For those who want to to know about what is happening anywhere in the world the internet is the best source to find information, far outstripping any other source. Tv stations and newspapers give us as much or as little information as they choose to, often highlighting parts which don’t exist to the same extent as they portray, not revealing parts which don’t fit their slant or show points of views which are mostly in line with their own political affiliations. On the internet you can find words, images and videos often in their raw form which truly enables us to be flies on walls in countries where we physically can’t be. The internet is the method of delivery and the devices used to write, record and send information is increasingly becoming the mobile phone. In the next few years the mobile is expected to overtake the PC as the most popular way to be on the Web. All of this can help us get a more accurate picture of our world, which helps us come to better informed conclusions and decision making.

This connectivity makes crowd forming easier than ever, what is written or what images and videos are uploaded can be read and watched by the masses. If something strikes a chord with someone, he passes it on, if a feeling is evoked by those he passed it on to they in turn pass the information on. Within hours a plan can be formed and followed. A physical crowd can grow in size or even originate due to connections in cyberspace.

The crowd is still seemingly most effective when it is seen physically, masses of people holding the same opinions but remaining dispersed across the globe are easier to ignore than crowds amassed in streets and squares. Today many businesses rely on “Crowdsourcing” for products they sell. It’s an unusual crowd because those who are part of it have usually never met or even know of each others existence, and they may be entirely unaware of how large a crowd they are apart of. This faceless crowd aren’t physically at the companies they receive revenue from. The companies’ owners never have to meet them or even know about them. They are not employees of the companies so they don’t have a great deal of rights, yet these companies can’t exist without them. The companies have legal obligations to the staff who work at their premises, and if the owners were to suddenly announce pay-cuts or change rules which staff regard as unfair, these employees can more easily act in unison and express their discontent.

However, companies which rely on “Crowdsourcing” have very few obligations to the thousands or even tens of thousands of people who provide the source from which the companies attain their revenues. This kind of freedom for those in charge, inevitably reduces the probability that a company will choose to act favourably to the crowd. Each individual in the crowd has the choice to discontinue from being the source, but it’s not that simple. Those who submit their work to gain a little extra cash may not be too concerned by decisions made which affect them but often made with disregard to them, but for those whose online revenue has become a large part of their entire income if not all of it, it is a concern. If a person has spent several years providing his products to a company and creating a regular income, the company then makes decisions which are less favourable for him, does the person withdraw his products out of principle (products which often took a while climbing the various ranks) or accept the new terms because of all the time and effort already spent, as well as not wanting to lose a source of revenue? They are likely to stay, albeit begrudgingly.

The faceless crowd can sometimes exercise its power too without ever being physically together. If enough individuals make the same decisions a mass movement can be created without it being planned, organised or coordinated, but as a result of enough people coming to the same conclusion after analysis of information received. A multitude of individual actions can unwittingly bring about change.

Only last week Godaddy chose to pacify a rebellion with an about-turn on its support for SOPA after losing tens of thousands domains in the space of a week. They now say, “GoDaddy will support it (SOPA) when and if the Internet community supports it.” It is often said that actions speak louder than words, in this age how you choose to click can speak volumes.

Dictators of countries have too much freedom and choices, while the citizens have very few, this kind of power is often misused and they end up being resented by the people. Businesses in democratic countries have a lot of freedom and choices too, but again if too much power is in the hands of too few this can be detrimental to many. The term ‘corporate greed’ doesn’t come from nowhere it comes because so many corporations become greedy, they are allowed to become greedy.

In 2011 people have showed more than ever before their discontent by forming crowds and protesting. The amount of people which had protests in their countries comes to 3 billion. I think we can safely say that we are living at a time of mass discontentment. In 2012 people in power need to learn how to make the crowd content. The crowd isn’t going away, but instead it’s getting larger, more informed and better connected, and those in power may find that it is mutually beneficial to look after the crowd.

Hope you have a happy and prosperous New Year!

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It’s Halloween next week. Holidays and traditions are great opportunities for microstock contributors to get more sales, that is if they produce work specifically for these occasions. The images themselves are usually downloaded well in advance, as designers often plan and make their designs months before the events take place. So designers would have bought their Halloween images long ago, and many would have already bought the images they need for their Christmas and New Year designs too.

Tis the season of commercialization
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Buy these images with no hesitation
Fa la la la la, la la la la

Follow me in microstock measure
Fa la la la la, la la la la
I’ll tell you where there’s microstock treasure
Fa la la la la, la la la la

Sing we joyous, all together
Fa la la…..

Ok ok enough of that already. If there’s anyone still reading at this point, I hope I haven’t made you feel nauseous.

Seasonal sales should be a great boost for microstockers who produce the images needed, however given the economic downturn over the past few years, maybe these sales have not been as consistent as in years gone by. For those who produce this kind of work, how have your sales been so far this year?

Below are a couple of widgets containing Halloween and Christmas images, for next year’s designs maybe.

Leaf	Halloween Fire	Halloween Pumpkin	Halloween Background
Halloween stock images

Christmas Tags	Christmas Boy	Christmas Sale	New Year
Christmas stock images

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“I am a photographer and since people are always looking for free shoots I assume that they must also do their job or provide their services, for free.

