IthacaStock.com comes ALIVE May 5!

IthacaStock.com comes officially to life on May 5, 2010.

Our contributors are not only from Ithaca, but Virginia Beach, Hawaii, Alaska, Syracuse, Rochester, on the shore of Lake Ontario, and many, many more places all across the fruited plain!

So don't make the erroneous assumption that if you are not in Ithaca, we are not for you.

When we began, it was, among other things, a simple act of frustration.

We got on to the big stock sites, and, although they boasted 10 million images, they never had EXACTLY what I wanted.

And don't get me started on their call routing systems.

So we decided to begin a stock agency with the simple concept of providing to people, exactly the perfect image.

We also want provide customer service that you have never before experienced, all without a call routing system. When you call or email, you will be responded to by a human being who knows her stuff.

But Wait! There's MORE!

The other reason we considered opening a stock agency, is that Miles and I were looking for an outlet for our work. Now I'm speaking for myself here, but I think I'm a pretty good photographer - but there are many I am connected with, through PPSNYS (Professional Photographer's Society of New York State) and PPA (Professional Photographers of America), who are so awesome in their talent, that I am not worthy to even carry their exposure meter.

Wouldn't it be great if I could represent the work of these incredible photo artists, and share the work that they create with you?

So we're almost ready.

Our contributors are uploading many photographs that we hope will catch your eye, images to use in your publications, on your web site, to hang in your office or to use within your new brochure.

So look for a communication on May 5 from IthacaStock.com

We'll post on Facebook, on Twitter, on the radio in Central New York, via this blog, and by email to everyone who ever knew me or any of my friends...

Please come visit the site.

Please pass this on!

Have an AWESOME day!

Monroe

Contributor to IthacaStock.com

Contributors to IthacaStock.com aren't just folks off the street. They are professionals in photographic arts, and passionate artists with their own unique vision.

My good friend Honey DeLapa is one of these awesome people whose images light up the heart.

Honey DeLapa of DeLapa Photography in Hilton, NY, began her professional career in the late seventies, making beautiful images for wedding and portrait clients. She is a member of the Professional Photographers Society of New York State and the Professional Photographers of America and her work has been honored with many awards. She has studied with some of the world’s finest photographers throughout her career and continues to educate herself in the latest photographic trends.

Photographs created by Honey have been exhibited at galleries in the Monroe County area and have been published in “Upstate” and “Finger Lakes” magazines.

In 1997, she began creating a series of prints entitled “Impressions” which are produced without the traditional photo chemical process. Each print is made from an original, hand manipulated photograph which is then digitized.

Today her work is created digitally and she continually adds to her large collection of stock images.

We are Raw Material!

We are photographic artists, providing our treasured, massaged, carefully manicured images to another creative arena. As artists, we love the work we've done, and want the viewing public to adore it for all of its natural splendor.

So we upload it to a stock site, and expect it to be featured in a travel brochure, or as a centerpiece of a TV commercial.

Our clients, however, are artists in their own right. They see images as raw material to enhance and fill out their own artistic vision. Your carefully crafted image might be wholly unrecognizable in its next generation form, but without it, the graphics designer would not have had the raw material with which to create their own art.

For example, on the left is a photo of Ithaca Falls, in Ithaca, NY.

I, personally, think that this is a beautiful photo of early spring, life just returning to the trees; an image of cold, raw beauty.

On the right, is the graphics designer's creation. Only elements of the original image were used, the color changed, graphics and labels added - and this is background to the web site's menu.

Is one better than the other?

Do I care what they have done to my image?

Does it matter? I don't think so.

The image was used for exactly the purpose for which a stock image was intended - as raw material for the graphics designer,

Each is valid.

Each is art.

Each is wonderful.

Until next time!

A Time to Shine!

Talent is an awesome thing.

We each have our little niches - things that we do better and faster and just more awesome than anyone else.

Welcome to IthacaStock.com.

Our purpose is to connect some of the best professional photographers in America with the best graphics designers and the best interior designers of commercial spaces.

We have some wonderful things to offer each other, and I can't wait to get started!

Ithacastock.com was started with the intent of offering very high quality images, iconic images of localities, directed mainly at Graphics designers in the Ithaca, NY area. The concept has exploded into a collection of awesome photographers providing images from such varied places as Ithaca, NY (of course); Virginia Beach, VA; Rochester, NY; Syracuse, NY; the Adirondack region of NYS, Ouray, CO; and many more.

As we get closer to "Lighting this Candle", I'll keep you updated on newly covered areas, dates we plan to be going on line, opportunities for photographers and clients and much, much more.

Expect profiles of some of the extraordinary IthacaStock.com photographers to be posted here and on our web site, as well as samples of our participant's work.

Please visit www.ithacastock.com and sign up for our newsletter for news and opening specials, as well as opportunities and special opportunities for photographers!