Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/03/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I met Newman and his wife at the Maine Workshops a few years ago - a very nice man, and a very interesting speaker. Anyone who is in the photo business knows how photographers copyright has been eroded, especially over the last 4 or 5 years, and also, rates paid for usage not, in many cases, having increased for ten or fifteen years. A couple of years ago I read a story by Newman in response top this. I recall he felt it especially unjust how new, young photographers were getting screwed by some of the big name publications. I believe it was partly his way of evening the balance ever so slightly. He got a call from one of the big mags (forget who it was now, Vanity Fair, maybe still Life one such, anyway). It was the (probably bright young thing) assistant photo editor, who by the sound of it, had no idea of Newman's photographic reputation. They wanted to use the famous picture of Stravinsky - his response was - certainly, and this is how much the usage fee is - a very nice tidy sum (of course, nothing less than such a picture is worth). There was a combined gasp and nervous giggle and the girl on the phone told him - Oh no, we would never pay anything like that - our rate is $225.00 (or some such insulting fee). To which Arnold replied - fine - go get someone else to shoot it - and put the phone down. Well, Stravinsky being long dead, a couple of hours later there was a very apologetic call from the Photo Editor, saying we really do need the photograph, and of course we'll pay your fee Mr Newman... - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html