Talk to any professional photographer today and they'll invariably seethe at the mention of istockphoto or other websites that are lowering the costs of stock photos (and videos), and becoming the first choice of many cost-squeezed agencies or clients. BusinessWeek takes a closer look: But what should photographers and graphic designers do? They need to target that part of the market that isn't looking for the lowest …
I Pity The Fool That Yanked Mr. T Off The Air
The Mr. T Snickers ad that caused a stir this week has been taken off the air. The AP says Mars Inc., which makes the candy bars, meant the ad to be funny, not offensive, and that's why they decided to pull it. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation said the ad used stereotypes of gay men. Readers may recall that this is actually the second time Mars has pulled a Snickers ad because of accusations that it was …
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The Defense Of The Offensive
I predicted that Bob Garfield's Open Letter To John Wren would stir things up, and judging by the 70 comments, it sure has. So should we care if ads are perceived by some as offensive or not? It's the subject of my new Talent Zoo column. Here's a snippet: “It’s just an ad.” This one usually comes out of the mouths of people who’ll otherwise go to any lengths to defend bad work, particularly if it’s their own. In an …
Found on Flickr
According to The New York Times, Getty Images will scour Flickr for images it might be able to sell. Getty editors will comb Flickr in search of interesting images. They will then invite photographers to participate in the program and ensure that their images have the proper releases to be licensed legally. Those who are included in the program will get paid at the same rates that Getty pays photographers who are …
Creative Is Now A Commodity
But this video demonstrates that where you grow it makes a difference: …
ObamaKia
This, for a Dallas Kia dealer: UPDATE: I guess they do a lot of impersonations: …
McCain Is Not A Mac–Or A PC
A few weeks ago, I wrote on Talent Zoo that despite the hype, there are still people who don't use the Net or care about new media. And for many, it's a choice, not a factor of age, class, or income. Apparently, this digital divide includes the man who wants to be the leader of the free world, John McCain. I think in 2008, our President doesn't need to be on Facebook all day, but he ought to know how to use a …
R.I.P. Bo Diddley
This seems like forever ago... From the AP: Rock pioneer Bo Diddley dies at age 79. …
Miami Expresses Itself As A Hot Destination
My buddy True pointed me to the new "Miami Expressions" campaign, which is an attempt to rebrand the city as a place where people from all walks of life can express themselves through the arts, fashion, and other cultural activities. Artists from Miami are featured in the campaign. But more significantly, the website for Miami Expressions is in 6 languages. That's impressive, and very important for a city that seems …
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Send Better Ads Right Over
MoveOn.org is sponsoring Obama in 30 Seconds, a contest for its members. I'm not sure I totally buy the implied message or ending of this (and I'm an Obama supporter), but I really like this spot: Very, very clever. …