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Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site

  
 
RustyRus
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p.3 #1 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


Good for Alan for betting on himself-

He is talented and has a pulse on the world around him- If he thinks something could work, I hope it does. I could be intrested if its a viable platform!!!



Jul 03, 2025 at 09:25 PM
panos.v
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p.3 #2 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


whiteonline wrote:
You're missing the point of the argument. I'm talking about making a platform viable. Advertisers want mainstream addictive content. I can confidently state that there is no way this new app will make enough in reoccurring income to stay afloat for anything but a short time.
I don't wish it. I'm a stills only shooter. But I don't see it working.


You are correct on the costs. It will be interesting to see how they do it differently to Vero, Foto and the rest. A difference here could be if they keep the costs neutral, ie it just needs to pay for itself + a bit more vs generate a lot of income as an investment. If Leica is/gets on board it could be just another channel next to their expensive-to-run gallery-shops and galleries they sponsor.

Who knows what their biz model is, time will tell.



Jul 04, 2025 at 05:19 AM
olegkin
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p.3 #3 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


Specialization and paywalls are the future of the Internet.

A long time ago, there was DWF (Digital Wedding Forum, a forum similar to FredMiranda but focused on photography business discussions and hidden behind a tall paywall. I really miss that community. The forum was excellent, and if I remember correctly, there were no ads at all.

For example, I already pay Google and some other services to remove ads. I’d gladly pay Facebook just to see my friends’ content with no ads, no suggestions, no AI bots, and none of the other junk.



Jul 04, 2025 at 09:15 AM
fjablo
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p.3 #4 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


Not much to add to the monetization debate, they will struggle to balance attracting enough users and hiding some content / features that enough users are willing to pay for for them to stay afloat. Best of luck to them though..

But.. can we talk about how ugly the design is? The logo, the color scheme, the app layout and buttons. I’m surprised as I had expected the complete opposite from someone like him. Weird 😐



Jul 04, 2025 at 11:37 AM
wolfloid
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p.3 #5 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


You're missing the point of the argument. I'm talking about making a platform viable. Advertisers want mainstream addictive content. I can confidently state that there is no way this new app will make enough in reoccurring income to stay afloat for anything but a short time. I don't wish it. I'm a stills only shooter. But I don't see it working.

I don’t think I’m missing the point of anything. If you just cave in to mainstream market practices and ‘wisdom’, like you seem to be doing mentally with your ‘certainty’, you just perpetuate a sort of craven attitude which suggests that the way things have survived so far is the only model for success. I am glad that some people see beyond the ‘inevitability’ of marketing market forces and income dependent on advertising. It is surely the US way, and it has gained a clear ascendancy, but at the same time it is a pretty despicable model - supporting the dystopian direction the US seems to be going in at the moment, that much of the rest of the world is sceptical and concerned about.

I am glad that Schaller has the optimism to believe that there is another way, that might be able to survive and defend itself from the predatory US market forces. Who knows how? I have no idea how far he or his colleagues have thought this through - extensively or not at all - it is an unknown - prescription, involvement from Leica, patrons, I don’t know. But we need other ways of community and communication than the current crass, greedy and fatuous advertising-dominated big-money models that often produce at best a frustrating and mediocre experience, and that often rely on turning people into passive, consuming morons.



Jul 06, 2025 at 10:15 AM
1bwana1
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p.3 #6 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


wolfloid wrote:
I don’t think I’m missing the point of anything. If you just cave in to mainstream market practices and ‘wisdom’, like you seem to be doing mentally with your ‘certainty’, you just perpetuate a sort of craven attitude which suggests that the way things have survived so far is the only model for success. I am glad that some people see beyond the ‘inevitability’ of marketing market forces and income dependent on advertising. It is surely the US way, and it has gained a clear ascendancy, but at the same time it is a pretty despicable model - supporting the
...Show more


Maybe we should have government run Free Website programs where everyone is registered automatically, and it is funded by a progressive tax system. Likes, views, and followers, can be equitably distributed among all members so we can have equal outcomes regardless of the quality of images. Everyone who can't afford a good camera and lens would be provided a kit by the government. Of course resolution and dynamic range would be regulated and taxed progressively to pay for the free kits. In order to conserve resources, and mitigate global warming, there would be an offsetting tax anytime an image is printed. Charged of course by the type of paper, inkset used, and size. Of course, this tax money would be used to buy carbon credits.

