Water Marquee Pro Beta Testing Opens (and it's free)!

It's taken awhile (longer than I thought it would), but we're finally ready to start letting people have access to the Beta version of Water Marquee Pro!

The Pro version includes the ability to watermark images larger than 1MB, watermark an unlimited number of images, and a ton of other cool stuff. Features will be added constantly as the Beta test goes on.

Access to the Beta test is free - we won't even ask you for a credit card until we've worked out all the kinks and added all the promised features.  If you're interested in participating, go signup!

500px Adds Sets and Analytics

Awhile back, I wrote about 500px, the "new" hot site in the photo sharing market.  Today they announced that they've added new features to their site, Sets and Analytics.

If you've used Flickr or other photo sharing sites, you'll be familiar with the concept of Sets.  Essentially, they're photos that are related to a given theme.

Here are some example sets from Evgeny Tchebotarev, the COO and co-founder of 500px.

Using Sets on 500px seems to be a bit more complicated than necessary right now. To create a set, you'll need to go into your profile and select Sets, and then Edit.  Hopefully they'll stream-line the process in the future.

The new Analytics feature lets you see things like photo Likes and Favs over time

To get access to Sets and Analytics, you'll need either a new Plus membership ($19.95/year), or an Awesome membership ($49.95/year).  The Awesome memberships also get a custom domain and Google Analytics (though Google Analytics seems like it might be overkill when already have the 500px analytics).

One other change that users have noticed but hasn't been announced officially yet is that Free users will now only be able to upload 10 pics per week. Plus and Awesome members have unlimited photo uploads.

Getting started in Pet Photography

I wouldn't have believed it until I did the research, but Pet Photography is a booming business.  At least 39% of US households own a dog, and 35% own at least one cat.  That's tens of millions of pet owners, most of whom treat their pet like a member of their own family.  

Our relationship with our pets has changed over the last several decades; it's not uncommon to run into people who refer to their dogs or cats as their "babies." Whether you think these people or crazy or not, that kind of passionate, growth market is an amazing opportunity for photographers.

(Actually, if you think they're crazy, pet photography may not be for you.)

Pet phtoography is a growing market in the US, Europe, and Asia.
(Photo by Robert Szlivka)

Photography pets is a bit like photographing children.  You can't expect them to take direction very well, or sit still for long.  Here are some tips to help you out.

Talk to the owner first

Each pet has its own personality, and you'll need the owner to help you figure that out. Is this dog playful? Is this cat high strung? Knowing this in advance will let you set the scene appropriately.  Also, the owner will most likely have a definite idea of what type of picture they want, and understanding your client is key for any type of photographer.

Choose the Right Setting

The best setting for each pet depends on their personality.  A playful puppy is best shot outdoors, but the owner of a house cat may want the cat photoed on their couch.  

Remember, you're trying to photograph the pet in a way the owner wants.
(Photo by Mr. T in DC)

If you do take the photo in a public place, find out if the pet is able to resist distractions.  It's hard to photograph a dog if they go running after a squirrel.

 

Help the Owner Be Prepared

Pet photographers should give a checklist to any owners they work with, so the owner can prepare the pet ahead of time.  Examples of what to include are:

• Have the pet groomed in advance.
• Bring along its favorite toy, especially if the owner wants an action shot.
• Bring along its favorite snack to help it relax.

A favorite toy may do the trick for getting a dog to enjoy a photography shoot.
(Photo by e3000)

Getting the Shot

When the time finally comes to start taking pictures, you may find the animal just isn't in the mood.  If the owner followed your checklist, you should have some tools available to help cheer the pet up.  But it helps if you also bring along your own grab bag of toys and treats.  

Try playing with the animal before you start taking photos.  Some pets, like some children, don't like strangers and may act shy or aggressive.  You'll need to convince the animal that you're their friend before they'll start acting naturally.

How can anyone not love a great pet photo?
(Photo by Apogee Photography)

Relax, and go with the flow - animals are super sensitive to your mood.  Give your pet some last minute grooming - just touch-ups.  If you are outdoors, how is the wind?  Is it too strong?  Is the sun too bright? Remember, overcast is much better for exposure.  Make sure that your pet is far enough away from your background so as to not cast any shadows.

Align your expectations properly. Don't expect the perfect shot immediately - that will just raise your anxiety level and will stress out the animal.  Be patient and have fun. If you do, so will the animal.

Street Photography: Know Your Rights

Capturing photos of people as they go about their normal lives is a great way to get amazing photos, but it can be controversial.  Here's what you need to know.

Capturing someone unexpected can lead to great photos.
(Photo by Thomas Leuthard)

You Don't Need Permission to Take a Photo

Some people, maybe even most people, are going to take offense if you start taking their picture, even in a public place, if you don't get permission first.  There's just something icky-feeling about knowing that some stranger now has your image to do with as he pleases, and it definitely seems like an invasion of privacy.  

Some people may take offense if you take their picture without permission.
(Photo by Jeremy Brooks)

But the fact is that if you're in a public place, you can take whatever photographs you want.

 

You May Need Permission to Publish the Photo

As long as your person doesn't invade a person's privacy, and aren't using the photo for commercial purposes, you don't need permission to publish it.  If you're taking pictures for an ad, you need permission, no question.

If you think you can get free models for your ads, think again.
(Photo by Thomas Leuthard)

If you're taking a picture that will go up in a gallery where your work is for sale, the line is hazier. In the case the question is - it the purpose of the photo artistic, or commercial? In this case, if you can get permission, do so, even if you have to do it after the fact.  If you can't get permission, you may want to show off another photo.

