Basejumper.com - archive

I wanted to let you guys know about a new, free on-line magazine that was released today. The first issue already has two "air" related articles in it. The first article is about BASE jumping and wingsuits that I wrote, and the other an interview with Roberta Mancino.

I have been named the divisional editor in charge of air sports (includes swooping, RW, BASE jumping, wingsuits, paragliding, ext., you get the picture) Any of you who want some self promotion, have a passion for writing, or just want to share a fun experience you have had recently in the base jumping world, let me know.

We are looking for contributors who are passionate and reliable. The article I wrote for issue 1 is the first time I have ever written anything not for school and it was actually kind of fun. Anyhow, just check out the mag and let me know if you want to contribute.

Enjoy

http://www.xsport-magazine.com/index.html

My e-mail: neil@xsport-magazine.com

*if someone could hook up the links with a "clicky" that would be great, thanks....

http://www.xsport-magazine.com/index.html

Do you need to wear a Gath to be in the mag?

Great article, different from all those "wuah I'm such a cool dude" focusing on the beauty of flight.
I really enjoyed reading it.

I liked the article, it was really good!
Good work Neil !!!

-Tony-

 
Hey man, sick cover shot!!!!!

Who's the Photographer???

I subscribed. Good luck!

Hey im writing for the next one! Hitting the Wall. About my journey through the London marathon. P.S. do you know Chris? He's the guy on the front page of the site in the yellow kyak.

Ha!!! I'm such an old hick, when I saw the cover photo I initially wondered where the p.c. had gone!!!!!!! Can't stop laughing at myself. Fun fun

Just a reminder we are still looking for volunteers to contribute 1000-4000 word articles about an outdoor sport that you are passionate about. This is a fun opportunity to be part of a growing publication and also a great way to shed some positive light on a sport that has had very mixed publicity in the past.

Don't be shy

you do realize, this site has an article section as well as forums?

users have been able to create and post content for years now. heck, it is a lot easier to go through the articles, than rummage through back issues of Skydiving, rip.

yet, we lack a steady stream of new articles.

 Come on now. YOU don't need fresh contributers. Just search the internet and use that cut-n-paste button.


-edited to remove blatant "character smears"

your last post was entirely unacceptable. if you wish to disagree with someone, argue a point.

to write for the mag, you ought to have skills beyond character smears.

I fogot to mention who was the photographer for the cover shot...

I'm suprised she didn't tell you, it was your MOM. She snapped the photo just after giving me a special good luck kiss.

She specificially requested not to recieve a photo credit becuase she knows how sensative you are about your prescioius on-line reputation and didn't want to embarass you. Hope thats detailed enough.

Sucka

let's try to keep the disagreements civilized. you've both given each other barbs.

let's just end the public harshness here.

I tried that, and you deleted it.

I'm just stoked to get a reply from Neil finally, i'll have to have a talk with my mom about giving away photos for free. I hate it when she does that!
Good luck with the mag Neil, and good luck finding decent contributers. You get what you give. You and Wwarped have completely missed my point. Or, maybe you just don't care. Which is what concerns me even more.

BTW, I have already written full features for "real" magazines before. (They didn't include any character smears.) All of my posts on this subject have not been character smears only standing up for someone on the other side of the world who's pic is on the "cover" of a "magazine" and apparently without his permission. The only response I've gotten from the "editor" has been that my mom took the pic. It did put a smile on my face however juvenile the humor is.

I've actually done a few jumps with you Neil. I took some pics of you speed-flying in SLC as well a year ago or so. I can't remember if I sent you any copies of those shots I got. I hope not, I might find em' in the next issue I have nothing against you personally man, just makin' a point. In my own juvenile way.

aloha

I'm tired of this... I will clearly state what I think. please inform me where you disagree.

1) copywrite infringement is wrong (it does not matter if images, music, or uncredited quotes).
2) use of images without a release is wrong.
3) harsh criticism without ascertaining the facts is wrong.
4) violating the rules of this website is wrong.

as far as I can tell, you only seem to care about item 1). you actively ignore, disagree, or don't care about items 3) & 4).

you have yet to comment if you get permission to use the images of those you photograph (item #2).

so, I repeat, what am I missing? please inform me.