This would all be regulated by a new commision located in very expensive office buildings in Brussels/Luxembourg, where it would be staffed by highly paid Government employees with full lifetime job protections, and benefits, driving expensive Mercedes cars, eating at high end restaurants, and attending countless meetings around the globe. All of course paid for with money received from taxes on completely unrelated activities. One of the primary focuses of the regulating authority would be to curate the images for truth, and offending content.

Unfortunately this organization will never achieve financial sustainability. This will be blamed on the unfair competition from other sites located in corrupt hotbeds of capitalism and meritocracy such as Silicone Valley where evil Venture Capitalists fund and invest the creation of sites and services in the hopes achieving profits and wealth, while not paying fair taxes in order to redistribute outcomes. Diabolical I say.

Talk about "dystopia"...




Jul 06, 2025 at 03:13 PM
raizans
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p.3 #7 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


i think we need to send someone over to 1bwana1 for a wellness check.


Jul 06, 2025 at 04:50 PM
chez
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p.3 #8 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


raizans wrote:
i think we need to send someone over to 1bwana1 for a wellness check.


Make sure the padded wagon is also sent. How dare someone think outside this box that big box America has created.



Jul 06, 2025 at 06:09 PM
1bwana1
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p.3 #9 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


raizans wrote:
i think we need to send someone over to 1bwana1 for a wellness check.


I make house calls. I will be back in the EU shortly...



Jul 06, 2025 at 08:18 PM
panos.v
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p.3 #10 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


1bwana1 wrote:
Maybe we should have government run Free Website programs where everyone is registered automatically, and it is funded by a progressive tax system. Likes, views, and followers, can be equitably distributed among all members so we can have equal outcomes regardless of the quality of images. Everyone who can't afford a good camera and lens would be provided a kit by the government. Of course resolution and dynamic range would be regulated and taxed progressively to pay for the free kits. In order to conserve resources, and mitigate global warming, there would be an offsetting tax anytime an image is
...Show more

The dystopia that is Earth today is that you have one hand those trying to ascertain what the one and true truth is and on the other those that have no truth and everything is subjective.

A truth though is that just because the Meta model works and makes them lots of money, you could argue that the Mafia model also works and makes them money. So should we all be mafiosi gunning down people, selling drugs and pimping women?

I understand that absolute free-tradists say "well if you don't like Meta go somewhere else" but tell that to the kids that get brain rot, are becoming unable to talk in more than 4 words of which 2 are "bruh", have the attention span of 4 seconds and so on.

Basically Meta wants the Matrix equivalent where humans are not batteries (like the movie) but simply chickens that get the advertisers' chicken-feed, just so Meta can get its delivery fees of feed-to-livestock.

Yes, that model works, in a society that values the profits of a corporation above the well being of its citizens. Maybe there is an alternative though. They say capitalism and democracy is the least worst system, well maybe they are both reaching their limits now. Is there an alternative? Who knows? Is there a problem dreaming about it and trying something different?

You seem to be confusing the capitalism, meritocracy and wealth that the US was built on with the current state of affairs that still depend on that wealth. Silicon Valley nowadays is an in-breeding cesspit of nepotism and arrogance. Somehow the same "geniuses" get recycled from one VC and startup to another giving us ever more rope to hang ourselves. People failing upwards with more and more money for "them" vs less money for everyone else that stood in their way. Or perhaps you want the meritocracy of politics where the president's son's ex-girflriend gets an ambassadorial post, some best-pal sycophant tv presenter gets a department to run and so on. Not that politics isn't an in-bred cesspit too elsewhere but let's not kid ourselves.

What really annoys me is when people on either side of the far left/right say that the only choice is rampant capitalism vs totalitarian communism. Erm, no? There's a whole spectrum of numbers between -100 and +100. Here's a thought: capitalism only works if you have growth. The capitalism the neo-cons and populists want is an unregulated, market takes care of it all. That means you get unchecked, unregulated growth. In every other situation unchecked growth has a word for it: cancer. In industries like water, you will literally get cancer while they get all the profits for serving you cancer-inducing water. But yeah sure, if you don't like this water get it from someone else while we enjoy our monopoly in you area. Or maybe buy bottled water, forever. It comes out of our own factory too! Ka-ching.



Jul 07, 2025 at 02:39 AM
 


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1bwana1
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p.3 #11 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site




panos.v wrote:
The dystopia that is Earth today is that you have one hand those trying to ascertain what the one and true truth is and on the other those that have no truth and everything is subjective.

