Click on the audio logo to listen status of “The Photographer’s Coffee Break”- the Caffenol C process for hybrid photography- as well as a brief outline of the capitol campaign just started here on FR. This is a very important message and should be listened to by all supporters of FR! The updated Caffenol C page with its capitol goal can be seen here: www.caffenol.com
NOTE April 20, 2010: I have removed all donation buttons from FR and I have refunded all donations. The Caffenol page is also now private on FR with no book or video planned for release at this time.
I was really looking forward to your book…
How much was it going to retail for? Maybe that would be a good suggested amount for donations.
What sort of information about these processes have you figured out that isn’t online already?
I was considering $20 US for the book version. This book now video is all inclusive for more info look at http://www.caffenol.com as I outline everything there.
Cheers-
Stephen
Good idea, Stephen. In a world, where every published information is available for anybody it makes sense to look for other ways of distribution. I guess you found a good way to get what you deserve as a hard working pro.
All the best for this and all upcoming projects – Reinhold
I’ve got to say I’m a little saddened that there won’t be a text version (printed or not) of this information. Videos aren’t searchable, you can’t easily skim them, or quickly check a small fact when you’re in a hurry. As reference material, they’re pretty lacking.
I can understand the need to make money from your work, I don’t have any objection to fundraising generally, and I think this sort of project-specific “I need $X to do Y” is actually a great strategy. Certainly a lot better for creators than Lulu/Blurb/&c with their rather large cut of the same pool of money. But I really can’t see a video series as the best format for this information.
I will make the video in several parts so it will be easy to see exactly what you want without having to watch the whole thing.
While I understand the need to fund the operating expenses of your site, I really must question your plan to release your Caffenol info only after you reach your $5000 goal. That’s a good internal goal for you, but it doesn’t really work for a potential customer like me — it’s too hard to see if/when the goal will be met.
I’m interested in your Caffenol research, and I’d be happy to pay for it. But as a customer, I’m looking for a product with a perceived value. $5000 for you, and free videos after that, does not make perceived value.
So here’s an alternative idea: produce a few introductory “episodes.” Charge directly for each download, perhaps with a small discount if the whole set is downloaded. Make the first one free, so folks can get a good idea of what you’re offering. Set the cost of the remaining episodes high enough to make it worthwhile to you, but low enough to discourage people pirating the info instead of paying you. I’d suggest $5-9 per episode (assuming a 20-minute, info-packed video).
Yes, you’ll have a small number of people who’ll pay for the videos and then redistribute them to others illegally (whether intentionally or not). That’s happened since the dawn of time in the world of publishing. If you want to avoid the worst of it, you can spend some time & energy (& money) tracking the videos and enforcing your copyright. There is some technology that could help you do that. (I’m happy to give you some suggestions offline.)
This isn’t an original idea — there’s an organization called PeepCode that uses this method for their screencast-based training videos for programmers. They’ve done really well charging $9 for well-produced episodes, with subscriptions for folks who are regular viewers. See http://peepcode.com for more info (especially the FAQ).
Finally, I suggest you put up a text version of this podcast. I’ll be honest and tell you that I almost always skip your audio/video posts: I’d simply rather read my morning news, not have it read to me. This particular post seems to be a very important message from you, and I would guess you’d have many more people getting that message if you had it available to read as well as listen to.
Best,
–John
John- Thanks for the suggestion- you’ve clearly given this issue a lot of thought too, and it’s a tough nut to crack. The goal of $5000 for the release of the caffenol information is not only tied to that one particular project of course… users can donate for any article they read, listen to or watch on FR. I guess I just like the fact that for 2.5 years all information on FR has been free and is still free today… and if you can’t afford to donate- no worries. This pay as-you-go for larger projects and small donations for current and future articles is a model I hope will work. The value is that the FR site will grow and continue to thrive, translating to $5000 worth of articles I can now afford to write and time I can now afford to take away from my paying studio jobs. I’ve certainly considered simply telling people to take a workshop with me and I will share the caffenol info with you there one on one- I’d make a lot more money in the end. But I really do feel that this is about much more than money, it is about sustainability.
Also, regarding the time it will take, this will be an experiment for sure: there is a goal tracker on the caffenol page so you can see the ongoing progress… this will be updated weekly. And one other thought on this count: if every visitor to the site yesterday and today had donated only two dollars- we would’ve already reached our goal…
Your suggestion on including a text version is a very good one and it is something I will consider.
