Circle of Photographers

itscritical

this picture won a contest by Circle of Photgraphers. Does anybody know anything more about the group?

or has anyone heard of photography vibes?

GREAPER

I dont know a thing about either group, but the shot is pretty cool. I like the abstract nature of it. I enjoyed picking out the shapes under the moving water.

wxwax

Why do I feel like they want to put their hand in my pocket?

Hey, itscritical, I realize you don't know this, but.... as a rule, we try to avoid posting someone else's work without their permission. Technically, it's a violation of their copyright.

I break the rule when showing product shots, but that's about it.

wxwax

Here's the scam. Enter their contest, win (assured) and be required to buy their book.

Here's what a contest winner got from them.

"We have received more than 11,123 entries and have selected 202 photographs as references for the 2004 edition of our manuscript "Photography Vibes". It is with great pleasure that we would like to inform you that your photograph: has been selected to get published.

Though we do not offer royalties, your copy rights are fully respected.

You are also considered as part of finalists for our grand prize of $5000.

Please note that only members who order the 2004 manuscript qualify for the $5000 grand prize (this is required to fund the prize, to craft and print the manuscripts and to support our team - thank you for your understanding) and receive an invitation for the global photography conference.

Once you order, we will contact you soon with more details on that global conference (with photography experts and all 2004 contest winners working on technical/improvisation workshops).

Our editors select photographs on the basis of technical quality, composition, flow, texture and light. With respect to your photograph "Star in sand", our team of editors has particularly appreciated the assymetric composition and light mix used throughout."
"

itscritical

My Photo

wxwax wrote:

Why do I feel like they want to put their hand in my pocket?

Hey, itscritical, I realize you don't know this, but.... as a rule, we try to avoid posting someone else's work without their permission. Technically, it's a violation of their copyright.

I break the rule when showing product shots, but that's about it.

No this is my picture not theirs, i entered it and won that is why i put it on here. Again this is my photo. If you dont belive me check my website philipbaack.com and you will see it under nature.

wxwax

itscritical wrote:

No this is my picture not theirs, i entered it and won that is why i put it on here. Again this is my photo. If you dont belive me check my website philipbaack.com and you will see it under nature.

Cool, I believe you. Nice piccie. Beware the scam.

itscritical

Thanx
Thank-you

Angelo

OH my my my my my! Guess who has egg on his face? ME!!!


I fell for this very same type of scam on www.picture.com

I entered a photo thinking it was a legitimate photo contest site. While I was never "required" to pay any fees or purchase anything in order to be eligible for my "prize" I was inundated with information and solicitations.

Especially troublesome was the "national photo conference" held in Wash. DC. I received no less than a dozen mailings telling me of the importance of my attendance... and yes I would have to book my travel and accommodations through their "authorized" agent. (No, I didn't attend).

Morbid curiousity (or sheer stupidity?) forced my hand to order their "beautifully bound, hardcover, limited edition, photo journal containing my "winning" entry" Oh my what a disaster! The book's delivery was delayed more than a year and contained some of the worst examples of photography ever assembled (IMHO).

If you'd like I can dig out the old paperwork and compare notes. I bet your "Circle" and my "Publisher" are housed in the same building. :bash

wxwax

Great post, Angelo. Nothing can beat the voice of experience. Thanks for sharing your story. Here's hoping that by revealing how they tried to scam you, you'll help dgrinners avoid a similar experience. Onya!

dkapp

Thanks for the post & responses. I've come across similar sites & my eagerness to get my photography noticed, I've almost entered one. I did some research to find its nothing more than a cleaver way for them to get
my money.

Now I read the entire terms & conditions before I upload a photo to any site. You'd be surprised at how many sites get the rights to use your photo any way they want once up load to their servers.

A lot of people can learn from this.

Dave

itscritical

Thanks guys
Although i agree with you i cant help but wonder if this is true because there is not only a circle of photographers but also a circle of poets. Plus the email that i got said that in no way was my copyright handed over when would submit money for the book. And when you look at thier website (circleofphotgraphers.com) it looks to elaborate to be fake.

Thanks for the concern, it makes me feel like you guys are my big brother and that is really cool

Thanks again

Angelo

itscritical wrote:

Although i agree with you i cant help but wonder if this is true because there is not only a circle of photographers but also a circle of poets. Plus the email that i got said that in no way was my copyright handed over when would submit money for the book. And when you look at thier website (circleofphotgraphers.com) it looks to elaborate to be fake.

