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VISUAL CREATORS
For your artistic side.

🏞️ Meet the 2024 Landscape Photo Champs!

The Story: The 11th International Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards has announced its winners, showcasing breathtaking submissions that highlight the beauty and challenges of landscape photography. Andrew Mielzynski of Canada took home the title of International Landscape Photographer of the Year with his stunning portfolio, proving that great landscape photography combines timing, determination, and talent.

The Details:

• Canadian photographer Andrew Mielzynski won the top award with a beautiful portfolio that includes images like "Sunrise on the Atacama Desert."

• A total of 3,643 images were submitted, with Mielzynski selected for the depth and quality of his work that captures the essence of the natural world.

• The runner-up position went to Ignacio Palacios from Australia, known for mesmerizing shots like "Arita Cone" and "Yangykala Canyon."

• Gheorghe Popa of Romania snagged third place, contributing striking landscapes to the competition’s top entries.

• The competition includes special awards across various categories, with a total prize pool of $12,500 distributed among the winners.

Why It Matters: The International Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards is not just about recognition; it celebrates the artistry and technical skill of landscape photography. For creatives, these awards inspire exploration and mastery of the craft. Each winner’s journey underscores the importance of perseverance and patience, essential qualities that resonate deeply within the photography community. Showcasing these awards boosts visibility for both emerging and established landscape photographers, fostering a greater appreciation for the art form.

PRODUCTION MASTERY
The commercial aspects of creativity.

🍏 Apple Starts Direct Ad Sales in News App

The Story: Apple has launched a direct advertising initiative for its News app, marking a significant shift from its reliance on third-party vendors. By selling ads directly, Apple will allow publishers to retain a 70% cut of the revenue from ads it sells in articles, potentially enhancing the quality and relevance of ads on the platform.

The Details:

• Apple has begun directly selling advertising inventory within the Apple News app, moving away from third-party vendors that have previously handled advertising.

• Publishers will receive 70% of the revenue generated from ads sold by Apple within their content, while keeping 100% of their own ad sales.

• New ad formats include placements within the Apple News feed and individual stories, as well as premium sponsorships for significant events like the Met Gala.

• Apple is expanding its advertising offerings to include 17 different ad formats, with a focus on maximizing revenue for both itself and publishing partners.

• With estimates of advertising revenue reaching around $10 billion annually, this move aligns with Apple’s strategy to bolster its services business amid softening hardware sales.

Why It Matters: This shift toward direct ad sales is pivotal for Apple, aiming to elevate the ad experience on the News app, which has often been criticized for low-quality, clickbait-style ads. For publishers, the new revenue-sharing model provides a robust incentive to produce more quality content on a platform that has been seen primarily as a promotional tool. In the competitive landscape of digital media, enhancing ad quality can lead to improved user experience and ultimately drive more traffic and engagement, benefiting both advertisers and creators in the space.

CREATOR ECONOMY
Navigating the digital creative world.

💎 YouTube Launches 'Jewels' Gift System!

The Story: YouTube is rolling out a new feature called “Jewels,” allowing creators to earn money during vertical livestreams by enabling viewers to buy digital currency to send animated gifts. This move mirrors TikTok’s popular gifting system, aiming to bolster live streaming engagement and revenue. When viewers send gifts using Jewels, creators receive “Rubies,” translating to earnings of $0.01 per Ruby received. As an introductory offer, eligible creators in the U.S. will benefit from a 50% bonus on their earnings for the first three months, up to $1,000 monthly.

The Details:

• Jewels can be purchased during vertical livestreams on the mobile YouTube app, and gifts will create engaging on-screen animations for viewer interaction.

• For every 100 Rubies received, creators earn $1. The cost of Jewels may vary, so the effective revenue share is not fixed.

• This feature will initially be available only to eligible creators in the U.S., meaning only viewers from this region can purchase Jewels for now.

• Creators must enable this feature to remove access to Super Stickers, limiting their income options during livestreams.

• YouTube hopes to visually enhance viewer support, directly appealing to those used to supporting creators on platforms like TikTok.

Why It Matters: This new feature is crucial for content creators looking to diversify their monetization strategies, especially those with active audience engagement during live sessions. By emulating TikTok's success, YouTube acknowledges the growing demand for real-time viewer interactions that monetize effortlessly. The introduction of Jewels could be a game-changer for creators seeking new revenue streams, allowing them to thrive in the competitive landscape of online streaming where every cent counts.

🔥 Press Worthy

📽️ VISUAL CREATORS

In a world increasingly influenced by AI, creatives must adopt survival tactics reminiscent of wilderness shows like "Alone". Embracing adaptability, psychological resilience, and foresight is crucial to navigate this digital wilderness and thrive amid rapid technological changes. Read the full article here.

Nan Goldin’s upcoming exhibition, “This Will Not End Well,” in Berlin is attracting controversy over antisemitism concerns. As tensions rise, she distanced herself from a related symposium. Important panelists, including Hito Steyerl, have started to withdraw their participation amid growing debate.

📈 PRODUCTION MASTERY

Sotheby’s November 18 modern art evening sale saw a dramatic 58% drop in sales from last year, totaling $93.1 million. Alberto Giacometti’s Buste was the top seller at $13.3 million. The results reflect a clear shift in buyer preferences and market demands.

CEOs are shifting focus from digital to AI transformation, according to a recent Gartner survey. With 59% believing AI is key to their industry’s future, CIOs now hold a spotlight as companies aim for innovation, even as concerns about ethical use persist.

🎭 CREATOR ECONOMY

Instagram is testing a new feature that allows users to reset their algorithmic recommendations. This fresh start could help combat problematic content lingering from previous explorations, supporting healthier, more relevant feeds. Soon, users can tailor their experience again!

AI expert Gary Marcus argues for a dedicated regulatory agency to tackle the real-world dangers of AI. In his book, Taming Silicon Valley, he highlights issues from misinformation and deep-fakes to intellectual property theft, insisting we need to act before it's too late.

📚 Learn & Grow

📽️ VISUAL CREATORS

• Redefining Creation at the Intersection of Nature and Technology

• Instagram Tests AI Profile Image and Sticker Generation Tools

📈 PRODUCTION MASTERY

• More music is released in a day in 2024 than in all of 1989 combined

• You can now generate images for your documents with Gemini in Google Docs

🎭 CREATOR ECONOMY

• How MF DOOM Redefined Hip-Hop Album Art Forever

• What Is The Creator Economy? A Beginner’s Guide To Making A Living Making Stuff