This shot for stock website? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

08/31/2009 12:11:41 PM · #1

What do you think about submitting this shot for a micro stock photography website?

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

08/31/2009 12:41:23 PM · #2

Though it does have an interesting subject it would probably get rejected for blown highlights.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

08/31/2009 12:45:39 PM · #3

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Though it does have an interesting subject it would probably get rejected for blown highlights.

Yep, i thought about that...i think that happened because i raized white levels too much. Here's the original:

Message edited by author 2009-08-31 12:46:19.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

08/31/2009 12:47:58 PM · #4

It looks like the blown highlights are there in the original. What does the histogram look like?

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

08/31/2009 12:58:05 PM · #5

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

08/31/2009 01:27:44 PM · #6

Even though there doesn't appear to be a big spike on the right, the histogram is shoved up against the right side. Ideally, the histogram should drop off and end at the right side (same on the left).

The spikes near the left side indicate some really dark areas in all three channels.

08/31/2009 01:42:13 PM · #7

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

thanks

cpanaioti, i think i'll come back to this place and try to shoot this from a different perspective!

08/31/2009 02:49:13 PM · #8

IMO, microstock is a waste of time for 99% of the photographer's who do it.

:-/

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

08/31/2009 03:20:21 PM · #9

What do you suggest? I'm not a great photographer...this kind of shot is probbably acceptable in //www.bigstockphoto.com. If you suggest a website of stock photography which is worthy for photographers like me i'm in.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

08/31/2009 03:35:47 PM · #10

i think strikeslip is trying to say.... ?

how much time are you willing to spend, and how much is that time worth, to sell a photo you took for a few cents.

you mention going back to shoot it again. so you have to drive there, that takes time and gas for the car - i would guess. you have to process the photo. you're asking for feedback here.... is the photo going to AT least pay for itself ?

JMHO

08/31/2009 03:53:33 PM · #11

Originally posted by soup:

Oh...yes, that's something to think about, i understood. But i'm not thinking about travelling 2 hours just to get a shot and sell it for 30 cents/download. When i have good oportunitys to shoot this kind of shot i'll do it. I'm just trying to find ways to buy me a good camera, i'm not in a rush, but that kind of thing, like micro stock photography is, at least, a try.
Sorry if i was rude up there, ok slippy? Wasn't my intention! :D

08/31/2009 04:22:45 PM · #12

Originally posted by pedrobop:

IMO, your time would be better spent learning and gaining confidence, to the point where instead of saying "not a great photographer", but rather "not a bad photographer", and build from there. Maybe microstock would be a good exercise for you to gain that confidence, but you won't likely be paying any tuition with it. Better yet, take part in challenges at DPC.

Microstock does have the comfort of anonymity for the shy new photographer. But dealing face-to-face with real people is probably much more lucrative for most people.

Take my opinion for what it's worth, I don't make my living at photography, but I do make a significant amount of money from it.

08/31/2009 04:24:13 PM · #13

Originally posted by pedrobop:

...Sorry if i was rude up there, ok slippy? Wasn't my intention! :D

Heh... no worries, rude doesn't compute with me. ;-)

nova

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

08/31/2009 04:27:13 PM · #14

Nothing like the subject of microstock to bring out the opinions here! I haven't uploaded anything to microstock in a year at least and my measly portfolio of somewhere around 275 files has earned at least x.xx (edited) per month for me every month this year. Not enough to live on, true, but again, I haven't worked for a single minute. It's worth it to me.

As for your photo, no I don't think it's a good candidate for a file to sell either via microstock or any other method. But imo the idea has merit, I think you can come up with a winner of a shot with a little more effort. Good luck with it.

Message edited by author 2009-08-31 22:30:42.

08/31/2009 04:46:43 PM · #15

Originally posted by nova:

Nothing like the subject of microstock to bring out the opinions here! I haven't uploaded anything to microstock in a year at least and my measly portfolio of somewhere around 275 files has earned at least $160 per month for me every month this year. Not enough to live on, true, but again, I haven't worked for a single minute. It's worth it to me.

As for your photo, no I don't think it's a good candidate for a file to sell either via microstock or any other method. But imo the idea has merit, I think you can come up with a winner of a shot with a little more effort. Good luck with it.

A link to your microstock portfolio might be helpful to give Pedrobop an idea of what sells.

ETA... I would include you in the 1% of photogs.

Message edited by author 2009-08-31 16:48:01.

08/31/2009 04:50:06 PM · #16

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by pedrobop:
What do you suggest? I'm not a great photographer...this kind of shot is probbably acceptable in //www.bigstockphoto.com. If you suggest a website of stock photography which is worthy for photographers like me i'm in.

IMO, your time would be better spent learning and gaining confidence, to the point where instead of saying "not a great photographer", but rather "not a bad photographer", and build from there. Maybe microstock would be a good exercise for you to gain that confidence, but you won't likely be paying any tuition with it. Better yet, take part in challenges at DPC.

Microstock does have the comfort of anonymity for the shy new photographer. But dealing face-to-face with real people is probably much more lucrative for most people.

Take my opinion for what it's worth, I don't make my living at photography, but I do make a significant amount of money from it.

You have a good point of view too, and i'm taking it with attention, because you seem to be experient. But i'm trying to learn, and i think i won't be losing anything with micro stock. Your work (at least here in dpc) is great in my opinion and even I wouldn't try to say to you that micro stock is worthy for your kind of work. But for me (for now) is a good "class" and (if i'm lucky) a way for me to get some coins. Thanks for taking the time anyway! I hope you can help me at the point i'll be totally desapointed about micro stock! heheh