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xmas sale
Quote coupon number WEBXM10 when ordering fine art prints and you'll receive 10% off any order, framed or unframed, beween now and Dec 31st, 2007.
Visit our new fine art print galleries today
xmas sale posted in news , prints
galleries
We are pleased to offer a new selection of images for the holiday season and new year. David Sanger Photography fine art prints of travel, nature and people worldwide are now more affordable than ever.
Prices range from $24.95 for unframed 8x10 to $299.95 for a framed 20x30 print. We can provide his price level because of the excellent quality and reliability of the Lightjet prints from our partner Pictopia. Visit our new galleries at Pictopia.com
galleries posted in news , prints
Getty Images online
A new collection of images is now available online at Getty Images with additional images to appear online soon.
Getty Images online continued....
Getty Images online posted in news
Shanghai
David will be photographing in Shanghai between March 16th and 26th, 2007, covering travel, tourist and business subjects. Contact the studio if you have photo needs from the area.
Digital Railroad
Explore our new online library of images at Digital Railroad you can now search, lightbox and download comps for David Sanger Photography images. If you are licensing images we can immediately clear the hi-res images for download, once agreement on terms is reached.
You can also learn more about Digital Railroad at their main site. David's images are featured in the showcase as well.
Digital Railroad posted in news
Paris
Mid May will bring two weeks shooting in Paris and Normandy. Again contact David at 510-526-0800 if you are interested in piggy-back assignments.
These are not orphans
There are two main premises which underlie the Copyright Office's recent proposal on Orphan Works. They are that 1. copyright management information is usually attached to the creative work; and 2. it is possible to search for the copyright owner.
Neither of these assumptions are generally true in the case of images found online. To test the first assumption, Stock Artists Alliance examined every image which was found on the top 30 web sites according to alexa.com (the home page or in some cases a secondary page). Also included were a couple of leading library and museum sites. (the home page or in some cases a secondary page). Also included were a couple of leading library and museum sites.
Of the 144 images which were copied and examined, how many had embedded copyright information? None! That's right, not a single one! Only two of the 144 had identifying info on the front of the image.
One can be quite certain that almost all of the images, photographs and illustrations, are copyright. Most are likely licensed from major stock agencies, perhaps under an exclusive licensing agreement. Most are likely model released. Some are of famous art works. Some are of movie stars. Some are corporate images no doubt shot on an exclusive commissioned basis.
As a prospective user under the proposed orphan works statue, if you found one of these jpegs on a online database, perhaps from some remote country, how you would do a 'good faith, reasonably diligent search for any of these images? Where would you start? When would you give up?
As a copyright holder, if you found one of these images used online under a claimed 'orphan' status, your only recourse would be to try to get payment from the infringer for the use. No attorney's fees. No damages. No lawyer would take your case.
As a major stock distributor, Getty or Corbis, you would be in the same position, no attorney's fees, no damages.
As the website owner who paid perhaps 4 figures for home page usage, you'd have no recourse whatsoever, even if you had an exclusive license.
As a corporation who had commissioned one of these images for corporate use only, you'd have no recourse either, if your custom image was 'orphaned'. Previously you could rely on the strength of the copyright law, knowing the photographer and you together could go after an infringement and collect damages.
As a model who participated in a photo shoot for one of these images, what recourse would you have if the image was used in a way you didn't approve of, eg. sensitive subjects?
Most ominously, as an entrepreneur who sees these likely "orphanable" images as a potentially lucrative revenue source, how do you......!!!...No, Stop that thought!!!
Here's the selection of images:
Take the "reasonably diligent search" challenge! See if you find the legal copyright holder for any of these images!! Remember, these are some of the most highly visible images on the web. Most images will be considerably more difficult to find.
All images © the individual copyright holders. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, these images are displayed without profit for research and educational purposes, and to encourage efforts to preserve the value of and market for these and other copyrighted materials.
