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jdbettes
Joined: 29 Jun 2009
Posts: 5
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:22 pm
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Hi, can I have opinions on the quality of this image? I'm trying to learn to spot things and it would help to look at one that I got right. How's this one?
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digigandalf
Joined: 11 Jun 2005
Posts: 4320
Location: Twinsburg, OH
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:37 pm
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Again, I'm sorry to say this is a family snapshot, not a stock image. There are any number of problems with it, the biggest being severe underexposure and composition. The whole background is cluttered, busy, and distracting.
One good thing is you got down on the child's level instead of shooting down on him. You could actually get even a bit lower. But you've got to compose an image with everything in mind: the background will make or break it. And get proper lighting on the subject.
To get an idea of what stock images should look like, spend some time browsing the collection here, either by keyword, or look at people's galleries (click on the camera button).
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selfnouveau
Joined: 24 Apr 2009
Posts: 367
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:44 pm
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I am no expert by any means, still trying to find my own groove, lol.
But, the first thing my eye went to was the bright orange light in the background.
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jdbettes
Joined: 29 Jun 2009
Posts: 5
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:55 pm
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It's hard to train yourself to look past a cool picture and see the specifics like that. Thanks again.
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hhltdave5
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 19188
Location: Our Stock, Food & Portrait photography books at www.rindersmithphotography.com
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 6:16 pm
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| jdbettes wrote: | | It's hard to train yourself to look past a cool picture and see the specifics like that. Thanks again. |
You will find that once you understand the basics of stock photography that you will begin to see things differently. You will see a stock image for what it is and a nice family snapshot for what it is. It is all a matter of doing something so often that you train your eye what to look for.
Keep this in mind that a good stock shot will help sell or promote a product, concept or idea. Browse through magazines and look at the ads and you will see stock images all the time. Also look at billboards and anything else that sells something.
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jdbettes
Joined: 29 Jun 2009
Posts: 5
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:36 pm
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Good tips, thank you.
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jps
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Posts: 12094
Location: Denmark
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Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 5:18 am
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The picture is NOT cool.
The kid on the pic is cool.
To parents.
Else not.
And first thing you should do is to keep your emotions out of the picture and fx not think that other people love the same as you.
You have to produce photos that are interesting or useful for the buyer, and they have no chance to buy your love for your children, or even see it.
Same with pets. I love this cat => therefor this photo is so nice.
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vclements
Joined: 20 Sep 2007
Posts: 2441
Location: http://www.vdavidclements.com
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Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 11:17 am
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| jps wrote: | The picture is NOT cool.
The kid on the pic is cool.
To parents.
Else not.
And first thing you should do is to keep your emotions out of the picture and fx not think that other people love the same as you.
You have to produce photos that are interesting or useful for the buyer, and they have no chance to buy your love for your children, or even see it.
Same with pets. I love this cat => therefor this photo is so nice. |
EXACTLY!!!
Sooooo many people take pictures and are influenced by their own emotions, surrounding sounds or smells.
The extra information does not translate to the image
(yet - I'm sure someone is working on it LOL.."smellographs"???).
So turn off the emotions, ears and nose and just see.
Once that is done you will see what others see and only see.
In this case a snapshot that is meaningless and pointless to buyers.
As Jens previously mentioned, the image may be precious to you and your family - that's what family snapshots are for. Your personal memories. Absolutely nothing wrong with that - but it's not stock.
A buyer could really care less about you or your family.
On the tech side - the image is poorly exposed and the background is cluttered.
Also - cameras don't need to be held horizontal and they also work in positions other than standing up at eye level.
If the subject is vertical (as most people are, unless posed otherwise), then shoot vertical. If the subject is 3' tall, get down to their eye level, or try dramatically lower or higher, but DON'T just stand there at your level and take a horizontal snapshot. Study the rule of thirds.
Experiment - this is digital, you have the luxury of not having to add up the cost every time an exposure is made.
Digital = frames are free...take advantage of it!!
Hope that wasn't too harsh and helped some??
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