Fotoboat...No more

   So I thought i would spend my lunch hour looking though some old and new sailing photos on Fotoboat.com website.  Sadly it appears Mike has given up and the Fotoboat website and business are no more!  I'm gutted!  Really gutted, they always hosed some great photography from Amateur and professional sailing alike.  Not to mention my 1 month of sailing fame being Mr. September back in '09.
What a shame, i hope that someone else takes the reigns (Mr Gruitt) and creates another Photographer collective as the sailing world is poorer without this resource.

So Mike and the Fotoboat team, thanks for the memories and the hardwork.  

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Null Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 May 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 745	Post Options Post Reply Quote Null Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Fotoboat...No more Posted: 02 Jun 15 at 1:39pm
	So I thought i would spend my lunch hour looking though some old and new sailing photos on Fotoboat.com website. Sadly it appears Mike has given up and the Fotoboat website and business are no more! I'm gutted! Really gutted, they always hosed some great photography from Amateur and professional sailing alike. Not to mention my 1 month of sailing fame being Mr. September back in '09. What a shame, i hope that someone else takes the reigns (Mr Gruitt) and creates another Photographer collective as the sailing world is poorer without this resource. So Mike and the Fotoboat team, thanks for the memories and the hardwork.

maxibuddah Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1760	Post Options Post Reply Quote maxibuddah Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 15 at 1:59pm
	That I would echo, met mike on several occasions and he's a thoroughly nice chap. Perhaps retirement beckoned for him. Or of course people weren't really interested in buying photos anymore. A shame either way. Looks like its back to club based photographers again and photos on club and class websites.
	Everything I say is my opinion, honest

iiiiitick Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 19 May 15 Online Status: Offline Posts: 240	Post Options Post Reply Quote iiiiitick Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 15 at 3:24pm
	It is a shame, there were some great pictures. I suppose people like me spoil it. I take lots of pictures on my £100 camera and just give them to people via the internet or on facebook. Nothing like as good but easily available.

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 15 at 3:37pm
	The difference between a good amateur photo and a very good pro shot in most cases isn't going to be worth the difference between free and expensive. It has to be a truly exceptional shot to be worth it, and there aren't enough of them to keep a business going, I guess.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

turnturtle Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 05 Dec 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2538	Post Options Post Reply Quote turnturtle Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 15 at 3:40pm
	At some of the more formal British Dressage events I've support my wife at, 'media rights' are sold to local photographers. What this means is we are not allowed to take photos of active competition - no harm of a quick snap outside the arena, but competition photos are strictly prohibited. I'm not entirely sure how this stacks up legally, nor do I really care, I along with everyone else respect it for what it is. That 'media rights' stuff might sound awfully draconian, but it does mean that quality photos are available to buy for personal and commercial use, and the quality of the production is far better than a load of amateur snaps from someone's dad with an expensive SLR for Christmas. It certainly adds to a more sophisticated, professionally managed event compared to the unaffiliated stuff where anyone can get snap happy or film the tests on their iPhones. It's a different approach - and not one I necessarily think would work for your average dinghy event- I mean let's be serious, if an open gets 40 boats then it's a damn good turnout, what's the average... 20? If a photographer were to get a 20% conversion rate on private photo sales, that's what - 4 customers..... then you need to make the rest of your money selling photos back to the club, the class and wider media for commercial use.... good luck with that, it's hardly in their interest when 'John's Dad' will do it for free, despite the obvious inferiority. late edit: I would add I've bought Fotoboat photos in the past and enjoyed their service. It always made me uneasy seeing their stuff 'shared' on Facebook by friends who've clearly not bought the rights. Unfortunately there's a disjoint between the value a photographer may put on their work, (taking into consideration prime costs) and what a member of the public will be willing to pay for it. That's a shame, but sadly a sign of the times I guess. Edited by turnturtle - 02 Jun 15 at 4:04pm

maxibuddah Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1760	Post Options Post Reply Quote maxibuddah Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 15 at 3:45pm
	I would have thought that the only real money in sailing photography is with the lead mines and America's Cup type events
	Everything I say is my opinion, honest

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 15 at 3:52pm
	I've got a great sequence up on the wall from the Firefly Nationals of a windy reach, bought from another photographer who has now retired, who's name I forget. He was kind enough to give me some shots to put in the Firefly Bulletin that year. I hope he got some custom from them, as I also put an ad in.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

iiiiitick Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 19 May 15 Online Status: Offline Posts: 240	Post Options Post Reply Quote iiiiitick Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 15 at 7:38pm
	I remember being at the GP Worlds in Abersoch about 13 years ago. My daughter was crewing and we rushed down to a local chapel where pictures were available. So excited to see and buy them. A very different situation now however when everyone has av digital camera.

turnturtle Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 05 Dec 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2538	Post Options Post Reply Quote turnturtle Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 15 at 9:01pm
	It's definitely more on trend to Instagram your pre race muesli than spend thirty quid on a once in a lifetime sailing memory Edited by turnturtle - 02 Jun 15 at 9:02pm

Woodburner Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 13 Mar 15 Location: Folkestone Kent Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Post Options Post Reply Quote Woodburner Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 15 at 9:04pm
	I'm not so sure it's a bad thing, I often wake up screaming as a result I'm pretty sure of this guy's permanent abuse of my retina thanks to his rendition of a gurning 300 helm to posterity, it will be gone now won't it? Promise me!
	Foil fun