Yes I do, in writing on a standard model release. I also throw down a percentage of my profit from commercial sales to my models. (I didn't realize my business practices were in question here)

Actually, Use of images without a release is illegal in a commercial usage situation but for editorial (magazines) a model release is not necessary. However, usage of a photograph without the photographers prior written authorization is illegal no matter if it's editorial, commercial, or even personal for that matter.

I would love to hear Neil's story on this photo but he has yet to reply other than the juvenile mom jab. Neil? R U out there?

As far as following the "rules" of this site I have been trying to do that and to be respectful in my posts (albeit with a tinge of tongue-in-cheek sarcasm). I even went back and edited my last post for you (thanks for not deleted it btw)

I am leaving the ball in Neils court. I just find it funny that someone would make a post asking who the photog is of a particular image, then present the mag to the same readers with said image as a cover with no photo credit. I can only assume that means he never found the photographer. Then, on top of it he is repeatedly asking for people to contribute to a publication that as far as I can tell (this is not an accusation) does not have much respect for contributers.

I would LOVE for Neil to prove me wrong.

I personally found that odd as well.

btw. I did not mean to call into question anybody's actions. (I can not without violating #3). I was only stating what I believe to be fair and appropriate. many disagree. I welcome "re-education."

thanks for a solid response.

Woha... I should use google more often.

Ok Xsport magazine... We are a free publication whom anyone is welcome to contribute too. I got sick of spending so much for magazines when none of them covered a multitude of sports.

I have done my best to promote each of the sports featured within the magazine as best as possibly offering extra promotion to the groups that assist it such as remolition and facelevel. I have offered out free advertising to a few small companies as well as a few who sponsored me in my youth to try and help them build their business...

I haven’t made a penny from this project (googleadds has yet to provide even a cent).... not one.... instead I have spent a considerable amount in promotion and giving away prizes to try and encourage participation. I have been an extreme sports enthusiast for 15 years... I wanted to put something back and on the whole people have been really supportive. I have also tried to invest allot into university media courses and have done my best to help out any student who has asked me to assist them with any dissertation requests or anything else.

Neil offered to come onto the team to help me source articles within the "air sports" community... I lacked the contacts and the knowledge and Neil stepped forward saying "let me help". I told him that if the magazine ever made any money I would happily give him a %. He turned that down and told me that he just wanted to help promote his sport.

I'm not going to defend how Neil has reacted because he’s completely capable of doing that himself... but look at it this way, he has a full time job and has offered his time to me for free to try and help a friend. He's done his best, maybe a little over enthusiastic but he’s just been trying to help. Instead people have responded to that by questioning his credibility... I have been in this position before and it can feel pretty rotten.

To put out this Free magazine I get home from my job and generally work till the late hours of the evening (I haven’t got to bed earlier that 1am in the past month and a half).


Cheers for that comment... Makes me feel all warm inside. your comments about my "real" "magazine". I also have written for "real" "magazines" and been involved in the editorial and design and frankly I would have thought the community would have appreciated a free product.

If you don’t want to contribute don't... If you don’t want to read then don't... there are plenty of other magazines out there.

Also Neil is not the Editor... I am.. check page 4 though by the sounds of it you didn’t get past the cover.

I'm not sure what has happened here, I don’t know where the oversight came from but as I edited this mag myself while holding down a 9till5 I’m going to be the first to admit that there are a few errors and a few talented people who have not been given the credit that they should have received. All I can say is that I'm sorry and all the photos where provided to us at Xsport in good faith.

Please bear in mind that most magazines can afford to hire a team of around 20 people to typeset, edit, proof and design... At Xsport we have me + the DV's like Neil who help find content. There will occasionally be the odd mistake but I’m trying to put something back into the community and have been upset by your comments. The aim of Xsport was to bring all extreme sports under one roof... To give a central body of information where people of similar interests can share stories.

But by the sounds of this post extreme sports athletes mostly want to explode at each other... maybe I'm wasting my time

Thankyou for being a voice of reason wwarped.

Chris Headleand
Kayaker

"I'm looking for the name of whomever lives in this house. I'm taking his super-sick 60" HDTV to the orphanage so the poor kids over there have something to watch. It's for a really good cause so I want to make sure he gets credit for it. No, I don't have permission to be here or to take the TV but i'm sure the owner won't mind. Like I said it's for a really good cause and it's like i'm gonna charge the kids to watch it or anything."

