Question for those who sell images.

mh68 · #61 (**permalink**) 01-02-2008, 05:11 PM

Cheers Rob. I wouldnt argue with gun-toting pheasant shooters either!

Mark H

eeyore · #62 (**permalink**) 02-02-2008, 07:47 PM

There's also a good article on photography and the law in this months "digital camera magazine" which may be of interest.

pressld2 · #63 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 05:45 PM

There have only been three occassions when my right to take photos has been questioned and the first was the strangest...

I was photographing gulls on Blackpool beach and could hear a woman shouting in the distance but didn't take much notice. Then it became clear she was shouting at me - "Are you taking photos of my kids?" Fortunately I was able to reassure her using the LCD screen that I was not. She still thought I was wierd for photographing birds! And I thought she was wierd as this was in February and her kids were not just fully dressed but were in wellies, overcoats, hats, scarves and gloves! About the only bit of them visible was their noses!

The security guards at the Gherkin in London didn't stop me taking photos but wouldn't allow me to put my tripod on their property. Moving it back four feet to the public pavement kept them happy.

I was approached at the Thames Barrier and asked if I was a professional photographer. When I said I wasn't they were happy to let me carry on. I have since loaded three or four of the images to a stock site so may possibly be on dodgy ground if anyone wants to buy one of them! I have also heard that amateur photography in London's parks is unestricted but professionals have to buy a licence.

Dave P.

Rob Jones · #64 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 07:21 PM

Hi Dave,

That Blackpool incident would've annoyed me enormously.

I hate being disturbed.

pressld2 · #65 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 07:34 PM

I know what you mean Rob. If I had been trying to photograph shy and elusive birds I would have been rather short with her. Fortunately the gulls didn't take any notice of her.

Dave P.

Rob Jones · #66 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 07:52 PM

Just out of interest I know a guy who went to Kenya on honeymoon. One of those safari cum beach holidays. Anyway on safari he took a series of images of a lion killing a zebra, from the chase to the kill. I've posted a couple of images, one of the original frame and one in detail. They are purposely low quality but the originals are superb. Obviously I can only show one. If he sold them as a set, and he could do quite easily, he could make a fair bit of money. He's not a photographer and he took these purely by chance.
What do you think apartt from being a bit gory..?

mh68 · #67 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Jones

Just out of interest I know a guy who went to Kenya on honeymoon. One of those safari cum beach holidays. Anyway on safari he took a series of images of a lion killing a zebra, from the chase to the kill. I've posted a couple of images, one of the original frame and one in detail. They are purposely low quality but the originals are superb. Obviously I can only show one. If he sold them as a set, and he could do quite easily, he could make a fair bit of money. He's not a photographer and he took these purely by chance.
What do you think apartt from being a bit gory..?

I`m no expert Rob but i`d think he could easily sell those. Great shots, nature isnt always pretty.

Mark H

eeyore · #68 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 08:07 PM

I'm no expert either , but andy rouse - who is - is of the opinion that gore reduces the comercial salability of shots in most situations - for example such shots are clearly not salable to the print, poster , or post card market.

in this case the complete set might be salable to a wildlife magazine to accompany an article - or through a stock agency for book illustration. The other possiblity would be sale to the photo press for an article on high action wildlife photography - though generally the latter would be words and pics by the same person.

all in all nice pics which he did well to get but not the most comercial of sets.

as a general point unless the behaviour is rarely captured or the pic extremly stunning (tipplings pic of a sparrow hawk taking a g/finch in mid air comes to mind), predator pics sell better if they give the impression of the hunt without actually showing nature red in tooth and claw.