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[STOCKPHOTO] Black Star not accepting film

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Paul Bowling

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Nov 24, 2003, 6:55:58 PM11/24/03
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Just wondering if anyone else has received a notification form their stock
agency(ies) about film.

I received a letter today from Ben Chapnick at Black Star that they are no
longer accepting film and that all transparencies that they now are storing
will soon be returned to the photographers.

The letter goes on to say that they are working on a solution to submit new
high resolution images via internet. When I spoke with him he also said
they are not accepting new submissions on CD and requested that new
submissions be held until the software solution is worked out.

Any other agencies going this route? Returning film? Internet uploads
only? I know several will only accept digital or charge the photographer
for scanning.

Paul

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Brian Yarvin

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Nov 24, 2003, 7:24:52 PM11/24/03
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> Just wondering if anyone else has received a notification form their
> stock agency(ies) about film.

Paul and Fellow Listreaders:

Of the agencies I currently deal with, only Corbis (which has no
fees at all under any circumstances) accepts film without charge or
question. The rest have gone all digital long ago.

My problem is staying current enough with digital to be able keep
up with agency and client needs.


Brian Yarvin
Photography from Edison, NJ
http://www.brianyarvin.com

Brian Seed

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Nov 24, 2003, 7:46:23 PM11/24/03
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Paul,

Black Star is a black hole as far as I am concerned. I knew its founders,
Kurt Kornfeld, a lovely man, and Ernest Mayer. Then the agency passed to
Howard Chapnick, Kurt's protege, then on Howard's death to Ben Chapnick, his
cousin. If Howard's wife is still alive then I guess she is likely to have a
stake in the agency.

But what of Black Star now? If the agency is returning all color then what
about its very extensive b&w file? And are these images being scanned before
their return to photographers? The files contain much historic material.
Finally, Black Star has earned some serious money for itself and its
photographers over the years marketing these photos. Have these sales
continued during the recent years?

I guess the conclusion has to be the images have not been earning enough to
justify the necessary researchers.

Brian Seed
Stock Photography Consultant
Phone: 847-782-7420

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Bowling [mailto:pbow...@mindspring.com]
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 5:14 PM
To: Stock...@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [STOCKPHOTO] Black Star not accepting film
....I received a letter today from Ben Chapnick at Black Star that they are
no
longer accepting film and that all transparencies that they now are storing
will soon be returned to the photographers.

The letter goes on to say that they are working on a solution to submit new
high resolution images via internet. When I spoke with him he also said
they are not accepting new submissions on CD and requested that new

submissions be held until the software solution is worked out......

Paul

bhhc

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Nov 24, 2003, 11:44:29 PM11/24/03
to
After mulling it over for a while (couple of years actually), and coming to
the inevitable conclusion that I should indeed set up a web site, I also
wish to put up "art" prints for sale. Most of the work that I would be
offering in that area would be b/w, so . . . my question to some of you,
wiser and more experienced in this area, is as follows, . . . are any of you
selling b/w inkjet? in particular peizography (Jon Cone's system)? Are you
satisfied with the results? (the tests/samples I have seen are
extraordinary), and more importantly, what problems have you had? (I know it
can look superb . . . I just want to know about the bad stuff . . . I don't
like getting ulcers . . . I want to know the steps necessary to avoid them).

i.e. technically . . . do you have printer problems (clogging . . . and any
other nightmares), fading, longetivity problems, etc

and

esthetically . . . are your customers reluctant to part with money because
it is "inkjet" as opposed to a real silver print? This one bothers me most,
because quite frankly, anyone who has spent the years in a darkroom and
knows how to print can pull off a superb silver print for probably less than
the cost of a cantankerous ink jet print . . . and I, like so many of you,
put my darkroom to rest years ago (still kicking myself in the butt for
that!).

thanks in advance for your input
all the best

Paul Aparycki

Paul Bowling

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Nov 24, 2003, 11:47:50 PM11/24/03
to
I don't know about the B&W. They are NOT scanning ANY images they have now
if it hasn't been scanned already (according to Ben Chapnick). I haven't
seen the B&W on the website but, I haven't really looked. I was with Stock
Shop / MediChrome and did well. Since Black Star took over StockShop, I'm
making some sales but not as well as when Barbara was running StockShop.
Paul

Tina Manley

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Nov 25, 2003, 9:46:39 AM11/25/03
to
At 09:31 PM 11/24/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>are any of you
>selling b/w inkjet? in particular peizography (Jon Cone's system)? Are you
>satisfied with the results? (the tests/samples I have seen are
>extraordinary), and more importantly, what problems have you had? (I know it
>can look superb . . . I just want to know about the bad stuff . . . I don't
>like getting ulcers . . . I want to know the steps necessary to avoid them).
>
>i.e. technically . . . do you have printer problems (clogging . . . and any
>other nightmares), fading, longetivity problems, etc

Paul -

I use Peizography to print fine-art photos that I sell on the internet and
through galleries. I use two Epson 3000's, one with the PiezoTone
quad-black Carbon Sepia inks and one with Generation Enhanced color
pigments which will soon be switched to the PeiztoTone Selenium inks. I
love my 3000's and have never had a clog that wouldn't clear up after one
cleaning cycle. It's important to keep the humidity high near the printers
to prevent clogs. That's not a problem in South Carolina. I use archival
papers: Epson Enhanced Matte, Epson Smooth Fine Art, Hahnemuhle Photo Rag,
Cone Tech Museum Bright White. There are no longevity problems. The
archival papers with carbon pigment inks far exceed the RIT and Wilhelm
tests for over 100 years. I use the Epson 2200 to print color but plan to
replace that with the 4000 when it comes out.