Thanks for your reply Chris but you completely skirted around the whole point that I am apparently wasting my time trying to make. If you don't have permission then don't publish it. Find another shot.
This argument isn't about money. It's about ethics. I think it's great that people (you included) are trying to flow with the times and turn the whole editorial industry on it's head in order to completely revamp the entire business model. It's awesome that you have worked to provide an alternative media outlet for athletes, writers, and photographers alike. As well as an alternative advertising venue for outdoor companies to reach the masses.
The whole movement towards web magazines is definitely a work in progress and nobody really knows where it is going to lead but I think everyone agrees it is very exciting.
However, just because it's not going to printed on paper does that mean it's ok to steal content from people.


How would you feel if some other magazine cut-n-pasted one of your editorials word-for-word in their own magazine? Without your permission, payment, or even a credit line?

What about if they just simply asked you first?

i'm not taking sides i don't proffess to know more or less about the wonderfull way of life that is base jumping or skydiving. I don't care that i put base not B.A.S.E. what i do care about is cloud tramp being a C*%t.

There has been an oversite...

It will be addressed next issue, If you had any idea the lengths myself and my team went to to get all the corect permissions for everything then you would maybe understand why I was so upset with your post.

We take things on good faith, because we are not a buisness... we're just trying to put out something interesting.

You mentioned my editorial... It has happend to me before with an article and to a lesser extent with a photo at the time I was just stoked that someone liked what I had done enough to want to show it to somone else (it was quoted from on a radio show and then printed on their website). But that is just me,

Like I say there has been a mistake, a break down of comunication and all I can say is that I'm currently doing everything I can to make it right.

That TV analogy is just about the dumbest thing I have ever heard. I love how you compare it to stealing. Maybe you should start calling me Robin Hood.

Using a photo of myself, e-mailed to me by the photographer who took the photo, to do whatever I want with is hardly called stealing. When this photo makes me rich and famous which it is obviously going to, I'll invest much time and money into putting together a team to find this mystery jumper and handsomely reward him.

I apologize for trying to find the mystery camera man on these forums. Next time I'll make up a name for the credit so Cloudtramp can sleep better at night.

All words in this post were cut and pasted from other sources without citation, please call the thought police right away. You can find me down the street at the local orphanage watching Superterminal on their sweet 60' HDTV.

Do you feel the content/ quality is decreased if the articles you create are done on your free-time, for no compensation, and not researched/ investigated/ explored/ interviewed/ voiced as well as they may be if you were paid for it and that was your main focus during the day?

I am just curious if you guys feel you are undermining the paid publications and the writers/photogs/etc. they pay for their content? Does it matter? Do you care?

I think a lot of issue we have these days are institutions are willing to sacrifice merit for cheaper (free) content that may not be as high quality, and thus prevents/ makes it much more difficult, for those that want to truly focus in one area (writing/photography/etc.) and take the time to produce extremely high quality stuff. If no one will pay for this type of thing, then what's the point? Are people willing to see snapshots/ briefs/ blogs because they are free, regardless of quality?

Ooh, this is a good topic, you should
start a new thread, seriously, cause I
bet many have thoughts on the matter.

Some regarding reality TV and some about
the way some newspapers are closing up
shop and being replaced by online versions,
such as the old paper in Seattle.

In short no. I dont think what we do could ever take the place of existing print publications... We arnt specific enough to cator to the audience. Profesional writers and phtographers will (like any other profesion) always come up against other users but free information sharing (blogs, forums, websites) are here now and are unlikly to go away. We would like to pay out contributors in the future but who knows how this is going to turn out. If I personaly make money from this I'm going to try to pass that on but this is my first month and who knows.

does solar energy undermine coal and nuclear companies? We currently get free perscriptions in Wales for all our medical needs, does this undermine drugs companies.. sure, where they used to get £20+ for one pill they not get a very low fixed rate from the government. Should we also get rid of blogs and online publications?

Also I dont think we would want to forget how good some magazines actualy are! and if someone is keen on a sport they will buy the mag, posters etc you name it because its part of their lifestyle. We have three magazines in the UK on the shelves for kayakers, two are great one is terrible, but the poorly writen one still gets sold and probably turns a tidy profit.

