gvallee Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 (edited) While, according to Measures, there is some interest in old steam engines, there seems to be very little appetite for old machinery. There are a few searches for old Ford trucks but not much else. I just cannot resist those vintage rusty trucks, tractors, graders, utes, mining equipment, etc displayed in museums. While I licensed a couple of vintage cars, I have never licensed any of these relics. What's your experience? Edited October 10, 2020 by gvallee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Ventura Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 (edited) I think there is a market for them. I often see timelines in some publications showing a product at various times in the history of that brand. So yes, I would keep shootin em! Edited October 11, 2020 by Michael Ventura 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvallee Posted October 11, 2020 Author Share Posted October 11, 2020 Just now, Michael Ventura said: I think there is a market them. I often see timelines in some publications showing a product at various times in the history of that brand. So yes, I would keep shootin em! Thank you Michael. Given that they are in museums, usually I have the full details, maker, year, use, etc., so it should help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
losdemas Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 Yes, I can imagine there is definitely a market for them. Buyers will probably have specialist agencies (or perhaps individuals) where they purchase from, but I'd keep searching, snapping and uploading. Perhaps you'll attract buyers here and carve yourself a little niche? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbimages Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 I've sold a few old tractors, mostly for calendars. Just checked my records, 6 different tractors, calendars world, Germany & France. Plus a few other sales for various other things. All tractors still run & are outdoor shots & the owner released them, but obviously not released by the manufacturer. One had a teenager driving, it was also model released. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvallee Posted October 11, 2020 Author Share Posted October 11, 2020 (edited) 38 minutes ago, cbimages said: I've sold a few old tractors, mostly for calendars. Just checked my records, 6 different tractors, calendars world, Germany & France. Plus a few other sales for various other things. All tractors still run & are outdoor shots & the owner released them, but obviously not released by the manufacturer. One had a teenager driving, it was also model released. Thank you Carol, excellent. Mine are not pretty images but rusty, old, discarded vehicles, so I guess not calendar material. Ah well, I might get a Presentation or two... Edited October 11, 2020 by gvallee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert M Estall Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 (edited) I too am drawn to rusty old bits of gear (the bigger the better) and knackered boats sitting sadly on the foreshore. There's a story to be told in most of these things. But unless they can be photographed with some sort of context, I fear they are not going to rise up the lottery of search engines. Alamy will let you upload them, but sales will be scarce. Hey, sales are scarce anyway! Edited October 11, 2020 by Robert M Estall 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvallee Posted October 11, 2020 Author Share Posted October 11, 2020 37 minutes ago, Robert M Estall said: I too am drawn to rusty old bits of gear (the bigger the better) and knackered boats sitting sadly on the foreshore. There's a story to be told in most of these things. But unless they can be photographed with some sort of context, I fear they are not going to rise up the lottery of search engines. Alamy will let you upload them, but sales will be scarce. Hey, sales are scarce anyway! You are very probably right Robert. I'm trying to think how I could shoot these in context. Not easy. Mining equipment perhaps with a bit of luck, but miners are very twitchy about anyone walking near their claims. Old trucks/utes usually come from cattle stations these days and lie abandoned in paddocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giphotostock Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 Thoroughly rusty machinery shots are regularly used in Chemistry textbooks. However, in my experience (sales to the same textbook via different agencies) Alamy leaves about 50% of the money on the table. GI 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 I too enjoy photographing old machinery and the like, but I can't say that I've had much luck in the sales department. I do see occasional zooms, though. Then again, I don't really have a lot of images in that fit the category. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 (edited) Possibly better as a POD subject, but, as has been suggested, within a suitable context. My most viewed POD shot is of an old steam locomotive, a monochrome image taken of the engine in service many years ago. Having said that, it has yet to sell ! Indeed I struggle to understand the POD market. Edited October 12, 2020 by Bryan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvallee Posted October 12, 2020 Author Share Posted October 12, 2020 Now that I've passed QC, I can show you what I'm talking about. No context, no POD appeal. Only museum exhibits. Portable Steam Engine Tow Grader Where would I see it in context, and I would have no clue what it is Ford Truck with crane Chevrolet Blitz Army Truck I love these old things. