Comments on: Why Chris Usher’s Loss Is a Defeat for All of Us http://rising.blackstar.com/fall-of-the-case-of-usher-will-anyone-stand-up-for-photographers.html Professional Photography Blog Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:19:17 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Talbert McMullin http://rising.blackstar.com/fall-of-the-case-of-usher-will-anyone-stand-up-for-photographers.html/comment-page-1#comment-5095 Talbert McMullin Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:43:35 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=3307#comment-5095 People have always asked why I have avoided stock agencies like the plague. Well, this story tells why. People have always asked why I have avoided stock agencies like the plague. Well, this story tells why.

]]> By: Carl May http://rising.blackstar.com/fall-of-the-case-of-usher-will-anyone-stand-up-for-photographers.html/comment-page-1#comment-4837 Carl May Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:26:10 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=3307#comment-4837 First with RF and now with the microstock and subscription stock photography that followed in the race to the bottom, most photographers and photography distributors have willingly taken part in lowering the value of photographs in collections. All any judge has to do is go to iStockphoto to see what a typical image is worth in our industry today. Photographers (and agencies) with skill, quality, and integrity are murdered right along with all those committing suicide. Photography trade organizations have been, at best, absent and, at worst, complicit in the purposeful and calculated decline of the value of imagery. Our small agency doesn't belong to any of 'em these days. First with RF and now with the microstock and subscription stock photography that followed in the race to the bottom, most photographers and photography distributors have willingly taken part in lowering the value of photographs in collections.

All any judge has to do is go to iStockphoto to see what a typical image is worth in our industry today. Photographers (and agencies) with skill, quality, and integrity are murdered right along with all those committing suicide.

Photography trade organizations have been, at best, absent and, at worst, complicit in the purposeful and calculated decline of the value of imagery. Our small agency doesn't belong to any of 'em these days.

]]> By: Stanley Leary http://rising.blackstar.com/fall-of-the-case-of-usher-will-anyone-stand-up-for-photographers.html/comment-page-1#comment-4826 Stanley Leary Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:03:48 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=3307#comment-4826 I am not sure I understand your comment "guilty of the same crime. Silence." Everyone of the groups you mentioned had articles on the outcome that I could find. I am not sure I understand your comment "guilty of the same crime. Silence."

Everyone of the groups you mentioned had articles on the outcome that I could find.

]]> By: Rohn Engh http://rising.blackstar.com/fall-of-the-case-of-usher-will-anyone-stand-up-for-photographers.html/comment-page-1#comment-4820 Rohn Engh Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:23:10 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=3307#comment-4820 12,640 is a lot of slides with legs. Even some of the infamous slide losses of the ‘80’s and ‘90’s never reached that proportion and the reported awards were much higher in last century dollars. John Zimmerman 1986 (80 slides); National Stock Network 1987 (16 ); Sharpshooters 1989 (68); Don Johnson 1991 (60); Ric Ergenbright 1992 (248); Steve Rattner 1993 (39) etc. - re 12,640 is a lot of slides with legs. Even some of the infamous slide losses of the ‘80’s and ‘90’s never reached that proportion and the reported awards were much higher in last century dollars. John Zimmerman 1986 (80 slides); National Stock Network 1987 (16 ); Sharpshooters 1989 (68); Don Johnson 1991 (60); Ric Ergenbright 1992 (248); Steve Rattner 1993 (39) etc. -
re

]]> By: Chris Usher http://rising.blackstar.com/fall-of-the-case-of-usher-will-anyone-stand-up-for-photographers.html/comment-page-1#comment-4800 Chris Usher Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:03:04 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=3307#comment-4800 Paul, Thank you for your important words-- Regardless of my loss, this is a landmark case in favor of the agencies, excuse me, "Content providers" that sets a terrible precedent for all photographers henceforth. As you said, they will never have to worry about your material and it will be cheaper for them to trash them than return them (and so not worth the photographer's time and money to even try to sue for a loss)! Incidentally, about 90% of the lost images were chromes from the Bush/Gore Campaigns in 2000-- A historically important election decided by the Supreme Court. Paul,
Thank you for your important words-- Regardless of my loss, this is a landmark case in favor of the agencies, excuse me, "Content providers" that sets a terrible precedent for all photographers henceforth.
As you said, they will never have to worry about your material and it will be cheaper for them to trash them than return them (and so not worth the photographer's time and money to even try to sue for a loss)! Incidentally, about 90% of the lost images were chromes from the Bush/Gore Campaigns in 2000-- A historically important election decided by the Supreme Court.

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