Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic - First try at Stock photography

pixellence · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Posts: 8 Location: Australia

Hi All,

Very new to this, attempted this photo on my home made lightbox.

Hope i did all things right.

I have cropped 100% for 500x500
added a full image of 500x500.

Thanks,

hhltdave5 · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:53 pm

From the crop you showed it is badly out of focus. Stock images need to have tack sharp focus in the critical areas.

Also if you were going for an isolation (no shadows) or an on white (with shadows) the background needs to be pure white and this is gray.

Light tents are not the best thing to use. Good isolations need good lighting from different sources and it is often best to light the background separately from the object of attention.

Remember isolations are just a part of stock photography and by no means the only part. They are difficult to do unless you have the right equipment and the right technique.

A bracelet such as this may also have a problem with copyright protection because it is so distinctive.

Thank you for posting correctly. Lets see what else you have.

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:06 pm

Also add they are full of noise.

pixellence · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Posts: 8 Location: Australia

Thanks for your comments mate, I have been trying really hard to get a proper focus on to images.
Right now I am concerned more about the technical part & testing out on my wife's bracelet.

For Light I had 2 lamps each 40watts yellow light & butter paper to diffuse shadows.

You are right I was trying the isolation with the lightbox, I thought it would be a great way to start, (but I guess I was wrong) - (Any start points will be appreciated)

Looking at the details below tell me if I am doing something wrong with setting on my Nikon D5100.
When I shot this pic, i did make sure that my lens had proper focus, still my pic is not sharp enough :(

Be it indoor or outdoor, I wonder if i will ever be able to take sharp photos

Exposure Mode: Manual exposure
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure Time: 1 / 13
Flash: Flash did not fire
FNumber: 5.6
Focal Length: 55
Gain Control: None
ISO Speed Ratings: 100
Metering Mode: Pattern
Sharpness: Normal
White Balance: Manual white balance
Lens Info: 18, 55, 3.5, 5.6
Lens Model: AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G

jhuls · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 1047

I would say your starting point needs to be focus, doesn't matter what type of image you do, outdoor, landscape, isolation if it is not in focus then you don't have a shot.

Work on focus and composition first. Then we can help you with lighting.

banepetkovic · Joined: 03 Mar 2012 Posts: 135

pixellence · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Posts: 8 Location: Australia

banepetkovic · Joined: 03 Mar 2012 Posts: 135

hhltdave5 · Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 6:17 am

One of the best tips I can give you is that until you get the proper equipment (lights) to where you can use a good faster shutter speed don't go for isolations. In addition to the proper light you need the proper technique. Your shutter speed was 1/13 of a second. If you do not have a rock solid tripod you stand a good chance of getting some vibration.

All tripods are not alike. Many think that you just go out and get something with three legs and you have a good tripod. Most tripods found in regular camera stores are cheap, flimsy and basically meant for video cameras. A good tripod is nothing to buy on the cheap.

Doing isolations well is one of the hardest things to do in photography yet most start out trying to do them. Many think that using a lightbox will get the job done.

Lightboxes are one of the biggest wastes of money there is. They tend to give flat light because the light is bounced all over the place. They also restrict your camera movement and ability to shoot at different angles. Trust me, you are not the only one to do this. It happens all the time.

Good isolations are done by having good lights, the proper number of lights and lighting the object and the background properly. Remember you have the greatest light source in the world available at your finger tips - the sun. Learn about light, how to use it and how to control it.

Until you get the technique down think of doing shots in a more natural setting. Stock is not only shots of objects plopped down on a table. Stock is images capturing life in general in all its forms.

rudyumans · Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 7:24 am

Looking at the full size image, to me it seems not so much a focus issue, but more dept of field. The big blue stone and the little black one with the red stripes look a lot sharper than the yellow one in the crop.

The Exif data said that 1/20 with F7.1 as was used (Shutterspeed priority?) or F8, which might not be enough for a close up of such a relatively large object.

rinder99 · Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 10:27 am

If ya wanna do this. Your going to have to invest some dollars and time with study and learning the basics of photography. DOF,Exposure and composition. throw away the DIY light table. Thats going in the wrong direction and will create Very bad habits. Go outside and practice, Also Your Kit lense....18-55 is very slow and not that sharp But can be used if and when you know it's limitations. Don't use it at either end. meaning 18 or 55. be somewhere in the middle. Get out your manual and read it 3 times from start to end. then read it again.You have a ways to go My friend if you want this.It's not that easy.Heres 3 new ones, Look easy? it's supposed to but actually very difficult shooting white on white and showing form. Sometimes we use Black flags, I used grey poster board..Theres a lot of tricks and it's mostly just a perceived Illusion with focal length and Selective DOF to trick a viewer into looking where you want them to.As in the chopstick shadow pointing to subject in the tomato shot.Look at Daves port, He takes his work to an artform.Elegant simplicity always wins.

rinder99 · Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 10:37 am

Simple everyday items..Toothpaste,A penny or a fork and knife can be an artform.And can sell rather well.Good Luck.

pixellence · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Posts: 8 Location: Australia

Thanks for all the comments guys, I love shooting outside, but read at few places that isolations are the easiest to shoot with a lighbox in place. But I guess its all a myth.

I am willing to spend some money on to it. My Budget at the moment is about $50-$100.

Any suggestions are welcome for the type of light. I do have a sturdy tripod & good 10x10 space in the garage.

Thanks once again everyone.

rinder99 · Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 11:50 pm

$50 to a $100????? sorry. That isn't gonna get it done. your on a site with very serious commercial Photographers that have $1000's of dollars worth of equipment. Maybe at this time this isn't for you. You have to learn the craft and then you need to invest in the craft. I fear your not ready to do the work.At this level the bar is set VERY high.But.....Good luck.You have a long way to go and a steep learning curve.

pixellence · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Posts: 8 Location: Australia