Thanks for the concern, it makes me feel like you guys are my big brother and that is really cool

Thanks again

I just took a look at that site and would like to point out that no where can one find a "contact us" attribute. No address, telephone, email, is provided. That's a definite red flag for me and should be for anyone.

itscritical

True

Angelo wrote:

I just took a look at that site and would like to point out that no where can one find a "contact us" attribute. No address, telephone, email, is provided. That's a definite red flag for me and should be for anyone.

That is a very good point
thank-you guys

gubbs

Phillip, hope you don't mind but, as you can see, I moved your thread:D.
I thought this would a useful heads up for everyone

itscritical

gubbs wrote:

Phillip, hope you don't mind but, as you can see, I moved your thread:D.
I thought this would a useful heads up for everyone

yea thats fine.
it is kinda cool/awkward that my mistake is going to help others not make the same.
i hope that it helps

tmlphoto

itscritical wrote:

yea thats fine.
it is kinda cool/awkward that my mistake is going to help others not make the same.
i hope that it helps

They actually printed an article in my local newspaper about a picture that was taken by a local photographer that was "one of the 202 finalists out of more than 11,123 entries in the Cirlcle of Photographers annual photo contest. They went on to say that the picture is being considered for the $5,000 grand prize.

I suspect that it is just a way for them to sell the book. Kinda like all those WHo's who books floating around.

I like your photo very much BTW.

Angelo

dusting off an old thread
how many of you remember this thread? well I just received yet ANOTHER solicitation... I invite you to read this and pay particular attention to the way in which many of the paragraphs are worded. Very clever ways to make one believe they must pay fees.

Noobs beware and learn from my mistake!
(sorry if this is too long)

---

>>> begin copied email >>>
Dear Angelo,

In the past, we informed you that you and your artistic accomplishments could have been honored at the International Society of Photographers Convention and Symposium in the United States capital, Washington, D.C. -- even though you were unable to attend.

Please note that because so many people took advantage of this opportunity, we have extended the time for you to elect to receive your awards, and benefits of ISP membership, provided that you will allow us to present your photo "Ojai" (see your photo here) at our next convention and that you have elected to receive all of the awards and benefits of ISP membership that we have scheduled for you. Your awards, which will be shipped to you at this time, include your custom engraved Outstanding Achievement in Photography Silver Award Bowl (see it here), your bronze Commemorative Award Medallion, and your Full One Year Membership into the International Society of Photographers for 2005.

In this regard, we have arranged for your photographic artistry to be prominently displayed at a future international gathering of photographers. Your photograph, along with your name, will be presented exactly as you created it, so that your artistry receives the international exposure it deserves. In this way, over 1,000 attending photographers and their guests, who come from all over the world to attend the convention, will appreciate your photograph.

And let me tell you a little about the actual awards and ISP membership benefits that you will receive by mail immediately after you confirm your participation in this prestigious event by allowing us to showcase your photo:

-- Your Outstanding Achievement in Photography Silver Award Bowl (a $200.00 value) is a magnificent work of art in itself that measures over 10 inches across and over 11 inches high. It is handcrafted in silver and has your name custom-engraved on a beautiful cherry-wood base (see it here). It is certain to enjoy a special place of pride in your home and will serve as a fitting symbol of your unique photographic artistry.

-- Your bronze Commemorative Award Medallion is a deeply etched bronze medal (a $40.00 value) brilliantly displayed on a 25-inch red, white and blue satin ribbon.

-- And your Full One Year Membership into the International Society of Photographers for 2005 (a $60.00 value) entitles you to a personalized membership card, special discounts and contests, and a free subscription to our quarterly newsletter. Please note, if you are already an ISP member, your benefits will be extended an additional year.

Angelo, all that's required for us to immediately send you all of these Awards is for you to allow us to formally display your photograph "Ojai" at the next convention. Additionally, because you were not present at our last convention, we must also ask you for the necessary funds ($169.00 plus p+h) to cover the costs of the time and effort required to present your photography before future convention attendees, and to cover the costs incurred in insuring and shipping to you these extremely bulky and heavy awards.

Angelo, we are, of course, ultimately most interested in meeting you and having you personally present your artistry in front of the thousands of other photographers who attend these live events. Unfortunately, this was not the case, so we're trying to do the next best thing. But we sincerely hope to personally present you with your most deserved awards in the future.

Sincerely,
Craig Foster
International Society of Photographers
Convention Awards Chairperson

phil11021

Photo Conference
Did anybody notice when you search global photography conference on Yahoo, you get this page???? kinda strange

eringirl

100% scam

itscritical wrote:

this picture won a contest by Circle of Photgraphers. Does anybody know anything more about the group?

or has anyone heard of photography vibes?