>esthetically . . . are your customers reluctant to part with money because
>it is "inkjet" as opposed to a real silver print?

Most people don't know or care what Piezography is. They are buying the
print because they like it and want to hang it on their wall. Just don't
call them giclee's. I had a first-class darkroom for more than 20 years
but I'll never go back to it. I can get a much better print with
Piezography and my 3000's and I'm not breathing toxic fumes in the dark to
do it. I've only had one print returned for a replacement and that was
because the FedEx box was destroyed in shipping.

I'd be glad to answer any more questions if I can.

Tina


Tina Manley, ASMP
www.tinamanley.com


http://www.pdiphotos.com
http://www.workbookstock.com
http://www.newscom.com
http://www.americanphotojournalist.com

Thomas Hallstein

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Nov 25, 2003, 11:32:36 AM11/25/03
to

>
> Most people don't know or care what Piezography is. They are buying the
> print because they like it and want to hang it on their wall. Just don't
> call them giclee's. I had a first-class darkroom for more than 20 years
> but I'll never go back to it. I can get a much better print with
> Piezography and my 3000's and I'm not breathing toxic fumes in the dark to
> do it. I've only had one print returned for a replacement and that was
> because the FedEx box was destroyed in shipping.
>
> I'd be glad to answer any more questions if I can.
>
> Tina


Tina,

I was going to suggest that Paul not call his prints "ink-jets" and use the
more upscale, cachet-laden term giclee (with the accent over the proper
'e'). Why do you advise against using this term? (Unless you meant don't
call them "Guy-clay" but instead the pompous-sounding "Zy-clay". Just
curious...

But really, has anyone had solid, regular print sales from their web site?
Most photogs I've spoken with about this say they may sell a couple a year
at best. Is anyone REALLY successfully selling art online?

Best to all,
Tom
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
Thomas Hallstein
Outsight Photography
Santa Rosa, CA USA
http://www.outsight.com
i l l u s t r a t i o n t o i n s p i r a t i o n
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

Tina Manley

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Nov 25, 2003, 12:00:52 PM11/25/03
to
At 08:32 AM 11/25/2003 -0800, you wrote:
>Tina,
>
>I was going to suggest that Paul not call his prints "ink-jets" and use the
>more upscale, cachet-laden term giclee (with the accent over the proper
>'e'). Why do you advise against using this term? (Unless you meant don't
>call them "Guy-clay" but instead the pompous-sounding "Zy-clay". Just
>curious...

Tom -

If you look this up in the archives of any of the digital printing sites,
you'll find that the term giclée has been the subject of a lot of
ridicule. It is French for squirt or spray, which might seem appropriate
for inkjets, but it is also French slang for another kind of squirt that
you probably don't want associated with your artwork ("ejaculate" is the
polite term.)
I just find it pretentious.


>But really, has anyone had solid, regular print sales from their web site?
>Most photogs I've spoken with about this say they may sell a couple a year
>at best. Is anyone REALLY successfully selling art online?

There are quite a few people on the Digital B&W Yahoo list and the
Peizography B&W list who make their living selling B&W prints
online. Check out the archives:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/piezography3000
Go to some of the web sites of the members of those lists and you'll see
some very impressive work.

I sell more than a couple a year online, but I sell far more at lectures
and seminars.

Hope this helps.

Tina

Tina Manley, ASMP
www.tinamanley.com

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Thomas Hallstein

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Nov 25, 2003, 12:12:00 PM11/25/03
to
Tina,

Thanks for the French lesson - ya learn something new everyday! I've always
thought the term 'giclee' rather pretentious too.

I too sell prints and they do well when I have them in galleries but online
sales are few and far between.

Best,


Tom
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
Thomas Hallstein
Outsight Photography
Santa Rosa, CA USA
http://www.outsight.com
i l l u s t r a t i o n t o i n s p i r a t i o n
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

Stockphoto Seller

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Nov 25, 2003, 6:20:02 PM11/25/03
to
A few may know that each year I work from one to two dozen large art fairs--on streets and in convention centers--with my partner, who is a sculptor of whimsical ceramic animals. Naturally, I have become somewhat familiar with the several dozen art photographers doing fairs in our states. Not so long ago, one saw a lot of little signs mentioning Cibas or Ilfos or giclee; but during the past few years, almost all have dropped any reference to the kind of printing or material on which their prints are being made.

Anyone visiting the new art festival in the convention center near the waterfront in San Diego this weekend should drop by Kay Lindquist's display and say hello.

