http://www.abouttheimage.com/ news for the stock photography industry en brent@abouttheimage.com Copyright 2008 2008-05-09T13:00:01-05:00 http://www.abouttheimage.com/ati_news_round_up_recent_news_events_announcements_exhibits_etc_050908/ http://www.abouttheimage.com/ati_news_round_up_recent_news_events_announcements_exhibits_etc_050908/#When:13:00:01Z • Getty Images posts a podcast interview by CEO Jonathan Klein with John Moore who shares his first hand account of what it’s like working behind the lens in conflict areas and how he captured the memorable, award-winning imagery following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. • Stock photographer Grant Faint “gives back” by donating all proceeds from sales of his posters and DVDs to orphans in Tanzania. • PhotoShelter Announces Winners of Elevation 2008 Student Competition. • David Lebovitz, an award-winning pastry and dessert chef (who happens to be an excellent food photographer, too,) gives a great treatise on how he shoots food including an especially useful and detailed explanation of the equipment he uses. • UK photographer Vanessa Winship named Photographer of the Year at Sony World Photography Awards. • Photographer Terry Evans has an obsession with the prairie; it’s been her principle subject for three decades. • X-Ray Photography As Art: A selection of contemporary X-Ray photography artists who all make spectacular images from everyday objects. • Japan’s Fujifilm says annual profits triple while Eastman Kodak posts narrower 1Q loss. Both former film companies are chasing a bigger stake in digital photography. • UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband is the latest politician to weigh into the controversy surrounding photography in public places. • Rohn Engh asks ”Are Composite Images the Future of Stock Photography?” • Microstock photographer reports earnings for April 2008. • StockXpert contributor conference reviewed By Mikhail Lavrenov. • Thomas Hawk asks “What Are Your Favorite Photography Related Films?” • Getty Images named official photo agency for the International Cricket Council (ICC). • FIT opens Second Life exhibit featuring Student Photography. Features, Photographers, Stock Art Buyers, Stock Photo Companies, Stock Photography 101 2008-05-09T13:00:01-05:00 http://www.abouttheimage.com/capture_integrates_plus_licensing_standards_into_asset_management_system/ http://www.abouttheimage.com/capture_integrates_plus_licensing_standards_into_asset_management_system/#When:11:43:00Z Capture a leading developer of image and digital asset management systems from the UK has announced that it has integrated the PLUS (Picture Licensing Universal System) standards into its web-based asset management system Capture Office Online (COO). According to a press release issued by the company “This means that the PLUS media matrix can be used in COO to specify standardized usage categories – and then generate prices easily (and the unique PLUS price code) by using COO’s price factoring facility”. Capture Managing Director Abbie Enock said: “We are delighted to be working closely with PLUS. Rights and licensing have always been a central part of our image library management systems – and we believe it is vital that the complex minefield of rights and pricing is streamlined and made easier for the buyer to understand and use. We also know from our experience of working with clients that building a pricebook can be a daunting task – so our price factoring functionality is designed to make light work of this, and the PLUS Packs give a streamlined set of options that allow a pricebook to be constructed very quickly.” Jeff Sedlik, President & CEO of the PLUS Coalition, added “As both an active participant in the PLUS Coalition and an early adopter of the PLUS Standards, Capture has demonstrated a profound dedication to improving the picture licensing process for picture libraries and their customers. By integrating the PLUS standards into Capture Office Online, Capture provides picture libraries with a ready-made solution that simplifies the licensing process and allows picture buyers to more easily manage and renew their licensed assets, using universal terminology, license packages and licensing menus that have been created by a worldwide collaboration between all industries engaged in creating, distributing, using and preserving images. Capture understands rights metadata, and knows how to leverage it for the benefit of their customers.” Web: Capture.co.uk IPTC, Keywording / Metadata, News, Product Reviews, Stock Photo Companies 2008-05-08T11:43:00-05:00 http://www.abouttheimage.com/maxx_images_now_representing_stock_photography_from_eyecandy_images/ http://www.abouttheimage.com/maxx_images_now_representing_stock_photography_from_eyecandy_images/#When:11:01:00Z maXx images, a stock photography agency based in Vancouver, Canada, has announced that it now represents Eyecandy Images. Eyecandy Images is a boutique stock photography producer based in New York and London. “We focus on providing photography that cutting edge creatives have difficulty finding elsewhere”, stated Richeille Formento, Creative Director at Eyecandy Images, “ maXx images currently represents over 3 million rights managed and royalty free images. “We continue to search for collections that are inventive and