Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much will the book cost? What about shipping, I hear that blurb shipping for non-US customers is horrendous?
Our price point is $56.95 plus P&P for a 200 page book. (subject to any price increases by Blurb)
Blurb has worked hard to improve shipping options for it's non USA customers. They now have publishing houses in Europe.
2. How much profit are you guys making anyway?
Nothing. Nobody is making a profit on this (except the printing company!).
3. Will I get paid if my picture is published?
No, this is purely a POTN community thing. The Terms and Conditions are clear, by submitting an image you waive any expectation or right to remuneration for any use of your image by the Book Committee and POTN, including its publication in the book.
4. How many pages will be in the book? How many photos is that?
Current plans are for a 200 page book (like Volume 3).
5. How many pages will the <insert> Share get? How many photos is that?
We will decide the size of each Share's book chapter on the number of image submissions we receive. We believe this most accurately reflects POTN and the interest in the Book Project. However, this may produce some very uneven results, so we reserve the right to even things up a bit.
6. How do I submit an image for the contest / for the book?
There will be a submission website setup at http://thepotnbook.com
through which you will be able to sign up to the Terms and Conditions and provide all the necessary information about you and your images. All photographers can submit to any or all Share categories, but will be allowed to submit only 1 photo per Share. Each image can only be submitted once. Be sure to pick your very best images! The Selection Panel will be looking for the very best that POTN has to offer, and we want to capture the spirit of POTN in the images we publish. Images published in Volume 1, 2 or 3 are not eligible for resubmission!
7. What size should the image be for the contest / for the book?
Images should be submitted as JPEG files at maximum (no lower than Qualtiy LEVEL 10 in PS or equivalent) quality in sRGB colour space, EXIF intact, at a resolution of exactly 2574 pixels on the longest side. Images submitted must not have a frame or any visible watermark. Images of incorrect size will be rejected by the submission website. Cropping is allowed, but bear in mind the Book format suits 'standard' ratio images best. The reason we ask for this size is so we do not have to ask for resubmitted images. 2574 pixels is the largest size that will be printed in the book. If your image's native resolution is less than this you will need to upsize your image. If not sure how, contact one of the Book Team for advice.
8. How should I process my image?
Post process it so that it looks as good as it can get so long as it remains fundamentally a photographic image. Bearing in mind this will be a photo book so heavily post-processed images may not find favor with the selection panel or the forum voters. You should do any capture sharpening you wish but NO output sharpening should be done.
9. Why are you guys doing the output sharpening?
We will not be able to do the book layout until we have all the photos that will be in it. In order to be flexible in the design of the book we will have to size images to fit the best possible layout. Proper sharpening is dependent on the size of the image and the print method, so it is best done after the final layout has been done.
10. But I'm very good with sharpening and I want to sharpen my own photo!
Again, we can't possibly know the final layout in advance so we will have to resize images to fit the final layout and do the output sharpening at that time. You are still allowed to do capture/creative sharpening.
11. I have no idea how to post-process my photo for the book! What do I do?
Don't worry. Submit your image, and let us know. We will have a group of skilled Photoshop volunteers who are willing to help out in such situations.
12. Who voted for you guys anyway?
We volunteered our services to support and run this project and anyone who has done so has been able to contribute as much or as little as they wish. A core of POTN Members have taken on the running of the Project with support from many POTN’ers.
13. Who voted for the members on the Selection Panel?
Mostly they volunteered their services following several threads
We also looked for members who have shown a skill with photography and who also have shown a serious involvement in the POTN community. We then asked a bunch of these folks to volunteer, and most did.
14. Who are they anyway?
An up to date list of the whole Book Project Team can be found here:
15. How will my photo be used?
Submitted images will be hosted in a private web gallery for Panel Selection and then in a public web gallery if selected for public forum voting. Other than this selection process the image will only be used for publication in the Book and we may post or link some images on POTN.
16. What is the position on releases for images published in the Book?
We did a lot of work on this issue for the previous volumes and here is what we believe is the definitive position.
Two key quotes from "Photographer's Legal Guide" are:
“You don’t need a model release if the photo is used editorially, which includes news items, textbooks, and public interest items.”
“Courts traditionally have defined public interest or newsworthiness in liberal and far-reaching terms, not limiting it to the dissemination of news in the sense of current events. They have extended it well beyond that to include all types of factual, educational and historical data, even including entertainment and amusement and other interesting phases of human activity in general.”
The POTN Book falls into this editorial category.
Of course it's not as simple as that, as a few rules concerning privacy rights still apply. In short, in the United States the privacy rights state that:
1. One can not intrude upon another's solitude
2. One can not publicly disclose private facts
3. One can not portray another in a false light
4. One can not use another name or likeness to obtain some benefit.
The first three are easy to understand and should be clear in a photograph. Since the book is not making a profit for anyone affiliated with POTN no photographer will receive any benefit from publishing a photo in this book.
