The Boston Rock Project

About/FAQ

ATTENTION: Enjoy this site but please respect the work that went into these pages and the care that went into these photographs by not stealing graphics, copy or images.
LEGAL STATEMENT: All images and text on this site are property and Copyright © 1991-2005 of Charles M. Pickett, all rights reserved. No image or article may be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of Charles M. Pickett. All images have been encoded with a unique digital watermark for periodic electronic tracing by www.digimarc.com which offers the MarcSpider service for tracking down thieves who steal my work

The Boston Rock Project is a personal photo and Web project by former, full-time photojournalist Charles Pickett, seeking to document and promote Boston-area bands.

Started in Oct. 1999, the site now has thousands of photos, dozens of bands, and is seen by more than 6,500 visitors internationally a month.

Contact Info:

CHARLES M. PICKETT
PO BOX 223
SOMERVILLE MA 02143
617-500-7338
email AT pickettmedia DOT com

FAQ

Q: Will you come and photograph my band?
A: To be totally honest, probably not. Most of the bands I shoot for the project have someone I know playing in them or have been been recommended by friends in the music industry. But it doesn't hurt to send me an email and ask. Please note: the Boston Rock Project is funded entirely out of my pocket so I can be extremely choosy and a little bit lazy about the whole thing.

Q: Do you sell prints or scans on a CD?
A: Yes I do. Please see the section on Purchasing & Using Photos.

Q: What is the protocol/pricing for licensing images and/or purchasing copies?
A: Please see the section on Purchasing & Using Photos.

Q: Can I use a photo of yours on my Web site?
A: Please see the section on Purchasing & Using Photos.

Q: My band needs a press kit photo? Do you do band shots?
A: Not anymore.

Q: How do you get permission to shoot bands?
A: Most of the performers I photograph are unsigned and friends, so I just ask.

Q: It is always so dark at shows. How do you take such good shots?
A: I cheat. Lighting in clubs is notoriously bad. Just when you think you have enough, the band asks to have them turned down. Having been a full-time photojournalist I used a flash when shooting high school basketball in poorly lit gyms triggered by radio remotes. Now I hang a regular flash (Vivitar 285), attached to a battery (Quantum Turbo or 1) and the receiver (Quantum) from light bars, walls or building supports before a show.

Q: Do you use a digital camera?
A: No. I shoot with my 12-year-old Nikon F4 and manual focus lenses (20, 35, 50, 105 and 80-200 mm) and get regular color print film (Fuji Press 400) developed and scan the images using a Poloraid SprintScan. If I need high-resolution scans for clients, they get done at the photo lab.

Q:Do you have any tips on getting our site known?
A: Make sure Google knows who you are. Offer interesting content that is not difficult to find. A decent email list manager is invaluable for informing your audience when new content is posted and a great way for visitors to opt-in and opt-out of mail lists.
 
The Boston Rock Project

Purchasing & Using Photos

Acknowledgments:

Many thanks go out to the supporters of this project including the bands, the clubs, John the photo guy at Walgreens on Boylston by the Pru, the staff and owners of the Middle East (including John, Abbey and Matt), the crew at Lilli's (now 608, now closed), Mr. Thompson from Polaroid Technical Support, T Max of the Noise, Shred (WBCN), and Green Street Grill staff Katie and Cheryl who put up with me every Monday for months.

Special thanks to Mr. Mike Conklin, former Monday music booking agent at the Green Street Grill and a good friend who encouraged me to start this project.

 

Q: May I use a photo?
A: It depends on what you are going to use it for and where.


The Boston Rock Project is partially funded by bands, fans and record labels who license my performance photos for commercial, promotional and personal uses such as press kits, posters, birthday presents and CDs.

Images from the site have been widely published in newspapers and magazines such as the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, the Noise, Guitar Player Magazine, Moloko Plus (German punkrock fanzine), Skope Magazine and the Weekly Dig.

There are six ways you may use a photo:

• Editorial (magazines, newspapers, fanzines)
Images on this site may be used by established print publications after receiving written permission and crediting the copyright holder (Charles M. Pickett/The Boston Rock Project). Image use is limited to the "fair-use" doctrine of the United States Copyright Law. If a publication desires a high-resolution file for printed reproduction, please email me for possible accommodations.

• Web (bands, labels, fans)
Bands may use my images for FREE on their Web sites. All they have to do is:
  1. ask permission via email
    email AT pickettmedia DOT com
    (and include the base URL of your site)
  2. give credit (Photo Courtesy Charles M. Pickett/The Boston Rock Project)
  3. put a link back to my site (in the credit is OK)
    (http://www.bostonrockproject.com)
• Desktop & screensavers (everyone)
Feel free to use images from my site for personal use on your computer. Be sure to tell everyone where you got the photo and how the photographer is a really neat guy. Just don’t use it for any commercial, promotional or editorial purposes.
 
• Personal use prints (everyone)
Images intended for gifts or a scrapbook may be purchased for $40.00 plus cost of the deliverable (typically an 8x10 inch print). Write for more info (email AT pickettmedia DOT com).
 
• Non-sale license (bands and labels)
Images for any and all promotional and marketing materials may be licensed for $100.00 plus the cost of the deliverable (typically a drum-scanned, 8x10 inch, 300 dpi color scan). Write for more info (email AT pickettmedia DOT com).
 
• For-sale license (bands and labels)
Images for merchandise (CDs, t-shirts, lunchboxes) may be licensed for $200.00 plus the cost of the deliverable (typically a drum-scanned, 8 x 10 inch, 300 dpi RGB color scan). This license also covers the non-sale license. Write for more info (email AT pickettmedia DOT com).