As of June 4, iStockphoto has modified how it displays the number of downloads for each file and contributors. Rather than exact numbers, downloads are now reported as approximations, such as >20, >300, >1,000 or >10,000.
Veer Marketplace, the Corbis-owned microstock brand that replaces SnapVillage, is now accepting submissions from photographers and illustrators. Unlike its ill-fated predecessor, the Marketplace offers contributors all of the features that have become standard for microstock Web sites, including FTP capabilities and bulk-upload tools.
Last in a string of increasing activity out of AP Images, the image division of the Associated Press, is an enhanced commercial Web site targeting professional image buyers.
A new fee schedule for copyright services will take effect on August 1, assuming Congressional approval. The new rates reflect the 2007 reengineering and increased automation of the U.S. Copyright Office, general economic factors and the fairness and accessibility of the copyright system.
While others providing similar services are stepping away from Flash, Virginia-based FolioLink has announced new scaling technology available in its latest Flash-based photographer Web site design. It allows photographers to upload large images that will display equally well on large monitors and iPhones.
Christina Vaughan, the founder and chief executive of leading royalty-free producer Image Source, has been elected president of the umbrella industry group Coordination of European Picture Agencies Press Stock Heritage. The announcement was made during this week's CEPIC congress in Dresden.
One thing microstock has done for all stock photographers is give them access to better statistical data than has ever been available in the traditional industry. Getty Images, because it was a public company, used to provide the industry broad statistical data that was helpful, but that changed when the company went private in early 2008. Now, Alamy is the only traditionally priced company that gives image producers useful information beyond the individual's personal sales.
The new product category from London-based Image Source combines multiple still images and footage clips that use the same models, styling and location under one royalty-free license.
Getty Images has promoted Roxanne Motamedi to the post of vice president of entertainment for North America. The former executive director of entertainment has led the division since 2001. Motamedi is responsible for the North American entertainment divisions of Getty Images, WireImage, Film Magic and Getty Images/WireImage Video, as well as their worldwide activities, such as assignments, distribution and production.
Leaving out iStock shooters that prefer to remain anonymous, 124 of the 150 top iStock contributors licensed 431,708 combined gross units in March. This number dropped to 380,934 in April and went slightly up to 387,500 in May. These totals suggest that iStock sales may have reached a plateau, but several more months of data is needed to help determine the level and why.
Stock-industry executive Tim Lund and Début Art founder Andrew Coningsby have announced the London launch of contemporary illustration collection Ikon Images.
The newest image publication-tracking service, PixTrakk, has French-American roots. Image-search and recognition company LTU Technologies, operating out of Paris and Washington D.C., French photo portal PixPalace and leading U.S. research and information provider TNS Media Intelligence have partnered to provide to the photo industry a new system to track print and Web-based image uses.
The chart in this story provides details of the number of image downloads in the last three months of images belonging to 124 of iStockphoto's most productive contributors. Based on the statistics supplied by
istockcharts, I have tracked sales for the last three months of the top 150 producers. Of the 150, twenty-six have asked to remain anonymous, so it was only possible to see specific figures for 124 contributors. The combined gross units licensed in March by this group was 431,708. That dropped to 380,934 in April and was 387,500 in May.
"In refreshing the site, we wanted to provide the best customer experience possible," says Pablo Supkay, product owner for Corbis.com. Corbis has redesigned all of the user interactions across the site, from price check to lightbox functionality, in an effort that took an entire year.