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Author Topic: Has Microstock made you a better photographer?  (Read 22183 times)

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molka

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« Reply #50 on: October 16, 2010, 17:47 »
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Definately not. If someone grew up having art training, especially if in an enviroment that had a lot of influences toward good taste and aesthtetics, it's just a pain in the ass.  It's likely to be pushing anyone away from what would make photography actually great. It's not hard to deliver what they want, but it's severily restrictive without those restrictions having much point - more freedom wouldn't get in the way of business at all, actually it would improve it because it would improve real quality and variety. The whole things screams of being created by blockheads, who's closest experience with visual creativity before getting into managing images, would be something like watching barney the purple dinosaur : )
Microstock photographers tend to shoot what buyers buy. Perhaps you could direct your comments to the buyers. Photographers who wish to produce more artistic work are probably exhibiting that in galleries rather than in stock portfolios.

I am a buyer.
Do you buy micro? The equation most photographers here work to is $/dl x dls = $. When $/dl is low the dls need to be high to generate reasonable return, ie, generic imagery. If work is more unique then the dls will be low so the $/dl needs to be higher. Macro is a better place to look for more unique imagery. Of course some photographers place work in all markets, depending on the production values and likely sales of any given image. If a buyer want unique imagery at generic prices however he/she may be out of luck.

So, tens of thousands of photographers shooting the same generic theme in the same generic style, with thousands joining every month, how is that gonna lead to good sales for them on a longer term?


btw, the original question was: "Has Microstock made you a better photographer?"

Yes I did buy large amounts of micro for a time.


« Reply #51 on: October 16, 2010, 18:15 »
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If I was to answer the question 'Have you learnt anything about photography by shooting for microstock?' then I'd have to say yes, I've learnt something about photographic styles and also composition and lighting.

« Reply #52 on: October 16, 2010, 18:56 »
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Microstock has made me a faster photographer.

« Reply #53 on: October 16, 2010, 19:01 »
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i dont think that doing micro could make you become a better photographer.Doing micro is just for the commercial purpose and its not a real photography.Commercial photography is just for the customers not for the art...thats it!! :(

« Reply #54 on: October 16, 2010, 20:57 »
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i dont think that doing micro could make you become a better photographer.Doing micro is just for the commercial purpose and its not a real photography.Commercial photography is just for the customers not for the art...thats it!! :(

"Not a real photography".  Whatever.

« Reply #55 on: October 16, 2010, 21:12 »
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yes I am better because microstock has motivated me to take more photos and of different topics.

who dug this old thead up, the record is atleast 3 years old. :)

« Reply #56 on: October 16, 2010, 22:38 »
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i dont think that doing micro could make you become a better photographer.Doing micro is just for the commercial purpose and its not a real photography.Commercial photography is just for the customers not for the art...thats it!! :(

"Not a real photography".  Whatever.
haha,maybe i gave the wrong definition..maybe its "commercial" photography not a real "art" photography

PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #57 on: October 16, 2010, 22:46 »
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i dont think that doing micro could make you become a better photographer.Doing micro is just for the commercial purpose and its not a real photography.Commercial photography is just for the customers not for the art...thats it!! :(

"Not a real photography".  Whatever.
haha,maybe i gave the wrong definition..maybe its "commercial" photography not a real "art" photography
Ahhh, yes. That's the ultimate goal. To be a starving artist.

« Reply #58 on: October 16, 2010, 23:13 »
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This is why I think it's better to think about whether one has learned anything about photography from shooting stock rather than getting bogged down in discussion about what is or isn't 'good photography' and, by extension, a 'good photographer' or a 'better photographer'. The human capacity to misunderstand, evade or subvert a simple discussion shouldn't amaze me by now, but it still does.
« Last Edit: October 16, 2010, 23:15 by crazychristina »

PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #59 on: October 16, 2010, 23:20 »
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Everybody has a different definition of what "good photographer" means. In stock it's pretty simple. The more you sell the better you are.

« Reply #60 on: October 16, 2010, 23:37 »
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haha,maybe i gave the wrong definition..maybe its "commercial" photography not a real "art" photography
Ahhh, yes. That's the ultimate goal. To be a starving artist.

Yeah, I hate food anyways.

vonkara

« Reply #61 on: October 16, 2010, 23:46 »
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So, tens of thousands of photographers shooting the same generic theme in the same generic style, with thousands joining every month, how is that gonna lead to good sales for them on a longer term?


btw, the original question was: "Has Microstock made you a better photographer?"

Yes I did buy large amounts of micro for a time.

This cycle will happen soon, or did it already happened ?

molka

    This user is banned.
« Reply #62 on: October 17, 2010, 08:51 »
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So, tens of thousands of photographers shooting the same generic theme in the same generic style, with thousands joining every month, how is that gonna lead to good sales for them on a longer term?


btw, the original question was: "Has Microstock made you a better photographer?"

Yes I did buy large amounts of micro for a time.

This cycle will happen soon, or did it already happened ?



I dunno, ask istockers 8 )

lisafx

« Reply #63 on: October 17, 2010, 09:34 »
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i dont think that doing micro could make you become a better photographer.Doing micro is just for the commercial purpose and its not a real photography.Commercial photography is just for the customers not for the art...thats it!! :(

Um, maybe I misread the question, but I don't see them asking if shooting microstock has made you a better "artist".  Just a better photographer.  

