Friday Happy Hour: Stocksy Launches, Gives 90% of All Profits to Photographers

Friday Happy Hour: Stocksy Launches, Gives 90% of All Profits to Photographers

Stocksy, the new “co-op” stock agency that officially launched to the public this week, has an interesting twist: it was started by the founder of iStockphoto. Read more about the launch and photographers who are signing on, as well as some other new platforms and events announced this week.

iStockphoto founder launches new platform, Stocksy

iStockphoto founder Bruce Livingston has come full circle to bring us Stocksy, a new “digital licensing co-op” that promises to change the stock industry for the better. Under its model, photographers receive 50% royalty on every transaction and 100% on extended licenses. Plus, 90% of all profits will be divided among members at the end of each year.(via PhotoArchiveNews.com)

Stocksy has already received a round of support from the stock photographer’s community: Thomas Hawk posted about why he’s ditching Getty Images and Trey Ratcliff posted on Google+ that he’ll also be joining Stocksy. Hawk warns that Stocksy is still being very selective in selecting photographers.

Google to offer all of Nik’s software plugins for $149

Google showed its support for the Nik Collection by announced that every single one of Nik’s desktop plugins will soon be available in a single bundle for $149. This includes: Dfine 2.0, Viveza 2, HDR Efex Pro 2, Color Efex Pro 4 Complete Edition, Silver Efex Pro 2, and Sharpener Pro 3.0. Previously it cost about $500 to purchase each individually. “We definitely plan to continue developing and evolving the software,” said Josh Haftel, Product Manager at Google.

If you bought any individual plugin in the last five years, you can now get the entire collection for free. And if you spent more than $149 on the plugins since February 22, 2013, then you’ll be refunded the difference. You can also take a 15-day trial of the collection here. (via Digital Photography Review Connect)

Yunghi Kim’s account of sneaking into Iraq 10 years ago

Ten years ago, at the start of the war in Iraq, photojournalist Yunghi Kim left Turkey and walked for four nights through monsoon-like rains into Iraq on assignment for TIME. Kim crossed multiple countries’ borders, slipped past guards, hid in water-filled ditches, and then some to get into Iraq in 2003. Read his harrowing story on National Geographic’s First Person series here.

Photo by Yunghi Kim/Soldiers and citizens move through northern Iraq in 2003.

Masters of Nature Photography: Denver

Three of the world’s most renowned nature photographers – Frans Lanting, Thomas D. Mangelsen, and Art Wolfe – have teamed up to present a series of unique weekend events that will change the way you look at photography and what you can do with your own camera. This new Masters of Nature Photography Seminar will be held Friday, April 12 – Sunday, April 14, 2013 in Denver, Colorado at the Westin Denver Downtown Hotel.  For more information or to register, please visit www.MastersofNaturePhotography.com.

Emerging Photographer Fund grants $15,000

burn, a journal for emerging photographers curated by Magnum photographer David Alan Harvey, recently announced its Emerging Photographer Fund grant for 2013. One top winner will receive $10,00 and two runner-ups will take home $2,500 each.  The grant will be awarded to help support the continuation of photographers’ personal projects, and need not be photojournalistic in nature. Deadline is May 5, 2013 to submit an essay and maximum of 25 photos. Learn more and apply here.

Vincent Laforet talks networking, collaboration in new podcast

PhotoShelter member and award-winning photographer Vincent Laforest was invited to participate in The Photo Brigade’s first podcast episode. Vincent is considered a pioneer both for his innovative tilt-shift and aerial photography and in the field of HD-capable DSLR cameras. In the podcast, Vincent talks with Robert Caplin about knowing when and how to say no to a client (politely); having a creative vision, style, and good ideas to separate yourself from the pack; and more. Check it out.

Photojournalist’s image highlights air quality in China

Beijing-based photojournalist Wei Yao was assigned to shoot China’s annual National People’s Conference this month, and he took the opportunity to showcase one of the delegates’ most important subjects: air quality. Yao took a photo every day in Tiananmen Square from March 7-14 and then put them together in post-processing to create the image below. It’s since been shared over 25,000 times.

Photo by Wei Yao/Reuters

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang pledged that his government would “show even greater resolve” in tackling China’s festering pollution crisis. Air quality in Beijing has mostly stayed above “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” levels since the beginning of this year. (via Reuters)

Magnum Photos approaches new audiences in deal with Vice magazine

Vice magazine has gotten together with Magnum Photos to profile some of its top photographers to help reach a new, younger audience. Vice will publish interviews online, the first featuring Christopher Anderson. The collaboration is a win-win for both sides: Magnum gets to showcase a range of photographers that represents its brand to a new membership, and Vice gets to feature more “weighty” and “serious” photography. “We’ve always been an image-heavy publication, but lately we’ve upped our news coverage and shown more photojournalism,” Vice manager editor Bruno Bayley told BJP.

Photo by Christopher Anderson/Venezuela, Caracas, 2006. A man in a devil costume runs around the streets of La Vega before a rally for Chavez. The act is to make fun of the idea of the “red devil of socialism.

Social Impact Media Awards announces 2013 nominees

SIMA 2013 is an international documentary and educational impact media competition honoring members in the independent film and global humanitarian industry. This year the nominees include PhotoShelter member Stefano Levi for his film, Out Of The Darkness, in which The Nepalese surgeon Dr. Sanduk Ruit, his American colleague Dr. Geoff Tabin, and their team of local assistants hike with an entire hospital on porter’s backs to the very remote highlands of Nepal’s Northeast to do free cataract operations.

Nils Eisfeld’s mesmerizing photos of spiraling staircases

German photographer Nils Eisfeld‘s Stairs series takes a surreal perspective on the spiraling staircase, capturing them from an angle that showcases their mesmerizing quality. A few of our favorites below. (via My Modern Met)

Photo by Nils Eisfeld

Photo by Nils Eisfeld

Photo by Nils Eisfeld

Photo by Nils Eisfeld

Photo by Nils Eisfeld

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There are 3 comments for this article
  1. Cameron Whitman at 9:20 am

    Where are you quoting “extended usage” from Stacy? Are you referencing “Extended Licenses”? Well, in case you are, I would expect to see quite a lot of them, as I average 3-5 of them per month selling royalty free licensing.

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