Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic

rinder99 · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 11:49 am

Here's a question I've always wondered about, Lets just say that there are 26,000 photographers here or submitters if you will. what is the percentage of those that pay the bills? I know we will never find out but it would be very interesting to see. Also something else that kind of amazed me. I took the time and looked at every portfolio of everyone in the top 50. I assumed that if they were in the top 50 I was going to see some great stuff? I was quite amazed to see that in most cases the shot that made it is, unlike all the others in a particular portfolio. seemed strange to me. but congrats to all anyway.

reviewer · Admin Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Posts: 1627

rinder99 · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 2:10 pm

would be an interesting stat, No?

fncdigital · Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 12:11 pm

rinder99 · Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 2:42 pm

I agree but for some reason I get dl's all the time from some very old stuff, some actually embarrising.Funny also that other sites never sell my new stuff only the old crusty ones. weird biz, huh?

shatteredlens · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: New York, NY

I actually sold one from my first 10 yesterday.

fncdigital · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 2:46 am

i do too, my point is, because it doesnt get downloads doesnt mean its a bad image, it just doesnt get seen.

chrishg · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 1

I have tried to upload images scanned from negs/trans that are shot on high iso stock. In these instances the film was chosen to give a "grain" look to the image. The images get rejected because of "noise". Aer these kind of images not used anymore? Or do I need to explain this in the upload.

rinder99 · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 2:29 pm

trandoductin · Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 122

I am completely new to this photography world, always wanted to have an awesome camera, and finally was able to afford a decent one, so I went out and bought myself a Canon 20D, and 3 days later got a Canon Powershot A700(just for convenience in size). Anyways that enough about me and my cams.
I just signed up and waited like 5/6 six days ago to get 7/10 approved. I am so happy that I got 7 because that's the minimum so I think the reviewers are like drivers examiners, they don't want you to think you're too good which is a good thing it keeps you working harder and keeping your expectations high which keeps the site better quality.
I totally don't expect to make a living out of this hobby.
first, it'd be wicked if I got some downloads (satisfy me deep down inside, just knowing someone out there can use my images)
secondly, it'd be even cooler if there's enough downloads that the money I earn from this I can buy more equipment but that's just my dream I don't think it will, I like to keep my expectations of the images I take and will take high (which I haven't really taken any images that I am 100% satisfied with yet) and keep my expectations of the downloads low. If I just get one download that would already make me happy for like a month.
Anyways long enough message, and probably off topic enough already. Good luck to all, and good nite, as I just received my email of notice of congratulations about my first batch 7/10 yeah....so happy!

bichon · Joined: 19 Aug 2005 Posts: 11329 Location: Canada

The only thing i would like to see is a less vague reason for rejection. This would help the newbies and those who are learning to 'see' potential problems.
when the reason is 'hazing, artifacts or autotraced' (or something along those lines, i can't remember) ... it is not always clear if only one of the possiblities had been the issue. for example, for a noise or artifact reason, maybe there is noise .. but it is in the acceptable range.. and it is the artifact issue which is causing the rejection. sometimes i see a post questioning a rejection. one person may see a noise problem, and another may not and pin the rejection on one of the other rejection reasons.. but it would nice to know exactly what the REVEIEWER was rejecting.
no ?

rinder99 · Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:36 pm

bichon · Joined: 19 Aug 2005 Posts: 11329 Location: Canada

i take no offense and some of the points you make (like artifacts in rgb saturated areas), are invaluable, but i dont believe it is up to US to figure it out. When we look at a photo, we have a perception of its components, be it composition or digital anomolies (sp). the casual photographer may have read a bit about noise and artifacts but only have a broad view of how they manifest. in the hundreds of articles i read to learn photographer, you read that noise is in the shadows when using high ISO and artificats are created when you boost up the sharpening too high. that's what;s generally discussed in the 'how-to' books and articles. yes, it's not rocket science, but it does help when a critiquer tells us what the problem is and where it is evident. those 'how to' articles show greatly exaggerated versions of noise and artifacts... but they don't show the 'no tolerance' versions of anomolies which get our pictures rejected.
I also read many posts totally confused about what 'hazing' is. we need help in his too. we need to know WHERE we can get help easily and quickly. if you have had to repeat yourselft thousands of times, then it means that people are not getting the message. maybe like me, they try to research the forums once in a while but have no time to search 1000s of posts.
in other words, it would nice to have a SS tutorial on what sells, and what doesn't.... and what is an artifact.. where it lurks and how you can get rid of it...
not only that, but SS has gotten tougher in the last year. i was getting noise, autotracing and artificats accepted a year ago and all of a sudden, things were getting rejected. how the hell was i to know to look for the reasons why ?. what was ok noise one day became unacceptable the next.
thanks for your reply though ... alot of wise words.

rinder99 · Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 4:16 pm

I find that over time here that there is an enormous amount of mis-information. One of my concerns has always been if I am to take the time and try to instruct by typing which is nearly impossible the subjects I try to cover are composition, lighting and basic photography techniques ie;DOF, Hyperfocal Distance.The circle of confusion. Noise, artifacts and [hazing] which is a amataur term for chromatic abberations and no one uses is really something that cant be taught easily if you dont know what causes it or what to look for. There are im sure thousands of words written on this here and billions on the internet. Yes things have changed here and will continue to change forcing newbies to either get with the program and at least step up to the plate or, sit on the bench and complain that no one holds there hand or teachs them stuff anymore. Myself and a handfull of others are kinda the last ones here that take any time at all on these issues, all the rest have understandably given up.when you get a rejection for something you dont understand, sit down and really analize the image , the real reason may not even be the reason they gave you. Maybe, It's just crap and they dont want it? and were just giving you some reason. I've had a few decisions reversed because I know I was right. I have also had 50 or so out of 1000 that they were dead on correct and I even thanked them for finding it. It made me stronger and more professional in the way I look at this business. I dont want anything that isin't worthy to be seen here OR anywhere. This is not a school and my advice to you is get over it, learn this art of stock. Rejection is a very big part of anything you will ever do in any creative endeavor. Just buckle down , study the top 50 and ask yourself, Can I compete here or is this just a little hobby? If you want send me a link to your PORT and I'll give you a critique from 45 years of photography and stock. Good luck and just shoot more, stop reading for a while and, take a hard look at your work Before you submit and I gaurentee all this will be a memory.
send link here through mysite www.rinderart.com
Stephan, nevermind I looked at your stuff Already. Just about everything is not really stock oriented.you need to study composition my friend.after you get another 600 or so, you will look back on this work and say "what was I thinking" everybody does..well not everybody HA Take care.