[Leica] Stock Photography

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (tedgrant at shaw.ca)]

Hi Frank,
Apparently at the time the demands of stock agencies of the day and which 
camera delivered the best captured size "their technical" people were ruling 
the world." That is whether you or we contracted photographers liked it or 
not. Cameras were being tested as a new version was released... not tested 
by photographers, but highly skilled and trained technical staff. So when 
they offered their testing wisdom of which sensors or whatever technical 
aspects were found in what cameras.That information was passed on to the 
photographers simply because in the stock industry, he who has the highest 
possible qualities of images for content and technical reproduction sold the 
most! At the time it was NIKON! This still had absolutely nothing to do with 
content... that's always been the responsibility of the photographer holding 
the camera.

This had nothing to do with quality of content, that was always demanded! 
The "perfect image and content" was never asked to be changed! Always the 
best possible, then some! It was one of the biggest demands! Besides unless 
the quality of content is smack you in the face required for the ad agency 
demands, it wasn't sold! So everyone lost income... Stock agency and 
photographer. Not to forget the "photo editor who let it slip by got their 
knuckles wrapped for selecting an inferior image." Content!

>>> Not the question of technical quality, just  the kind ( brand name) of 
>>> the
> camera.....
>
> THAT is what I rebel against.. and other, similar, 
> stupidities.....<<<<<<<<<<

Again Frank that is your prerogative, unfortunately or fortunately you can 
rebel all you like, but the industry of the day dictated very high standards 
as digital cameras were still learning how to crawl, let alone produce 
anything compared to the likes of today!

>>> Content and quality are what counts...And I do not get that feeling from 
>>> the
> discussions we have had on Stock ......well maybe content for the intended
> purpose of the buyer.... but certainly not quality.....<<<<<<<<<

Actually the decision of a selected image for use in an advertisement has 
nothing to do with the photographer and his or her equipment. It's the 
selection of an art director in the advertising agency looking for an image 
in his concept of how to best catch the eye of customers to purchase "their 
clients" product. I'm sure you have seen many horrid TV commercial that 
almost make you throw-up. But that isn't the fault of the cameraman nor 
equipment. It's the art director... And sometimes they will select a 
photographer because of the look of his photography and whatever equipment 
he owns in producing it. ERGO: Nikon over Leica or CANON..

Well it seems some of the posts were by people not working at it for years 
or weeks or questionable experiences in the industry. So that may have been 
why you feel as you do. Hopefully Tina and myself have helped explain the 
demands of what the high end Stock agencies demanded. And not the kind of 
disaster it is at present due to greedy money grabbing people trying to 
control it all today with their $40. dollar pay outs for images.

ted


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frank Filippone" <red735i at earthlink.net>
To: "'Leica Users Group'" <lug at leica-users.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 10:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Stock Photography


> Ted, in all honesty, does it matter one iota what camera was used to take
> the picture?
>
> Not the question of technical quality, just  the kind ( brand name) of the
> camera.....
>
> THAT is what I rebel against.. and other, similar,  stupidities.....
>
> True.. the demands of the industry are worthless to me.....
>
> Content and quality are what counts...And I do not get that feeling from 
> the
> discussions we have had on Stock ......well maybe content for the intended
> purpose of the buyer.... but certainly not quality.....
>
> YMMV... especially if you make your living from this endeavor.....
>
> Frank Filippone
> red735i at earthlink.net
> I'm so pleased you don't want to be part of this crazy stock industry
> demanding extreme quality and sizes for re-production purposes. Besides as
> you say... "you're an amateur" so the high standards and demands of the
> industry are worthless.
>
> Yep we all stand by the "what counts mantra..."
>>>What counts is the image and its content and its technical
> excellence......<<<
>
> Dr. ted
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.423 / Virus Database: 270.14.25/2450 - Release Date: 10/21/09 
16:44:00