If it's only for research, why couldn't Ed simply save the pics in a little rar file put on Rapidshare, as a safety measure? This way, the researchers will have easily all the pics, even the 0,1% of the ones, whose auction links don't last many weeks. For me, as a lazy one, it would be a very good solution to download, once a week for instance, easily and in one time all these beautiful pics. By the way, if it's only for "research", the bidders who succeed in winning these pics could for instance upload here big-size scans, this would be perfect for "research" ;-)

And if it's only for "research", there's also the solution of this Polish forum: http://www.odkrywca.pl/pokaz_watek.php?id=115351 Of course, if the guys who are against the current system, are not OK with these solutions perfect for "research", it's quite possible that "research" is not their main reason ;-)

Re: Change to Ed West's posting schedule
 

Nemo, give me a break! I am a researcher, and an amateur one, to be precise (meaning that I have never earned a living with my researches).

I have never and will never bid for a photo, both because it is against my concept of research and because I cannot imagine to spend insane amounts of money (which I don't even have) in this way...

Nevertheless, Ed's postings have allowed me to contact in some cases the owners of particularly relevant material for my researches and obtain from them electronic scans of the photographs, once explained who I was and the purpose of my request, which would never harm their sale.

You seem to think that all the rest of the world is composed by "too smart" guys who want to gain advantages to make their collection bigger, but I cannot accept your way of thinking as well as the conclusions you make.

If Ed will stop posting the links to the photographs, he has all rights to do so, as well as I have the right to ask him not to do that. What I cannot stand is that you should imply that my request (together with those of many of us) means I'm begging to continue to use illicit advantages or worse...

The world isn't in black and white only, just for your very own knowledge.

Re: Change to Ed West's posting schedule
 

"If Ed will stop posting the links to the photographs..." If I've understood everything well, Ed will not stop to post the links to the photographs, he will just post these links, after the auctions are ended. So, always if I've understood everything well, you will still be able to contact the owners of these pics and obtain scans of them. No?

Re: Change to Ed West's posting schedule
 

Ed goes above and beyond the call to post these links. I applaud him!
It isn't his responsibility to save pics to a .Rar file for us to download later.

If you can't afford to collect old aircraft photos Ed's lack of posting isn't going to fix it. Try another hobby. I can't afford an F4U Corsair, but I don't blame someone else for posting an ad for one.
Thats the real world like it or not, everyone can't own a Ferrari.

Jeez,
Mike

Re: Change to Ed West's posting schedule
 

No. Because in most cases, the owner could have already given the photo to the new owner (and it would be extremely incorrect to to give his name) and so there would be nothing to have a scan from... unless you think that the owner still keeps for himself copies of the photographs, which would be incorrect too...

By contacting the owner while is still in posses of the original, the possibility of having a reply to request is much, much bigger. But what I am wasting my words for? After all, you are speaking of money matters, not of research (which, incidentally, is instead the reason why most of us are reading and writing here in the first place).

Re: Change to Ed West's posting schedule
 

I heartily agree with the majority here and would implore Ed to carry on doing what he does so well. If some have issues with it, then they should not really bother to come to this forum - or at least ignore Ed's posts. I think most of us simply enjoy the sight of the mass of new and interesting photos that are on show. We're just looking, and enjoying looking. Issues about money, etc. are seperate.

Re: Change to Ed West's posting schedule
 

If I buy a pic for a lot of money, for instance for an editorial projet, I would not be so happy, if the seller gives big printable scans of this pic to other guys. I don't think it's very fair and most of the sellers, to say the truth, don't accept to do this, precisely by respect for the buyers (1). But if this pic is only for research purpose or personal archiving, the images from the Ed's links are quite sufficient. (1): one of my preferred sellers has written this on his page: JE NE REPONDS PAS AUX DEMANDES DE SCAN OU DE REPRO DE MES PHOTOS, PAR RESPECT DE L'ACHETEUR. VOUS POUVEZ COMPTER SUR MON SERIEUX ET MA RAPIDITE DANS LES ENVOIS. MERCI DE VOTRE FIDELITE !; (quick translation: I don't answer to the scans asks or copy asks of my pictures, by respect to the buyer).

Re: Change to Ed West's posting schedule
 

Sorry, Revi16, but I still don't understand the problem: the pics found by Ed will still be available for research, but just after auctions have ended. So, what is the problem for the guys who don't bid on Ebay, I really don't understand it.

Re: Change to Ed West's posting schedule
 

Hi Nemo,

you are absolutely right. Most of the members who don't want the change
of Ed's list would never bid at ebay - without John, I know him for a while,
greetings to Liverpool!
But the same people criticise us for buying and publishing expensive
photos because they know the photos from this board or somewhere else
as well known and published before. Some laugh about us because they
pay a few funds for a scan of the same photo we've bought for very hard
prices. Or they publish these scans or ebay thumbnails before to be a little
bid faster. Please have a look at most actuall "well researched" publishing
work. But this is off-topic here.
I think we should accept Ed's idea - we all don't know what kind of
messages, offendings, requests - whatever - he received in the past.
So guys, be happy that there is a man who is spending his time to
offer this service to all of us, it doesn't matter if he list auctions which
are ended. If some of you want bid on photos, you know the typical
keywords for searching at ebay! That's really simple. Now I hope
that I can gather some Bf 109 photos for less than 500 Eur :)

With the best wishes,
Sven.

Re: Change to Ed West's posting schedule
 

As long as there will be people ready (all too often) to spend insensate amounts of money just to own "the original print or negative", no scan will do any harm to them. To be interested in images does not always mean to want the "exclusive property of them" and looking for "workable" sizes (not thumbnails) means often to be able to study them in detail looking for that detail (a serial number, for instance) that sometimes is only barely visible in a corner.

Research is made of details and knowledge, not of money or collections. As long as there will be people capable of knowing the difference and not thinking that the world is only a "shop", I'll be fine.