Re: Images Needed to be published: Keep the peace,and propernetiquette, etc.

[Robert Monaghan <rmonagha@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Buddhists have a saying that when you point your finger at someone, 
you have 3 fingers pointing back at yourself ;-)

I don't see a single book of donated amateur panoramic photos as much of a
threat to either professional or even semi-professional photographers IMHO

However, I do see the rash of royalty free photographic CD-ROMS as a 
major threat to many professionals and semi-pros alike who have major 
investments in stock photographs - i.e., just about everybody ;-)

These royalty free CDROMS are NOT being put together by amateurs, but
rather, from scanned stock photos of various professionals who figure even
$25/photo adds up fast on hundreds of photos.** Some of those photo
"contests" where the fine print says they get all rights to your submitted
photos is another source of these CDROM royalty free photos - but again,
it isn't the amateur photographers who are putting these CDs together. 
Add in online stock agencies worldwide who can market directly to your
customers via the Internet (at their lower rates) and the future does look
dim? **see http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/semipro.html esp Bob Shell's
comments

Practically all the fancy multiple image in-camera work of yesteryear is 
now old hat - as Photoshop lets sophomores in college replace the 
photographer. If you try to compete in digital photography, you had 
better have lots of non-photographic (esp. computer) talents. 

Moreover, the rate of obsolescence of computers and scanners and digital
backs is pretty frightening - esp. when you are used to using your pro
gear for 20 years after its paid for - rather than it being obsolete when
you start paying for it on your credit cards! ;-) Again, this should worry
professionals a lot more than a book of freebie amateur photos, IMHO ;-)

The reason this is a problem for those of us into specialty areas such as 
panoramic photography is that most professional photo gear is _not_ sold to 
full-time professionals. Most of it is sold to part-time or semipro 
photographers who dabble in photography but not enough to do it full-time.
So the loss of these semipro and serious amateur photographers means a 
much smaller market for specialty photogear, and therefore less new gear, 
less service, and what is available is very high to recover high costs 
from a small market niche. Perhaps this rings a bell or two? ;-) ;_)

The average wage of USA full-time photographers is only $11.24 US per hour;
fewer than 10% of photographers in the USA make over $50,000 US / year. See
http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/semipro.html Turning Semipro for more stats.
I don't see how such wages can support the kinds of skills and investments
in modern gear and digital photography that you need to make it as a pro...

My personal fear is that there aren't enough amateur photographers 
wanting to become semipros and full time professionals, so there isn't a 
big enough marketplace to provide the kinds of innovative and modern 
cameras needed by professionals, esp. in niche fields like panoramic 
photography. If you add in rapid obsolescence, the costs of going 
digital, and other factors such as the low wages per US Labor Dept Stats, 
then I think professional photographers have plenty to worry about - but 
not really much about a book of free for promotion amateur photos...

In short, I think we should be encouraging talented amateurs to turn 
semi-pro (if only so tax deductions can help them invest in more photogear;-)
so they can expand the market for both our old beatup gear as we trade 
up, and so the overall photo market is as large as possible so we can all 
benefit from the lower costs and more rapid innovations that could bring.

unfortunately, the trends seem to be the opposite - we have obsolete
panoramic cameras from the past or a handful of super-expensive modern
cameras -and now even those may be obsoleted by a plug-in for Photoshop
that makes panoramic photos "easy" using a simple tripod accessory. Right?
;-)... 

As Pogo said, I have met the enemy, and he is US! ;-)

* Robert Monaghan POB752182 Dallas Tx 75275-2182 rmonagha@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  *
* Bronica 6x6 medium format: http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/bronica.html site *
* Medium Format Cameras: http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/index.html megasite*