Blue Planet Photography

With only a couple days left before departure, imagine my concern when I read on the internet that workers for Kenya Airways are planning to strike and have not been working since August 14? I’m flying from Heathrow to Nairobi then on to Zanzibar on Kenya Airways, as well as returning the same route a month later. Workers wanted a 130% pay raise and were threatening to strike, even though some workers were already not reporting to work. This caused delays and cancellations of flights, leaving thousands stranded in airports across the globe.

Luckily, I just read an update on a meeting held today that stated a resolution was made and the strike called off. Workers received a 20% pay raise over 2 years. Whew! I hope they get the backlog cleared out before I arrive. Going to Zanzibar, I’ve got a little over 90 minutes between flights from Nairobi to Zanzibar. When there’s backed-up flights, that could be very little time. I’m still going to be checking status on Monday, before I leave on Tuesday, and Wednesday while I’m waiting at Heathrow.

Nothing like a little last-minute excitement to get the nerves going.

I started taking my malaria pills today. I chose to go with Malarone (atavaquone and proguanil HCl) out of the 3 medications I could select from. It’s got the shortest pre- and post-travel dosing schedule, the least and lesser side effects (not like another that warned of mental issues, sheesh), and is 98% effective. I start a couple days before traveling and take it for 7 days once I get back. I also predicted, based on the mild side effects and dosing schedule, that Malarone would be the most expensive of the 3. I don’t know what the others would have cost, but a 42-day supply of Malarone lifted $295 from my pocket quicker than a papasi. That, along with the yellow fever, typhoid, and tetanus ($390), I’m feeling a little drained, but recovering.

Whenever planning for a long trip, sometimes days are spent deciding what to take, what to plan for, then revising again and again. Once everything is brought together and the attempt is made to stuff it all into as few bags as possible, more revisions are made. For this trip I want to be as lean as possible. Transportation between Chumbe Island and Unguja (the island of Zanzibar) is by boat and there won’t be any place in Stone Town (Zanzibar City) to leave a bunch of gear when we go to town and walk around, get internet access for email, etc. I don’t want to look like a tourist (will be hard to do, but I’m trying to minimize as much as I can) and have all my gear flaunted out for every undesirable to see (also will be hard to do). Access to power will be limited on Chumbe and there is no internet or cell phone access.

I purchased travel insurance for the first time ever, mostly because of the threat of the Kenya Airways strike. The included medical coverage might be helpful, too, if there is a need. I don’t anticipate anything happening but it’s rarely a bad thing to be over-prepared. My main concern is loss of luggage and theft from my luggage, which is a concern whenever and wherever I travel.

So, the last couple days before I get on the plane. It’s packing day.

A great opportunity fell in my lap last week and I’ve been scrambling to get ready for it. I’m heading to Chumbe Island Coral Park this month through most of September to be a volunteer reef guide. This opportunity came about as the result of a friend calling me up and telling me a friend of his was going and the other guy he’d had signed up to go had to cancel, would I want to go? Initially, I said no because this kind of trip wasn’t in my budget. Then, after some thought, I decided it was an opportunity not to be passed up lightly. I did some research and thought I’d bring all my skills to bear on the project.

Part of that is a participatory project I’ve called Get a Piece of Zanzibar!



I like to teach and “bring people along” to locations I’ve visited through slide show presentations, writing, and my photography. I’m always trying to integrate my wildlife biology background into the photography work I do, and here’s a perfect opportunity to combine all of those things into a vicarious experience for anyone.

I’ve put together 4 options for people to participate in this adventure. These options are relatively inexpensive and you get some cool stuff:

$50 - at least 4 postcards handwritten by me and postmarked from Zanzibar. Who knows what the postcards will be of or what I’ll write….
$75 - One (1) signed 8×12 photographic print of my choice
$100 - at least 4 handwritten postcards and one (1) signed 8×12 photographic print of my choice
$125 - at least 4 handwritten postcards, one (1) signed 8×12 photographic print of my choice, and a surprise (I don’t even know what it will be)

There’s more information on my website and a special page created for this project. It’s called Get a Piece of Zanzibar and all the information (well, a lot of information) is there as well as the links to sign up to get your stuff.

Just be quick, the deadline for signing up is August 28.

In their August 2009 eNews newsletter, Wacom, the maker of very nice graphics tablets and other products (I’ve owned a 12×12 tablet for over 10 years), has promoted Eclipse Digital, a company that licenses artwork for placement in TV shows and films. However, the offer by Eclipse Digital (and supported by Wacom) is not to license your work and pay you for the use, but for you to give your work to them for free so they can license it to production companies and make money for themselves.

What?

Yep.

The teaser? On the Eclipse Digital website is the question: “How much more would all of artwork be worth once you have been seen on TV?” Other than the poor grammar, this question seems to hint that just by the placement of your artwork, however brief, out of focus in the background, or shown large and in charge, in a cheesy sitcom or blockbuster, this exposure is bound to make you famous and increase the value of your work. Sounds like an infomercial to me. Wacom corrects the grammar in their newsletter with “How much more would your art be worth once it has been seen in a film or on TV?” A better, catchier, statement, for sure.

As we read further, Eclipse Digital puts the proverbial foot in their mouth by stating “Our placement clients pay us up to $10,000 per month for this service.” However, since emerging artists can’t afford that “or any fee” they’re being generous and offering us the same service for free.