Forums, blogs and even what we do at Xsport is different... No I dont think the quality is dereased as I think its a different kind of person who wants to write up something for free. They are generaly people who have something to promote or just want to share their experiences. One of my faves is the "Gentelmans tale" articles we have in... Written for free but their really fun to read. Corran Adisons one on surfing is also a personal Fave, and Josh Galt who does our river boarding articles is a profesional writer. There are thousands of magazines out there (print) that are free to contribute that are really great such as the BCU kayaking magazine in the UK. The thing with an online mag is that you cant read it on the toilet or in the waiting room at hospetal, you cant take it into school and enjoy it without the use of a computer. (that is unless you print it out... but who is going to print out 92 pages?.. or a blog post... It just doesnt happe!)

At the same time I have read paid articles that have been very poor, badly written with no research atall. The fact is that most magazines out there stuggle to get a high caliber of writer every month and so end up paying for a lower quality product. Just because something has been invested in doesnt mean it has been either researched or been writen by someone with tallent I hav eknown a few freelance writers who have been able to sell their product anywhere because they where so good, I know a few personaly who stuggle to sell one a month.

This comes to an issue of... if you pay for something are you gaurenteed quality? Then I would ask if anyone has ever returned anything to a store for this issue? (probably) A tent that leaks or a microwave that breaks on its first use, someone was paid thousands to develop the product but that in itself is not a sign of quality. When something comes to me I dont nessaseraly put it in the magazine. If its bellow what I expect of it then it goes in the trashcan, but my views on quality arnt everyones.

I'm also for anything that prevents the mass use of paper and fuel. I'm quite green really and I think the paperless publication is something that has to be looked into by a few off the shelf magazines as we cant continue to use as much paper as we currently do, how many tons of paper go out each time a magazine is put to print?... how many liters of fuel get used in the lorrys that transport them? upsetting when you think about it. As online magazine technolagy develops there will it will be in a position where anyone can download onto their PDF, smartphone, gameboy or even their TV and there will be a medium where they can be baught but In my mind the software hasnt developed to that position yet and I would rather put out a free magazine that people have contributed to freely than start up a serious buisness. I cant comment on any other online publications tho...

Reality TV however.... hmm dont get me started on that.... though in all honesty the reason the pop Idol series etc keep coming out is because they get such high ratings. People hate it but yet they still seam to watch it.

In truth we are the contructors of our own downfall, we dislike online content while posting on forums (arguably the greatist information sharing availble on the internet) and we watch reality TV while hating it.

Anyway guys its really early here in the UK and I have a pet wolf crying to be taken on a walk.

Its been great reading the posts on here and even replying to a few and If I find time I'll pop in and say high sometime! Anyway Cheers for the great debate scrub! I love meaty questions like that, Its real devils advocate stuff and sometimes I think the possablitys of debate are somewhat limited online (people either want to flame or kiss ass in my experience).

All the best!

(p.s. sorry this post is so badly spelt)

it appears that Chris is NOT from the US. my guess he lives in Wales.

do you know if/how copyright differs between the US and the UK? how "fair use" differs?

I don't, but realize that rarely does one global standard exist. you seem to know much more than I. is it possible that you BOTH are right?

First of all. I just want everyone to know that in NO way am I trying to sabotage this upstart online mag nor am I here simply for some online flaming war. I'm far to busy for that. This is an important matter for some people. This is how some people feed their families. While you are working 9-5 chances are that most photographer's out there are working 80hr work weeks 7days/365 just to keep their business afloat. And on top of that photographers in particular constantly have to deal with people who feel that a photo is not worth a penny and that THEY have every right to use MY intellectual property for free just cause it's posted on the web or has been emailed to you by me.
I have NO personal vendetta against Xsport, Neil or anyone else. I commend what you are all trying to do and I know it's not easy or simple. What I am trying to do is shed some light on this issue. Especially in the outdoor sports industry there is a huge disrespect towards creative content creators and it drags the entire industry down as well as making it very very difficult for creators to make a living or even to stick around long enough in order to really create AMAZING work that we ALL benefit from. (Like Scruff was saying, thank you BTW)

Now, on the matter of intl © law. The UK is part of the Berne convention http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/...p08_berne_convention
in short:
What is the Berne Convention?
The full title is the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. It was first adopted in 1886 as an agreement to honour the rights of all authors who are nationals of countries that are party to the convention. The current version of the convention is the Paris Act of 1971. The convention is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization, (WIPO).