I am looking to hire all types of people to do all sorts of jobs for me, as long as I do not have to pay anything. Just think, you will gain more experience, and I will put the word out for you and let everyone know what wonderful work you do. This opportunity will bring you a ton of unpaid work, but everyone will love you. So if you have a job or service you provide, and will do it for free, please let me know, because I am sure I have work for you and will hire you in a second.

Feel free to email me with the service you can provide, when you can start, and please include references.

I look forward to your free service.

Thanks”

• Location: Atlanta
• Compensation: no pay

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I recently discovered Robert Davies’s (Bob) personal blog, Bobbigmac. Bob is the founder of the sites picNiche, picWorkflow and Photokeywording. If you are a microstock photographer or buyer you should really check out these sites. Bob is a straight talking Welsh man and an adopted Mancunian. That’s someone from Manchester by the way, which is also where I’m from. And the next time I go back there I will definitely look up Bob and maybe get an interview. You can see his latest post reblogged below or you can visit his blog. Not for the faint hearted, but if you work in the stock photography industry and have a faint heart, you’re probably in the wrong business.

We don’t believe your lies

We’ve all seen your lies… and we don’t believe them:

• Retiring to spend more time with the family … means … Someone blackmailed you into resignation.

• “I did NOT have sexual relations with ‘that’ woman” … means … “I DID have sexual relations with ‘that’ woman”.

• “I am NOT a crook” … means … “I am most definitely a crook”.

• I’ll call you … means … Don’t call me.

• Leave it with me … means … Go away so I can forget about it.

• We’ll sort something out … means … Hopefully, we’ll never speak again.

• I acted only within the law … means … I knew it was morally wrong, but it was technically legal, so screw you.

• I thought building my second home was a legitimate expense … means … It was at the time, but the media shows me now that it isn’t.

• The cheque is in the mail … means … We’re trying to get the money together, but you’re pretty low on the list.

• Our community-enrichment programme is setting new standards of corporate responsibility … means … twice a year we force all our underlings to pay some of their wages to charity / maintain an allotment / volunteer in an ‘urban’ area.

• Our green operations policy puts us ahead of all our competition … means … We pollute just as much as our competitors, but we lease some rainforest in paraguay to ‘offset’ our emissions.

• I regret the situation and will institute appropriate processes to ensure such issues don’t occur in future … means … I’m sorry I got caught, and will make sure I am not caught again.

• We believe in a healthy work-life balance … means … “90% Work + 10% Sleep” and we’re working on the sleep part now.

• We need to tweak our unsustainable business model … means … Our overlords demand we squeeze our supply line for more money so they can buy more $10,000,000 New York apartments.

Next time you begin to lie… remember that people have heard ALL the lies before. Give it up and tell the truth, and you’ll be appreciated all the more for it.

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Buy the The Camera Lens Mug at the Photojojo Store!

Buy the The Camera Lens Mug at the Photojojo Store!

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I was scanning Google, looking for something to write about (Ok yes, I know I should get out more) and I came across this Job Ad, advertising  positions for Microstock Image Reviewers.

In the ad. they say, “This is no ordinary job.”

Oh my God, I think I’d better sit down.

“..during the day you’ll find people playing pool and playing guitars, but they (and you!) will work super hard and produce amazing results every time.” As well as becoming great pool and guitar players.

Responsibilities include:

• Reviewing microstock for a photography marketplace.

Oh! that’s it? Why did they use the words “responsibilities include” and then just list one responsibility? Maybe there were other things on the list which they later scratched out, like putting away the balls and cues after the pool games and ensuring that you replace the guitar strings if you break them.

Skills and Experience required:

• You have some photography experience – as a hobby or work – or both even better

My Mum likes taking photos so I think she’s qualified.

• You are likely to be a photography student.

Ah, obviously looking for some in form pool players.

• You know what moiré patterns & chromatic aberrations are.

Why are they telling us what the interview questions are going to be?

• You know what microstock is.

…or you will look pretty stupid in the interview.

• You are passionate about photos and can tell a good one from an average one.

That’s me!! Ok, so I only have 30-40% acceptance rates with the top agencies, but that’s because their reviewers don’t know how to tell a good photo from an average one . My guess is that they are damn fine pool players though.

The positions are available in Melbourne, Australia. If only this job was available when I was on a working holiday in Australia, I’m sure they would have taken me, as photography is my favourite hobby, oh and I was once a photography student, oh and I once got thrown (literally carried by several people and thrown) out of a pub in Liverpool because I kept winning at pool.

Anyway, if you wish to apply here is the link (Update: I’ve replaced the link with a jpg image of the ad, as the ad has been removed, less than 24 hours after it was put on) and if you get the job, please let me know how you answered the moiré patterns question.

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The recently launched picWorkflow is looking for three 125×125 referral badges created by you. The badges will appear on picWorkflow, picNiche and the picNiche blog with the names of the creators and web links of their choice. Not only is picWorkflow offering this great chance for extra exposure but the three winners will also each receive 1000 picWorkflow credits, to be used to distribute files to multiple microstock agencies. The credits can be used with both new and existing accounts.

There is no deadline for this contest, but don’t delay, the 3 winners will be announced on Microstock Posts as soon as picWorflow receives 3 appropriate badges. There are no restrictions on the types of badges that can be entered for the competition, photos, illustrations and vectors are all fine.

If you are interested, either add a comment to this post or send a message through this contact form. You will then be sent the email address to send your entry to. So don’t miss this opportunity to have great portfolio exposure and get creating. Good luck to all who participate.

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