For the Children

[abraxas]

I recieved another email last night from an outfit that, well, here's a portion of it;

We love your work and would like to speak with you about acquiring
Barstow-Vegas Wagon Trail. I am with the Office of Education and the
Environment, which is part of the State of California Environmental
Protection Agency. We are working on a statewide effort to comply with state
law and bring education about the environment into California public
schools.

We are now in the process of developing approximately 120 units of
instructional materials that will comprise the EEI curriculum. Each unit
will contain six to eight lessons and will consist of approximately 100
pages of teacher background information, lessons, and student activity
materials. These units are rich with photos, maps and illustrations.

Thanks to our major partner, the National Geographic Society, we have
many beautiful images from their photo libraries and archives. However, in
order to meet the intent of the lesson, we also need to research and find
other images. For this particular unit we are now working on, ³Rainforests
and Deserts: Distribution, Uses and Human Influences², our research led us
to your work at Digital Desert. We can also provide a copy of the book for
you after production is complete.

Since we are a nonprofit government agency and our budget is very
limited, we are seeking donated images and permissions as much as possible.
Would you be willing to provide us high-resolution copy of your image free
of charge? The specific pictures we are interested in are shown below. Of
course we would provide full credit to you and your site

For your information, here is background information on the California
Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI)
(https://www.calepa.ca.gov/Education/EEI/default.htm). The EEI, which was
signed into law in 2003, will help children make informed choices and enable
them to become better stewards of their world. EEI directs the State of
California to develop an innovative curriculum to help students
simultaneously achieve mastery of selected academic standards and
environmental principals and concepts. A model for the nation, this
environment-based curriculum will teach kindergartners through twelfth grade
students Science and History-Social Science, as well as help them strengthen
their English-Language Arts skills. The EEI curriculum is also
California-specific and explains the relationship humans have with their
natural environment. The EEI has the full support of State Superintendent
of Public Instruction, Jack O¹Connell and is being implemented by a unique
public and private partnership. Once the EEI curriculum is approved by the
State Board of Education, it will be made available at no cost to all 1059
public school districts in California, which serve over 6 million California
students in grades K through twelve.

Basically my response consisted of my observation that a lot of people were recieving a paycheck out of this, and that the National Geographic photographers are paid for their work and there is no reason that I should degrade the thousands of dollars and thousands of hours I've spent on my education, research and equipment to save them, a private contractor to the office of education, a few bucks of taxes I've had to pay.

Crap, a book- that's what they offer?, hell, I already got a book.

Donate ****. If the kids need a few bucks and want to learn to be stewards of the environment, well send them over and they can wash my car and do some yardwork, I'll give them a book.

 

[Joves]

Yeah and I bet the kids parents have to pay for those books too.

 

[AlexColeman]

Lol, what BS. I was basically extorted, forced to take photos for my school's dance. Oh well, it gave me an excuse to buy two SB600s.

 

[craig]

Does not sound like a great idea to donate your image(s). None the less I think it may be worth talking to these folks. You could negotiate a deal that is beneficial to both of you. Everyone is a potential client.

For some reason the film version of David Mamet's "Glenn Garry Glen Ross" comes to mind. One line in particular "A always B be C closing. Always be closing. ALWAYS BE CLOSING.

Ok... I'm back now. You get the point.

Love & Bass

 

[abraxas]

Does not sound like a great idea to donate your image(s). None the less I think it may be worth talking to these folks. You could negotiate a deal that is beneficial to both of you. Everyone is a potential client.

For some reason the film version of David Mamet's "Glenn Garry Glen Ross" comes to mind. One line in particular "A always B be C closing. Always be closing. ALWAYS BE CLOSING.

Ok... I'm back now. You get the point.

Love & Bass

Well, here's my response-

Thank you for the kind words about my web site. I'm pleased that you
enjoyed it and hope you continue to do so in the future. I've spent
considerable time and money developing the site over the last 14 years.
Although the desert is my passion, my labor is independant and not
supported or subsidized by organizations such as the National Geographic
or a government agency. The only paycheck I recieve is from my own
efforts. I do work with several groups where 'everyone' donates their time
for the greater good, but it appears that this is not the case. I see no
sense in waiving a $xxx usage fee when it means so much to me while others
draw a salary.

Thank you for understanding.
Best regards,

Well, if the door slammed shut, the door slammed shut. If I hear back from them, then at least we're talking enough to make it worth the time it takes to jump through the hoops.

Next time (these happen every few months - meh), I'll probably stick with something like the situation precludes me from donating my work. The usage fee is $xxx.

 

[craig]

I like your reply. Definitely made your position clear. That is a good thing.

Love & Bass

 

[RyanLilly]

abraxas, I think that you response was very professional and considerate. Maybe they will actually make you an offer and/or negotiate for a discounted rate bases on its educational use.

Or, do you need a tax deduction, and how much would it be worth?

 

[ksmattfish]

Well, if the door slammed shut, the door slammed shut.

If they have no intention of paying for the photography then the door was never really open in the first place. I would have done the same. Arnold can give up a few hundred of his wealth for the kids to buy the photo.

lies artists are told - Google Search

 

[Joves]

Yeah considering I heard Cali is giving out IOUs instead of refund checks.

 

[Fox Paw]

abraxas, your response is perfectly sensible. But I wouldn't be irate. Maybe it's because I work with government agencies in my own state, which has a budget crisis only slightly less bad than your state's, and I deal on a daily basis with good people who are trying to do a lot with very little. Particularly in school districts. Ain't quarreling with you a bit. Your wonderful work deserves a check. But your state probably can't write one at the moment.

 

[abraxas]

Thanks for the responses.