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hhltdave5
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 24302
Location: Our Stock, Food & Portrait photography books at www.rindersmithphotography.com
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:18 pm
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| ovisovata83 wrote: | Thanks,
Got the idea and appreciate your input.
Just trying to understand the "magic formula" and polish my skills. |
First there really isn't a magic formula. There are certain things that you can photograph that will give you a better chance of getting good sales but the whole thing comes down to the quality of the images. You can have the best concept in the world but if there are technical issues it just won't cut it.
Getting a good stock shot is like putting together a jig saw puzzle. Everything needs to fit together just right or it doesn't work. You need to first have a good object or scene to photograph that will give you the commercial value. Then you must use light properly, compose it well, make sure that your focus is spot on and exposed well.
This whole process is what we call "Making the shot, not just taking the shot." You need to put all this together in the right way to get the shot that will be accepted and sell. Importantly you also need to be able to know when the conditions are not right for a stock shot and to either walk away or just do a shot for your scrapbook to remember the time and scene.
One of the first things that Laurin and I teach in our landscape workshops is to use your eyes to really "see" the scene and not just look at it. In your mind you should be running off a check list of things to determine if this is the shot to take or not. Where is the light? What is its intensity? Its direction? Are there clouds? If so are they the right kind of clouds? How am I going to compose this? Do I need something in the foreground to give scale?
The list can go on and on but as you do this more and more you can get through that list in a matter of seconds and know just how to photograph the scene. But there will be times when the shot is just not there.
Here is a true story. Laurin and I were driving through Monument Valley when we both saw the same shot (see actually see photographic opportunities the same way and usually at the same time) and we quickly pulled over to get the shot.
While we were doing this we were saying out loud things like "my God that light is amazing. I have never seen anything like that before! We have got to get that shot!. In a matter of less than a minute we got to the place where we saw this amazing light ready to get this great shot and we both just lowered our cameras and let out a sigh. In those few seconds the light had changed and we were looking at just another typical scene that did not have any real impact.
We walked back to the car without taking a single shot and drove on looking again for that amazing light.
So, start looking at what you are thinking of photographing in a different way. Anyone can take a nice shot, the trick is knowing how to capture that amazing shot. Don't just take a shot just to take a shot. Every shot you take should put all your skills and abilities into action.
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copidosoma
Joined: 17 Nov 2009
Posts: 3917
Location: Canada
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:22 pm
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| hhltdave5 wrote: |
Here is a true story. Laurin and I were driving through Monument Valley when we both saw the same shot (see actually see photographic opportunities the same way and usually at the same time) and we quickly pulled over to get the shot.
While we were doing this we were saying out loud things like "my God that light is amazing. I have never seen anything like that before! We have got to get that shot!. In a matter of less than a minute we got to the place where we saw this amazing light ready to get this great shot and we both just lowered our cameras and let out a sigh. In those few seconds the light had changed and we were looking at just another typical scene that did not have any real impact.
We walked back to the car without taking a single shot and drove on looking again for that amazing light.
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Boy, if I had a nickel for every time I've done that...
That moment can literally last for 5 seconds. My wife often thinks I'm nuts.
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ovisovata83
Joined: 11 Feb 2011
Posts: 24
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:16 pm
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| hhltdave5 wrote: | | ovisovata83 wrote: | Thanks,
Got the idea and appreciate your input.
Just trying to understand the "magic formula" and polish my skills. |
First there really isn't a magic formula. There are certain things that you can photograph that will give you a better chance of getting good sales but the whole thing comes down to the quality of the images. You can have the best concept in the world but if there are technical issues it just won't cut it.
Getting a good stock shot is like putting together a jig saw puzzle. Everything needs to fit together just right or it doesn't work. You need to first have a good object or scene to photograph that will give you the commercial value. Then you must use light properly, compose it well, make sure that your focus is spot on and exposed well.
This whole process is what we call "Making the shot, not just taking the shot." You need to put all this together in the right way to get the shot that will be accepted and sell. Importantly you also need to be able to know when the conditions are not right for a stock shot and to either walk away or just do a shot for your scrapbook to remember the time and scene.
One of the first things that Laurin and I teach in our landscape workshops is to use your eyes to really "see" the scene and not just look at it. In your mind you should be running off a check list of things to determine if this is the shot to take or not. Where is the light? What is its intensity? Its direction? Are there clouds? If so are they the right kind of clouds? How am I going to compose this? Do I need something in the foreground to give scale?
The list can go on and on but as you do this more and more you can get through that list in a matter of seconds and know just how to photograph the scene. But there will be times when the shot is just not there.
Here is a true story. Laurin and I were driving through Monument Valley when we both saw the same shot (see actually see photographic opportunities the same way and usually at the same time) and we quickly pulled over to get the shot.