A truth though is that just because the Meta model works and makes them lots of money, you could argue that the Mafia model also works and makes them money. So should we all be mafiosi gunning down people, selling drugs and pimping women?

I understand that absolute free-tradists say "well if you don't like Meta go somewhere else" but tell that to the kids that
...Show more

The previous generation always has such things to say about the next generation.

Should only read the Bible.

Rock and roll on the radio is ruining morality.

TV is rotting kids minds, they should read books.

Social media and Meta is destroying kids and people.

Does a free range chicken in Kenya taste the same as a free range chiken in Indiana? How about a free grazed steer in Africa compared to a corn fed steer in Montana? What does freedom taste like? I'd love to blind taste test you on the chicken.

So silly...



Jul 07, 2025 at 03:23 AM
johnvanr
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p.3 #12 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


1bwana1 wrote:
Maybe we should have government run Free Website programs where everyone is registered automatically, and it is funded by a progressive tax system. Likes, views, and followers, can be equitably distributed among all members so we can have equal outcomes regardless of the quality of images. Everyone who can't afford a good camera and lens would be provided a kit by the government. Of course resolution and dynamic range would be regulated and taxed progressively to pay for the free kits. In order to conserve resources, and mitigate global warming, there would be an offsetting tax anytime an image is
...Show more

I get your sarcasm but I do hope there’s a place between the enshittification that raw capitalism brings and the government-controlled nightmare you describe.



Jul 07, 2025 at 03:37 AM
johnvanr
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p.3 #13 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


panos.v wrote:
The dystopia that is Earth today is that you have one hand those trying to ascertain what the one and true truth is and on the other those that have no truth and everything is subjective.

A truth though is that just because the Meta model works and makes them lots of money, you could argue that the Mafia model also works and makes them money. So should we all be mafiosi gunning down people, selling drugs and pimping women?

I understand that absolute free-tradists say "well if you don't like Meta go somewhere else" but tell that to the kids that
...Show more

The irony is that Silicon Valley honchos send their kids to tech-free private schools.



Jul 07, 2025 at 03:39 AM
johnvanr
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p.3 #14 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


1bwana1 wrote:
The previous generation always has such things to say about the next generation.

Should only read the Bible.

Rock and roll on the radio is ruining morality.

TV is rotting kids minds, they should read books.

Social media and Meta is destroying kids and people.

Does a free range chicken in Kenya taste the same as a free range chiken in Indiana? How about a free grazed steer in Africa compared to a corn fed steer in Montana? What does freedom taste like? I'd love to blind taste test you on the chicken.

So silly...


I do think we’re talking different things here when talking about generations criticizing the latest ones. The impact of tech is vastly different than what came before this.



Jul 07, 2025 at 03:41 AM
panos.v
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p.3 #15 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


1bwana1 wrote:
The previous generation always has such things to say about the next generation.

Should only read the Bible.

Rock and roll on the radio is ruining morality.

TV is rotting kids minds, they should read books.

Social media and Meta is destroying kids and people.

Does a free range chicken in Kenya taste the same as a free range chiken in Indiana? How about a free grazed steer in Africa compared to a corn fed steer in Montana? What does freedom taste like? I'd love to blind taste test you on the chicken.

So silly...


You are still talking in absolutes. I didn't say kids should never be on social media. Yet there is certainly an increase in kids with all sorts of mental disorders in the last 20 years. What effect does being bombarded for 2-3 hours every day of 15-30 second videos that are created specifically in a triggering way?

Of course you and Zuck will say "oh just don't let your kids on it". Sure, I didn't. I only let them have whatsapp to talk to their friends. Then Zuck said "here's Meta AI on Whatsapp which basically circumvents every control and gives you access to the internet and you cannot turn it off". What is the alternative? Get your kids off whatsapp and not let them talk to their friends? Does Zuck let his kids near the stuff his company makes?

The choice should not be "plug your head into the computer or go live in a cave". Is that the freedom and choice we get?

Anyway..blind taste chicken? Sure, it is not as much about free range in Kenya vs Indiana. It is free range chicken in Indiana vs anti-biotics ladden, force-fed dead chicken, battery farm raised chicken in Indiana. I can certainly tell the difference between the £4 whole chicken at the supermarket vs the £4 one chicken leg of higher welfare, both when cooking and eating it, thanks.

At this point I half-expect your next argument to be "oh I bet you don't like vaccines either". Nope, but isn't it funny how the far right messiahs are anti vaxxers?

We digressed quite a bit so no more soap box from me. Let's talk photos instead.



