Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic

rinder99 · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 3:56 pm

Heres yours...

savagelioness · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Posts: 38

Ok, I understand.
Actually I found only 2 images in SS of a plastic on the ground and thought I could compete with that. I did not find a single shot of cornel buds. In some cultures they are very popular and symbolic. Also, lots of dead trees in the center of the shot have been accepted - don't know why...

I adjusted only levels before posting the shots cause I watched the histogram and looked fine. What else am I supposed to process?

I do realise I got a lot to learn but I'm not giving up. Will continue to shoot. Thanks for your critique :)

rinder99 · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 4:01 pm

Your very welcome. NEVER give up man. Lots of folks started a lot worse and didn't give up and doing Fine. Also,Think out of the box a bit and maybe theres a reason theres only 2 of something. It just has to have some power and punch. Heres another simple shot. But says it all. grapefruit and sugar on Stainless steel.Hang in. study and shoot A LOT!!!!

jeffbanke · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 4:27 pm

[quote="rinder99"]Your very welcome. NEVER give up man. quote]

I am just thinking Laurin that with a nom de plume of savageliones, the OP might be a female :-)

savagelioness · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Posts: 38

Yeah, definitely a female...with a stupid nickname :D

Thanks again. I am thinking about taking a class about stockphotography. It's a completely different universe and have to change my thinking about photography. I know a lot about composition but when I start shooting with stock in mind, forget totally about that. For example, I wanted to shoot a leafless tree, and thought it will be better if I put it in the center of the shot so that it can be well seen in the thumbnail. Wrong thinking, I guess.

PS: Is there a way to see in SS how much a shot sells? I mean...how many downloads a shot has?

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 5:05 pm

No way to see views.

Here's a fall tree.

savagelioness · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Posts: 38

Trees at fall are much more beautiful and your composition is great. It's actually a landscape. My lighting and your lighting seem very similar. Does that mean that at least I did a good job with that?
I am shooting at Manual lately and get better results every day. Just a month ago I couldn't even imagine shooting at M.
It's too bad we can't see views and sales with the shots. This could help a lot.

semmickphoto · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 5:47 pm

I shot this one last week. Shoot on a cloudy day and compose correctly using rule of thirds. Dramatic skies work well.

rinder99 · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 6:27 pm

rinder99 · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 6:33 pm

hhltdave5 · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:48 pm

Ok lets try to just break this down very simply. What you did was go out and took some pictures of a tree, a cup on the ground, a branch and so on. What you did not do was create an image.

Now, what is creating an image? This is what stock is all about. To get a better idea of this is to take yourself out of the photographer frame of mind and put your self in the role of the buyer. What you want to buy is something that is going to really help sell your product whatever it may be.

A good buyer wants something that above the basic and ordinary. They want something special. So when you go about to create the image do it with that in mind. Don't just go out and see a tree, put the camera to your eye and hit the shutter. Think about it. Is the tree going to sell that product or concept or is it just a tree that sits there like a lump? Don't take a shot just for the sake of taking a shot.

Understand one thing. There will be times when the conditions are not right. The tree may not look right. The grass may be crap, the sky boring. As I have said many times before I have stood in front of some of the most breath taking vistas in the world where I didn't even bring the camera to my eye because it just wasn't there.

Use your talents to create. Think about the shot before you even bring that camera up to your face. Look at everything to make sure it is just right.

Now, onto your almonds. I believe you would have much better sales if you get away from this making of faces etc with the product. It has been done to death long ago. Just do something simple that shows off almonds. a simple base, perhaps a bowl on its side with almonds in the bowl and spilling out.

Please keep in mind that most people coming to stock get this right off the bat. It takes time to learn and understand what stock is and what works. You have to get to that point where all of a sudden it becomes very clear and right in front of your face.

Don't over think this. It is not rocket science. Just think about how you can create images that will help sell things. Stop just taking pictures. Think about what you would want to see if you were selling something and go out and shoot that.

evetodew · Joined: 24 Feb 2012 Posts: 139 Location: Sweden

^^ The above post is beautiful!! Thanks a lot! :))))) (Although this topic isn't mine, it also helps me too :) )

hhltdave5 · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 8:09 am

savagelioness · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Posts: 38

Thanks, Dave. Awesome advice and tips!

pharm · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 9406 Location: Never quite sure

In reference to what Dave said, here's an example. There was a tree that I liked and I saw it every evening when I was coming home. It was on the side of a hill - just the tree, the sky and the grass. I passed it for a long time even though I had my camera with me because it either wasn't the right time of day or the grass looked yucky or the sky wasn't right. One day, it all fell into place and I got the shot.