Some countries - notably France - have even more strict privacy rights. A photo taken of someone - even in a public place - in France can not be published since this is considered an invasion of privacy.
Therefore our submission rules are as follows:
a. It is up to the photographer to ensure that none of the 4 privacy rights have been violated concerning the submitted photo. If the Panel Members or Book Committee have any doubts the submission will be rejected unless a model release is available.
b. Photographs of people taken in the country of France, and other countries with strict privacy rights, can not be submitted to the Book Project without a model release.
c. If the photographer already has a model release then the publication of the photo in the POTN Book must be allowed by the release.
d. If you have a photograph taken at an event (concert, auto race) that allows photography only for personal use, or otherwise prohibits photo publication, then you can not submit an image from that event.
e. If a work of art (including paintings and sculptures) is depicted in the photograph, it is up to the photographer to ensure the copyright of that work, in the country that photograph was taken, is not infringed by publication, or to provide a property release. Note that some countries restrict reproduction even of publicly displayed art.
f. Model and/or Property Releases still be required if any Panel Members or Book Committee members have any doubts about a photo. If a release can not be provided the photo will be rejected. This decision will be final.
References:
"Photographer’s Legal Guide" by Carolyn E. Wright, Esq.
This book is about $20 for softcover or $10 for an ebook version. It is an excellent reference for professional photographers and others interested in photographers rights.
http://www.photoattorney.com/
Wikipedia - Privacy Rights
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_privacy
Information on two cases involving publication of people's images:
Nussenzweig v. DiCorcia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nussenzweig_v._DiCorcia
Same case, with additional info on "Arrington vs New York Times"
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/19/ar...rssnyt&emc=rss
17. How long will the Panels take to decide on the final images?
There is a timeline and will be followed as closely as possible. Books should be ready for purchase in plenty of time for the Christmas holiday.
18. I really want a book to give to <friends/family> but I think they might be offended by some of the shots in the Glamour & Nude section... what do I do?
We plan to publish two versions of the book this time. One version will exclude the G&N section to cover exactly this situation. We understand this will be frustrating for those with images in G&N but believe that, following feedback on Volume 1, this is the best way forward to ensure the book is seen by as many people as possible.
19. How long do I have to submit my photos?
We are allowing a month, from Midnight CDT 1 March 2010 to Midnight CDT on 31 March 2010.
20. What will happen then?
The Selection Panel will ensure that each of the photos submitted is of high quality and will represent POTN in its best light. Photos that pass this initial technical and suitability evaluation will be placed in a public gallery. A public poll will take place, one for each Share, and the public's votes will decide one-half of the photos to go into the book. The other half will be selected by the Selection Panel from the remaining photos. In this way, we can ensure a selection of high quality photos that pass both Selection Panel and public approval.
The selected photos will be placed into galleries and put up to public vote within POTN. Note that all voters must have a POTN join date of 1 December 2010 or earlier with a minimum post count of 30. Each voter will be allowed to pick their favorite photos in a poll thread in the appropriate Share.
21. This is a Canon forum, but I have a picture taken on a <non-Canon camera> can I still submit it?
Absolutely.
22. Why do you insist on up to 50 words narrative.. I can't write for toffee?
In previous volumes we felt that good narrative really helped with the forum community aspect of the book. Therefore we really want people to submit something with their image. There is no set format, it could be where it was, what mood you were in, some unusual detail of the image or some technical stuff - we don't mind. If you are no Shakespeare don't worry/panic either. We have a great editor who can knock your words into shape.. just give us the info to work on.
23. What if there are too many votes? What if there are not enough?
The Panel Members and the Committee will make final decisions on the photos, using the votes as guidelines. The Book Committee has the final say
24. The contest is over - what happens now?
We will need to design the book and do all the necessary ordering of images to ensure the overall look of the book is good. This will take several months so be patient.. we will keep you updated on progress with regular postings on POTN.
25. I won a spot in the book! What do I have to do now?
Nothing. We will announce which images have been selected but since you provided us with a full size image and all the supporting information when you submitted, you need do nothing now. However, towards the end of the design process, we will ask you to proof your entry.
26. Why does it take so long to design the book?
To ensure a quality product we need to get the design right first time as opportunities for proofing are minimal. We also need to do our best to colour match all the images for print, do the necessary sharpening.
27. I won the contest! Yay! What page will my photo be on?
If you won the contest for the Share Section your image will be the 'Signature' Image for that section of the book. That means it will be the only image on the front page of that section.
28. Hey, I got 4th place but I'm on the 6th page! Why??
Once the Signature Shot is chosen, all other winning photos are considered equal and will be placed in the Book in a way that complements the design and layout of the Book. The shot receiving the second most votes by the forum and the single shot choosen by the Book Team, will each be on a single page like the two previous volumes.
29. When will I be able to order the book?
Probably early to mid November 2010 but we will keep you updated as the project progresses.
30. How do I order the book?
It will be available through Blurb.com.
