Following some doctors advice*, it has been decided to finally work toward getting a much wanted item on my shopping list. Yes, the same list that never seems to get any shorter. Possibly one of the most expensive lists in the land. So the item in question is my first white lens; a Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS.
So that’d be about €1500 give or take. I could buy this outright like I’ve done with all my other kit but wheres the sense of satisfaction? Where’s the joy and pride in the ownership? Well, that’d still be there… So how is this going to be financed? If I was a pro I’d just fork out the dough that I’d be making from substantial print sales, stock sales and all the freelance work I’d undoubtably be doing. Yeaaaah…
But seeing as I’m not actually doing any of that, it’s going to take alot longer to reach the goal. As you may know from my previous posts, I’ve started attending “Art in the Park” in Fermoy. So far in 3 weeks of showing up there, I’ve made several sales. In fact the sales have gotten better with each passing week. All this money is going into my back pocket and eventually into whatever shopkeepers till. That’s all well and good, but it’s not actually doing anything positive. So instead, all the money I make from art in the park, peoples photography and anything else I attend will go straight into the “white lens fund”. I’ll be keeping the tally up to speed via a little addition to the sidebar of this blog so you’ll know where I am and how much is left to go.
Of course if you feel you should do your part and contribute to the fund (while getting a marvellous print in the process), then turn up at art in the park in Fermoy every Sunday (11am to 5pm ish) or be at Peoples Photography on St. Stephens Green in Dublin on the 25th and 26th August. Finally, a reason to get up on a Sunday morning!
I must trot to fermoy. Or maybe set up an online store?
One on the way Damien… on the very procrastinating, long & lazy way…
Woo hoo to been on the way to the new lens. ya never know some you may get a lovely donation from a gorgeous lady.
its an fantastic lens… bought it earlier this year just before the 300mm f2.8….you wont be dissapointed by it and its a worthwhile addition to the kit
300mm 2.8? Ya feckin langer!
DON’T WAIT!!! I have one, and it is without doubt one of the most amazing purchases you will ever make in your life. It’s right up there with buying a room in the playboy mansion for the night, and the relevant hookers and smack to go along with it. In fact, it’s better, trust me!!
See now that’s the kinda thing that would make a guy go impulse buying… Apox on you and your comment!
Do it…doooooo it!
Gahhh shutup, shutup!!!
just ta tease ya ….er….I mean whet yer appetite for a big ass lens… have a look here…
http://www.istockphoto.com/chrisboy2004
………..now you know you want it……….
Damn you to hell! On a related note, looks like you’re making some nice cash on istock… Something I always meant to look at getting into but wasn’t sure if it was worth the hassle.
Yeah, something I’ve been thinking about too, who are the best stock agencies to go to in order to get noticed, make a bit of cash, and how involved is it? I’ve never really researched it to be honest, but would be interested if anyone has any pointers!
iStockphoto is now part of Getty images as of earlier this years merger. I was in three, iStock, shutterstock and bigstockphoto… istock had the most traffic and sales for me, so I opted to be an exclusive photographer for them. At the start, the $$ are low until your port has 500 d’l’s at which point they give you a ‘raise’. Obviously the bigger your port the more revenue you can generate. The bigger the image you can supply, the more you can get (example, my 1Ds MkII gives me xxl images which sell for $20-$40 a go, I get 20% of that sale)
points to keep in mind when shooting/submitting to an agency are :
is the image of use to a designer, be it advertising, promotional….
its subject is sharp and in focus
agencies generally have the definitive collections of pets
& flowers, so if this is your image, it needs to be ‘outstanding’……
if anyone has more specific questions (or wants a referral to iStock), email me at christopher.odriscoll AT gmail.com
personally I think some of the images I have my port arent great, but hey, theyre selling….its $$$….
Having looked at the images you both take, I couldnt see any reason why ye couldnt make $$ as well
Chris, if you’d like to go on at length about the world of stock photography with an eye toward people that might be interested in getting into it, I’ll gladly post it here
Kinda do’s and don’ts as you’ve experienced them.. Just a thought
Sounds like a good idea Ryan!
Chris, I’ll drop ye a mail at some stage soon looking for some more details too!
blog on stock photography…. http://www.interactive-bot.com
click on the blogger link……
ryan, feel free to copy and use it here………
This lens is simply the best and will be well worth it - you thought about donating some body parts yet to help raise the funds quicker? :-))))
It was my first lens and I havent looked back…..