I hate to admit it, but I fell for it, too. It is 100% a scam. EVERYONE who submits a photo "wins." While a very interesting photo, I hate to say it but it hasn't won anything from Circle of Photographer except your email address to harrass and spam you.

I spent months trying to get my money back from them. Their "contact" emails are conveniently "invalid" accounts. They wouldn't even respond to my credit card company so my credit card company finally just credited me the total and is reporting the company for fraudulant business practices. Unless you are emailing them with your credit card info, the place doesn't exist.

Even after all of this, they continue to send me emails... my book is being printed... my book has been printed please confirm my mailing address...it goes on and on and when I reply and request they lose my email, the emails bounce back as "invalid address."

Anyone who requires you to pay isn't legit. If you had won and they were a legitimate company, they'd provide you with a copy of the book. This is Who's Who all over again.

Angelo

eringirl wrote:

I hate to admit it, but I fell for it, too. It is 100% a scam. EVERYONE who submits a photo "wins." While a very interesting photo, I hate to say it but it hasn't won anything from Circle of Photographer except your email address to harrass and spam you.

I spent months trying to get my money back from them. Their "contact" emails are conveniently "invalid" accounts. They wouldn't even respond to my credit card company so my credit card company finally just credited me the total and is reporting the company for fraudulant business practices. Unless you are emailing them with your credit card info, the place doesn't exist.

Even after all of this, they continue to send me emails... my book is being printed... my book has been printed please confirm my mailing address...it goes on and on and when I reply and request they lose my email, the emails bounce back as "invalid address."

Anyone who requires you to pay isn't legit. If you had won and they were a legitimate company, they'd provide you with a copy of the book. This is Who's Who all over again.

Erin:

Way to revive a very OLD thread!

Don't know where you live but if in California you can report the offending email to the Consumer Affairs Division of the Attorney General's office.

ziggy53

Just so everybody knows, Circle of Photographers has the domain "CIRCLEOFPHOTGRAPHERS.COM" which is registered under GoDaddy to:

Registrant:
Navigation Catalyst Systems, Inc
2101 Rosecrans Ave #2000
El Segundo, California 90245
United States

"Navigation Catalyst Systems" (NCS) has a website and on their About page:

"NCS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Vendare Group, a leading online media and marketing company..."

Now if you go to the Vendare site:

http://www.vendaremedia.com/

I guarantee you will find a marketing company with the following blurb:

"Vendare Media is a leading online media and marketing company providing solutions for brand marketers, direct marketers and web publishers. Reaching more than 120 million consumers worldwide every month through its proprietary and extended media networks, Vendare Media provides advertisers and publishers with a suite of online solutions including display advertising, co-registration marketing, email marketing, search marketing, promotions and advergaming."

... so yes, Circle of Photographers is just a way to get some direct revenue and also add to their marketing mailing list.

Just short of a flim-flam outfit. At least they appear to deliver "some" product.

Save your money and buy some (anything tangible) instead.

ziggy53

eringirl

Oh I did
Oh, I reported the email. And every single one since. Which is what makes their continued emails even more unreal and irksome. Each time though, I reply that I have reported them so you'd think they'd stop.

So it goes to show that no one is actually reading these emails. It's just a system trying to chase down your credit card.

I revived it because I got yet one more email from them and was reminded that others out there might be falling for it as I did. If anything good comes out of this mess, I'd like it to be preventing others from being taken.

Sam

Great thread!

Angelo, Erin, I have a very special offer for you two, no! it's not available to the anyone else, only you two. I can let you in on a secret Nevada gold mine operation. Just send any amount you can, and I'll send you the profits. No middle man involved.

You have a better chance of finding the Easter bunny than have any state agency actually do anything meaning full to stop these scamers, or the crookland camera stores.

ps: I have seen the Easter bunny! OK it was many years ago, and I was kinda small, and he scarred me some, but he was huge! If it wasn't for the chocolate eggs I wouldn't have gone near the damn thing!

Sam

W.W. Webster

itscritical wrote:

This picture won a contest by Circle of Photgraphers. Does anybody know anything more about the group?

There's one born every minute!

ziggy53

eringirl wrote:

Oh, I reported the email. And every single one since. Which is what makes their continued emails even more unreal and irksome. Each time though, I reply that I have reported them so you'd think they'd stop.

So it goes to show that no one is actually reading these emails. It's just a system trying to chase down your credit card.

I revived it because I got yet one more email from them and was reminded that others out there might be falling for it as I did. If anything good comes out of this mess, I'd like it to be preventing others from being taken.

Sometimes this works,

Send a reply with a single word in the subject line: "deceased".
Sometimes their automated systems filter for that word, and use it to indicate an account for removal.

ziggy53