31. I got my book but it's damaged!
Email Blurb. They have pretty good customer service and generally will replace below standard books.
32. My photo is smaller than I wanted!
Due to design and layout restrictions we can not guarantee that every photo will be at a particular size, but we will certainly do our best to print the largest size possible.
33. I don't think the quality is very good...
We thoroughly researched the project and checked over 30 publishing companies. Considering the answers to the polls - where most people showed that they wanted a high quality book at a decent price - we narrowed the search to 3 companies. Sample books were ordered from all 3, and the best quality company was chosen. Blurb has had good reviews elsewhere and the sample we received certainly met our requirements for quality and price. The feedback from previous volumnes has certainly been positive.
34. Hey, this is GREAT! Who do I thank?
I'd like to thank my agent, my manager, my family.. Seriously, consider making a donation to POTN. Do it HERE!
35. Are there any specific exclusions I need to know about for images that might get published?
Any shot taken in Madagascar between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. local will result in the immediate loss of chocolate privileges for two weeks and it is considered rude to take pictures of the left ear of anyone with Luxembourg citizenship."
Seriously, Any picture that would be suitable for posting on POTN is suitable for submission to the Book Project. We apply the same guidelines as the POTN Moderators on image suitability and appropriateness for the Share the image is submitted in.
36. Where are we going to store the submitted photos?
Images will be stored by the respective Image Managers for each share - on their hard drive and in a web Gallery provided to us for this project free by smugmug.com (thanks guys!)
37. What do the Image Managers do?
Image Managers will receive all images for their Share Selection from the submission website. They will then collate and store the images, before uploading them to a private web gallery on our smugmug site. After the initial Panel Selection, the images will be moved to a public web gallery on our smugmug site for POTN voting. The IM will also create and monitor the voting thread for that Share on POTN as well as the image selection by the Panel.
38. What do the Panel Members do?
Selection Panel members will first be evaluating the technical quality of the submitted images to ensure they are suitable for book publication and that the images are suitable and in keeping with the overall theme and design of the book. All images that pass this initial test will be eligible for public forum voting. Once the Public voting has finished, the Selection Panel will choose the other 50% of images from ALL those that passed technical selection.
39. What does the Book Committee do?
Just think of us as the editors of the book and hands on the Tiller of the overall process. All of us were heavily involved in Volume 1,2 &/or Volume 3 so we know the likely problems. We will run the overall process of image submission, voting, collation, design and publishing.
40. How many photos can I submit into the contest?
You can submit one photo in each Share, but you can enter as many Shares as you like. The Committee reserves the right to limit the number of photos published by any Member.
41. What size is the book?
8x10 inches landscape format
42. Can I get softcover? Can I get hardcover?
The book will be hardcover.
43. Can I get the book as a PDF?
No. We decided early on that the aim of the Project was to produce a book. Images can easily seen on POTN.
44. POTN is an international community. Why are there no pictures from West Bokhistanislovia?
None were submitted and/or selected. Images will be selected based on their individual merit.
45. Where do my photos go when I submit them?
They are forwarded to the email account of the respective Image Manager who takes it from there. He/She will then upload them to our own smugmug account, kindly provided by smugmug especially for this project.
46. Who has access to my photos?
Initially your images will only be accessible to the Panel Members via a password protected web Gallery. Should your image be selected for public vote, an 800px resized version will be published in a public web gallery on our smugmug site http://potn.smugmug.com.
47. So who provided the gallery hosting for this free of charge?
smugmug.com
48. I volunteered to be an IM, how much server and disk space do I need
You won’t need any server space, all gallery hosting is being done centrally on our smugmug account. You will need sufficient hard disk space for the images. A full size 12 Qual JPG might be close to 10MB. You will, however, need a decent internet connection (at least Broadband) for downloading and uploading images.
49. What is the size of the print run?
blurb is an on-demand publishing house so it makes little difference to price or availability if its 1 or 1000 books (there are some volume discounts). We are not bound by a minimum order.
50. What's EXIF, why do we need it, and how do I make sure my photos contain it?
EXIF is data that's embedded into RAW or JPG files by the camera and (sometimes and optionally) image editing software. This contains information about what camera took the shot, when and with what settings. Note, there is no personal data contained within EXIF data unless you want it to be there (and it won't be there unless you really want it to). Do not save for web. This strips the EXIF data and reduces the printing quality.
We request that images contain EXIF data so that we can see (and print) the settings that that the shot was taken with. This isn't because we don't believe you when you tell us, it just makes it easier to confirm the data you provide in the submission form and, yes, ultimately, it's protection for us (and you) should there ever be any dispute about the images.
You can check for the EXIF within your image editing software, or by using windows (it'll be in the file properties, you might have to view them as "Advanced" info).
Alternatively, you can use the online checker at http://regex.info/exif.cgi or use Opanda's EXIF Viewer in Firefox or IE
For more info (particularly relating to HDR) check out this post and reply:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/...&postcount=126