The Berne convention IS basically an international copyright law. The US, UK, and New Zealand have all signed the Berne convention and © is therefore protected in all of these countries.

Also the UK copyright laws are more or less identical to the copyright laws in the US feel free to read up on them here :
http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/...p01_uk_copyright_law

To Summarize:
-The law gives the creators of literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works, sound recordings, broadcasts, films and typographical arrangement of published editions, rights to control the ways in which their material may be used.
The rights cover; broadcast and public performance, copying, adapting, issuing, renting and lending copies to the public.

-Copyright is an automatic right and arises whenever an individual or company creates a work. To qualify, a work should be regarded as original, and exhibits a degree of labour, skill or judgement

-Who owns a piece of work:
Normally the individual or collective who authored the work will exclusively own the work.

-It is an offence to perform any of the following acts without the consent of the owner:
Copy the work.
Rent, lend or issue copies of the work to the public.
Perform, broadcast or show the work in public.
Adapt the work.


(The proceeding was all pulled directly from the UK copyright service page)

Let me just throw this out there for you to dwell on:

Pro DSLR camera body: $5,000.
Backup DSLR body: $2,000.
Lens investment: $10,000.
2 Speedlights: $1,000.
Ultra-light tripod: $1300.
Bags, cases, cards, cleaning kits, cables, etc. $1500.+
Desktop Computer: $2500.
Editing software: $2000.
Laptop: $2000.
Backup Hard Drives: $500 (usually every 6 months)
Website $2000(every year, and that's a cheap one)
Marketing $5,000. - $10,000 per year
Desk, printer, fax, etc. $1000
office supplies $500+ per year
Insurance: $1000/yr
Flight to Norway $1200.
Excess baggage fees $200.
Rental car for 3 weeks $2,000.
Lodging, food, gas, misc $2,000.
Rig, camera helmet,etc $3300.
Lysebotn "lift tix" $600.-$1000. /3weeks

That photo that I was nice enough to email to you: "YES, please use in any way you want, in whatever medium you want, forever and ever and whatever you do don't ask my permission or give me credit cause after all I did send it to you after spending 2-weeks straight in front of my computer editing all my images including this one. Not to mention working nights at a grocery store so that I can cover all the debt from my photography business cause everyone knows that a photo should never belong to the artist and anyway i'm doing all this for the love of it!"

BTW, I DO love it! Most photographers are NOT in it for the money either. It's a lifestyle thing. However it is an extremely expensive and difficult lifestyle which is why EVERY photographer deserves AT THE VERY LEAST the respect of asking their permission before using one of their images no matter how good the cause is.
If it is your desire to start-up a magazine FOR the people who are passionate about these sports then please have some respect for the people who are passionate about capturing these sports in various mediums so that we can continue to get out there and create/capture the imagery that so inspires us and touches us and gives us that little chill of excitement just sitting on the toilet bowl at home with a magazine in hand.

I would venture to guess that the amazing and inspiring imagery created by the past artisans of our collective sports is a HUGE factor on all of us being here now playing in these amazing, wonderful, and adrenaline overload inducing playgrounds.


I think I've made my point well enough to anyone who might actually listen. I wish you all luck with your mag and I hope that going into the future as you work on your upcoming issues you will think about the rights of other creators in this industry so that we may all continue to do what we love to do and we are all able to afford to get out there as much as possible.

Aloha

excellent.

i agree 100%

wow.

I figured you'd know far more than myself... but that was impressive.

unfortunately, mentors, friends, moderators, etc., frequently give of their time. thus some participants expect freebies from everyone, including the photographers.

 
Pls don't get me wrong. I have given away my images for free many many times. For various reasons but mainly just because I love what I do so much and I really enjoy all of the great people who live life a little bit differently and I love nothing more than to help people out. After all you can't take it with you when the reaper eventually drops in for tea.

The difference is asking for permission instead of just assuming a god-given right.

Giving away my work for free is probably part of the reason I work 2 jobs on top of running my own biz.

But when I'm out there shooting and at home editing the pics it makes it all worth it. I'm not complaining Life is good!

cut and pasted for your viewing pleasure

Issue #2

http://www.xsport-magazine.com/index.html

http://www.xsport-magazine.com/index.html

"autoclickifeid"