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Columbarius · Joined: 02 Jun 2012 Posts: 5

I've read the "sticky" about how to post images for a critique.

I haven't summoned up the courage to submit my first 10 images yet, and I'd really appreciate some feedback before I do.

One thing I don't understand though. When (if) I try submitting images for approval, do I need to reduce them to 500px too, or do I submit the high quality image. Sorry if I'm being dense, but I am a beginner!

tverkhovynets · Joined: 12 Jun 2010 Posts: 749 Location: Kiev, Ukraine

Focus, lighting, composition issues. Low commercial value. Learn what stock photography is: promoting product, concept or idea. Customers don't buy just anything. Compare your stuff to what is already online.

Take photography class. Your technical execution is very poor.

Taras

rinder99 · Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:10 pm

Im going to have to agree. sorry.And you send Hi Rez.Your Minimum is 4MP.It should be 6 nowdays but thats what it is.And welcome to the madness.

Columbarius · Joined: 02 Jun 2012 Posts: 5

Wow, that was an encouraging response! But thanks for the welcome rinder99.

OK I'll try again. Any one able to offer some constructive criticism on this one?

tverkhovynets · Joined: 12 Jun 2010 Posts: 749 Location: Kiev, Ukraine

Lighting kills it. it's too dark. Also need 100% crop

Taras

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:38 am

Yes underexposed and OOF.

Should be more like this.

jhuls · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 1046

One thing to remember when posting in here is we are here to help you get accepted and be successful in stock. Most people are not going to sugar coat things and tell you it is good when it is not. It might seem offensive or rude, but think of the alternative we could tell you they were great and you could submit them and get a rejection.

Right now you have many problems, your lighting is not right on any of the images posted, the composition is off, most suffer from LCV, they are not sharp, and the colors are off. When we say take a photography class it is not to be rude it means you may have more to work on than what we can help you with here.

Don't give up, just go learn the basics and come back with a new set of photos and then we can really help you.

jeffbanke · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:09 am

Yes you seem to be underexposing. On the last image this is your histogram and what it should look like.
I had use a levels adjustment and a curves adjustment to get it to where I have it, but it is still too dark in places. Making the amount of adjustment that I had to make to correct would most loikely show up any noise in the image.

Note the large area to the right of the histogram that is flat, this shows underexposure.

Columbarius · Joined: 02 Jun 2012 Posts: 5

Thank you all for your helpful & constructive feedback.

Jhuls, please don't worry, I'm not a sensitive soul looking for false praise. And I can do brutal too. But I try to use it wisely.

Jeffbanke, thank you for the work you've put in, I understand the point you're making, and how the final image looks completely washed out following correction.

Can I push you all on one further point, the images that I'm interested in capturing are of wildlife, particularly insects, especially bees, in the wild. They tend neither to sit still, nor choose to present themselves in any outdoor "studio" I set up - I've been after one dragonfly - a regular but unpredictable visitor - for over 3 weeks, and have yet to get within 20ft. of it.

Any tips, and outside the scientific community, any market?

Russell

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 10:23 am

Dragonflies are easy i can get them in my hand and shoot them from inches to feet away.

Someone here caught one just right flying right at the camera dead perfect.

Insects can be caught and slowed down using the refrigerator and if you get out in the early morning they are at their slowest.

It just takes time and patience and the right equipment will also help.

I have Dragonflies, Ants, Snakes, Horses, Beetles and more as do many others here who also do some bigger more serious wildlife because they have the more serious equipment.

rinder99 · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:05 am

These subjects require patience,Skill,technique and very fast Glass. I've done my share also. Im not interested in them anymore. way to much time and way to much extremely talented people doing them much better.People in situations and Extreme photoshop mastery is the name of the game.Bugs don't do well unless your a dedicated master at it.Bottom one from our friend Rob. Great shot.

Columbarius · Joined: 02 Jun 2012 Posts: 5

Agreed rinder99, great shot. I'm not sure I agree with ruexperiancediam, the "darters" in the UK, which I've been chasing do just that as soon as they see any movement whatsoever - though other species will land just about anywhere. And as we tend to have only solitary specimens around here, it can be a long wait until one comes into range/position.

I guess the only way people became "extremely talented" at capturing them was practice. So I'll keep at it.

Russell

robhainer · Joined: 03 May 2010 Posts: 2749 Location: Dallas, GA, USA

Thanks, Laurin. I first considered not submitting it because I didn't like the background. But what the hell. It's sold decently too.

Really just have to catch them when they're resting and not right next to the water. They seem to be more nervous about fish eating them when they're hanging on the water. Then you just sit and wait. Sometimes if you disturb then and wait a second, they fly back to the same spot.

I don't do them anymore because I've got enough already, and it's a pain to line it up with your tripod just to have it fly off.

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:34 pm

robhainer · Joined: 03 May 2010 Posts: 2749 Location: Dallas, GA, USA

Sometimes they come back. It seems likes the ones that come back have settled in their spot for a bit. If you set up right when they first land, they tend not to come back. Nothing scientific or anything. Just an observation. That one that Laurin posted, I think I was a foot and a half away. I have some I shot at 1:1.

And I'm not a master photographer. I just kept trying until I could get one of the bastards in focus.