Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic

Joined: 01 May 2012 Posts: 8

So, I've done as much reading as I can, as far as what's expected of the contributors here at Shutterstock...And I must say, I'm rather daunted by the requirements, as I've none of the technical equipment that so many of you seem to use to crank out such quality stock art. Just a traveler with Photoscape and a Rebel XTI, lol.

But I'm hoping to turn my hobby into $$ (sellout!..), so I'm here to hopefully see if it's worth sending the following photos in as my first 10 submission. Please advise and help me get this right off the bat! :c)

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 5:42 am

Ok we need 100% crops also.

And the chair forget B&W for a first ten and the composition needs to be better.

The Sunset also not for a first ten either and this one you waited to late for it.

And the Butterfly could work with a different composition and not such a shallow DOF and a bit more light.

Joined: 01 May 2012 Posts: 8

Thanks for the thoughts...Alrighty, discarding the B&W, so no crop of that one. Crops of the second two. Too bad about the sunrise...My personal best photo, IMO...Now I'm a bit more afraid lol!

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 6:11 am

OOF and lighting.

semmickphoto · Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 6:28 am

I am not in a position to critique your photos, the only thing I want to say is that your butterfly photo tells much more of a story than the sunrise.

robhainer · Joined: 03 May 2010 Posts: 2746 Location: Dallas, GA, USA

I have a similar shot. Your crop isn't shot the right part of the butterfly.

hhltdave5 · Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 7:25 am

The others have covered most of the shots but I will just address the sunrise a bit more. Generally speaking it is not a good idea to shoot directly into the sun unless you can control the outcome. What you are basically doing is having this big right spot that is going to mess up your meter reading and you usually end up with much of the other parts of the image under exposed and you also have blown out highlights and flare.

The best time to do this is just before the sun comes up or just as the sun reaches the horizon. This way you eliminate the problems caused by the huge bright spot.

One thing we teach in our landscape photography workshops is to look opposite the sun. Often the best lighting is not in the direction of the sun but in the direction where the sun is shinning. Photography is all about light and how it interacts with the objects in the shot. Early or late light falling on objects is often amazing.

Also, if you look at the sky toward the light you will see that the colors are often washed out. But if you look in the other direction you will see that the sky is much darker and more saturated.

So, when you are facing the sun simply turn around and look what is behind you. Look for how the light interacts. As we say, Shoot The Light.

rinder99 · Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 10:06 am

None in all three threads are going to work Im afraid.. You don't need to start 3 threads. answer yourself in One. Theres to many issues with each Image.

mauijon · Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 4279 Location: Maui, Hawaii

What are the vertical spots on the sunset crop? They are also in the full view. And noise is showing up.

The butterfly shot looks cold to me, add some warmth to the hands and add saturation, if reshooting.

Joined: 01 May 2012 Posts: 8

Alright; thank you all for your wonderful insight and advice through my (perhaps too many!) threads...As some of you have noticed, none of these shots were specifically taken with stock imagery in mind. I will have to adjust my focus (mentally and mechanically) before I consider submitting in the future.

We can close these threads, if a mod is present. Thanks again.