Anthologies/Books

Victoria · 09-01-2007, 01:32

I've recently entered two on-line photography competitions and in both cases my photos have been selected for publication in their books. Has anyone else had their photos published from a competition and if so did you buy the book it was published in and was it worth it?

It seems like they're just out to make money when they tell you you've won the "Editor's Choice Award" .........for only $19.95!

**stepheno** · 09-01-2007, 07:07

Hi Victoria - it could be just a cheap way for publishers to acquire photographs rather than pay pros. Have you a link? Could probably tell you more then. Afterthought....just make sure you dont pay them anything

***Steve*** · 09-01-2007, 07:25

Every time I have had anything published I have insisted that I receive a full copy of the publication for free...

Like Stepheno says, some less scrupulous companies use the 'badge' of competition to get high quality work for virtually no personal cost and in the worst cases they will legally claim all rights to the shots as well. Check the terms carefully on any competitions as you may find with some that by just submitting your shots you are handing over all rights to the company that is running the competition. These can include rights to publish your shots where ever they wish, as many times as they wish and even without any credit you as the original photographer. In some cases they can also sell on the shots to third parties.

May we enquire what you won in both competitions that you mentioned above and more details of the actual competitions?

P-E · 09-01-2007, 08:19

It's a shame they didn't give you a copy for free but congratulations on having your images published

......do we get to see them

Victoria · 09-01-2007, 09:14

I'm interested in the anthology that will be published by photo laureates is a leading photography community and photo reference site for amateur photographers photolaureates.org at some stage.

The photo I submitted was one of my step-daughter and I know she'd been stoked to see her picture in a book. I was just wondering if anyone had ever seen one of their anthologies and whether it was worth the money.

As for prizes they've yet to announce the finalist (on either site) - Let's just say I'm not waiting by the phone. However, picture.com will allow me to buy a ribbon for $20, a medal for $50 (and they throw in the ribbon for no extra) and should I go to the conference in Vegas I get a trophy - somewhere in there I think I should at least get some free steak knives!!! lol

Victoria · 09-01-2007, 09:16

Oh, and P-E the photos are in my gallery already "Rose Red" and "Alex".

P-E · 09-01-2007, 09:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victoria

Oh, and P-E the photos are in my gallery already "Rose Red" and "Alex".

Gary Bagshawe · 09-01-2007, 11:43

Hmm, I would be very wary, They will next be asking you to go to america to receive your prize and as far as I understand it this is a bit of a con, They tell you that your photo has been selected to go in a "coffee table" book of some sort because it is a winner etc then offer to sell you the book at around $50.00 or something. They cant provide you with an isbn because the book will never go on general sale, it only produced in small numbers and offered for sale to the people who sent in photographs.

Rob Barron · 09-01-2007, 14:28

This is actually not an unusual scam I'm afraid. They work on the basis that pretty much any photographer would love to see their photos published and on bookshelves in shops and libraries. Sadly, that doesn't actually happen in this case.

They claim it is a competition which, in a sense, it is because they can then turn down anything that is total rubbish or at least that gives them the right to publish what they want and nothing else. But competitions let you win things and this does not. What you 'win' is a book that you have to pay for and loss of copyright of the photos you enter so they can sell them on to be used as and when they like at no financial reward to you whatsoever.

They get enough pics together, then they send you all out bills for the books. As soon as they have received payment for them all, they then send it on a print run big enough to cover the orders. So yes, you do get your book. Usually it is shabbily put together, not the 'high quality binding' they promise beforehand.

The key to realising this is not going to end up being published as a true book is that it will not have an ISBN (International Standard Book Numbering) number. All ISBN numbers are registered and unique to that edition of that book by that publisher. Most of these companies are not even registered as publishing houses so it would be impossible to give their book an ISBN number.

The way that works is fairly simple: It is always a 10-digit number. The first digit is the language code (0 or 1 is in English) then a hyphen and then a number that represents the publishing house and then a number representing the title of the book (these two numbers can be reversed) and finally a check digit to confirm the previous digits.

Every book published in the UK has a unique ISBN number and has a copy stored by the British Library. It can be traced easily using the Books In Print website. Without this number, it is not truly a published book at all, merely a printed book. Hopefully you can now see the difference. I could sit at home and print my own book if I wanted to. I could, given the appropriate skills, bind it to a very high standard and finish it as professionaly as any book available anywhere.... but it is still not a published book.

Ah, but what about self-publishing? Yes, you can publish your own book but again it would not be legally published until you have registered both yourself as the publisher and the book's title and author and been given a proper number. Sadly, these scams often print a worthless and meaningless number to make it look like a book but when you go to check it at BIP you find it doesn't exist or is the number for an entirely different book.

There are plenty of companies out there that will print you a book using your own pictures, your own titles and sub-titles etc for each picture and most make a reasonable job of it as well. You can have a lovely keepsake that costs about £25 and further copies can be bought for a discounted price. Personally I would strongly recommend anyone thinking of entering one of these 'competitions' that then make you pay for your prize, to instead go this route so that the book is ALL your own work and a much greater pleasure to own and show your riends. After all, your pictures will be on every page instead of in a 2" square box on page 137!

Cheers,
Rob

Victoria · 09-01-2007, 21:17

Thanks for all the info guys - you've certainly comfirmed my suspicions!

Did I read on this site that Rob is an English teacher? Oh damn, now I have to make sure my spelling is always correct.

Rob Barron · 10-01-2007, 16:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victoria

Thanks for all the info guys - you've certainly comfirmed my suspicions!

Did I read on this site that Rob is an English teacher? Oh damn, now I have to make sure my spelling is always correct.

LOL, yes I am an English teacher but don't worry, I make just as many typos as everyone else. After all, I am sure your spelling mistakes are all actually just slips when typing..... aren't they?

Cheers,
Rob

Victoria · 11-01-2007, 09:42

Oh, I liek taht idear. All mi speling erors frum hear on in r to b consided typos.

(Constructing that sentence was actually hard work.)

I'm sure you'd be too polite to point out any mistakes so I'll rest easy.