Photos of Police

You are completely within your rights taking a photo of a police officer performing their duties (assuming it's in a public place).  Police officers may ask you to stop only if your are interfering with their duties, but that doesn't stop them from trying to get you to stop anyway.  

(Photo by Thomas Hawk)

Carlos Miller has a great blog on the subject of people being harassed for taking photos of police.


You May Also Like:

• All Rights Reserved: Copyright for Photographers
• Why You Need to Watermark Your Photos
• 4 of the Most Awesome Photography Projects Online

When Photos Lie

I'd be willing to bet that every photo posted by a major news organization these days spends at least some time in Photoshop, whether it needs it or not. Sometimes the images are altered to make them more compelling or more interesting, missing the fact that a news organization is supposed to provide the truth, not entertainment.  Here are 6 examples that show you that you shouldn't believe everything you see in a photograph.

Reuters was caught in 2006 running an altered photo of the capital of Lebanon, with some accusing them of being biased against Israel.  After the scandal broke, Reuters broke all ties with the freelance photographer responsible.  I don't know what's worse with this one - that he altered the image, or that he did such a bad job of it.

The original and altered Reuters photo of Lebanon.

Back in 2008, Fox News altered an image of Jacques Steinberg, a reporter for the NY Times, after Steinberg reported that Fox New's ratings were on a downward trend.  After being caught, Fox news claimed they were skewing his image the same way he had skewed the story.

I think Fox must employee the Muppets to Photoshop their images.

TV Guide may not qualify as a "news" organization, but this one was too funny to pass up.  In 1989, they put Oprah's head on a Ann Margaret's body.  The actress' fashion designer spotted the switch when he recognized the dress.  Neither Ann Margaret nor Oprah was aware of, or approved, the alteration.

You'd think they could have shrunk Oprah's head to match?

Sepah News, the publication wing of the Iranian army, released an image in 2008 of a test launch of a new missile system.  Unfortunately, one of the missiles didn't fire, but Sepah decided that 5 minutes of work in Photoshop could fix what 5 years of development time could not.

Hey, since when is 3 ain't so bad.

Time magazine was busted back in the mid-90's for their altered mug shot of OJ Simpson.  They made the image darker and shrunk the size of the prisoner ID number.  Unfortunately for Time, the magazine went on display right next to an un-altered photo on the cover of Newsweek, making the manipulation easy to spot.

Newsweek had the catchier title, too.

Of course, photo alteration isn't anything news.  In the photos below, you can see how Stalin liked to try and erase from history those who got on his bad side.  Nikolai Yezhov, an NKVD leader, was executed in 1940, and subsequently taken out of photos where he appeared alongside Stalin.

The lesson is: Never piss-off Stalin.

500px: The New Hotness

An overnight success 9 years in the making, photo-sharing site 500px didn't really take off until last year. Since then, it's been capturing a lot of professional (and want-to-be professional) photographers away from Flickr.




The early-adopters that have made the switch have been posting some amazing photos, which tends to attract other great photographers, creating a righteous circle that should lead to more growth for the site.  Right now, the smaller community means that it's easier to get your photography noticed.

500px is just getting started, but Flickr's best days may
be behind it.

While Flickr has a lot of options, 500px goes for more of a minimal approach.  You can't do as much with the site, but less options means a leaner interface with more room to show off the photos, putting them font and center, which is what many people find attractive about the site.  Each photo is given a "pulse", which is a metric of how popular a photo is based on how many people "like" it.  A photo's popularity automatically declines over time, so it's easier to get your new photos on the front page.

The simple interface of 500px lets the photos do the talking.

One new feature of the site is ability to sell your photos easily.  Photos for sale on 500px come as either a HD digital download for $2.99 (the photographer makes $2), or as a canvas print (the photographer makes around $40 for each print).  The system is very limited currently - you can't set your own price, you can't sell different resolutions, ,you have to meet the 500px standard size constraints, and you can't dictate license terms.

You can sign up with 500px for free, and upload up to 20 pics per week, or pay $50/year for their "Awesome" account.  That lets you upload an unlimited number of photos and track image views with Google Analytics.

Flickr-ing Out

Flickr has been one of the best places to find great photography for the better part of a decade, which makes it ancient by today's internet company standards.  But I'm starting to wonder if it's getting a little long in the tooth.

When was the last time Flickr came out with a new feature that really blew you away?  It seems like the only news coming out about Flickr is bad news.

AllThingsD is reporting that Yahoo, Flickr's parent company, is preparing for another major round of layoffs that are "likely to number in the thousands."  There's no word yet on if any of that will hit Flickr, but this follows shortly on the heels of the layoff's of Flickr's support staff back in January.  It's never a good sign when the people who interface with the public get let go, because they're the people most often pushing for improvements based on the input they get from the public. 
 
According to Compete.com, Flickr traffic is down 18% since it's peak last summer.  Where did everyone go?  Google+ opened to the public in September, and apparently a large percent of photographers online are starting to call it home.  Facebook has more images overall (though I would hesitate to call most of it 'photography'), and 500px is the new cool kid on the block.

Still, according to Thomas Hawk's math, Flickr brings in over $50 million annually, which would make it 2% of Yahoo's total revenue (at $2.3 billion annually), and that may be low.  I can't imagine a desperate company, like Yahoo, killing off a decent part of their portfolio.  However, I can imagine them selling it...