The Going Rate for a Time Cover Photo

At April 25, 2011
By thomasjupe
In Photography In The News, Uncategorized
0

This is my response to a debate that seems to rear its head in the photography industry from time to time. This time it has been dragged up again through an interesting article on David Hobby in Slate magasine.

To get a sense of just how bad things are for professional photographers right now, the story of Robert Lam is instructive. When Time needed a photo to illustrate its “New Frugality” cover story in late 2009, it purchased Lam’s image of a jar of change from stock-photo agency iStockphoto. The going rate for a Time cover had typically been $3,000 to $10,000. Lam was paid $31.50. Nevertheless, Lam declared, “I am happy”—the payment was more than he’d expected the photo to generate, and he was delighted to have a Time cover in his portfolio. Veteran professional photographers were livid, calling Lam an “IDIOT,” among other unkind words.

Lam told me by phone that he’s only a part-time photographer—he makes most of his income through a furniture store he owns. Last year, he earned $4,000 from stock photography. Since it’s his passion and hobby, not his job, that sum is fine by him. Most of what Lam has learned about lighting has come from reading online, on Strobist and similar blogs. Typical of the DIY approach of this set, Lam’s Time cover was shot using materials Lam found at a local sign store.

My reply is this: Good for Robert Lam!

The truth of the matter is that the majority of professional photographers would laugh at the thought of setting up their studio to take photos of regular objects. Many do not have the time to carry out a shoot that may or may not create revenue for them.

I have spent time shooting random objects like this at a time when I was struggling as a young, fast-learning freelancer. It is incredibly time consuming. If “semi pro” and “amateur” photographers like Lam can create and make a revenue from such images good on them, not many pros have the time to put images like this into their libraries.

Much of the doom and gloom on this issue in trade journals and on blogs is incredibly daunting for young photography students and people wanting to be photographers. Some of the comments left on related articles online are to this effect.

For new professionals and students it would be good to concentrate some of your studies towards understanding royalty-free and rights managed photographs as-well as the usual curriculum.

I will always be an advocate of every photographer having stock images available. Some of the photos I have put up in stock libraries are similar to that of Robert Lam’s. It takes time to shoot stock and have a library of images but even if you have only take 5 photographs there is no reason why you cannot make them available for sale today. The initial setting up and editing of photographs to meet submission guidelines is time consuming as is meta-tagging and key-wording but when they are there, they are available indefinitely.

David Hobby: A Baltimore Sun photographer took a buyout, started a website, and changed photography forever. (slate.com)
A Baltimore Sun photographer who took a buyout, started a blog, and changed the photography business forever (3quarksdaily.com)
Stock Photography at Its Best (Worst) (brandieraaschphotography.wordpress.com)

Jumping Crocs in Kakadu National Park

At April 17, 2011
By thomasjupe
In New Uploads, Photo Project, Photo Shoot, Travel, Uncategorized
1

Jumping Crocodiles! Well that was something we had to see! We were having a few days in Kakadu National Park which has been hit with one of the worst wet seasons for a while with plenty of flooding and plenty of roads in disrepair.

It has to be said this is par for the course during the wet season up here but this year the prolonged nature of it has delayed the arrival of the dry season here when all the tourists flock to the Darwin area. Despite the fact much of the park was closed we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Kakadu National Park with the crocodiles, snakes, ants and millions of mosquitoes!

One of the places that was very much open was the Jumping Crocs boat cruises and after paying our $35 per adult we all jumped on the two story boat that would take us up the Adelaide River. With only a few people aboard our 3pm boat we were able to roam round the boat to see these magnificent creatures. With an informative and interesting patterthe captain steered us down the river introducing us to the crocs whilst his crew hung the meat off the side tempting the crocs to jump.

We didn’t have long to wait and I shall let the pictures show you how cool it was, absolutely top notch! An added bonus was the Kites on the way back who were lured in by the crew before they opened the bar and we had a cold cider on the rest of the journeyback. A fantastic tour.

