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Vishal Chitnis · Joined: 06 Jul 2012 Posts: 7

Hey,
I am a newbie, I was thinking of posting following photographs as 3 of first ten. Kindly critique, and let me know if they will work.

Joined: 09 May 2012 Posts: 83 Location: too many

Friend, you need to also post 100% crops so that the regulars here can check for sharpness, noise etc.

refer to this post

http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42889

Me too a newbie here, but from what i have read in various posts,

The apple has a blow out area at the top, probably due to ur onboard flash. and the bottom of the apple is underexposed and dark. For this type of shots you should either use a light tent available in the market OR try a DIY light tent ( This is what i am trying to do, but this not a perfect solution and wait for the Pro's to comeback to u with better suggestions ).

semmickphoto · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:35 am

aynia · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:53 am

Vishal Chitnis · Joined: 06 Jul 2012 Posts: 7

these r the 100% crops

Joined: 09 May 2012 Posts: 83 Location: too many

Yup, as i said , it is not the perfect solution, and i know i would get some flack. I am not dishing out any advise and i am in no position to do so, just sharing with this guy, what i read in various forums, like Dave said in one post, every expert has his own method of working, this thing regarding light tent ( may be i used a wrong word - some where it was mentioned studio in a box ) i read in an article from a product photography expert in " The digital photography school" website.

Yup, i am a newbie, hanv't even passed my first 10, that doesn't mean i can't share what i have read in 100's of posts in the past several months.

matthi · Joined: 30 Sep 2010 Posts: 482

you will have a hard time making such kind of shots with your canon powerShot and it´s build in flash.

You don´t have enough control in such cam, the build in flash on the left side is clearly visible in the apple when you would need some external flashes to light your objects...would wonder if there is such an option

so at most you could use available light or some continuous light sources I guess...

I don´t say that it isn´t possible at all, but anything then optimal

PS: just for curiosity I was looking and found even an "PHOTO STUDIO for Canon Powershot SX220 HS" BUT "...in order to publish it on a website, Ebay...finally professional quality pictures"

just use this kind of stuff as long as you want submit to eBay...

hhltdave5 · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:15 am

Ok, first thing we need to do is find out just exactly what you were going for with your first two shots. It looks like you were going for an isolation (no shadows) or an on white (with shadows) but what happened was your background got kind of messed up. Notice the color cast on the white surface?

For some reason known only to God and a Soothsayer on a mountain top in the Himalayas new comers think that doing isolations are the king of stock images and must be done that way. They often think it is easy to do as well. Just put something on a white surface and fire away.

In truth doing an isolation or on white well is not easy unless you know the technique and have the proper lighting. It is recommended that the background be lit separately from the object of attention. This way you control the shadows or lack thereof.

The second point is showing the object off in the best way possible. I think the first shot is a shell of some sort but I am not positive. If the viewer does not see exactly what it is quickly they are going to be confused and likely not buy what you are selling.

Now for the apple shot. From the catch lights it looks as if you were using two light sources which is either two lights or a light and a reflector of some sort. Good way of doing it but look at the shadow on the right side. See as it goes toward the bottom how it kind of goes into a black hole?

Having a nice range of light is good, it brings out definition and shape but not controlling it well can be a bad thing.

Also if you were thinking of submitting an apple shot like this I would not really recommend it. Apples are one of the most over done fruit there is and it was overdone 5 years ago (lemons, limes, strawberries and kiwis are some others). If you do not do them extremely well they will likely get lost among the tens of thousands of other apple shots. Watch the intensity of your lights. Notice how the left reflection is blown out?

Now onto the light tent comment. Generally speaking I am not a fan of the typical light tent that you find in the camera stores and on DIY web sites. They are usually too small, have a small opening through which to shoot so they tend to bounce light all over the place and restrict the ways you can photograph something. Generally they are a big way for camera shops to make money for new comers (UV filters and cheap tripods are the other).

Can a modified light tent work? Sure if it is large enough and you have a way to control how many surfaces there are. In the end it is easier to just use lights and reflectors to get the best results.

So, would these shots cut it for your first submission? I am afraid not. What I like to tell newcomers is to work toward not just taking pictures but strive to create images. I can teach a monkey to put a camera to their face and press a shutter. It takes more to know and understand the principles of photography such as focus, depth of field, composition, lighting and exposure etc and to put those to use to CREATE images.

Just putting something down and taking a picture of it (what I call Plop and Shoot) often does not cut it. Work toward creating something that people would want to buy. I tend to look at things by comparing them to cooking. I can take a steak and put it in a pan and cook it and I get one thing. Kind of one note if you will. Or I can take that steak, put on a flavorful rub that enhances the flavor of the meat, grill it to perfection, add some grilled mushrooms and onions and top it with a tarragon butter and have a flavorful symphony.

Do the same with your photography. Photograph it with some thought and effort. Even the simplest of things can be done in a way that sets you apart from all the others. Good luck and lets see what else you can do.

semmickphoto · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:48 am

rinder99 · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:39 am

+1000 on Daves post. Heres the short and sweet. None of these will work they are all way off the Mark. A Powershot is a party camera for taking snapshots of your friends but in the right hands you may get lucky on certain subjects if you understand Light. And Please do yourself a favor and do not buy or get involved with total Amateur stuff Like a Light tent regardless of what anyone says or has read, those things are for people shooting Jewelry for sale on E-Bay. a white roll of paper and some inexpensive Lighting will work If ya can't justify the expense now.I hope someday People who post here realize a lot of newbies read here as the critique forum is the most widely read and If we give bad advice a whole bunch of unknown folks will think it's right and go spend needless money on Junk. Thats not why were here regardless of what some so called expert said on some website. Upgrade your equipment and go for it.Also please search the site and see what your up against. pretty stiff competition.

It's not about spending Huge sums of Money to do stock work, It's 99% about using what you have, Your creativity and adapting to what you need and want to do, Each different Facet of photography requires a different approach from Tabletop,To Nature and wildlife,Landscape or sports.Best of luck to Ya.

hhltdave5 · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:06 am

semmickphoto · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:47 am

Nice one, I wouldnt add the Habanero tho, I cant handle chilli that well :)

hhltdave5 · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:02 pm

Vishal Chitnis · Joined: 06 Jul 2012 Posts: 7

Thanks for the advice guys. I have made few changes according to your advice. Kindly review and let me know, if these photograph are ok to submit.
Thanks

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:59 pm

The villagers will be on me! :o

Focus looks fairly nice.

But the BG and lighting kill it as well as the composition. You need to get the light in between everything.

Place them in a fruit bowl.