Carl May/BPS

Thomas Hallstein <t...@outsight.com> wrote:
I was going to suggest that Paul not call his prints "ink-jets" and use the
more upscale, cachet-laden term giclee (with the accent over the proper
'e'). Why do you advise against using this term? (Unless you meant don't
call them "Guy-clay" but instead the pompous-sounding "Zy-clay". Just
curious...

But really, has anyone had solid, regular print sales from their web site?
Most photogs I've spoken with about this say they may sell a couple a year
at best. Is anyone REALLY successfully selling art online?

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


bhhc

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Nov 25, 2003, 6:55:13 PM11/25/03
to
Tina and Tom,

thanks for the input. I have no impression that I am going to make a
living and/or fortune out of selling prints off the web, just looking at all
possibilities for marketing work through a web site. It would be nice if I
could generate enough income to fuel the Rolls.

(that's Rolls-er skates, Tom).

Tina, your comment about humidity concerns me. I am in an old house in
southwestern Quebec. The heat is electric baseboard and woodstove . . . in
other words, very, very dry during the winter months. Not being a believer
in cluttering up the house with unneccessary junk from my local Home Depot,
I do not have a humidifier, nor an electric can-opener for that matter . . .
SO, if it is very dry, what is going to be my problem? (I am actually going
to be moving soon, and it looks like you might have some bearing on my
choice . . . no don' t worry, I am not going to move in with you . . . I
like snow). ;-)

Tina, and others, . . . this issue of "giclee" has come up before, and
I agree it is the domain of pretentious old snots . . . but has anyone
really heard derogatory words about it's usage other than to pooh-pooh the
nose in the air crowd? There is another word that is common in France and
Quebec to describe Tina's definition, more in the vernacular, and amusingly
enough it sounds very close to the French verb for "to play". I just raise
the question because I wonder how far this "snicker, snicker" really goes .
. . i.e. is it a local oddity?. Honestly, I will look for another term and
if I come up with something innocent enough I will offer it to everybody.


p.s. if anyone wants to have a good look at how you can have a load of fun
with language and interpretations, have a look at Douglas {Hitchhiker's
Guide to the Galaxy} Adams book called "The meaning of Liff".

again, thanks for the info
all the best

Paul Aparycki


Thomas Hallstein

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Nov 25, 2003, 7:21:05 PM11/25/03
to
Honestly, I will look for another term and
> if I come up with something innocent enough I will offer it to everybody.
>
> Paul Aparycki
>


How about simply calling them Fine Art Archival Prints Crafted by the Artist
Himself?

Best to All,
Tom
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
Thomas Hallstein
Outsight Photography
PO Box 12273
Santa Rosa, CA 95406 USA
tel: 707.528.9468
fax: 707.528.0109
email: in...@outsight.com
web : http://www.outsight.com


i l l u s t r a t i o n t o i n s p i r a t i o n

^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

Stockphoto Seller

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Nov 25, 2003, 7:57:14 PM11/25/03
to
Keep a teakettle full of water on the wood stove.

Carl May/BPS

bhhc <ta...@sympatico.ca> wrote:

Tina, your comment about humidity concerns me. I am in an old house in
southwestern Quebec. The heat is electric baseboard and woodstove . . . in
other words, very, very dry during the winter months. Not being a believer
in cluttering up the house with unneccessary junk from my local Home Depot,
I do not have a humidifier, nor an electric can-opener for that matter . . .
SO, if it is very dry, what is going to be my problem? (I am actually going
to be moving soon, and it looks like you might have some bearing on my
choice . . . no don' t worry, I am not going to move in with you . . . I
like snow). ;-)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


Tina Manley

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Nov 25, 2003, 8:14:47 PM11/25/03
to
At 05:08 PM 11/25/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>The heat is electric baseboard and woodstove . . . in
>other words, very, very dry during the winter months.

Paul -

Put a kettle on the woodstove. That will add plenty of humidity. I'm an
old hippie who grew all of our food and lived with minimal electricity on a
farm in Kentucky. Woodstoves are wonderful.

>the question because I wonder how far this "snicker, snicker" really goes .
>. . i.e. is it a local oddity?.

No. Most French-speakers think it is hilarious that the snob portion of
the American art market are using this term. Search it on any of the web
sites except the gallery snob types.

>Honestly, I will look for another term and
>if I come up with something innocent enough I will offer it to everybody.

"Archival print" seems to work fine.

Tina


Tina Manley, ASMP
www.tinamanley.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------

chin...@aol.com

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Nov 26, 2003, 1:45:56 AM11/26/03
to

In a message dated 11/25/03 7:58:44 PM, t...@outsight.com writes:


> onestly, I will look for another term and
> > if I come up with something innocent enough I will offer it to everybody.
> >

> > Paul Aparycki
> >
>
>

Inkjet News & Tips says that "giclee" is out and has fallen out of us in
the fine art museums. If you are using the UltraChrome inks ( Epson) the new
so called correct term is "pigmented prints".

Marilyn Conway


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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