These are not orphans posted in news
Orphan Works
A very important change to the Copyright Law has been proposed which will have severe negative consequences for photographers and illustrators. The Copyright Office's Report on Orphan Works deals with the issues of using copyrighted works where the owner cannot be found. This can be the case with old family photographs or out of print books.
However, the solution they propose will have the unfortunate effect of making it almost impossible for photographers to obtain a fair return when a user or abuser has taken their photograph and removed all copyright identification information. The statute suggests that a potential user, if they cannot identify the copyright owner, must make a good faith effort to find them, but provides NO MEANS for them to do so. This opens wide the door to infringers who will with impunity copy photographs found on the web. Photographers, even those who have registered their images with the copyright office, would only be entitled to a "reasonable fee" with no recourse if the user refused to pay.
A coalition of photography and illustrator associations including ASMP, Stock Artists Alliance, Editorial Photographers, NPPA and PACA opposes the legislation as it applies to the visual arts and is encouraging a fax campaign to Congress.
For more info see: Photo District News and Peter Marshall at about.com
ASMP has a detailed page on Orphan Works showing what to do and how to fax your representatives and the members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. APA has a similar page regarding the Orphan Works Bill. PPA, Professional Photographers of America, also has a page and analysis.
PLEASE take a few minutes and send a fax to the members of the Judiciary Committee and to your own Senator and Congressman.
The Illustrator's Partnership has kindly provided additional analysis.
Stock Artists Alliance now has an Orphan Works blog.
Orphan Works posted in news
Google Base Blog
There's a nice writeup of our use of the new Google Base product on the Google Base Blog today at Spotlight on David Sanger Photography.
When it first appeared it seemed right away that a database product was a promising venue for presenting images which we have for sale as fine art prints and for licensing. Google Base continues to evolve and stock photographers will be keeping an eye on how to best use it to get their work to market.
Thanks to Denise Gamboa of Google Base Product Marketing, for covering the project, Pictopia for the producing our fine art prints and Philipp Lenssen of Google Blogoscoped for the early warning on the release.
Andy Goetze has a nice writeup too on Stock Photo Talk.
Google Base Blog posted in google , news , photography
Stock Artists Alliance
The business of stock photography is rapidly changing. With the rapid spread of digital images and on-line photo sales, individual photographers are continually challenged to find new and profitable markets for their images and to keep attuned to rapid technical advances.
Stock Artists Alliance is a professional association dedicated to protecting the rights of stock photographers. With over five hundred members contributing to 150 distributors including Getty Images, Corbis, Jupiter and Alamy, SAA is the only associated specifically focussed on rights-managed stock photographers' needs and businesses.
This may sound like a plug. Well it is in a way! This year I'll be serving as President and so will have a chance to meet many members, and also represent SAA and upcoming meetings with PACA ASPP and other photography groups.
If you are a stock photographer and want to learn more about making your business successful, both in working with distributors worldwide, small and large, and in marketing direct, consider becoming a member.
Stock Artists Alliance posted in news
Google Base
Google has just released a beta of Google Base, an online content database where anyone can upload content for sale or presentation or commentary- a combination of eBay, Craigs List, and Monster.com, with a special Google flavor. Philipp Lenssen has a good review at Google Blogoscoped
I put up 200 fine art prints for sale as a trial at base.google.com/base/a/davidsanger and it is taking a while to get them all processed. Nonetheless it is very promising as a new outlet for fine art prints and even stock photography in general. The search on keywords right now is very fast. Sample searches show colorful Indian posters or Golden Gate Bridge prints
Update: Just added all 6000 images to Google Base. We'll see if it takes them.
Also here's a Firefox Google Base search plugin.
Google Base posted in news
Tokyo
Tokyo is next as a destination - a short trip for the week after Thanksgiving to photograph the city and surroundings. It's been years since I have been there. Please call David at 510-526-0800 if you are interested in piggy-back assignments.
Tokyo posted in asia , japan , news
EUMEX
Last week I attended the EUMEX European tourist board gathering in Los Angeles. Representatives from many of the national tourist boards were there along with regions and cities including Oslo, London and Manchester.
