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Photographers
Information
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Marine
Themes runs the worlds largest web based stock image library
dealing with all aspects of marine wildlife. If you have commercial
quality images that are relevant to our photographic niche
we encourage you to consider submitting your work to us. We
accept images from professional and amateur photographers
from all countries, no minimum number of images, no ongoing
submissions needed.
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What is Stock
Photography?
A
stock photograph is one where the right to use the
image is sold to another person or company for a specific
and stated purpose. The original photograph is never sold
so that the rights for a particular image can be purchased
many times for a wide array of uses. For example, a photograph
of a leaping dolphin may appear in a brochure for a dolphin
watch tour boat, an advertisement for an environmentally aware
corporation, on the packaging of a product or in an educational
book. All are distinctly different products but all use the
one image with the rights granted and fee paid for each use
being different. Many more future sales are possible as the
original photograph is not sold but is kept, like stock in
a warehouse, ready for the next order.
A stock library is where stock images are stored, catalogued
and then submitted to clients. A stock library receives requests
for images, compiles a suitable selection to fill the client’s
brief, negotiates the fee for use, re-catalogues the images
after the sale is completed, invoices the client and collects
the negotiated fees. A good stock library also advertises
and actively seeks sales by various means. They also monitor
unauthorised use of images and pursue the collection of subsequent
fees and fines through the courts.
In fulfilling the above a stock library also acts as an agent
to the photographers whose work makes up the library files.
Photographers are paid a percentage of each successful sale
and are paid for such within an agreed time.
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What
Marine Themes Offers
Unlike many stock libraries, Marine Themes offers a 50/50
split on all sales. We do not use sub agents so you always
get a clean 50% split. There are no fees to include your images
with Marine Themes. This includes images mounted in the web
database catalogue, CD-ROM catalogue, any printed catalogues
and is also free of all scanning, duping and administrative
costs. Just a straight no frills 50% split on all sales.
This
used to be the standard rate for all stock libraries but now
many are requesting 55-60% or more of the sales fee and also
charge additional fees for inclusion in web, CD or paper catalogues
so that the real split is effectively much higher in their
favour. Many libraries also pass on your images to other libraries
(sub agents) who may even pass them on to others, each taking
a cut of any sale as it is passed back to you so that you,
the photographer, often end up with a small fraction of the
net sale. Marine Themes does not use sub agents so your images
are only supplied directly to paying clients.
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What
We Do With Your Images
Images selected are drum scanned to at least 5700 dpi in 16
bit RGB mode, cleaned of all dust, scratches and “artifacts”
to produce the cleanest scans possible then color corrected
and optimised for use on a printing press. These “master
scans” are then later downsized to the exact dimensions
required for client use. When a client orders images for a
commercial project a copy of the scans are sized to their
required dimensions and delivered, usually via the internet.
The printer operator adjusts the scans slightly to suit their
unique printing calibrations then the images are printed.
The
master scans are also reduced in size and resolution for use
in the web database and CD-ROM catalogues.
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What
It Costs You
Nothing. Zip. Zero. You do have to pay for delivery of your
images to us but our services, including return of your transparencies,
costs you nothing.
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What
We Need From You
We need either original transparencies or RAW files from your
digital camera.
If
you are taking photographs using a digital camera you will
need to have these minimum requirements:
1/
RAW format only. (i.e. Canon CRW, Nikon NEF, Olympus ORF,
etc.) No jpg files.
2/ Minimum of 6 megapixel files. 8-14 megapixels preferred.
We will accept 4-5 megapixel files in some circumstances if
the subject is rare or unusual.
The
files must be burnt to either a DVD disc or a CD burnt in
a cross platform format such as ISO 9660. Your CD burner will
have that option available in its software.
In
order to provide optimum quality scans to our clients we accept
original transparencies only. No dupes. No prints. Original
transparencies will be promptly returned after scanning. We
do not store your originals nor do we make dupes. We only
retain the digital files scanned from your originals. Your
originals are always returned and stay in your posession.
Some
photographers may be unwilling to send out their originals.
Therefore if you want Marine Themes to represent you and your
work, you must supply 5700 dpi scans in 16 bit RGB mode with
no unsharp masking applied. If you supply your own scans they
must be commercial drum scans cleaned and retouched to commercial
standards.
Scans
made on 35 mm film scanners (such as Nikon Coolpix, Polaroid
SprintScan, etc.) or flatbed scanners are not acceptable as
they, despite the manufacturers claims, are unable to produce
the detail and file size needed for commercial use. The images
must be flattened (no layers) with no text, including copyright
information, on the image. (Copyright watermarks will be automatically
added to all images used on the web.)
Before sending any images please read the submission guidelines
below.
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Submissions
A submission is where you provide us with images for us to
consider for inclusion in the Marine Themes web database.
Only images appropriate for our specialisation and of suitable
commercial quality will be accepted.
The
following table shows each step of the process to include
your images in the Marine Themes database. Details of each
step can be found in the sections following the table.
| Step # |
Action Taken |
What You Need To Do |
| Step 1 |
You Submit Images. |
You send your original transparencies
to Marine Themes or your RAW digital files as noted
above.
If you intend to supply your own high resolution drum
scans you forward the master scans (5700
dpi or higher in 16 bit RGB mode) on CD (ISO
9660 format) or DVD media.
You also send by email a list of captions for each
photo as either an Excel spreadsheet or as a plain text
email.
If you wish you can initially send low resolution jpgs
of your photos by email or on CD for selection purposes.
