Is Stock Photography Worth the Effort?

In the ten months since my last blog post, I have been re-evaluating my participation in stock photography.

First, a little background. I jumped into stock photography on the backside of the "heyday" peak in the industry. Tony Stone Images was leading the way as the classy, sophisticated agency that photographers aspired to be accepted by. Agencies published paper catalogs and slides where shipped overnight for review and selection. Photographers received 50% of commissions and licenses were rarely sold for less than $125.00 with many photographers setting a minimum fee of $250.00.

But things have changed.

Lest I sound curmudgeonly, please note that I like change. I like challenges. I like digital cameras. I like being able to upload digital files. I like having my own website. I like not knowing my FedEx man. I like Photoshop. I like mastering new skills.

I don't like being paid $85.00 for a usage that 2 years ago was priced at $425.00. I don't like keywording. I don't like the lowered standards for publishable images. I don't like millions of images available for free or $5.00. I don't like agency statements for sales of $18.17. I don't like lowered commission percentages for photographers. I don't like having to run 3x as fast to stay in the same place.

I don't like stock photography any more. OK, that's a bit broad. Run the financials. Pick up a magazine. Peer into the future. Calculate the added work load for social media, networking, keywording, SEO, and shoot the additional volume of images needed to stay afloat. Calculate and then determine if you would spend the finite number of work hours available in such a business venture. Or invest a nest egg. Or provide venture capital.

I doubt it. Me either.

Michigan Avenue

Michigan Avenue is a street with a magic all its own, and standing in the median with a tripod-mounted camera provides a unique perspective. One thing I have never been able to understand, though, is the curious onlooker asking me if I am taking pictures.

Do they honestly doubt that a woman with a tripod, camera and a cable release in hand is doing something other than taking a picture when standing in the median for 10 minutes? Though sorely tempted at times to respond with a sarcastic and witty reply, I keep the tongue sheathed.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy talking with bystanders interested in photography. All I ask is for a better opening question.

Wedding in Millennium Park

Millennium Park has become a favorite location for wedding party group photographs, particularly in the AT&T Plaza with the Bean sculpture as a backdrop.

From large, formal wedding parties such as this one with the camera and video crew along to smaller gatherings, the highly reflective surface of the Cloud Gate sculpture makes for dramatic photos that can only be had in Chicago.

Photographers planning to do wedding or other photography in Millennium Park should check the rules and permit requirements here.

Cool Elevators

In 1976, a new vertical retail mall, Water Tower Place, opened on North Michigan Avenue which coincided with my freshman year at a suburban college in the Chicago area. Growing up in Springfield, Illinois, I was very familiar with horizontal malls, but with not with vertical ones. And certainly not with a vertical mall that had glass elevators in the middle of the building.

People stood in lines and waited for the opportunity to see the eight floors of shops from the inside of the elevator. Sounds sort of silly today, but the bank of elevators shown here was a tourist attraction when the mall first opened. And I confess to being one of those who waited and waited.

Bridge over Troubled Water

While the politicians and elected (did we really?) representatives of Illinois are making national headlines and getting air time in Leno's and Letterman's monologues, life goes on in the Land of Lincoln. (Is Abe rolling over?)

The Chicago River bisects the downtown area of the city in an unusual way, as the river runs east/west from Lake Michigan to Wolf Point where the three river branches converge. Then the river turns south and flows into the Illinois and Michigan Canal and Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. From there the water flows into the Des Plaines River and eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River.

Legend has it that the name of the first American settlement site arose because that is where a wolf was last sighted in Chicago. Fact or fiction? Originally the river emptied into Lake Michigan, and it is fact that the flow was reversed in an engineering feat that rivaled the building of the Panama Canal.

Many movable bridges crisscross the river including the one pictured here.

Chicago's Water Tower

One of the most recognizable buildings in Chicago, the Old Water Tower presides over the north end of the Magnificent Mile and a lovely urban park. Constructed in 1869 of Joliet limestone, the Water Tower and the Pumping Station located directly across Michigan Avenue, were the only two public buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.