Cheers-
Stephen
I just sent a donation your way. The overwhelming sentiment on the internet is that all information should be free (of cost). Unfortunately, information is not free to discover. You spent countless hours, rolls of film, and chemicals to compile the information for your book (as well as the other information already freely available on your site), and it deserves compensation. I think the donation model is a good compromise. The people who were going to buy the book will donate instead, and the people who won’t (or can’t) pay for it will be able to get it.
Thank you and I agree completely.
I talked to a family member who has a masters in marketing and more than 25 years in that field. They suggested doing a subscription where some of the information is is free but the more labored info is in a subscribers section and only introduced in the free section.
Its really hard to prevent information from being freely shared since the web is faceless. But offering it free and asking for a donation may not work unless the donator receives an incentive because pay or not they are still getting the information. The result of the first month of donations may help give the best insight of how to handle everything. I believe most of us think you should get paid.
I think the subscribed info doesnt have to be monthly payment for everything it can be “pay for an interest”. An example would be If I see an article that I enjoy I would pay and receive a downloadable video or pdf containing additional info. I would be given access to additional info to that subscribed topic If any fellow-up info is released.
As so many others, I was really looking forward to this book. I like books and like photography. Books of photographers about photography are a constant joy to hold and to browse. However, I do understand your rationale to not publish your intellectual property if you know it will be stolen from you. It is a damn shame! I have sent a donation; information and research is a valuable good and it needs to be supported. I am sure that a lot of film lovers feel the same way. All the best!
Great Idea ! consider me Drafted and ready for boot camp !
as long as there is strong Coffee
Keep up the great work.
Cheers.
Chuck.
Stephen,
First off, thank you for all the information you have shared. It is a great advertisement for you. I am hoping to spend some time on the phone with you to get some consultation/mentoring and would be interested in a workshop as well, so I think it is paying you dividends.
The Caffenol-C project is really intriguing and I was waiting for the book to be released. I like the idea of a book, something I can pick up and refer to without having to sit in front of a computer, perhaps there is a print on demand option for this subset of your audience?
One other thing you might want to consider is something Ctein is doing – http://ctein.com/CollectCtein.htm. Pay a monthly or yearly fee to help support an artist’s work and at the end of the year some of the artist’s work. A little different, but perhaps there are aspects of this that might appeal to you and your audience?
Respectfully,
Yuri
I am considering some portions of the caffenol to be PDF downloads with the video for demos. I like the idea you suggested about the artworks and it something I am currently considering… Stay tuned!
Stephen,
You have been a source of inspiration and technical information for all of us. Figital Revolution is a site I return to again and again, as I continue on my journey of artistic creation. With a very profound sense of appreciation for the countless hours of hard work and your willingness to share your discoveries with us. Thank you.
maro
Stephen,
I’m inclined to purchase a copy of the book in either hard copy PDF for $20 or $25. In fact, I’d be happy to be the first in line on a prepaid waiting list knowing that I could take delivery in a few weeks. I’d like to take advantage of your R&D and learn from your experience with the caffenol process. I’m much less inclined to make a similar sized donation in the hopes that another 249 people will also be interested in buying in and the information might eventually become available.
I notice that several posts above indicate that they’ve made donations, but the counter still reads zero.
The counter still reads zero as I will update weekly or sooner if possible. Again, if all of the visitors to FR from yesterday and today would have donated $2 for any article on the site we would be over the amount to release the Caffenol C book.
Sorry,
but you alsways write, that you want the money to be donated, but how do I actually donate? Do I have to listen to the audio-blog to gather the information? Than I would to have listen very carefully, since I am not a native speaker and have to grab pen and paper to get it down – hopefully correctly.
Please post the information on how to donate in a written form.
regards
Kristian
Sorry for the confusion… at the end of most articles there is a SUPPORT FR red box… just click on that it will take you to the page that describes the process… it uses paypal and is very quick and very much appreciated!!!
Cheers-
Stephen
Dear Stephen: You have returned the $50 I sent as a donation for the Caffenol project. I was hoping that 100 other people would be interested and send you about the same amount of money to help you meet your goal. I thought $50 would be the minimal amount of money that similar info in book format would cost me in a bookstore. (To be honest with you I am not sure if $5,000 pays you for all the hours and the material costs you made in that project.)
I feel almost disappointed to have the money back because I still do not have access to the Caffenol information.
The return message mentions you are reconsidering the direction the Figital Revolution is heading. I honor that thought, if you want to continue or change directions you should let your audience know what is the best way to support your work.
The best for you.
Manuel