New portfolios of European subjects include:
Several destinations look promising for 2006 stories.
Review
If you like this site you can write a review at amazon.com
Traffic is increasing every week and we're pleased people are finding the site and buying prints and stock images. A new campaign of Google Adwords is starting, targetng stock photography buyers. Google offers individual photographers and small businesses a great way to reach a broad audience
Katrina Relief Auction
To help raise money for the American Red Cross aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina I am offering a 16x24" unframed print of this image for auction at Flickr. If you are the winning bidder on this item, you make the donation directly to the Red Cross and then receive the signed print. The auction runs through September 15th
Please visit Flickr.com and help support this project
UPDATE. The auction is over and the print was bought by Daragh in Ireland for a $160 to the Red Cross. Thanks Daragh
Katrina Relief Auction posted in news
SGN Exhibit on San Francisco Bay
Photographs from David Sanger's book San Franciso Bay – Portrait of an Estuary and the accompanying show at the Oakland Museum will be exhibited at Saint Gregory of Nyssa art space from September 10th to October 29th.
There will be an opening reception on Sunday September 11th from 1pm to 4pm. All are invited. Mark your calendars.
© David Sanger. Click on image for licensing and fine art prints.
SGN Exhibit on San Francisco Bay posted in california , news , prints , san francisco bay
Sam Bloomberg-Rissman
My long time assistant Sam Bloomberg-Rissman is moving to Spain to continue his career as a travel photographer. I first met Sam just after he graduated from UC Berkeley in Economics. Eager to learn the ins and outs of the photography business he undertook to run my studio, with all the craziness of stock photo sales, urgent deadlines, endless folders of scanned images to Photoshop, and then digital images to convert and adjust - a never ending stream of images
His first foray overseas as a photographer was to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, and he brought back fresh crisp images of difficult as well as classical subjects, all on film.
Spain and Italy were next and shooting with the D70 gave him new creative energy. As an active participant in Flickr conversations he's raised a few eyebrows with his provocative imagery and color.
So Sam, we wish you luck in Malaga, in all your travels and shooting and in stock sales at Alamy and elsewhere.
www.sambr.com Check it out
© Sam Bloomberg-Rissman. Click on image for licensing and fine art prints.
Sam Bloomberg-Rissman posted in flickr , news , photography
D2X
Nikon's new D2X digital camera is the latest in their pro line and has received excellent reviews. I've just taken delivery of one and will be using it in Quebec for the first time. At 12.4 megapixels and up to 8fps shooting it is a dream to use and the file size promises much longer lifespan for stock photography images.
UPDATE: Now after the first full shoot in Quebec I have to say the results are even better than I'd expected. The dynamic range is wider with shadows not blocking up and highlights holding better than the D70. Working with only one body, though, is a pain and dust finds its way onto the sensor when you change lenses often.
D2X posted in how to , news , nikon , photography
Quebec
In early August I travelled to Quebec to the old city to photograph the New France Festival for a week. Quebec has its 400 year anniversary celebration coming up in 2008 and is already preparing for the celebrations.
More images are at www.davidsanger.com/stock/quebec
Quebec posted in canada , culture , news , quebec
Sweden
In June David traveled to Sweden and photographed in Gotheborg, along the West Sweden coast, on the island of Grinda and in Stockholm
Some of the images are up now at www.davidsanger.com/stock/sweden
Sweden posted in europe , news , sweden
Alaska
In May David presented a Digital Imaging and Marketing seminar at the SATW Western Chapter meeting at the Alyeska Resort, Alaska, and then covered Kodiak Island.
Images are at www.davidsanger.com/stock/alaska-satw
Australia
In February and March David covered Australia, from Canberra and Melbourne to the Victoria coast, Adelaide and the winelands of South Australia.
A short stop in Fiji provided a number of new tropical images.