Originally constructed to conceal a standpipe used to equalize water pressure from the Pumping Station, it is currently the home for City Gallery which features Chicago photographers and photographs. Buskers and street entertainers perform in the park surrounding the Water Tower while shoppers revive weary feet seated on benches near a fountain. Carriage horses still drink from a specially designed watering fountain on the park's west side and wait patiently for couples and families to hop aboard for a city tour.

Chicago's LaSalle Street

LaSalle Street, the heart of the financial district in Chicago, is lined with numerous imposing edifices featured in numerous movies including the The Dark Knight - and rightly so. The stately columns of the Federal Reserve Bank and the art deco Chicago Board of Trade building form the southern end of the money district and the light often bounces from one to the other in an interesting way.

It's one of the best locations to shoot in the Windy City at mid-day as the light reaches the street in the canyon of buildings. After a year of maintenance, the clock on the CBOT building has been repaired and the scaffolding removed, so it's a prime point of interest once again.

Standing Firm

By now the secret is out that night and low-light photography are two of my loves - particularly in busy cities. It could be directly related to the fact that I am not a morning person.

Something about that time of day inspires my creative juices and my adrenaline as often the peak time lasts only for 20 minutes or so after the sun has set if the sky will be included in the composition. Other opportunities, such as the man directing traffic above on Michigan Avenue in Chicago are still available when the sky has turned black.

With a sturdy Gitzo tripod and cable release, I'm armed and ready. If you spot a lady with a tripod out after dark - that could be me.

Michigan Avenue and the Chicago River Bridge

Speak the words, "Michigan Avenue" and thoughts of great shopping come to mind. From Tiffany to Nordstrom to H&M and Borders, the Magnificent Mile has them all. Several architectural landmarks such as the Water Tower, Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower are located along this thoroughfare as well.

Another highlight is the double-decker bridge over the Chicago River with the second level below street level and providing access to Lower Wacker Drive. The bi-level street was made famous in chase scenes in the "Blues Brothers" and "Batman Begins" movies.

The scene above is a view of the Chicago River bridge taken from the center median across from the Wrigley Building and looking south toward Millennium Park and the financial district.

Marcus Luttrell - Lone Survivor

On May 19, 2008, Marcus Luttrell, author of Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 was interviewed by Ed Tracy before a capacity crowd at the Pritzker War Library. The sole survivor of Seal Team 10 involved in Operation Redwing in Afghanistan, Marcus wove a fascinating tale as he described the hardships of SEAL training which prepared him well for the excruciating pain and deprivation he experienced as he battled with and fled from the Taliban with three broken vertebrae and other injuries.

Luttrell's story highlighted the comradeship between Navy SEALs, the difficult moral choices faced in a battle zone and the mental determination required for survival. Lining the second floor balcony was a cadre of cadets from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center who will soon begin the training program that will winnow their ranks down to the 10-20% who will become SEALs like Marcus and his twin brother. One can only imagine the thoughts running through their heads as Marcus shared his story.

A podcast of the interview is available here.

Standard Time Began in Chicago

How many times I have walked past this plaque in the Financial District of Chicago and never noticed it, I could not tell. But this particular day, I did notice and learned that the usage of the Standard Time System began in Chicago in 1883.

From the plaque, it seems that the railroads pushed for standardization of time as there were 100 local "time zones" developed by communities based upon the position of the sun in their location. Imagine the headaches trying to put together a timetable and tell when a train would arrive and depart with 100 such zones, and the need for such a standard is apparent.

Maybe the airlines will push for a different time system so that more of their flights are "on time".

Chicago's Picasso

While the Art Institute of Chicago has more than 20 of Pablo Picasso's paintings in its collection, ask a Chicagoan where the Picasso is and they'll more likely point toward the Daley Plaza than Michigan Avenue.

Dedicated in 1967, the untitled steel sculpture originally a subject of controversy has now become a well-loved Chicago icon.

Chicago's Summer Festivals

Each summer the Mayor's Office of Special Events in Chicago hosts several festivals including Taste of Chicago, jazz, blues and gospel fests in Grant Park. When the weather cooperates the evenings can be magical.

