I Was Published in Newspaper

[MDJAK]

Thanks to the members in this section for all the valuable help, advice and descriptions of strobing, I was published in my rather large circulation local newspaper, the Lewisboro Ledger, which also publishes about five or so other newpapers.

Here's the article and picture with my credit below, and then a crop of it.

http://MarkRichman.zenfolio.com/img/v0/p628639380-4.jpg

http://MarkRichman.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p565646913-4.jpg

I took this quick snap from the newspaper by standing on a chair in my kitchen using my 70-200 without looking the viewfinder as I needed to be a distance away from the paper. (If I laid it on the floor, my dogs may have run over and peed on it. ;) )

Here's the original image.

http://MarkRichman.zenfolio.com/img/v7/p915405663-5.jpg

[zelseman]

Did they pay you?
Its a really good shot. Congrats on the credit.

[nicksan]

One day, I'm going to administer that move to your sorry behind.

I would commend you except we all know you were the only photographer there. That's like winning Olympic gold in a one athlete competition.

[MDJAK]

Did they pay you?
Its a really good shot. Congrats on the credit.

Thank you. No, no dough. I supply all my pics to the coach free of charge. My son is a former captain of the team and the coach did so much for him.

One day, I'm going to administer that move to your sorry behind.

I would commend you except we all know you were the only photographer there. That's like winning Olympic gold in a one athlete competition.

Well, if you notice there's another pic on the opposite page. That was taken by the newspaper staff photographer. But obviously my action shots were better than his.

As to putting that move on me, I'll be sure to practice your title when you do. :lol:

me

[TMR Design]

Lookin' Good Mark !!!!!

[Calzinger]

Sports front page - bangin'.

Definitely getting the hang of those strobes I see, great shot. ;)

[Terry Healy]

Congrats on being published. You did a nice job with the strobes. And thanks for posting the original - doesn't it break your heart to see what happens in B&W newsprint?

[Joe Cyr]

How can you not be paid for this? Wow. In Maine (we have a couple of big dailies), they pay upwards of $50 for a photo. You definitely should have been compensated. Always ask, otherwise a paper will continue to try and get free whenever they can.

Great shot too by the way.

[jcpoulin]

Nice Mark....congrats

[MDJAK]

How can you not be paid for this? Wow. In Maine (we have a couple of big dailies), they pay upwards of $50 for a photo. You definitely should have been compensated. Always ask, otherwise a paper will continue to try and get free whenever they can.

Great shot too by the way.

I do admit, sheepishly, that I've never charged for my photos. I do recognize it can at times hurt those who make a living doing in this way, but a very large part of the hobby for me is seeing the look on kids' and parents' faces when they are given framed large prints at the end of season party. If they ask how much or ask to pay, I tell them to donate the money to the school booster club.

I trained a guy from the ground up a few years back. He didn't even own a camera. I told him what to buy, guided him along every step of the way. I didn't even know him. He approached me at a match. He was the father of an opponent. I handed him my camera and told him to shoot away. He wound up with a successful business that he asked me to partner in with him. I politely turned him down as it is just not and never will be a business to me.

He came to dinner at my home a few times while I taught him how to use the camera, etc.

About a year later, he was at a match in my high school gym. He came over to me and in a serious tone said to me: "You better not be taking away any of my business by giving stuff away."

I replied: "I've been giving my photos away for the past five years and I'll continue to do exactly that."

He then said he was only kidding, but I knew he wasn't.

I realized people here can come down on my side and his, but fact is this was my home turf and I had been doing exactly that for years.

Thank you for the compliment on the pic.

Nice Mark....congrats


Thank you, sir.

Mark

[AxxisPhoto]

Congrats Mark! http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Music/music-131.gif

[Tvw]

That sure is cool!
I also love it when stuff gets published!

Tim

[CyberDyneSystems]

Congrats!

[NY Irish]

Great Shot. Congrats on being published

[mikeassk]

That is truly a great image. Congrats on the publish!

[ribbie78]

Nice pic and congrats MDJAK on getting in the paper! That's gotta feel cool.

I don't think the extreme banter/bashing was necessary. I grew up watching my dad give painted portraits away at banquets (like your framed end of the season pics) for big name drivers / racing engineers / etc and he never made a penny. Just sharing his gift and doing what he LOVED. He didn't hurt any local painters either lol. It was nice getting into big race weekends for free so that was payment of sorts, but he didn't ask for it up front.

Perhaps this will be an opening for the paper to pay you for future sporting pics if you're interested since they obviously like your work. They know this isn't normal (free pics). But if you give the pics to them that's YOUR DECISION. You will NOT affect the news/photojournalism market lol.

Besides, If the stringer took better pictures they'd have gotten the other $50, but just because someone has a good camera and tries to make a living doing it doesn't mean they're any good at it. Maybe it should be a hobby for them instead.

