Resolution- new Zelda useage

About two months ago, the same ad agency which ran the initial "Zelda" series for Eukanuba contacted me again. They were looking for some follow-up information about Sierra. Thats cool. However, they also asked if I might be interested in allowing the image to be used in a Canadian ad campaign.

Alright! Bonus!

Sure I said, I would love to. How long? Four months they said. Sounds reasonable, back and forth on some details, and we settled on a rate. Then they sent me request for service, but the dates they had listed were for time that had already past by.  They asked for my invoice, and things could get moving along.

Wait a second, what do those back dates mean? I emailed with the follow-on question with my contact, no response.

Something was not right there. I asked a buddy in Canada to pop in to a local news shop and look at a few magazines to see if what I suspected was true- it was. The ad had already been running and they were now trying to secure the rights to cover up any problems. This would also explain the higher rates of hits I was getting from Canadian addresses on my blog.

Whoops on their part, now- what do I do as a photographer? I had a working relationship with that agency, so to speak. They had been upfront about things and were not unreasonable.

I talked with photography friends, I talked with a family lawyer who really does not know copyright, but read up and knew the law system better than I did. One suggested I just take the money that was in front of me, and be thankful. One suggested to ask for a reasonable amount more. One only could suggest things if I had officially registered my images with the US Patient Office. Creative Commons was not good enough for a real court case. No one suggested I get all lawyer-ed up and threaten all sorts of problems.

After thinking about the conditions and input to date, I put together a simple email with an invoice for the additional fees that the violation, I felt, would cover.  Then I waited, and waited, and waited. They said they would have to talk to the financial folks.

I got a little worried to be honest. The ad was done in another country. I may not ever have found out about it if they hadn't contacted me. The ad agency in question could have easily ignored me after I made my counter request- which was basically doubling the initial fee because they had violated my copyright on the image. They could have easily ignored me and I would have had very little real leverage. 

Finally last week- they agreed to the additional fees. They were decent about it all through-out the process. I felt violated at first. How DARE they use that image without my knowing?! Then I was also flattered- they wanted to use my image again!

In the end, everything is working out. We can get some extra bills paid with the money, and Sierra is a star in Canada.

Calvert Hall Lacrosse

#24 Stephen Kelly

I had the opportunity to go to Calvert Hall and photograph the lacrosse team's first ever game under the lights at Russo Stadium on campus. (Flickr set of the game here)

Calvert Hall lacrosse was ranked #1 nationally by many polls. Wow, I had no idea. They were going to play their first game under the lights at the stadium, again cool. The Philly based team was ranked as high as a top 10 team, so they were no slouches.

However, I have never shot lacrosse before. I played it when I was a wee-dude. But that is as close to a lacrosse game as I have gotten in a couple decades.  I started to do some research on team members I should target. I searched which players have college commitments- seniors, 15, juniors (yes, juniors) 1 that I know of. We are talking loaded at every position apparently. They are loaded, talented, driven, and very hungry.

I talked with a co-worker who had played in college to get a better idea of where to setup shop. I started watching some videos to get an idea of what to look for.

Turns out- shooting lacrosse is not as difficult to shoot as I thought it would be. However, I was limited by my one lens- 70-200 f/2.8. I do wish I had the 1.4x extender to get slightly further reach. I don't need the 300mm, thankyouverymuch.

I would say half of the game I was just waiting for the action to come towards me. I would setup in different spots along the back corners just waiting. A few times I tries going behind the goals, standing with my lens just about touching the netting.

#3 Brian Bolewicki

The only other 'problem' was the shifting light during the first quarter or so of the game. As the sun fully set, and the lights of the stadium took over. I had to adjust shooting as things progressed. Once it was fully dark, then I could just sit on the settings of the camera without too much adjustment.

One thing I was aware of, slightly concerned about, but never had to react to was a stray lacrosse ball coming at me. That small rubber ball could have done some damage to my gear!

Level of inspection

I have been helping, well, more like talking, to a co-worker about photography. I gave him inputs, and showed him examples. I didn't push Canon, but I could only talk about it because thats what I know. Generally tried to guide him in the confusing world of stuff that is photography. I am not a historian, I don't know much, but I like to share what little sliver I do know because it took me a while to figure out what I do know.

I explained the various layers of photography, that the more doors you open there are more to follow. Photography is an expensive hobby, but rewarding. I always look back to the previous year's images and find myself unhappy with the results. (don't let me look at stuff I shot five years ago, I might pass out) There were plenty of websites to share, books to suggest, but the ultimate suggestion was to shoot and keep shooting. 

Then we got in to the technical realm. In terms of which lens is better than another, and why. I fell off the conversation at that point. He was reading all sorts of material on-line about why the 70-200 f/2.8 IS version 2 was better than version 1. (and when the heck did it get to $2,200?) Or which lens should be better than the 17-40 f/4 I typically use. He was talking to another friend who did photography and got more opinions on gear. I didn't have much of a leg to stand on for why one thing might be better than another.

Then I realized a very important point about my photography- I didn't care. Not one spec. I am not a pixel peeper. I don't care what kind of glass Canon manufactures the lense out of. I just want the damn thing to work. I know what to expect out of the image, and I know, usually, how to get there.

Should I care than the 16-35 f/2.8 is better lens than the 17-40 f/4? Probably, but reality has me. I don't have endless cash, I want to take good images and be able to do other things. Reality hits home. I am a practical person. If my humble little home 'studio' is currently working for me, then thats what I will keep using. I am not going to go out and buy a parabolic strobe setup because it is so great. I can't, and maybe in 15-20 years maybe, but for practical life I am where I am and it works.

Which also reminded me, this is very much how I live my life. If it works, great! If there is a better solution, I will take my time to understand it and work towards it if the new solution makes sense. (recent example- taking my old computer and trying to use Linux on it instead of Windows for a project- turns out for my project, Windows was better suited. Thats fine with me, but it took some playing around and research to figure that out for myself)

While I am frustrated with what "COULD BE" I am usually very happy with what is and I do have. It is an internal struggle, but all I need to do is look back to see what I have done and the frustrations calm down and I am able to focus again. (pun fully intended)

What would next be?

I have been thinking, what I would want next in terms of camera gear? I know I would rather have more time, or a focus, with time to shoot a project. Then I thought, what would I do with $3,000 if it suddenly just landed in my lap?

If I know where I want to go, I need to know where I have been. What I want to do in the near future. Knowing limits of my gear, or getting frustrated because I can't get the shot I want with what I have right now.

I would LOVE to have a Canon 5D, not the Mark III, but the Mark II. Even at reduced prices, $2,200 is too much. Most of my gear prices are from B+H, the perfect place to buy all your camera gear. Woot.

Things I can think off the top of my head:

- 2 or 3 Canon 43EX II Speedlights $300 each, say $900 total.
- Canon extender, 1.4 or 2x? Might as well go for the gusto and get the 2x, $500
- 2 more CyberSyncs $70 each, $140
- 3-4 Manfroto light stands, new ones that do what I had always wanted- lay flat. $50 each, $200

I really want a super wide angle lens, which combined with the cropped sensor of the 7D is limiting... but I I have tried it before and it is super nice. Too bad an L series wide angle is over $2,000.

- A 28mm f/1.8 Canon EF lens, for $500
- Say a couple subscriptions for Flickr for renewal, update my website renewals, and keep some other on-line costs going.
- Prints for lots of future projects and family stuff via MPIX.
- Money for diy photo projects
- More rechargeable batteries
- A new BIG monitor

I think I could get to $3000 without trying too hard nor going to get a couple new lens or a new camera body.