Anyone who thinks photography is "art" probably doesn't know any real artists.  You know - people who use brushes, paints, pencils, clay, etc. to create something beautiful and/or emotionally moving from nothing...

When people suggest what I do (commercial photography) is "art" I always laugh and deny it.  I live with an actual artist, and there is absolutely no comparison.

But in answer to the original question (from over a year ago  :o ) yes, microstock has made me a much better photographer in several ways:  I know how to light and expose in all sorts of conditions, I am better at directing models, and I have learned loads about how to post process an image.  

And to reiterate, no that does not make me a better "artist"   ::)
« Last Edit: October 17, 2010, 09:38 by lisafx »

« Reply #64 on: October 17, 2010, 18:15 »
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i dont think that doing micro could make you become a better photographer.Doing micro is just for the commercial purpose and its not a real photography.Commercial photography is just for the customers not for the art...thats it!! :(

Um, maybe I misread the question, but I don't see them asking if shooting microstock has made you a better "artist".  Just a better photographer.  

Anyone who thinks photography is "art" probably doesn't know any real artists.  You know - people who use brushes, paints, pencils, clay, etc. to create something beautiful and/or emotionally moving from nothing...

When people suggest what I do (commercial photography) is "art" I always laugh and deny it.  I live with an actual artist, and there is absolutely no comparison.

But in answer to the original question (from over a year ago  :o ) yes, microstock has made me a much better photographer in several ways:  I know how to light and expose in all sorts of conditions, I am better at directing models, and I have learned loads about how to post process an image.  

And to reiterate, no that does not make me a better "artist"   ::)

I agree but sometimes I feel that I have 1 or 2 very nice photos.. I need that.. Without feeling that would be harder to keep up :P

mlwinphoto

« Reply #65 on: October 17, 2010, 22:00 »
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RM has, micro has not....it gets the RM rejects.

molka

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« Reply #66 on: November 01, 2010, 13:52 »
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Just say no to mediocre entertainment.

microstockphoto.co.uk

« Reply #67 on: November 01, 2010, 14:09 »
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"Has Microstock made you a better photographer?"

Technically, yes. Definitely.

Which doesn't mean I agree with the microstock 'style'. Nevertheless what I learned from microstock can be used in other fields of photography as well.

« Reply #68 on: November 01, 2010, 14:51 »
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Quote
I have learned not too push a file to extremes that induce artifacts even for the purpose of artistic expression.

That sentence means microstock has taught you how to be a better technician and a worse photographer, in my opinion. Content, communication and composition trump technical excellence. The count-the-blades-of-grass-on-the-pitch-rather-than-watch-the-match mentality that the iStock Pixel Police promote does not make you better photographers.

For what it's worth, I've got twenty years' experience with Photoshop and very few rejections. I'd trade all that in a heartbeat to be able to 'see' through a camera like some of you can. I'm not talking about art versus commercial here, I'm talking about the ability to react to what's in front of you and around you (whether in the studio or out in the field), and being able to get it down in a meaningful way.

 

« Reply #69 on: November 01, 2010, 16:07 »
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I'm not talking about art versus commercial here, I'm talking about the ability to react to what's in front of you and around you (whether in the studio or out in the field), and being able to get it down in a meaningful way.

Isn't that just the key though? Its not about reacting to what is around you, but deciding what it is you want before you take the shot. You start with the image you want to create and work back from there, rather than starting with the object of a bunch of them and trying to create an image out of it.

« Reply #70 on: November 01, 2010, 16:46 »
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Quote
I have learned not too push a file to extremes that induce artifacts even for the purpose of artistic expression.

 I'm not talking about art versus commercial here, I'm talking about the ability to react to what's in front of you and around you (whether in the studio or out in the field), and being able to get it down in a meaningful way.

 


Correct.  It starts with the ability to see the intrinsic or essential aesthetics of an object, place, or situation.  Where one photographer may just walk past, another will have the ability to see the interplay of composition, color or other aesthetic element. That  eye is what makes the artist, then the realization (technique).
« Last Edit: November 01, 2010, 16:49 by etienjones »

Moonb007

  • Architect, Photographer, Dreamer
« Reply #71 on: November 03, 2010, 15:21 »
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I think it has on several front.  My wife says my images have improve quite a bit from when I started Micro stock a while ago and I notice I am a lot more picky when selecting photos to upload from when I first started also.

« Reply #72 on: November 03, 2010, 21:36 »
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Absolutely.  I learned that what I used to take was mostly crap.  I used to have noise and CA everywhere.  My composition was nearly non-existent.  I would get lucky every now and then and end up with a really nice image but it was not repeatable.

Seeing what sells and what gets rejected is a constant learning experience.  The experience of microstock has pushed me to read lots  of books on composition, exposure, etc.

And I am still learning....

Juning44

« Reply #73 on: November 04, 2010, 04:45 »
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Microstock made me a great photographer. I've been reading discussions here and this helped me a lot. Thanks a lot Microstock.  :)


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« Reply #74 on: November 04, 2010, 05:10 »
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Quote
Microstock made me a great photographer. I've been reading discussions here and this helped me a lot. Thanks a lot Microstock.  :)


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It's certainly made you delusional. Thanks microstock! ;D


 

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