If admins feel this thread should be merged with my thread here:
http://alizeeamerica.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8423, I'll completely understand, but I did figure news like this could use another thread given how big it is (to me anyway).
So anyway, a few years ago I found this forum (though it really seems to be only posted/maintained by one person/admin):
http://starfile.ru/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=20
This is the greatest Alizee gallery collection I have ever seen, especially in terms of organization, time/place, and original quality. He has even recently (as in the day I write this thread) added even more. I suppose Alizeespain's collection could rival it, possibly:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alizeespain/
Anyway, so I attempted contacting the site admin "Yugg" (who also posts all the photos) and about a year or so ago he flatly refused to sell the photos for any price. I can't say for sure if his motivations were based on a type o fandom (supposedly he would only trade Alizee photos for other exclusive Alizee photos, of which I had none of course since he is pretty much top tier in this way), or being cautious as I might be some sort of law enforcement, I don't know.
Either way, I waited about a year and recontacted him just two days ago or so. He agreed to sell them, at 4 euros per photo. Not wanting upset and/or drive him off and me lose the opportunity, I bought some at the price he stated and got the galleries I was particularly interested in (totally about $120, after I also included a tip to cover paypal fees):
http://starfile.ru/forum/showthread.php?t=13190
http://starfile.ru/forum/showthread.php?t=13160
http://starfile.ru/forum/showthread.php?p=13693
http://starfile.ru/forum/showthread.php?t=13409
When I paid he quickly sent a download link with the photos and they are the real deal. They're high quality and while not as sharp as the newest cameras today can produce for the most part, they're far better than the thumbnails he uses and I'm fairly certain they are the original quality photos, before any overt JPEG artifacting or anything. Now, while I'd like to have the rest of the photos of course, I'm a bit at my budget for now and won't be totally devastated if he just pulls down the site or something and the photos are lost forever.
The main reason I'm here is for awareness that if any of you guys are interested in these photos now may be the time to get them. I can't really guess this guy's actions from one day to the next of course and I'm being as cautious as I can be for the sake of you guys. Otherwise I would've immediately shared the photos on my instagram (
https://www.instagram.com/imverynuts/ ) and here.
So, from here if there's anyone here highly interested in these photos I think now would be the time to get some IMHO. I understand the legality of what he is doing is extremely thin at best, but I don't really think anyone would enforce it in either direction really, especailly as he is in Russia, and all the photographers and Alizee's agent(s)/herself have moved on. I would add a caveat I did take a small risk in sending the money when he could've just refused to send said photos. My impression is though he really will send the photos for the ones you order, though obviously this is no guarantee in the quality or actual delivery, even if my own experience was good.
Also, try to keep in mind some of his galleries you can actually get from other places (in the same quality I think), like from Alizeespain's aforementioned galleries, which are all free.
TL;DR: Bought a bunch of photos from a Russian person, scared if I start sharing them that you guys would lose out on a ton more Alizee photos (unlikely but I see no pressing need to take chances). Wondering about what advice/direction you'd take from here and also wanted to provide you all the opportunity as well.
Edit: Alright guys, here they are, I gottem!:
https://imgur.com/a/34bkBEV
The beach photos in Ajaccio are really something. It's bizarre to me such great photos have been lost to time for so long. There's an option to download the entire option on the right if you like.