Getting frustrated with SS reviews.  Was particularly happy with this image:


full size: https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8154/29761391746_e5438652f9_o.jpg

Rejected 2x by SS (within 30 seconds both times, is this a bot review?) for focus (1x) and noise (1x).  5dii, 300mm, 1/60, f5.0, 2500iso, RAW.  Noise reduction at about 45 in LR.

I could see it being slightly soft at f5 and 1/60th, maybe a slight breeze caught it?

This was a timelapse, so my next attempt will be taking an adjacent image, applying the same corrections, and resubmitting.

Interested in anyone's thoughts on the matter.

Also, a general portfolio critique, if anyone has the time.  I'm in my second year of shooting in my personal time, trying to build a library of cityscape and landscape stills, videos, and timelapses for a base of full time self employed operation in the near future.

At what point did you go full time? How large was your library? How much were you making/month?  I think if by the end of year 3 (2017) that I have 1500 clips/images, I could quit the day job and go full time.  Thoughts?

footage: http://www.shutterstock.com/video/gallery/1421029/
image: https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Sam+Wagner

I do okay with landscapes, I'd say my cityscapes sell more often, though.  Aurora landscapes seem to do very well, immediate sales with my most recent batch.  Unique light and scenery seems important.  My Lake Superior stuff does much better than my other MN/WI landscapes.  Video is hot, and definitely the focus of my work. I definitely sell more timelapses than video clips or stills, but I shoot more timelapses than video clips.  4K sells much less often than HD, I think HD is still king, but hey, if I can shoot/upload both, it's better.  I do occasionally sell a 4k timelapse.  The best part about video is that you make exponentially more per sale than photo!  Most of the time, I should say.  I have sold photos for $30, and videos for as little as $5, but most of my video sales are $20-30, whereas most of my photos are $0.33-5.

Good stock photo. Error.

Well, we've learned here is that taste, style, and needs are personal and different for everyone, go figure.

For what it's worth, the shot got Explored on Flickr!  Still no luck on SS.

Sometimes I've found that waiting a week or two helps, maybe you get a different reviewer.

Thanks for the input, ya'll.

Wow, commenting on this site is goofy as hell, my comment keeps deleting words when I save?