Freaky Forage of the Month...

I noticed these underneath a tree in front of our house a few years ago, and couldn't resist picking up a couple for the sheer weirdness of them! Then I saw they had some kind of nut inside, which I googled and found was a Turkish Hazelnut.

After a lot of effort with the nutcrackers (and some strategic turning to find it's weak spot) the very thick shell eventually cracked, revealing a lovely small fresh crunchy nut.

I foraged a fair few that year, then the following Autumn waited excitedly for them to start growing again. However, nothing appeared. Nor the next year. It seams they only bear nuts every few years, as they have once again grown in abundance this year.
I am now in a battle with a local squirrel to see who can stash the most away.

My Image Copied on Shutterstock, iStock, Thinkstock, Fotolia and probably more!

My milk splash vector has been at the top of searches for 2 or 3 years, but another contributor - 'Maria Ferencova' on Shutterstock, 'VladoOndo' on iStock - has completely copied my vector gradient mesh, possibly even just downloaded mine, then distorted it and moved a few droplets around!

My original vector:

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-100118498/stock-vector-cows-sheeps-goats-soya-rice-oat-or-coconut-milk-splash-vector-illustration-on-blue-background.html?src=n2_281VA-HSkrc1catBt3A-2-30

Complete rip-off:
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-180344336/stock-vector-cows-sheeps-milk-splash-background.html?src=sxpvkCN0RLNQ7iausw3oiQ-1-46

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-219783742/stock-vector-milk-splash-on-blue-background.html?src=GT88XMwsXD-3uiU9vA9MDQ-1-0

...plus loads of variations of it.
http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-1275082p1.html

http://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/vladoondo/facets=%7b%2225%22%3a%226%22%7d#1c0f9136

Also has the same images on iStock,
http://www.istockphoto.com/vector/milk-splash-ilustration-37219420?st=3a943fc

...plus Thinkstock, Fotolia and who knows how many more, all making money on the back of MY original hard work. I am absolutely outraged that Shutterstock are allowing these to continue to be sold. They did suspend all her images temporarily, then put most back online again.

If this is the way things are heading then I can see no point bothering creating images any more only to be ripped off, taking sales of MY images away.

Interestingly there was a new law yesterday regarding copyright:

http://www.greetingstoday.co.uk/news/recent_news/10_years_jail_threat_for_copying.aspx

...so I shall be pursuing this legally. Anyone have any experience of this? or any advice more than welcome!

Beautiful, Magical & Surreal Garden Photography by Magda Wasiczek

Some absolutely astonishing photography, very inspiring . Might have to dust off my macro lens and get outdoors.

LOTS more on her website (a little TOO much maybe, could do with a little editing): http://www.magdawasiczek.pl/on_my_magic_meadow

She also won International Garden Photographer of the year: http://www.igpoty.com/competition05/winners.asp?parent=winners

(click images to enlarge)

Amazing Storm Photography by Mitch Dobrowner

What can I say? Words can't really add anything...

(click to enlarge)

Decision Time for foodonwhite...

Well, we've made a big decision.

We know the image library market has changed drastically in the last few years.
We know the success of microstock has killed off a lot of business for small independent photolibraries.
We know design companies are signing up to microstock deals in their droves.
We know anyone can buy a half decent high res SLR these days and point it at a vegetable.
Call it progress, call it a tragedy, call it the death of the industry if you will, but we know it can never return to the way it was. Change has already well and truly happened.

So...
We have had to make a difficult decision: Whether to be part of the past (and sit around remembering how many images we used to sell), or be part of the future.

We have decided to move our images to Shutterstock.
OK, this won't be a popular decision with some photographers and libraries, but means our images will now be available at ridiculously low prices to the anyone around the globe.

It may take a little time to transfer all our foodonwhite images over (and Shutterstock don't seem to accept any photos shot in natural daylight or with shallow depth of field, which is a little frustrating!) but you can already start downloading now at our portfolio page:

http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-804898p1.html

We will still be blogging and tweeting as usual, so will keep in touch with you all still (links below).

With all our best wishes to you all for the future.
foodonwhite photolibrary

http://foodonwhite.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/foodonwhite

Food Photographer of the month: Chris Court

Just LOVE Chris Court's food images, they make me want to go on holiday, where the light is always good and the food is always fresh & delicious. See more of his work here:
http://chriscourt.com
...and very often in the lovely pages of Donna Hay magazine (available from all good newsagents now)

enjoy...