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Moto Photographer Frank Hoppen shows up
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At least a few of us saw it.
I thought it was intriguing and can't believe how low he was balled. Might be the talk
I know what he is pissed about, its stupid but valid.
The Shop
Conspiracy theorists unite.
Didn't know if it was a glitch or somethin..
"Hi guys. I wanted to hear from you what the common take of this here is:
We had to bid a 2010 MX/SX team photo shoot of one of the big 4 Manufacturers.
To do this professional, you have to prep the track the days before, get jumps and corners set up photo-friendly, own or rent a lot of the latest equipment. cameras, lights, reflectorsetc, hire 2-3 assistants, shoot all day to end up with approx. 1.500 perfect shots and spent 1-2 days in post to color correct and clean up the images. It takes the better part of a week and the expenses do end up easily more than a new 450 costs.
I Have done this since a decade and I knew someday, someone might come in cheaper or better or both.
Anyhow, the job got to a bidder who offered to do this cheaper.
Hard pill to swallow, but this is business and after I got over my hurt pride ( I thought) I figures to let it go and focus on the next thing. Until I found out that the bid was real cheap and the conditions got me going again.
The offer was to do the job for FREE!
Wondering how this could be, I asked and was told that Maeda offered to do this without charge, but all images used would need to have his/transworld credit attached.
I still do not know what to think about this?
I would have no problems if this would be offered by a competing freelance who is not proficient in math and business skills and it was an error of him, just trying to get the food into a door.
But this is supposed to be an independent magazine. Not Red Rider, Riders of Kawasaki or Team Green News. TWMXis to be an independent, editorial magazine doing stories, shoot outs and tests. What happened to the ethics in journalism? Working for one of the companies you are supposed to judge their products seems like a conflict of interest to me.
I used to jump to the shoot out test of every magazine (MX or not) to find out what is really the best, what is weak, what to watch out for etc. Taking it in as an unbiased, objective result or the grand jury of tester who do it every day.
How can an editor at a magazine that tests and rates competitive brands of product be working for one of those manufacturers? Is getting credit of the images the only thing they are getting? After all, however they do it, they will spent more than just time. I just got a totally new point of view.
Beside that, how will any of the other manufacturers feel, if this brand finishes ahead of them in the TWMX 2010 MX shootout? How will the management of TWMX answer to them, if that happens?
Do readers trust Maeda'ss ability to be fair in bike tests?
I work for 3 of 4 OEM and if I would have to do a shootout, there is no way I would be unbiased. Even if I tried. That 4th one would have a hard time with me.
I asked these questions to other magazines and they all shook their head, giving some strong answers. Understandable. They will not get neutral images from this. Good luck to the manufacturer in getting them using these pictures if they have to credit competing mags on it.
In my view, TWMX should do this work for all manufacturers at equal conditions, speak FREE to be fair, or stay totally away from it.
If Maeda wants to do the freelance work, he should commit to it to 100%, become self employed and step away from the editor position at an independent magazine, opening this job for someone who is not tied in with a manufacturer. Makes you wonder how independent they have been in the past at all?
But hey, maybe this is still just my hurt pride, over a lost job, talking?
That is why I ask it here to see what you guys think about this.
Thanks for reading
Frank Hoppen"
I didn't see the issue with it but Im no insider.
Pit Row
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