Let’s see. Those placement clients paying $10,000 per month to put their products in a TV show or film? Coke, Tide, Mentos, Skittles…..It’s called Advertising. When a production company puts a photo or other artwork into a scene it’s because it sets a mood, fits a character’s background or interests, or just needs to fill a blank spot on a wall. There may be specific instances when a particular artwork was searched for and used, but I believe that’s an uncommon occurrence. The only “artwork” I remember that helped the creator were the Coogi sweaters worn by Bill Cosby in the Cosby Show. Why? Because they were placed front and center in each episode, including the opening credits. Even artists whose prints were used on that show may have gained some benefit (I do remember some were even discussed specifically on an episode or two). There may be other examples in other shows since then, but I don’t know of any. Perhaps you all can post that info if you have it. I’d be interested to find out, plus if any of those art placements were free. I suspect they were.

Back to Eclipse, though. Further in the “benefits” they say “We recognize that these works are your key assets, and you don’t want just anybody downloading and printing them.” Yes, that’s true. We hope our “key assets” are just that, money makers, because that’s how we roll. The process is you upload high resolution files (as many as you want, there’s no limit of course) at 10MB - 100MB in size @ 300dpi. The production company then downloads the file and prints it at the size they want on a “photo-quality ink-jet printer” for the show or film.

“They [the production companies] will license from Eclipse Digital for a single TV episode or film, a full season of a TV production, or for the life of the show. No uses beyond that are permitted [thank God].” I wonder what the license fee is that Eclipse Digital charges for the use of the photos I upload? Let’s see, what do I get?

“Each quarter you get an email report showing which pieces were downloaded for which productions. Then you can set your TiVo and watch those shows for your work [and other product placements, er, advertisements]. However, “since the service is free to you, we cannot monitor every show and identify every aired placement.” But, when your work does appear in that next blockbuster TV or film “you can say things like ‘As seen on…’ in your marketing materials.”

Ever watch TV? When there’s artwork in the shot, particularly in ‘reality’ shows, it’s typically blurred out. Why? Because nobody paid for it to appear in the show, it’s not been released or licensed, and they know if it’s shown and recognizable by the artist they’re going to want payment. So, why would you give yours up for free to a market that clearly knows what it’s doing, understands the value of your work, yet charms you into giving it up for nothing?

Ok, you say, you talk a mean streak, but what am I really missing out on? What’s wrong with trying to grab a bit of glory and bragging rights? Glad you asked. Professionals use their own experience and those of their peers [how? by asking them], various pricing guides and estimators, and other variables, along with negotiating with the client [hopefully] to determine a license fee. One popular estimator is Cradoc Software’s FotoQuote, which covers a multitude of photographic uses.

I looked up one possible use for your free photo; a minor prop in a prime time TV show. Here’s what I got as a possible license fee range:

1 episode $301 - $603
1 season $603 - $1207
2 seasons $905 - $1810

See what your photograph is worth to a production company wanting to use it in their TV show? You can eat pretty well on $301. What can you buy for “As seen on…?”

Remember, too, for you to be able to print “As seen on…” in your marketing materials (postcards, brochures, fliers, posters, newsletter, even a website), you’re probably going to have to pay someone. That $301 would come in handy now, wouldn’t it. And, you can still use that snappy slogan. I’d say that’s a win-win, wouldn’t you?

There are instances when ‘donating’ your work is useful, beneficial, maybe even necessary. It’s up to you to decide when it’s appropriate. If this is something that appeals to you, go for it. You never know. But, be very sure what you’re giving away. You’re playing the long odds. There are a lot of “deals” like this out there. Be careful.

Oh yeah. Wacom. Not a good move. I think you should distance yourself from these “hey, give us your stuff for free” companies. You’ve done this before. We, your customers who buy your products, we “emerging artists” and established professionals are watching you. You should stick to making a great product and lose the reputation-staining associations. You really don’t need it and as “hip” as you might think it makes you with the Flickr and Facebook crowd, those aren’t the folks who can afford to buy your products - ’cause they’re not making any money off giving away their “assets” for nothing.

Trust me. When I see this crap, I think twice about the next upgrade. And, if I’m thinking that….

As I stated in my previous post on iPhone applications for the photographer, the iPhone is a very handy device, adding layers of productivity to your daily workflow (as well as many opportunities to derail that productivity, with games and social networking features). The iTunes App Store has over 500,000 applications to choose from. Many of them, in my opinion, are relatively worthless and searching for applications that are worthy of your $0.99 + (even the free ones) require some effort and time to research before the one-click purchase. You might think, “well, at $0.99 that’s no skin off my nose to try it”, and that might be correct for one or two worthless apps. But, $0.99 adds up pretty quickly, and even more so for apps that are $1.99 or $4.99 and up.

If there is a free version, try it first. If you like the features at no cost then you’ll probably be happy with the additional capacity in the pay version.

To highlight a particular issue with Apple’s App Store and the preponderance of worthless applications, I came across this post on MobileCrunch.com describing one company that had its 900 apps pulled for reported copyright infringement issues, and another company with 2,000 apps more or less perhaps in the same boat.

It pays to be careful, do your research (plenty of it), read the reviews, maybe take the recommendations of people you trust, but ultimately it will be your decision to take the plunge, drop the dime, and give the app a try.