We will then let you know which originals to send. |
| Step 2 |
Marine Themes edits and scans your selected
originals and then promptly returns them to you. CD or
DVD discs will not be returned. |
|
| Step 3 |
Marine Themes forwards a "thumbnail"
and caption of each scanned image. |
You check the small thumbnail images
and captions. You may want to suggest additional caption
information. |
| Step 4 |
Marine Themes sends you a confirmation email
when low resolution, watermarked copies of your scans
have been mounted into the online database. |
You can check your images by inserting
your photographers code (supplied to you when you become
a contracted photographer) into the "Keyword Search"
field found on the database page. |
All
photographs which include recognisable people or property
must be accompanied with a model or property release. Sample
property and model releases will be supplied on request to
photographers who hold a signed contract with Marine Themes.
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Transparency/Slide
Submissions
When you submit your original transparencies they must be
in pocket style storage pages. Do not send transparency submissions
in boxes or other packaging. Make sure that each page has
your name and contact details on it and that every image has
a reference number or code so that you will know which images
are being discussed when we correspond with you.
Each image
needs to have a caption including the common and scientific
name of the subject (if applicable), a brief description of
any behaviour or other factors that are shown and location
where the image was taken. An ID number or other reference
is helpful if we need to talk to you about a specific image.
Photographs that are not of animal species (i.e. scenics,
people, boats, etc) should provide a brief description of
the scene or other relevant information.
As noted
in the table above this information needs to be emailed to
us so that it can be easily transferred into the database
either as plain text in the body of your email or as an Excel
spreadsheet.
Package
your submissions carefully as we do not accept responsibility
for your images while in transit to us. Send your submissions
to our contact address.
We also at times accept images on colour negative film if
the subject matter warrants the extra work and slight drop
in quality that negative films produce. Submissions of original
colour negatives must include a small print off each negative
or a digital file so that we can see what colour and density
our scans should display.
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Digital
Submissions
Digital submissions come in two forms:
1/
Original RAW files from your digital camera.
2/ Low resolution jpg files provided to give us an indication
of what images you have available for inclusion in the web
database. Low resolution jpg submission images can be either
scans off your original transparencies or as jpg copies of
your RAW files.
As
noted above if you supply original images from your digital
camera these are the minimum requirements:
1/
RAW format only. (i.e. Canon CRW, Nikon NEF, Olympus ORF,
etc.) No jpg files.
2/ Minimum of 6 megapixel files. 8-14 megapixels preferred.
We will accept 4-5 megapixel files in some circumstances if
the subject is rare or unusual.
The
files must be burnt to either a DVD disc or a CD burnt in
a cross platform format such as ISO 9660. Your CD burner will
have that option available in its software.
If
you decide to send your initial submission in an email containing
low resolution scans, please use minimal unsharp masking and
avoid any excessive colour saturation or other manipulation.
You are more than welcome to include your name and copyright
information on each submission scan as these are only used
by us for viewing and selecting images for inclusion in our
files, will not be used for any other purpose and will be
deleted on completing the selection process.
We prefer digital submissions to be supplied via email but
you can also send them on DVD-R, CD (ISO 9660 format) or Zip
discs. Include basic captions with all submissions including
the common and scientific name of the animal shown or a brief
description and/or location of the depicted scene along with
any additional information that may not be readily apparent
in the image. Do not send these captions as Word documents
or in other program specific files. Include them as a separate
simple text file on your disc or, if supplying via email,
in the body of the email or as a simple text file attachment
without any formatting.
If you have images that are digital constructions or manipulations
please indicate in your captions that they are such. We certainly
accept constructed or manipulated images but we do need to
know that they are adjusted images for our filing system.
Digital submissions, since they are only viewed on a computer
screen and not used in the printing process, can be made on
any type of scanner. These “thumbnail” scans should
be 72 dpi with the longest side being no less than 400 pixels
and no more than 640 pixels. Each image must be in JPG format,
compressed between level 4-6 in Photoshop.
Digital
submissions delivered on CD should be in a protective CD case
in ISO 9660 format or on DVD-R discs or on Zip discs. Please
label the actual CD or Zip disc (not the case or packaging)
with your name and contact details.
Please
note that unlike original transparencies digital submissions
will not normally be returned so we recommend that you use
standard CD’s, not the more expensive rewriteable CD’s
or Zip discs. If your digital submission is being sent from
outside Australia please ensure that you mark the value of
the goods on the customs form as “of no commercial value”
or with a value no greater than US$5.
Remember that a bad scan can eliminate an image from being
selected if it does not accurately portray the sharpness,
colour and exposure of the original so make sure that your
submission scans are as accurate as reasonably possible.
On receipt of your submission you will be contacted by email
indicating which images have been selected. If it is your
first submission we forward on to you our contract. After
carefully reading and signing the contract ( we can customise
the standard contract for you if necessary) you then forward
the selected originals so that master scans can be made after
which we promptly return your images. (Or you can forward
your own commercially produced drum scans as mentioned above.
If you have any questions check the "Frequently
Asked Questions" section or go to the "What
subjects are needed?" section for information on what
sorts of images are required and how to photograph them. Please
also feel free to contact us directly by email,
phone, fax or mail. Top
What
is Stock Photography?
What
Marine Themes offers
What
we do with your images
What
it costs you
What
we need from you
Submissions
Hard
copy submissions
Digital
submissions
What
subjects are needed?
Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ)
Contact
Details:
Marine
Themes Pty Ltd
marinethemes.com
info@marinethemes.com
142 Keon Street
Thornbury Victoria
Australia 3071
Ph (61-3) 9480 4451
Fax (61-3) 9480 4452
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