Kakadu – Kakadu National Park, Australia (travelpod.com)
Becoming Croc-wise – Jabiru, Australia (travelpod.com)

Uluru – the next morning…

At April 04, 2011
By thomasjupe
In Photo Project, Photo Shoot, Travel, Uncategorized
0

Uluru Ayers Rock Australia Morning 2011 03 31 1024x682 Uluru the next morning...

A couple of photographs that I missed off my Uluru article were these two. They were both taken in the morning and I think the one of the clouds over Uluru, Ayers Rock may be one of my favourites due to its individuality.

Uluru – Ayres Rock – The Red Heart Of Australia’s Outback (thomasjupe.com)

Uluru – Ayres Rock – The Red Heart Of Australia’s Outback

After the long drive along the first part of Route 87, Stuart Highway and the detour along the Lasseter Highway to Ayres Rock Resort. We arrived (thanks to daylight savings!) at 3.30pm with plenty of time to check in to the resort’s campsite and get our powered pitch (a special treat after roughing it through the outback!) Ironically this campsite has been the cheapest one of our tour down under so far a bargain at $39 for the two of us and Dori to stay the night.

After a quick refreshing shower (the first for a few days!) we went offsite down the road into Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park. With a mandatory fee of $25 a head for access to the park which handily was valid for three days, paid at the gates, we drove in and got to grips with this magnificent wonder.

Its amazing how many clichés I could list and the amount of people I could quote but I shall refrain and state simply that its a wonder you have to see for yourselves.

After exploring and reading about the Aboriginal traditions and Tjukurpa in the Cultural Centre we drove down to the start of the Mala Walk and got up close to the rock. Heading back out of the park we stopped at the sunset viewing car park to sit on top of Dori and watch Uluru light up. The colours were phenomenal and you could never truly record it on film.

The next morning we were up and drove into the park to watch the sunrise light up Uluru. With such an early start to the day we then were able to get to the base of the rock in time for a free tour from a park ranger which departed at 8am. The tour was fantastic and we learned much more about the aborigines, their beliefs, local wildlife and the geology of the rock.

The shots I caught as the sun set are typical of peoples travels to this part of the world. I didn’t want to be different, for one it is disrespectful to the Aboriginal people who have asked that parts of Uluru are kept secret except for to those who visit, which is the same with some of their customs. The other reason is that for years I have seen photographs of this place and I wanted my own photo that I can hang and be proud that I made it half way round the world to this point and that if I made it this far, I can sure as hell make it to the rest.

Route 87 – Stuart Highway – Adelaide to Alice Springs at 80km per hour!

Leaving Adelaide was bitter sweet, we have thoroughly enjoyed our time in Mclaren Vale thanks to our Wwoofing hosts Angie and Leon yet it was time to move on. Our next stop was Alice Springs via Uluru, Ayers Rock.

Uluru was going to be a very special visit for us, being one of the main reasons for travelling halfway across the world to see this amazing country.

Leaving Adelaide and measuring distance in petrol prices that slowly crept up with every petrol station that we stopped at, we crawled our way north at 80km per hour. Travelling at such a slow speed was to our advantage in many ways, Dori our beloved campervan was able to sip on just the minimum amount of petrol to cruise along saving up money. We were also able to keep her engine temperature down in the heat of the outback, even so she easily drank a litre of water in her radiator every day!

The other advantage of travelling so slowly was that we could enjoy the beauty of the outback all the more. The adverse weather conditions that Australia has experienced this year has culminated in the outback getting an extremely rare amount of rainfall and as a result this usually barren land has fresh greenery in abundance, a sight that not many people will ever see.

Our overnight stops, camping in the many rest areas available along the edge of the road has been exciting, many are recessed back in to the outback away from the highway. Although at the end of each day we have been tired and weary after lots of travelling we have been treated to some great sunsets and starlit nights.

Driving along Stuart Highway, route 87 has been an unforgettable experience waving to everyone passing by from our little van as road trains thunder by, rocking poor Dori’s suspension! Watching emus and huge birds of prey flying along has been great, the outback is full of wildlife and we have definitely got our ‘Aussie salutes’ perfected!