Visual media news and updates from Visual Connections

Majority World Pioneering Digital Fair Trade

The Image Works invites picture buyers to meet Rowan Watts, the Managing Director of Majority World. Rowan will be at The Image Works booth #69, at Picturehouse New York on Wednesday, October 29th from 11-8, discussing this exciting new initiative. Majority World is a business with a social purpose formed to promote professional photographers in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It is the objective of Majority World to enable indigenous photographers from these continents to showcase their images on the world stage and within the globalised marketplace. Just like food and handicraft producers, Majority World photographers face many barriers to competing in the world economy and gaining a share of global markets. Many of the barriers stem from lack of digital access, travel, market knowledge and contacts. Majority World enables the discovery of indigenous photographic talent, promoting ethical standards in trade and valuing the authentic view that local photographers can provide. Majority World helps bring to light the wealth of fresh imagery emerging from the majority world, a more accurate term for what has been known as the developing world. The Image Works is proud to be the North American distributor of the Majority World archive.

Motion – New from North Wind

The first samples of history-specialty footage from North Wind Picture Archives will be displayed at Picturehouse New York on October 29. With animation provided by ColdWater Media of Colorado, North Wind is featuring historical pictures from its own collection in a multidimensional motion format designed with educational projects in mind. In addition to animation, North Wind is also shooting video of historical subjects, such as Anasazi ruins, windmills, pioneer trails. North Wind’s website will be expanded to offer a video search page in the near future.

WGBH Stock Sales launches Digital Images Collections

WGBH Stock Sales is launching two new digital image collections in October, the American History collection and the WGBH Signature Collection featuring Julia Child. The American History collection will be available to customers via e-commerce. In addition, the WGBH Stock Sales site is being upgraded so that customers can search across video, text and stills and retrieve results simultaneously.

picturemaxx USA has new Managing Director

Tom Tinervin is the new Managing Director of picturemaxx USA for digital media suppliers as well as buyers. He and his team will establish and widen the business solution picturemaxx BACKSTAGE and the media network i-picturemaxx in the United States. Mr. Tinervin has over 10 years experience in global SaaS (Software as a service) solutions as an executive officer and manager of the following dominant, market leading companies; Digital Railroad, Getty Images, and Corbis. Unique to his accomplishments and vision has been the ability to advocate for artists rights and education; having been at the forefront of leveraging the intersection between digital content providers and buyers. Prior to his leadership in the media industry, Tom founded OminFineArt, an art publishing company with exclusive license to reproduce the masterworks of the Smithsonian American Art Museum as well as working in financial services with Smith Barney. Mr. Tinervin is an active member of various leadership and strategic planning committees and an executive and spokesman of copyright protection with a strong record of leadership and participation with Plus, ASMP, APA, SAA, NPPA, WHNPA.

Cutcaster launches revolutionary search functionality

Cutcaster, the first dynamic marketplace to unite the authenticity of images from content sharing communities on the web with Cutcaster’s growing image library, photographic expertise and experience in the licensing of digital media, today announced the launch of its revolutionary suggestive image, vector and footage search functionality. The new search tools will help buyers of royalty free photos and vector illustrations quickly find the most relevant content to license and cut down the time it takes to search through www.cutcaster.com. Cutcaster implemented the use of a very targeted controlled vocabulary to define what was precisely relevant in each particular image, vector or footage. Cutcaster has reduced the total number of keyword terms so they are now organized in a hierarchical structure with segregated synonyms and adjoining adjectives so the image or vector is specifically defined to just what is in the image and nothing else. Search and filter to get exactly what you are looking for on the first page of results.

Picture this: Berliner and Rex merge to take on US image market

Alan Berliner and John Selby are pleased to announce the merger of the Berliner group of companies and Rex Features’ North America operations. The two companies will work in partnership in the USA bringing a greater range and depth of choice for both companies’ clients in the USA, the UK and worldwide. Rex will now be investing in the development of production and sales operations on the US East and West coasts. Rex Features has a long history as the UK sales agency for Berliner Studio, and in recent years this collaboration has become increasingly close and successful. Regarded as one of the world’s leading image sources, Rex has been planning to expand its existing stateside operations while Berliner, a highly respected market leader in event and celebrity portrait photography in the US, was looking for a strong partner to boost its position in the international market.

Shutterstock on the Red Carpet™

Shutterstock®, the world’s largest subscription-based online stock photo agency, achieved another industry milestone this week when its editorial library passed the 100,000th image mark, thanks to the success of its entertainment/celebrity photo program: Shutterstock on the Red Carpet™. Shutterstock is the only online stock photo agency to offer this unique program, which assists its global network of photographers in getting past the velvet ropes to the hottest events worldwide. Due to the increased demand among news outlets for affordable, royalty-free editorial images, Shutterstock has become a trusted resource within the news community for its commitment to accuracy and high quality. As a result, Shutterstock’s editorial library of newsworthy images is now one of the fastest growing categories in the company’s library of almost 5 Million royalty-free images. Working directly with event organizers, Shutterstock on the Red Carpet obtains coveted press passes to concerts, sporting or public events, and festivals for its network of photographers. Since the program’s inception in 2007, Shutterstock’s photographers have submitted stock photography from top events such as the 2008 White House Correspondents’ Dinner and Sting in concert, as well as stock photos of leading celebrities from Jessica Alba to Brad Pitt, and many more.

Peter Arnold & The Medical File Launch A Unique Royalty Free Collection

Peter Arnold, in partnership with The Medical File, announces the launch of its Royalty Free Collection. Peter Arnold specializes in Astronomy, Biology, Environment, Nature, Science, Third World issues, Travel, Underwater, Wildlife and Weather imagery and The Medical Files specializes in Medical photography and illustrations. The images will be available for immediate download in file sizes ranging from 1 to 50 megabytes. Credit card transactions as well as Buy-On-Account for approved clients will be available to registered users. The Royalty Free line will compliment the more than half million images from both libraries available for Rights Managed licensing. The companies service the images needs of users in all industries with state-of-the-art web site searching technology available through www.peterarnold.com and www.themedicalfile.com.

StockShop LLC Launches OnDemand

Stockshop LLC, the boutique stock agency known for its curated collection of exclusive, 100% model released lifestyle imagery, is pleased to announce the launch of OnDemand, assignment based photography. “Increasingly, our clients were looking for the flexibility and control of a custom shoot, without the intensive manpower and expense,” stated Maggie Hunt, President and Owner of StockShop LLC. “On Demand provides creative professionals with fresh solutions to their image needs. OnDemand is a great addition to our collection, this program allows our key customers to get what they want, when they want it; which is critical in this economy,” states Alexa Hill, VP Sales and Marketing.

StockFood’s Royalty-free brand FoodCollection grows

FoodCollection, the successful Royalty-free brand by food image experts StockFood, is now bigger and better. Organic food, beauty and healthy lifestyle themes are the focus of four brand new virtual CDs of all-original images. The CDs are specially designed to meet the high demand for fresh and innovative marketing and advertising material in these booming sectors. Available for immediate download, the new FoodCollection CDs from StockFood launched with a 20% discount introductory offer. Responding to consumer demand for all things natural, the latest four additions to the FoodCollection CD series have been created for a food and lifestyle trend that is rapidly evolving. The new CDs present striking photographic selections of freshly grown products, organic foods, natural beauty and health and well-being images, providing inspiration for creative professionals in every field.