Stock imagery news and updates from Picturehouse

Final Plan for Digital Railroad Shutdown: Some license fees will reach photographers

After meetings with the senior secured creditor this past week, and continued communication with SAA, Diablo Management has announced final decisions made to complete the shutdown of Digital Railroad over the next month in an FAQ posted to the Diablo web site. The only positive news for photographers is the potential to receive a share of some license revenues. In summary: Monies already collected by DRR will not be paid or refunded to the photographers, including prepaid annual hosting fees and any license fees received. DRR will continue to invoice customers and collect fees until Dec. 19. Photographers will receive 70 percent of the proceeds of license revenues collected between Nov. 14 and Dec. 19. All files on the DRR servers have now been erased in a manner which they assure is "unrecoverable."

Photolibrary adds Red Cover to its Collections

Photolibrary Group is delighted to announce its latest representative agreement with the UK based collection, Red Cover. This stunning offering when added to the over 4 million images already on www.photolibrary.com allows Photolibrary’s clients continued access to the world’s premium image collections.

The Red Cover collection, specialising in interiors, is a natural fit alongside Photolibrary’s specialist house collections such as Garden Picture Library, Oxford Scientific (OSF) and Fresh Food Images. The Red Cover Collection is truly a one stop shop for interior picture needs along with key shots of gardens and food. Photolibrary now represents over 4 million images on its websites truly allowing all image users unparalleled choice.

Photographers with Digital Railroad Archives need to take immediate action

Visitors to DRR.net are now greeted with this notice: "We're sorry to inform you that Digital Railroad (DRR) has shut down. On October 15th we reported that the company had reduced its staff and was aggressively pursuing additional financing and/or a strategic partner. Unfortunately, those efforts were unsuccessful. Therefore Digital Railroad has been forced to suspend all operations. This archive may only be accessible for the next 24 hours." SAA recommends that any photographer with a DRR archive act without delay to: Ensure that all of your files and data are backed up. Download all details of licenses made with outstanding royalties due. Download a list of all registered users who have accessed your Archive. Check that any monthly or annual fees do not continue to be billed to your credit card. SAA is greatly concerned about the status of outstanding royalties due to photographers from DRR's Marketplace stock portal, as well as the manner in which this closure has been handled, giving loyal customers no reasonable advance warning or support. We will continue to monitor the situation and try to assist in any way we can on behalf of photographers.

Introducing mazerstock™

The Mazer Corporation is pleased to introduce mazerstock™, a full-service, one-of-a-kind resource created especially for textbook publishing by the nation’s leader in educational materials development. The mazerstock™ database offers a unique resource in visual content, focusing solely on imagery tailored to the K–12 and postsecondary education publishing market. Launched this summer, mazerstock™ is the first stock agency to offer content exclusively geared toward educational publishing. Users may engage the mazerstock™ site in any of three ways: They may access mazerstock™ as though it were any other stock site, without requesting additional development or art services; they may use the mazerstock™ site and request research services; or they may use the mazerstock™ site and request our full-service art management services. In the third option, Mazer will research specs on mazerstock™ as well as on other stock sites and proprietary databases to find the perfect images for any given program. Mazer will also handle permissions, invoicing, and licensing and will track the budget and schedules.

FOTOFINDER launches International Service

Germany based Fotofinder GmbH announces the launch of its international service in English and French. FOTOFINDER has evolved into one of Europe's favourite online marketplaces for photojournalism and stock photography. We are presenting more than 250 diverse digital content providers with subject matters ranging from editorial & feature, culture, fine art, food, livestyle, nature & wildlife, travel and many more. Access is easy and free - join the professional photo researcher community now! Our services for picture buyers include a simple keyword search, powerful editing tools, RF or RM licensing and an interactive online tool to negotiate prices with copyright holders.

Aurora Photos and Agence VU’ announce representation agreement

Aurora Photos agency founder, Jose Azel is pleased to announce that effective immediately, Paris based, Agence VU’ will be represented in the United States by Aurora. Aurora Photos, firmly established as a premier independent photo agency, already represents some of the finest editorial and commercial photographers in North America. The addition of Agence VU’ to Aurora Photos photographic offer creates one of the strongest and most diverse collections of photography available. For 20 years Agence VU’ has been an independent photo agency providing compelling images to the European editorial market through a roster of 80 photographers based around the world. Now, Aurora Photos continues the tradition of these sensitive and caring photographers in the North America market. In addition to bringing a diverse selection of imagery to Aurora Photos’ archive, Agence VU’ photographers enhance the ability of Select, Aurora’s assignment division, to provide top quality assignment photographers to Aurora clients.

Masterfile gives sneak peek of its revolutionary image search technology

Masterfile Corporation, one of the world’s leading independent stock photo agencies is offering a sneak preview of its revolutionary image search technology at Picturehouse New York on October 29th, 2008. John McDonald, Masterfile’s Vice President of Product Development and the technology’s developer, says “Think of it as visual logic for designers with the extreme speed of a desktop application. It’s a ‘type less and see more’ paradigm where the user follows their own visual instincts to direct the search. There is nothing out there with its speed and simplicity… and this is just the beginning.”

akg-images announces major changes in their London office

After twelve years based in the London office, Managing Director Ute Krebs is transferring to the Berlin headquarters to take up an entirely new role in charge of akg's international marketing strategy. Already a familiar and well-liked face in the industry, Ute will be using her expertise and first-hand knowledge to promote the akg-images collection worldwide. Ute's final day in the London office will be 7 November, and she will begin her new role in Berlin on 1 December. David Price-Hughes, who has been with akg-images for six years, will be taking up the reins in London as the new Managing Director. Both Ute and David will be at Picturehouse New York on stand #29.

Majority World Pioneering Digital Fair Trade

The Image Works invites picture buyers to meet Rowan Watts, the Managing Director of Majority World. Rowan will be at The Image Works booth #69, at Picturehouse New York on Wednesday, October 29th from 11-8, discussing this exciting new initiative. Majority World is a business with a social purpose formed to promote professional photographers in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It is the objective of Majority World to enable indigenous photographers from these continents to showcase their images on the world stage and within the globalised marketplace. Just like food and handicraft producers, Majority World photographers face many barriers to competing in the world economy and gaining a share of global markets. Many of the barriers stem from lack of digital access, travel, market knowledge and contacts. Majority World enables the discovery of indigenous photographic talent, promoting ethical standards in trade and valuing the authentic view that local photographers can provide. Majority World helps bring to light the wealth of fresh imagery emerging from the majority world, a more accurate term for what has been known as the developing world. The Image Works is proud to be the North American distributor of the Majority World archive.

Motion – New from North Wind

The first samples of history-specialty footage from North Wind Picture Archives will be displayed at Picturehouse New York on October 29. With animation provided by ColdWater Media of Colorado, North Wind is featuring historical pictures from its own collection in a multidimensional motion format designed with educational projects in mind. In addition to animation, North Wind is also shooting video of historical subjects, such as Anasazi ruins, windmills, pioneer trails. North Wind’s website will be expanded to offer a video search page in the near future.

 

For more information, please contact:

Deborah Free, Picturehouse Marketing US, LLC, 9965 Leroy Pavilion Road, Pavilion, NY 14525, USA
Tel: +1 (585) 768 7880 • Fax: +1 (585) 768 2941 • E-mail: deborah@picturehouse-us.com

Or (in particular for technical issues):

Edward Leigh (UK) • Tel: +44 1223 312 377 • E-mail: edward@picturehouse-us.com