Redesign
The website is being redesigned!! To improve ease of access and rapid posting we are redesigning the site completely using Movable Type software. Although best known as blogging software [their public product is Typepad], MT is basically just a database-driven content management system. All entries are stoed in a SQL database and can be updated through a web-based interface. This includes new pages [or posts] as well as the layouts and CSS for all the pages [the look and feel of the site]
Please bear with us during the transition. Most pages will be moved within a few days but there might be some pages still withthe old layout for a while. You can tell the new layout by the 800pix centered column, the sidebar on the left and the menu choices [portfolio, stories...] to the right of the David Sanger logo.
One of the more difficult aspects is making sure all the pages work in different browsers on different platforms. Browser makers don't make this easy. Although web standards have been developed by the World Wide Web Consortium There are still many minor quirks in how differaent browsers implement some features... and there are still people using Netscape 4.0 believe it or not.
Your comments are welcome. If you see unusual layouts or behaviours, they may be errors so please email me.
Thanks !!
Bay Model Exhibition
An exhibition of photographs from San Francisco Bay - Portrait of and Estuary is currently at the Bay Model in Sausalito, Marin County through February 13th. The exhibition is open Tuesday through Saturday: 9:00 am to 4:00 PM and closed Sunday and Monday.
All of the prints from the exhibit can be ordered online at www.sanfranciscobayphotos.com
Bay Model Exhibition posted in news , san francisco bay
Czech Republic
Images from Prague and the Czech Republic are finally up on the site. It was quite a trip. The city is bustling, full of tourists and enthusiasm, and upbeat in an encouraging way. The last time I visited was years, years ago - what a change.
Cesky Krumlov is another medieval delight, almost storybook, in Southern Bohemia. A UNESCO World Heritage site and definitely worth a day or two of wanderings.
Czech Republic posted in czech , news
Prague
I have just arrived in Prague for two weeks. Photographing this wonderful Bohemian city and the Southern town of Ceske Krumlov will be a great pleasure. For the first time I shall try to post occasional images as they are produced. This is the red tile rooftop of the church of Saint Jakub.
Riviera Maya
I have just returned from three weeks shooting in Mexico's Riviera Maya. Quite a surprise since Cancun has never appealed to me. But the towns to the south - Playa del Carmen and Tulum, have quite a relaxed air, and of course they are booming. Very popular with Italians amazingly enough. Below is a woman meditating at the Mayan ruins at Coba.
More images of the Riviera Maya.
Riviera Maya posted in news
ireland
This Spring I photographed a story on the Irish Whiskey Trail, covering Dublin, Cork and Antrim. The story will run in Endless Vacation later this year.
Ireland is new for me. Born British, but never before had I crossed the Irish Sea!
ireland posted in europe , ireland , news
nikon
New coverage of the San Francisco Bay Book at Nikon Centre
nikon posted in news , nikon , photography
Antigua
Just back from a shoot on Antigua in the Caribbean. Covered some good restaurants - Julian's, Coconut Grove and Harmony House - and some local potters. Nancy Nicholson lives on a hillside in English Harbor and makes blue earthenware pottery with images of fish and turtles.
The beaches are clear azure and turquoise. Half Moon Beach was among the best.
They just had an election and ousted the ruling party. Change is afoot.
Antigua posted in antigua , news
buy the bay book
You can now order San Francisco Bay - Portrait of an Estuary through Paypal.
Copies signed by John Hart and me and are $34.95 each. Shipping and Handling in the USA is $5.00 for the first copy and $1.00 for each additional copy. Sales tax of 8.25% will be added for California customers.
206 pages, 11-1/4 x 9 inches, 158 color photographs, 6 color maps
ISBN: 0520233999
buy the bay book posted in news
tunisia
A December trip with my son Jonathan to Tunis and the Sahara desert. Surprisingly it rained; winter does come in the desert. But we rode camels in Nafta, near the Algerian border, explored the plams of the Tozeur oasis, and wandered the cobble streets of Sidi Bou Said, a tiny whitewashed village on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean.
The first batch of images is at www.davidsanger.com/stock/tunisia