While we were doing this we were saying out loud things like "my God that light is amazing. I have never seen anything like that before! We have got to get that shot!. In a matter of less than a minute we got to the place where we saw this amazing light ready to get this great shot and we both just lowered our cameras and let out a sigh. In those few seconds the light had changed and we were looking at just another typical scene that did not have any real impact.
We walked back to the car without taking a single shot and drove on looking again for that amazing light.
So, start looking at what you are thinking of photographing in a different way. Anyone can take a nice shot, the trick is knowing how to capture that amazing shot. Don't just take a shot just to take a shot. Every shot you take should put all your skills and abilities into action. |
Thank you very much for your advice and yes, you really are right, I should try an analyze the shot before start taking pictures.
I get carried away sometimes maybe because of the lack of experience. I only recently have discovered this passion.
Some of the pictures uploaded were taken without stock photography in mind to be honest, and were taken right after I started shooting more seriously but with really no theoretical training what so ever. In time I started slowly reading more and discovering that there is much more to it than pointing and shooting.
This is maybe one of the main reasons I decided to join the forum, nothing is really better that direct interaction with professionals, be it in a virtual place, that can give you punctual information and help you improve.
Thank you again.
PS - Please excuse me if sometimes my English is not always accurate but it is not my native language.
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hhltdave5
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 24302
Location: Our Stock, Food & Portrait photography books at www.rindersmithphotography.com
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:43 pm
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| ovisovata83 wrote: | | hhltdave5 wrote: | | ovisovata83 wrote: | Thanks,
Got the idea and appreciate your input.
Just trying to understand the "magic formula" and polish my skills. |
First there really isn't a magic formula. There are certain things that you can photograph that will give you a better chance of getting good sales but the whole thing comes down to the quality of the images. You can have the best concept in the world but if there are technical issues it just won't cut it.
Getting a good stock shot is like putting together a jig saw puzzle. Everything needs to fit together just right or it doesn't work. You need to first have a good object or scene to photograph that will give you the commercial value. Then you must use light properly, compose it well, make sure that your focus is spot on and exposed well.
This whole process is what we call "Making the shot, not just taking the shot." You need to put all this together in the right way to get the shot that will be accepted and sell. Importantly you also need to be able to know when the conditions are not right for a stock shot and to either walk away or just do a shot for your scrapbook to remember the time and scene.
One of the first things that Laurin and I teach in our landscape workshops is to use your eyes to really "see" the scene and not just look at it. In your mind you should be running off a check list of things to determine if this is the shot to take or not. Where is the light? What is its intensity? Its direction? Are there clouds? If so are they the right kind of clouds? How am I going to compose this? Do I need something in the foreground to give scale?
The list can go on and on but as you do this more and more you can get through that list in a matter of seconds and know just how to photograph the scene. But there will be times when the shot is just not there.
Here is a true story. Laurin and I were driving through Monument Valley when we both saw the same shot (see actually see photographic opportunities the same way and usually at the same time) and we quickly pulled over to get the shot.
While we were doing this we were saying out loud things like "my God that light is amazing. I have never seen anything like that before! We have got to get that shot!. In a matter of less than a minute we got to the place where we saw this amazing light ready to get this great shot and we both just lowered our cameras and let out a sigh. In those few seconds the light had changed and we were looking at just another typical scene that did not have any real impact.
We walked back to the car without taking a single shot and drove on looking again for that amazing light.
So, start looking at what you are thinking of photographing in a different way. Anyone can take a nice shot, the trick is knowing how to capture that amazing shot. Don't just take a shot just to take a shot. Every shot you take should put all your skills and abilities into action. |
Thank you very much for your advice and yes, you really are right, I should try an analyze the shot before start taking pictures.
I get carried away sometimes maybe because of the lack of experience. I only recently have discovered this passion.
Some of the pictures uploaded were taken without stock photography in mind to be honest, and were taken right after I started shooting more seriously but with really no theoretical training what so ever. In time I started slowly reading more and discovering that there is much more to it than pointing and shooting.
This is maybe one of the main reasons I decided to join the forum, nothing is really better that direct interaction with professionals, be it in a virtual place, that can give you punctual information and help you improve.
Thank you again.
PS - Please excuse me if sometimes my English is not always accurate but it is not my native language. |
That is why we say that once you get the idea of stock and what is expected that you should go out and shoot new images with that in mind. Just take your time and I am sure you will see progress.
And your English is just fine so don't worry about that.
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ovisovata83
Joined: 11 Feb 2011
Posts: 24
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 1:57 pm
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Hello again, any thoughts on this shot?
Thanks,
Ovidiu
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ruxpriencdiam
Joined: 07 May 2009
Posts: 26796
Location: Third Stone from the Sun
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:02 pm
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Crop shows it is OOF and the composition needs fixed.
