Pro-Imaging

The mailing list is busy and a very useful place to find instant answers to problems. Recent posts have included a range of useful subjects, including:

• Step-by-step plans to build your own compressed air supply
• Detailed comparisons of image database software
• Discussions about the future of photography
• Copyright issues
• Finding the centre point of images in Adobe Photoshop

Web site content

The web site offers a number of different ways of discussing and storing information that can help other members. There are a number of discussion forums that cover topics that may not be suitable for the mailing list. All members are free to save and publish documents and images in their own home folders. These are indexed and made available to all members via the powerful search feature.

The site content isn't available to non-members. However, you can find out how powerful the content management system works by looking at another web sited hosted alongside pro-imaging.org:

Idea Knowlegebase

Activism - representing the rights of non-members

Our members are located all over the world and can quickly notify the membership of important topics and developments in the world of professional image making.

Recently we discussed the BBC's national photographic competition "A Digital Picture of Britain". We were concerned that the terms and conditions were unfair to the amateur photographers who were entering and took direct action using the BBC's own Message Boards:

A digital rip-off of Britain

If you haven't got time to read all the posts, just head for the last one where you'll find that that the BBC agreed that we were right about their unfair competition terms and amended them.

Activism - representing the views of members

As one of the few organisations that formally oppose the economics of Royalty-Free image sales, we were invited to present our views of Adobe Stock Photos in a face-to-face meeting with Adobe.

On 4 August 2005, 3 representatives from Pro Imaging met with:

• James Alexander, Director of Adobe Stock Photos
• Karen Melchior, Group Product Manager
• Tony Yun, Senior Product Manager

During the meeting we discussed the following issues:

• Pro Imaging criticised Adobe for getting involved with Royalty-Free image sales via Adobe Stock Photos.
• We asked them to consider incorporating additional sales channels into Bridge so that both Rights Managed stock and direct sales of the work of individual photographers could be made available to end users.
• We requested that non-US photographers and (specifically) members of Pro Imaging could have their work included in the Photographers Directory.
• We passed on critical comments about how photographers view Adobe, especially: 18-month product upgrade cycles, Adobe's near-monopoly of image making/editing technology

Adobe responded to our concerns in great detail. Unfortunately, their responses are subject to a non-disclosure agreement and we are unable to publish or discuss any of their comments until we see related information published by Adobe.