Pictured above is a crowd enjoying the Jazz Festival on a balmy summer evening on the lawn. When lights in the skyscrapers surrounding the Grant Park come on and the sun sinks low behind the Sears Tower, a special ambiance spreads over the area as the musician's notes waft through the air.

Windows a la Edward Hopper

Last week I attended the Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. Homer's mastery of light as portrayed in his multi-layer washes and scrapings on watercolor paper are truly amazing. His ability to capture the nuances and reflectiveness of water is unparalleled. His pre-Photoshop habit of copying and pasting elements from one drawing or painting to another made me chuckle. There truly is nothing new under the sun.

Of the two artists, Edward Hopper was the most artistically inspiring. I admired Homer's technique and blending of his own watercolors, but Hopper's composition and portrayal of everyday city life better paralleled my own photographic interests.

Hopper's views through windows into the lives of others inspired me to shoot a few of views of city life through a window myself. I've posted one above. The exhibit will remain until May 10, 2008 at the Institute. Check it out and see what inspiration strikes.

Fencing Tournament

This past weekend, some 1200 fencers converged on the Rosemont (IL) Convention Center for a United States Fencing Association tournament.

Wielding weapons in the epee, saber and foil competitions, women and men from youth to the 60+ veteran division stepped and lunged up and down the 30+ competition strips arranged throughout the room.

Electronic lames, scoreboards and weapon tips recorded the touches with referees officiating each bout.

Viewing the competition offered me a chance to step back in time and imagine swashbuckling battles raging in a castle or two men dueling for a lady's hand while having a 21st century digital camera along to capture the action. Which is a challenge!

Swords are flying faster than the eye can see, the lighting is sodium vapor blended with fluorescent which turns the white uniforms a lovely blend of red and green, the concrete floor is mighty hard, and the multiple strips make a clean background nearly impossible.

Still, my Canon 70-200 2.8L IS lens was fast enough so that I could stop the action and the zoom options gave me a range of close--ups shots to full strip action. Are you a sports shooter looking for a new challenge? Search no further than your nearest fencing tournament. Touche!

Bat Column Sculpture

One of Chicago's less talked about sculptures is the "Bat Column". Ready for play outside the Harold Washington Social Security Center on West Madison street, this giant column is less likely to be seen by casual tourists and visitors to the city. Venture west of the Loop to view this steel and aluminum structure designed by Claes Oldenburg.

Could the Cubs win with this bat?

Ethnic Specialty Stores in Chicago

Throughout the Chicago metropolitan region there are enclaves of different ethnicities with retail stores catering to a group's food traditions and fashion preferences. Where once the enclaves were located primarily within Chicago city limits, they can now be found throughout the suburbs.

The storefront pictured here with signs in Spanish and clothing with a Mexican flavor is located in Aurora, Illinois, a suburb 30 miles due west from downtown Chicago.

No need to purchase a plane ticket to have that cross-cultural experience. Pop into an ethnic market and puzzle over labels on cans and dream up a dinner unique enough for Anthony Bourdain to enjoy. Wander down Devon Avenue and touch the silk saris in riotous colors, or sample Kosher baked goods and Pakistani delicacies.

Bon voyage!

PhotoShelter Widget

Thought I'd give the new widget offered by PhotoShelter Collection a trial run. I wanted to place the widget on the sidebar, but only the left half of the photos will show in the display.

Think it's a great concept, but will it make the cash register ring?

Chicago's Hidden Treasures

Hidden between Chicago's Millennium Park and Lake Shore Drive lies a Cancer Survivors Garden with wonderful flowers, benches and an ornate metal open-air structure.

One late summer day I stumbled upon this quiet place of respite and wondered how it had escaped my notice for so long.

For a moment of quiet amid beauty in the midst of big city hustle and bustle, walk due north from Buckingham Fountain through Grant Park or head across the BP Bridge from the Bean sculpture.

Who are the Flowers For?

While waiting for the traffic signal to change on Michigan Avenue, I noticed this young man with the bouquet of flowers staring resolutely ahead and wanted to capture the moment.

I wondered who the flowers were for, what was the occasion and why was he looking so serious? Was he going to pop the question to his girlfriend? Make up after a fight?

Hope it turned out well for him...