unique,” said Dave Maquignaz, President of maXx images, “and with the addition of Eyecandy Images, we’re adding an exceptional royalty free collection that maximizes the visual communications that our clients require and demand for their design and branding projects.” Web:  maxXimages.com - EyeCandyimages.com - Click here to view featured image. News, Stock Photo Companies 2008-05-08T11:01:00-05:00 http://www.abouttheimage.com/panthermedia_partners_fine_art_print_photographers_open_online_print_store/ http://www.abouttheimage.com/panthermedia_partners_fine_art_print_photographers_open_online_print_store/#When:11:23:00Z PantherMedia, a Munich Germany based microstock company, has teamed up with FineArtPrint a German fine art printing company to allow Customers, photographers and other affiliates to open an online print store as an additional source of revenue with their photos, illustrations, and digital art.  Customers will have the option to purchase images printed and framed on canvas, fine art paper or aluminium. For affiliates of PantherMedia the set-up and the administration of the shop are free of charge including up to 150 images (others are permitted only 100 images in the basic version of the shop). The shop can be individually customized for each contributor with unique color choices, logo and In addition, the shop owner can define his or her own prices and inventory. The prints are produced in Germany and are delivered worldwide directly to the customer. “In addition to the sales via our own stock agency, our photographers may offer their images as high-quality prints – either via our partner’s website or their own Fine Art Shop. Besides our traditional business with commercial and editorial customers, we have now opened up new distribution channels into the very attractive private customer market segment”, enthused Robert Walters, Managing Director of PantherMedia. “Beside photographers and creative artists, the shop is very promising for companies that want to offer complementary products in addition to their main business, e.g. furniture stores, travel agencies”, explains Torsten Schubert, Owner and Managing Director of FineArtPrint. Web: http://www.panthermedia.net?fineartshop News, Photographers 2008-05-07T11:23:00-05:00 http://www.abouttheimage.com/the_stock_artists_alliance_publishes_orphan_works_2008_commentary/ http://www.abouttheimage.com/the_stock_artists_alliance_publishes_orphan_works_2008_commentary/#When:14:41:00Z Orphan Works is back. Last month, the U.S. Congress held Hearings, making clear that the wheels were again in motion. Last week, it became official when new versions of the Orphan Works Act of 2008 were introduced by both the House and Senate. SAA has published this document to provide an information resource for artists and other members of the visual arts community who will be affected by this legislation, sharing our perspective as the only association dedicated to the interests of professional photographers involved in stock image licensing. We also seek to provide constructive input to the Congressional committees who are developing this legislation. We believe that there is an opportunity to build on the new ideas put forth by its drafters, in a way that balances the needs of the users whom they are trying to serve with the interests of the copyright holders whom they must continue to protect. Otherwise, we again risk passage of legislation that will threaten copyright protections and the livelihoods of independent creators. Read our Commentary Following are summaries and links to each section: A Brief History of Orphan Works It started in January 2006 when the U.S. Copyright Office presented their Report to Congress. ...more Why Visual Works are Vulnerable to being Orphaned Orphan Works legislation comes at a time when there is already daunting pressure on artists, as copyright holders, to protect their intellectual property due to the digitization and online distribution of their images. ...more Moving Toward an Orphan Works Bill that Better Protects our Copyrights Several new elements seek to minimize the potential abuse of Orphan Works exemptions but they fall short of addressing the issues this legislation creates. ...more SAA Recommendations to Congress SAA urges Congress to consider these specific recommendations. ...more Resources & Links Other resources help to further explain the issues and offer a range of perspectives. ...more SAA’s Orphan Works 2008 commentary was prepared by: David Sanger, SAA Legal Chair Editorials, News, Orphan Works, Photographers, Stock Photo Companies 2008-05-06T14:41:00-05:00 http://www.abouttheimage.com/featured_new_artist_photographer_tim_gruber/ http://www.abouttheimage.com/featured_new_artist_photographer_tim_gruber/#When:11:49:00Z Tim Gruber is this week’s featured new artist from our friends at Aurora Photos. Aurora’s staff regularly seeks out new, up and coming photographers. Those whose material they find especially unique and exciting, they share with us to highlight on abouttheimage.   