Jul 07, 2025 at 04:13 AM
1bwana1
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p.3 #16 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site



johnvanr wrote:
The irony is that Silicon Valley honchos send their kids to tech-free private schools.


No irony in that. It only shows that these people have a very clear vision of how and when their innovations should be used. It is not them that is the problem it is the misuse of their creative contribution.

Not a new concept or problem either. Consider the Nobel Prize for an analog example.



Jul 07, 2025 at 04:47 AM
johnvanr
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p.3 #17 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


1bwana1 wrote:
No irony in that. It only shows that these people have a very clear vision of how and when their innovations should be used. It is not them that is the problem it is the misuse of their creative contribution.

Not a new concept or problem either. Consider the Nobel Prize for an analog example.


So, they know that using their technology is bad for children, yet they design them to lure children in and keep them there. It’s the Camel cigarette all over again. It only proves that unbridled capitalism brings out the worst in everyone and needs common sense guard rails.



Jul 07, 2025 at 05:02 AM
1bwana1
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p.3 #18 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


panos.v wrote:
You are still talking in absolutes. I didn't say kids should never be on social media. Yet there is certainly an increase in kids with all sorts of mental disorders in the last 20 years. What effect does being bombarded for 2-3 hours every day of 15-30 second videos that are created specifically in a triggering way?

Of course you and Zuck will say "oh just don't let your kids on it". Sure, I didn't. I only let them have whatsapp to talk to their friends. Then Zuck said "here's Meta AI on Whatsapp which basically circumvents every control and
...Show more

I happen to have two primary homes currently. One in La Jolla, California. One in Parma, Italy. The approach to food, it's creation, preparation, and content is very different. Parma is very clean food oriented place. It is a World Heritage site base on food. It is famous for having clean high quality ethicaly based food. Interestingly, I can choose to buy American style junk food, or localy grown, processed and prepared food in either place. The problems turn out to be not technology or scale or capitalism. It is about personal choice. When it comes to kids it is mostly about their parents. Another interesting thing is that the clean, ethical food in Parma is about 1/2 the cost of the junk food in Parma, and about 1/3 the cost of food in La Jolla. I have also lived in Kenya where free range graized meat is very cheap and grain fed meat is very expensive. Taste being the primary driver of the more expensive choice. It all turns out to be market driven once again.

Truth is a personal, fungiable, culture driven, and fluid thing. I only know of one absolute truth. It is that we will each be dead sooner rather than later, and then we will be dead a very long time. Truth really is that simple. Except for those who live in places where the Government is invasive enough to try and be the arbiter of truth. Unfortunately, the UK is becoming more and more one of those places. I was shocked how far this has come during my last visit there. Sad...



Jul 07, 2025 at 05:09 AM
wolfloid
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p.3 #19 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


It is about personal choice.

This is one of most blind comments I’ve seen made by an adult (apart from a certain president) that I’ve seen for years. Are you really so deeply indoctrinated? We all have choice, but only in a context. If that context is saturated by greedy capitalists buying up all the alternatives and then pushing out the competition, then choice is narrowed down infinitesimally. What about the 99% who do not own nice houses in Parma, who cannot afford to make such comparisons between places or have the wealth. So many young children just get addicted to social media - just like so many in earlier generations got addicted to smoking? Or, Ketamine? Not everyone is as fortunate as you.

Meritocracy and choice are fading fast, nepotism is rampant, as are cronyism, irrationalism, lies, Newspeak and mafia style politics - if you really believe that we have any sort of level playing field, or fairness for most people then you must be squeezing your eyes shut, and closing down your ears.

The point of my post was to celebrate attempts to open up new possibilities for platforms, where a completely different ethos and motivation can exist and not to submit in defeat to the current oligarchies, or state powers trying to take control of everything.

Edited on Jul 07, 2025 at 05:37 AM · View previous versions



Jul 07, 2025 at 05:29 AM
panos.v
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p.3 #20 · Alan Schaller’s new photo sharing site


So back to Irys. What the plan seems to be is:

1. an app
2. magazine
3. galleries
4. publishing
5. agency

If all those do make it to existence (and they probably would as rebranded/joined efforts with existing operators) then the app becomes a channel to push the work of the other bits. So the financial model becomes a bit more fluid vs the app having to sustain itself and return on its investment. Certainly it does look like an exciting new thing, let's see how it goes. End of the day, they are a niche market, with niche suppliers and buyers.



Jul 07, 2025 at 05:37 AM
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