Keep shooting! Keep giving pics to the families! I liked how you said you encourage them to give donations to the boosters. Cool

[Peaceboy1996]

Well I for one think MDJAC is one of the most generous guys I know and if he doesn't want to make his photography a business then he shouldn't be pressured to do so. An example of his generousity was loaning me a 1000 dollar telephoto and a flash, for a couple months despite the fact that i am 14 .

[txduggan]

Congrats Mark....

-TD

[Cyclop]

Great capture and "congrats" on being published.

[monty28428]

Congrats Mark! great shot!

[Skip Souza]

Temporarily closed for repairs.

[txduggan]

Mark....

Clear your inbox.......I'm trying to respond to your PM......

-TD

[Skip Souza]

As you can tell off topic posts have been deleted. The next one to post off topic in this thread will be rewarded with a time out in the naughty chair.

The topic of this forum is Photo Sharing, Sports. The only acceptable posts are comments about the photo itself or congratulatory statements about Mark getting the photo published.

While the discussion of doing pro-bono work has merit, it is not appropriate to a Photo Share forum. Please feel free to initiate such a discussion in The Business of Photography or the POTN Lounge.

We now resume our regularly scheduled programming.

[SuzyView]

Back on topic, thanks, Skip.

Congrats, Mark! It's always fun to see your work in print. Getting paid is another deal all together. Better get published than to not. Looks like you're putting your gear to some use anyway. :)

[paraphysis]

congratulations Mark-- I would be as stoked as you are--- it's helpful to see others in this same tricky situation

[zelseman]

Wow...I guess that is just the nature of forums and moderators. Congrats on the spread.

[MDJAK]

Thank you, Skip, Suzy, and everyone else.

Mark

TX, inbox cleaned up too.

[deveraux]

Always great getting published. Once you have items published it gets easier and easier to have other publications review and accept your work. Just one more to add to the resume.

Congrats!

[paraphysis]

At the risk of being placed in the naughty chair-- did you ever get a response to your email?

[MDJAK]

Always great getting published. Once you have items published it gets easier and easier to have other publications review and accept your work. Just one more to add to the resume.

Congrats!
Thank you very much.

At the risk of being placed in the naughty chair-- did you ever get a response to your email?

Yes. (PLEASE, EVERYONE, I post it here because I said I would. It' really NOT necessary to comment on it. Take it for what it is. As Skip said, start a thread in the business of photography section if you wish. Thank you in advance.)

From: "J. B. Cozens" <ledgersports@acorn-online.com>
Date: February 8, 2010 9:56:25 AM EST
To: Mark Richman <MDJAK@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: HersamAcorn.com (http://hersamacorn.com/): Photography



Mark,

Thanks for the photographs, which were great.

I don't have the budget for stringers that I once had, so I really can't use
Scott as much as I'd like to. I feel bad that you are being criticized,
since your photos wound up in the paper really by chance since coach
Swertfager sends them. Last week I was going to use a wrestling photo that I
took earlier in the season. Coach Swertfager said he had some photos from
the Fox Lane meet that he wanted to send over for the story, taken by a
parent. People should know that when you took the pictures, you were not
doing so to get them into the paper; they did so because Bill forwarded them
to me. It didn't take any money out of Scott's pocket. So please don't feel
bad.

If you feel uncomfortable with the situation, let me know and I will not use
your photos anymore, as great as they are..

J.B. Cozens
Lewisboro Ledger




On 2/7/10 10:24 AM, "Mark Richman" <MDJAK@AOL.COM> wrote:

This is an enquiry e-mail via http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/ from:
Mark Richman <MDJAK@AOL.COM>
Dear Mr. Cozens,
As the sports editor of the Ledger, I'd like to ask you a question. I'm an
amateur photographer who considers himself fortunate to have had a few
pictures published in your newspaper, most recently of the wrestling match
between John Jay and Fox Lane. I participate in an online forum and posted a
thread stating I was published in the paper. Many have offered their
congratulations. Many have offered very strong criticism because I was not
paid. I stated I have never charged anyone; that the thrill and joy of the
hobby for me is seeing the look on parents' and kids' faces when they either
see their pic in the paper or when I give them framed pictures at the end of
season party, something I've done since the inception of the team.
The pro photographers on the forum are of the belief that I took money out of
Scott Mullin's pocket by my picture being published and not his; that he
probably lost $50. Obviously if that's the case, I would be disappointed that
I cost him money. I know he travels from place to place and works very hard.
I see him at many events.
So, if you have a minute, this is a link to the thread.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=821951
Can you please either comment therein in your capacity as editor, or just
answer me and with your permission I will reprint your email reply in the
thread.
Thank you for your time.
Mark Richman

[MDJAK]

Skip,

Just checked out your photos on flikr of the owls. Great shots.