MicrostockGroup

hi Tom - how about posting some images so we can give you some meaningful feedback. many of us were not accepted first time. in 2007, it took me five tries over five months to be accepted.

It's a lot of guesswork with only small (versus 100%) images, but I think it's technical flaws that are the problem with these three.

Even at the small size I can see a dark ring around the bell pepper - the background wasn't white and your post processing wasn't precise enough. If you can't see that dark halo, then you need to look at calibrating your monitor. Without a calibrated monitor it's all guesswork and you sometimes can't see the flaws.

The child with the chessboard was shot at ISO 400 and so may be rather noisy (can't tell at the reduced size, but with the Rebel, I wouldn't go above IS 200 for stock)

The asparagus shot was at f/2.8 and I'm guessing the issues there were focus - the sharp area is so tiny at f/2.8 that may not have been the best choice for this composition.

Those make me yawn.

Sorry.  Seriously, you've got to step it up, technically, compositionally, subject matter.

Just looked at SJ's iStock photos- WOW! I am light years behind! I do agree with my pics 'boring'. I just started photography this past September thus a lot to learn. To take the great shots of people what type of flash equipment is needed or do you have to have the portable lighting as well? My personal goal is to take good object photos first than branch out to people shots. I have a couple of CS5 and Camera Raw courses thus have a basic concept but as you can see still a major rookie. Let's just say my eyes are open after looking over the surreal portfolio on iStock...


Thanks.


Tom

We just don't need any more red peppers isolated on white...

is this better on the black background?

Couple things; don't compare yourself to Sean-he is at the top of the game and a bar that is hard to hurdle.  Second, start with Dreamstime and Fotolia-these agencies are a bit better for beginners.

Tom

we really are a pretty good group of people; but our humor and interpersonal relationship skills set is lacking.

seriously, you are entering a mature market filled with many talented photographers; if you want to be among the group-you will need to achieve similar results, especially for the application

you like tennis; get your thinking cap on and think of some excellent shots; ball on the top of the net, ball hitting racket, ball hitting line with multiple flash,

mainly technical issues, don´t see any problem regarding compo or subject

I used these shots when I got accepted: http://gajasworld.blogspot.com/2009/12/godkjent-pa-istock.html (Text in Norwegian, but the pictures are still understandable )