If your content submission was rejected with "Content does not meet our minimum quality standards," it may be because of one of the following issues:
Content is overexposed
Content is too bright or washed out
Highlights are blown out
Details are lost in the highlights and midtones
This image is overexposed thus creating a loss of detail in the highlights and midtones.
This video clip is too bright overall and details are lost in the highlights and midtones.
Content is underexposed
Content is too dark overall
Details are lost in the shadows and midtones
This image is underexposed thus creating loss of detail in shadows and midtones.
This clip is underexposed by several stops. All details are lost in the shadows and the highlights are muddy.
Unfavorable lighting conditions
Lens flare is severe enough to make content unusable
Ambient light is not complementary to the main subjects
Lighting is flat and lacks contrast
Contrast is too high or has an inconsistent lighting ratio between the key and fill light
This light source is too dim and excessive noise is common in underexposed lighting conditions.
Lighting is inconsistent
Content is too high in contrast or has an unacceptable lighting ratio between the key and fill light
Changes in light intensity or color temperature are distracting
Changes in camera exposure are abrupt and/or irregular
Changes in lighting due to auto-exposure settings are excessive and distracting
Visible signs of color fringing
The light changes drastically throughout the clip as the clouds move passed the sun. The clip is inconsistently exposed with points overexposed, exposed correctly, and underexposed.
Content with Acceptable Exposure
A correctly exposed image will have detail in highlights, midtones and shadows. Typically, images should not have a high contrast ratio between light and dark tones. However, intentionally using high contrast lighting to create mood lighting is allowed.
Here are some examples of properly exposed images. The lighting in these images is balanced overall and the scene is well lit. There is detail in the highlights, shadows and midtones.
Hagia Sophia on a sunset, Istanbul by Shchipkova Elena
The low light and exposure is acceptable here because it is balanced and intentional.
Clip by Active Stock
This image is exposed properly and shot with the sun illuminating the subject (sun is behind the photographer). The difference in the relationship between the photographer and the sun can be seen at the end of the clip as the camera angle changes, putting the kite surfer into the shadows.
Clip by Aila Images
The woman’s face is favorably lit and the reflection on her safety goggles is soft and not blown out.
The subjects are evenly lit with no harsh shadows on their faces, even though this was shot on a bright, sunny day. Moving the subject into the shade helps to mitigate harsh lighting.
Acceptable Creative Lighting
The purposely overexposed background creates a dreamy mood, appropriate for the subject matter. The model is slightly overexposed at the end of the clip as the curtain is pulled back, but this works with the concept of the woman being enveloped by the morning light as she greets the day.
Clip by Supamotion
The model is silhouetted and backlit by a blown out sun with a lens flare around their head. These visual effects achieve a sense of warmth and add to the mood of the clip. In addition, enough details can still be seen in the shadows of the background and foreground to orient the viewer and define a sense of place.
We Recommend
Take a few test shots and bracket exposures to ensure proper lighting before you start shooting.
Avoid shooting in midday sunlight.
Shoot in an open-shade environment to minimize harsh highlights and shadows.
Use diffusion panels, fill cards, and bounce cards to control lighting ratios when shooting in direct sunlight.
Take advantage of the “golden hour,” the hours just after sunrise and just before sunset, for the most flattering light.
Do not rely solely on the camera’s viewfinder to determine the correct exposure and white balance, instead:
Use your camera’s histogram to check for clipping in shadows and highlights. If shadow or highlights are clipped, adjust the aperture, shutter speed, or ISO until the clipping is gone.
Use a grey card and color checker chart
Tether the camera to a computer to instantly view test shots on a calibrated monitor
Use a handheld light meter
When using creative lighting techniques to evoke a mood, feeling, or concept, describe them in the content’s title
Avoid using a high ISO setting when possible, as it can increase noise.
Experiment and be creative.
Shoot in RAW and make exposure corrections in a photo editing program.
If you don’t understand the reason for the rejection of your images or if you need additional clarification, you can always contact contributor support.