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ovisovata83
Joined: 11 Feb 2011
Posts: 24
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:36 pm
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Would these qualify as stock photos?
Even though maybe technically they are not perfect...
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ovisovata83
Joined: 11 Feb 2011
Posts: 24
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:36 pm
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...and stone wall
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ruxpriencdiam
Joined: 07 May 2009
Posts: 26796
Location: Third Stone from the Sun
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:47 pm
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OOF and forget brick and or stone walls.
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rinder99
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 39622
Location: Contact www.rinderart.com/Books and Workshops www.rindersmithphotography.com Youtube/rinder
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 3:28 pm
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First and foremost you HAVE GOT to concentrate on your focusing, Then Composition which is the toughest thing to teach,Then Exposure, Then learn and have a complete and I mean Complete understanding of the principals of DOF and how it relates to distance from subject and focal length used. Your Images are Void of any detail.Look at the houses in your Landscape shot. zero detail, they are white blobs. You have a ways to go My friend But what I always say is You Have to go out and shoot 1000's of shots and make mistakes, There is no forum or book that will help you with this. Until "YOU" do the work.
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jeffbanke
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 17515
Location: www.xlr8photo.com, The real California
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 3:44 pm
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So lets ask you, did you use a tripod on any of these?
Did you use a remote control?
The wall was shot at 1/25th of a second at Maximum aperture f4.5.
Two comments regarding this, there is no way any lens at less than $1500, working at maximum aperture is going to be sharp!
Point 2 is that there is no way anyone can hand hold a Nikon D90 at that speed with any lens.
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ovisovata83
Joined: 11 Feb 2011
Posts: 24
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 1:05 am
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Boy am I good at making mistakes lol...
The best thing about joining this group is that now I have the chance to really learn from them.
Your inputs are good reality checks and hopefully steer me in the right direction.
Obviously passion is not enough and I have a lot of work to do but I enjoy every minute of it.
Living in a small town isn't really helping me with joining any professional photo courses but don't get me wrong, I did not come here for step to step training, only for some pointers and hopefully I will manage to fill in the blanks.
Best regards,
Ovidiu
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hhltdave5
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 24302
Location: Our Stock, Food & Portrait photography books at www.rindersmithphotography.com
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:13 am
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| ovisovata83 wrote: | Boy am I good at making mistakes lol...
The best thing about joining this group is that now I have the chance to really learn from them.
Your inputs are good reality checks and hopefully steer me in the right direction.
Obviously passion is not enough and I have a lot of work to do but I enjoy every minute of it.
Living in a small town isn't really helping me with joining any professional photo courses but don't get me wrong, I did not come here for step to step training, only for some pointers and hopefully I will manage to fill in the blanks.
Best regards,
Ovidiu |
Often it is difficult to find camera clubs in some areas so you are many times left to get things done yourself and that isn't always bad. Many of us learned on our own so it can give you a great feeling of accomplishment.
The main thing is that you want to learn and there are many places to do that without camera clubs or college courses. The forums here are a wealth of knowledge. The internet is also a place where you can find tons of informative information. Google, You Tube etc are packed with good solid resources. The only thing you need to be sure of when using online sources is to make sure that the person knows what they are talking about. You can also find tons of information at book stores and libraries.
Most of all, practice, practice and then practice some more. Like Laurin says, shoot till your fingers bleed.
As long as you are willing and are trying to learn we will help out. We may be blunt but we will tell you what you need to hear not what you want to hear.
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ovisovata83
Joined: 11 Feb 2011
Posts: 24
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:53 am
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| Quote: | Often it is difficult to find camera clubs in some areas so you are many times left to get things done yourself and that isn't always bad. Many of us learned on our own so it can give you a great feeling of accomplishment.
The main thing is that you want to learn and there are many places to do that without camera clubs or college courses. The forums here are a wealth of knowledge. The internet is also a place where you can find tons of informative information. Google, You Tube etc are packed with good solid resources. The only thing you need to be sure of when using online sources is to make sure that the person knows what they are talking about. You can also find tons of information at book stores and libraries.
Most of all, practice, practice and then practice some more. Like Laurin says, shoot till your fingers bleed.
As long as you are willing and are trying to learn we will help out. We may be blunt but we will tell you what you need to hear not what you want to hear. |
You are absolutely right.
Thank you again. Good info as always.[/quote]
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jeffbanke
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 17515
Location: www.xlr8photo.com, The real California
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 1:45 am
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When we say practice, practice, keep in mind that there is little benefit in making many mistakes, or learning bad habits.
Study, set yourself some goals, target specific subject matter and then shoot lots of images, until you get it right every time.
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