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Bell Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 A grader is used to level road surfaces. This one is towed by another vehicle but they do come as a full package, like bulldozer. I found this out when watching "Ice road truckers" on TV. Allan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvallee Posted October 12, 2020 Author Share Posted October 12, 2020 Just now, Allan Bell said: A grader is used to level road surfaces. This one is towed by another vehicle but they do come as a full package, like bulldozer. I found this out when watching "Ice road truckers" on TV. Allan That's right. Now that I've passed QC, I can enter all the details of those vehicles in additional info. Our favourite off-road sign when we travel?? 'Grader ahead'. Yippee!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morrison Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 This is one reason why image-buyers come to Alamy: for its vast inventory of niche and specialist subjects. Otherwise the entire collection would consist of businessmen shaking hands and attractive young women eating salad and laughing. 😀 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
losdemas Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 23 minutes ago, John Morrison said: This is one reason why image-buyers come to Alamy: for its vast inventory of niche and specialist subjects. Otherwise the entire collection would consist of businessmen shaking hands and attractive young women eating salad and laughing. 😀 If I could give this 100 green arrows/blue hearts, I would! It truly is Alamy's USP. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morrison Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 2 minutes ago, losdemas said: If I could give this 100 green arrows/blue hearts, I would! I'll send a lorry round to pick them up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stokie Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 6 hours ago, John Morrison said: I'll send a lorry round to pick them up... It would have to be an old rusty one.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 11 hours ago, Bryan said: Possibly better as a POD subject, but, as has been suggested, within a suitable context. My most viewed POD shot is of an old steam locomotive, a monochrome image taken of the engine in service many years ago. Having said that, it has yet to sell ! Indeed I struggle to understand the POD market. Trains do seem popular. I have images taken at railway museums that have licensed. I guess that counts as context. I think of POD as "Peculiar On Demand". There's a lot of awful stuff to wade through on POD sites now IMO. 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thyrsis Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 Just sold this image but possibly not just because it’s old machinery! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin McAbee Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 I don't have much machinery but do sell cars and engines. Two Corvettes and a Camaro recently. I try to get muscle cars and their engines such as 327, 350,409 and 427. Good keywords and description are essential for the cars and their engines. I do enjoy photographing old abandon vehicles also. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 On 11/10/2020 at 07:27, cbimages said: I've sold a few old tractors, mostly for calendars. Just checked my records, 6 different tractors, calendars world, Germany & France. Plus a few other sales for various other things. All tractors still run & are outdoor shots & the owner released them, but obviously not released by the manufacturer. One had a teenager driving, it was also model released. I used to sell quite a number of steam locomotive images from the 1960s, mainly for calendars, but not for some time ... ever since Network Rail played the big I am and tried to stop images from "their" property being licensed despite many of them being taken decades before they came into being. They relented slightly and now graciously allow these old images to be licensed as editorial ... which has got me thinking ... as editorial only images, can they still be used for calendars or are calendars considered as commercial use ? I ask as I had quite a few appear as zooms this morning ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avpics Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 27 minutes ago, Martyn said: ... which has got me thinking ... as editorial only images, can they still be used for calendars or are calendars considered as commercial use ? I ask as I had quite a few appear as zooms this morning ... This question has been asked a few times and the answer most often given is that yes, they are editorial, but beware of the usual suspect if not taken from public land. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 11 minutes ago, Avpics said: This question has been asked a few times and the answer most often given is that yes, they are editorial, but beware of the usual suspect if not taken from public land. Thanks ! Hopefully, if the UK government do follow through on their proposals to renationalise the railways, then that will be one less usual suspect to worry about and that the editorial only restriction can then be lifted ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Kirby Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 Also worth shooting some close up detail as well some that come to mind: Cog wheels - to illustrate industry/ finance etc Deflated tyre - industry/ motor trade/ finance etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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