Ya'll tell me if I'm crazy.

[grande man]

So far, photography has proven to be both fun AND expensive. Ya'll tell me, am I nuts? These prints look really great, IMHO... We'll see if they have any value to anyone else. I'm open to any and all comments (even if it's yes, you are nuts!)...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250171602471

Here's the larger version.
http://www.railroadforums.com/photos/data/587/IMG_5920_2.JPG

[Alcomotive]

Well you may want to put a trade mark on your pic GM...?

[NZRMac]

Could be a new career for you Eric. Looks good

Ken.

[Maxitrains]

Well your not nuts at all m8, infact you gave me a great idea on what I should do with my thousands of aviation pictures I have :).

I got some in particular which cannot be found any more.

Thanks m8 :D

[jbaakko]

Not nuts, its the buyers that are! Although, I'll admit, I buy just about anything I see on eBay marked "Copper Range", outside of the Lionel trains and copper range hoods (for stoves). I've paid $22 for a single slide.

[grove den]

NO your NOT!!:)
I think your pictures specially the "night" pictures are great/super and not so common as the ones wich are made by day(light)!! May be this is a start of a new trend/style?:)
I had the same thoughts as I started to sell trees..:D ;) ( but they told me I am crazy!:D )

Jos

[SP_SD9]

Sure, you are nuts, like the rest of us :-)
This is a great shot and I hope you make some cash.
I would, however, lower the BIN price or start with bidding only at a few bucks. When the bidding starts the feeding frenzy begins. And people are likely to bid at a bargain. To avoid a mass produced sale just start with a single picture...

Happy bidding,

Regards,

René

[grande man]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Based on what has been stated here, I've come to this conclusion, ya'll are nuts too. :D :D :D

René, You've got some great points. Let's see how this one goes and adjust from there.

Jos, I'd probably buy some of your trees just to have the "real thing" on the layout. :cool:

[Trucula]

Actually, yeah your crazy!!!!!(not on the ebay thing...just in general :D )

But in a side note, I love that shot!..It would be an AWESOME poster! Great work!!

[Steve B]

Yep,,, your nuts,,,

for not doing this sooner, great work Eric,,,, and i hope it takes off,

[CSX_road_slug]

Not nuts; vegetables, maybe? :rolleyes:

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

All kidding aside, I think that is definitely publication material. I don't know if you would need permission from CSXT to publish a book of those though....?

[Alcomotive]

ask LGM if you're crazy?!?! lol Maybe when he is done with his school homework he could post and do a verification for us! :-)

[Maxitrains]

Well maybe you could take some good photos like the ones already taken, and then try to publish a book with big photos and details on the locos, not much text needed, many enthusuasts, buy books mostly for pictures then for text. For example, I bought a book on Aviation, which mostly has Huge photos on it and very little text, explaining the machine shown, maybe the place where was taken and some other details on it.

who knows!!!! :)

[grande man]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Apparently, based on that auction, I am in fact crazy...;) Only 69 folks viewed the page (I'm sure several were forum friends) in a weeks time. I need 6900 to see it in a week to move prints. Anyway, what the heck, it was worth a try. On to the next idea. Hummmmm... (thinks hard about new ways to pay for camera lenses)... :D

[SpaceMouse]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Apparently, based on that auction, I am in fact crazy...;) Only 69 folks viewed the page (I'm sure several were forum friends) in a weeks time. I need 6900 to see it in a week to move prints. Anyway, what the heck, it was worth a try. On to the next idea. Hummmmm... (thinks hard about new ways to pay for camera lenses)... :D

The reason this venture failed is not because the idea was bad, but because you gave up after the first try. You have to be extememly lucky to get the ideal presentation, the price point, the marketing strategy, and the right market right all in the first try.

The question really is, how bad do you want to sell photos of trains and what is it you expect to get out of it. (I suspect if you were honest it wouldn't be about the money.)

[NickB]

Gotta agree with Chip on this, I suspect the real reason for wanting to do the photos is the love of two hobbies combined. Photography and trains, don't give up yet.

"Two things stand between ignorance and knowledge, time and dedication."

Your knowledge on the two subjects will help you suceed not necessarily financially at first but you'll have a deep satisfaction in your work. I've seen your photos and they are great.

[jbaakko]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Apparently, based on that auction, I am in fact crazy...;) Only 69 folks viewed the page (I'm sure several were forum friends) in a weeks time. I need 6900 to see it in a week to move prints. Anyway, what the heck, it was worth a try. On to the next idea. Hummmmm... (thinks hard about new ways to pay for camera lenses)... :D
Keep trying. Post on craigslist & back page, go to art shows, ect...

[grande man]

Thanks for the input everyone. Chip, I haven't given up, it's just that the ebay thing didn't go over well. In fact, I submitted some photos to a national calendar company just the other day.

The goal here certainly is to combine two things I love. The cool thing about photography is that it fits in with everything else in your life. :cool: I don't look to make the house payments with it, but it would be cool to sell enough photos to support my lens cravings... ;)

Digital photography has blown the lid off things. With it's instant feedback, a new photographer (that's determined) can get a level of experience in a short time that used to take years. I'm thinking that there are a lot of folks that could take nice RR pics, so I don't see mine as anything really unique. There's probably more potential in the "on location" type portraits I've been doing that are looking pretty good. That may be where I end up generating revenue for the lens fund. ;) It sounds funny, but I get a good bit of enjoyment doing portraits because people value them so much. It's a win/win scenario because I enjoy doing them, the potential is there to make a few extra dollars (down the road), and the photos are important to families.