We hope our readers will enjoy learning a little about these young pro-photographers and seeing examples of their outstanding work. Tim Gruber is an upcoming photographer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This spring he recently finished grad school at Ohio University in the visual journalism program. “I got into photography four years ago during my undergrad when I was working on obtaining my bachelor’s degree in advertising. I found it to be an incredibly freeing and creative outlet. I found it also tamed my shyness and encouraged my curiosity. My friends and family would praise the work I was producing. At that stage in the game I was naive enough to believe them. The reality though was that I was terrible, but their encouragement kept me shooting,” Gruber explains. Elaborating on his work Gruber remarks that, “most of what I do and love is driven by people. I’m also not going out and trying to be objective. I’m always trying to make statements with the images I make. Along with that I’m always working to create images that I hope will make viewers feel, which I believe can only happen when you’re shooting from your heart and are passionate about what you’re photographing. It probably comes as no surprise then that the work I enjoy and work on the most are topics and ideas that personally interest me. I also love the challenge of taking everyday situations and making them my own.”He adds, “My interest in photography is all about living life with a child’s curiosity. Everyday presents new people, new places and new moments. What more could you ask for?” Web-site: TimGruber.com Featured New Artists, Features, Photographers 2008-05-06T11:49:00-05:00 http://www.abouttheimage.com/myloupe_now_offering_royalty_free_stock_photography_from_tetra_images/ http://www.abouttheimage.com/myloupe_now_offering_royalty_free_stock_photography_from_tetra_images/#When:11:18:00Z MyLoupe.com, a Chicago-based stock image library, has announced that it haqs added nearly 13,000 royalty free photographs from Tetra Images.  Tetra Images of Jersey City NJ is a production company founded in 2006 by stock photography veteran Tom Grill (a co-founder of Comstock).  MyLoupe is a relative new-comer to the stock photo business launched by Brian Heston in April 2005 with approximately 50,000 images from about 300 contributors which has grown to nearly 400,000 images online from more than 1000 photographers and picture agencies. “We’re very pleased to be teaming up with myLoupe,” said Grill from his Jersey City studio.  “Over the past couple of years Tetra Images has assembled a global distribution network for its pictures, and we feel very strongly that myLoupe has the sort of world-class qualities we look for in a partner.” Web: MyLoupe.com - TetraImagesRF.com News, Stock Art Buyers, Stock Photo Companies 2008-05-06T11:18:00-05:00 http://www.abouttheimage.com/aflo_acquires_tokyo_japan_stock_photo_agancy_am_images/ http://www.abouttheimage.com/aflo_acquires_tokyo_japan_stock_photo_agancy_am_images/#When:11:20:00Z Aflo Co. Ltd., one of Japan’s largest stock licensing companies has reached an agreement to acquire am-images of Tokyo, Japan. According to a press release issued by Aflo, am-images was dissolved on May 1st and its domestic and international operations will continue under the Aflo name. am-images began in 1990 and grew by adding both local and international content and also selling through Japanese and overseas sub-agents. am-images built up a large collection of over 70,000 exclusive images available for distribution. Aflo will continue to employ 7 staff from am-images and with them will come over 65 years of experience that will help further Aflo’s domestic operations. Web: Aflo.com/am-images News, Stock Photo Companies 2008-05-05T11:20:00-05:00 http://www.abouttheimage.com/f1online_adds_another_serving_of_stock_food_imagery_sofood_photo_cuisine/ http://www.abouttheimage.com/f1online_adds_another_serving_of_stock_food_imagery_sofood_photo_cuisine/#When:10:13:00Z The Frankfurt based image archive F1online has announced that it has added two new food photography collections to better serve clients. SOFOOD is a Royalty Free (RF) collection including more than 4,000 images and 23 VCD collections. Photocuisine is a Rights Managed (RM) collection with more than 8,000 images. The new collections strengthen to food offering represented in F1’s collection of more than 2 million images Web: F1online.de News, Stock Art Buyers 2008-05-05T10:13:00-05:00 http://www.abouttheimage.com/giovanni_cafagna_appointed_sales_marketing_manager_bridgeman_art_library/ http://www.abouttheimage.com/giovanni_cafagna_appointed_sales_marketing_manager_bridgeman_art_library/#When:10:04:00Z The London based Bridgeman Art Library, a specialty library featuring fine art, history and culture related images, has announced that it has recruited Giovanni Cafagna to serve as the company’s new Sales and Marketing Manager. Cafagna is a seasoned executive who brings years of experience in the image library industry having served as the sales manager for Corbis UK, and later moving to Milan, to open Corbis Italia. Giovanni had this to say about his appointment. “My main objective is to contribute to the growth of the company by bringing in a sense of achievement among the UK sales and marketing team. Last but not least, I also hope to instill confidence in our clients that Bridgeman is, now more than ever, the place to go for finding the best cultural and historical art collections & photography in the world” Web: BridgemanArt.com News, Stock Photo Companies 2008-05-05T10:04:00-05:00