content by bloggers” Said Paul Harris PCN CEO “I believe that PicApp’s innovative and most scalable application will be able to meet the blogger requirements and therefore provide us with a new distribution channel.”
News
Corbis hires Rajiv Jain as Chief Technology Officer
Corbis, the world’s 2nd largest stock licensing company owned by Bill Gates, has announced that it has appointed Rajiv Jain to the post of Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Rajiv brings more than 20 years of technology and business experience to the role coming most recently from American Greetings Interactive (AGI) where he was Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and General Manager. In his most recent post Rajiv was charged with the task of integrating two recent acquisitions in the photo-space, namely WebShots and PhotoWorks. Prior to AGI, Rajiv was General Manager for e-commerce at Cingular/AT&T Wireless and has held executive and senior management positions at Portal (now Oracle), IBM, Autodesk and has 10 patents under his name. Rajiv will oversee all technology activities for Corbis and be a member of the Executive Team based in the company’s Seattle headquarters.
News
Former AP photo editor Sandy Colton dies at 83
The Associated Press is reporting that William J. “Sandy” Colton, an AP photographer and photo editor for more than 2 decades, died Thursday of heart failure at his home in in Upstate New York. Colton, who had battled cancer in recent years, was responsible for many changes at the news agency including the AP’s conversion from black and white to color photography.
