Steve Valentia

Brilliant, glad you got it sorted. I'm not convinced it's not a bug though (pardon the double negative).

I'll say this and then run for cover...bearing in mind that I have already offered my tuppence worth...It's not where you live that will help you to be successful in photography (or anything else), it's how motivated you are to succeed at it. One of the best books I ever read about photography (40 years ago) began with the unforgettable line...the first million photographs I took, were the hardest. It was never an easy profession, and I started when you had to not only take photograph, but develop and print the film, too. I'm still because I love it. I've had times when I couldn't pay the rent or even sometimes wondered how I could live out the week on beans on toast without going mad (I know, where are the other three Yorkshire-men - Monty Python reference). But, actually, now, I'm doing OK, many awards later and lots of well-paying jobs under my belt and I'm associate editor of a prestigious magazine. Oh, did I mention you HAVE TO LOVE IT or, you'll give up very quickly?

After it happened to me, I contacted Contributor support. I deleted my browser cache, as they advised me, and the new tools returned. You might also need to clear your cookies (I didn't do that), or simply just refresh the page in the browser. Hope that helps.

They gave them back to me...apparently they didn't like your grammar.

Neither do I. Good call @spacecadet

Thanks for that, refreshing the browser page didn't work at first and so I deleted the cache (on advice from Contributor Services). That worked, but only briefly, as when I returned to the page, they had gone again. This time, refreshing the page - coming out and going back in - worked. I'm using Firefox and that may have something to do with it, I'm not certain though.

You can tell it's Adam, by looking for a small red apple. Phil Coulter carries a grand piano; he's much easier to recognise.

This morning I had all of the new AIM buttons; copy, paste and delete all. Now, all I have is the blue mask that appears on a selected image. Anyone know why?

NEW TOOLS HAVE VANISHED! This morning I had all of the new AIM buttons; copy, paste and delete all. Now, all I have is the blue mask that appears on a selected image. Anyone know why?

@Colblimp Nice one - did you ask him? Just curious. PM me and we can arrange to meet up. Remind me to bring you a copy of Cameracraft, the magazine I'm associate editor of, it'll give you something to read when you're not papping musicians.

I'm coming to Cork on Wednesday next week, before flying to Malaga very early on Thursday morning. I'll be heading back on the afternoon of Thursday week 25th Oct. Maybe we can have our own Alamy meet-up?

Self-portraits Keith, you and your bike in a red (snapper) coat?

I live on an Island on the far west of Ireland (the clue is in my name). I see only tractors and cows passing near my house, and the occasional tourist in the summer. In March this year, I made 11 news sales in one day and by the end of the week the total had risen to 24 sales. I totally agree that you have to go out and get the shots. One of Alamy's biggest earners, @RedSnapper doesn't drive and takes most of his images within a 10 mile radius of his house, I believe. @Colblimp

My first sale this month, so far, for mid-$$ which is OK, but I've lately been lulled into a false sense of security; expecting sales to start early in the month.

You'll make a killing on it! Sorry; I'll get me coat.