Author Topic: Microstockgroup Challenge - Eggs (september) (Read 20650 times)

leaf · « **on:** September 04, 2007, 16:57 »

Ok... something new to try. In the spirit of DPChallenge

This is going to be sort of like the microstockgroup lightboxes except one thing is different. It is a CHALLENGE lightbox.

This is how it works.

Everyone takes a picture with the main theme of EGGS. If you ask someone who had never seen the image before what the image was about - they should say eggs in their first sentance of describing the photo. for example, a woman eating an egg, an egg on black, an egg in the pan, an splattered egg. i chose this topic so that everyone could participate if they wanted.

So the point of this is to make everyone think and push themselves to take better pictures and learn from others. As time goes on we will see which egg image has sold the most (who is 'winning) and then I will post a little 'display' on this site somewhere with the current leaders. I think it will be interesting to see how everyone interprets the theme differently and which images become good sellers and why.

I look forward to seeing the entries

only 26 days til the deadline.

RULES RULES RULES RULES
The egg(s) should be a chicken egg.
The focus of the image should be one or more eggs in any shape or form. ie if it is a breakfast table where 1 out of the 10 items is an egg - someone is going to take a long time to say the picture if of an 'egg' they would say a breakfast table. The viewer has to say the image is of an EGG very quickly.
The image has to be uploaded to istock in september (but doesn't have to be necessarily reviewed in sept).
The image must be a photogarph
The image has to be uploaded to istock in the month of september. No exceptions.
When you have taken and uploaded your picture (and it is accepted)- put
THIS TEXT in the description and link your image in this thread.
You can submit up to three images.

GeoPappas · « **Reply #1 on:** September 04, 2007, 17:37 »

I love photographic challenges. We used to have two bi-monthly (every 2 months) challenges at my last job. As a matter of fact, many of my first stock images were from the challenges. One challenge was more generic (like the color red) and another was more specific (like this one). It is one of the main things that has helped me to grow as a photographer. I highly recommend it to everyone.

leaf:

One thing that I would recommend is nailing down the rules, because there are ALWAYS questions. For example:

- Are other eggs, besides chicken eggs, allowed?

- Does the image have to be a photo? Or are illustrations, flash clips, and movie clips allowed?

- What about chocolate covered eggs?

ErickN · « **Reply #2 on:** September 04, 2007, 18:14 »

So Leaf, I guess it's you who bought my egg on black picture today at LO

Thanks very much !

The challenge is a nice idea. I will try to participate.

Erick

leaf · « **Reply #3 on:** September 05, 2007, 01:12 »

Quote from: GeoPappas on September 04, 2007, 17:37

- Are other eggs, besides chicken eggs, allowed?

- Does the image have to be a photo? Or are illustrations, flash clips, and movie clips allowed?

- What about chocolate covered eggs?

Ok i have added a few rules to my first post to hopefully make things clearer. But in short. Only chicken eggs - and hmm yeah only photos this time.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #4 on:** September 05, 2007, 01:44 »

Great idea Leaf! Thats a nice challenge, I am looking forward to it! Hope I will make it in time..

sharply_done · « **Reply #5 on:** September 05, 2007, 02:38 »

Heh, too bad for Freezingpics that it can't be a Penguin egg!

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #6 on:** September 05, 2007, 03:04 »

Thanks for the idea Sharply! Great idea really, how can I thank you! No Penguin egg, but I will guess a chicken egg photoshoped in a fitting Penguin picture would be great! I definetely will look into this

It probably will have lots of dls. I even have a picture in mind allready

(Even if it will not be acceptable for this challenge, because it will look as a penguin egg, I will do it non the less)

pr2is · « **Reply #7 on:** September 05, 2007, 07:26 »

I am terribly sorry for off-topic leaf, but I just had to ask... Freezing, how come we haven't seen any smiling Penguin with a headset, two business-Penguins shaking hands (flippers?), Penguin typing on a laptop... come on man, get to work, possibilities are endless!!

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #8 on:** September 05, 2007, 12:38 »

Ok, uploaded, now I just have to wait 5 days or so

Hope they will accept such a weird image.
Pr2is, I do not know if they are worth the effort. I might try a penguin with sunglasses

(thats not too much work) and then see if I can go in such directions.. However in gerneral I want to keep it close to nature...

pr2is · « **Reply #9 on:** September 05, 2007, 13:00 »

Quote from: Freezingpictures on September 05, 2007, 12:38

However in gerneral I want to keep it close to nature...

Thank goodness... that was tongue-in-cheek by me

Your Penguins is a breath of fresh (antarctic) air among all the shaking hands business-women in headsets.

Fortunefame · « **Reply #10 on:** September 05, 2007, 14:52 »

Hi Leaf!

Great challenge! I'm in! So to see if I get this ok. UPload to istock, after accepted adapt the description and add the link you provided us?

Cheers

chellyar · « **Reply #11 on:** September 05, 2007, 15:05 »

:-).

Have to break out the eggs.... (sic)

Read_My_Rights · « **Reply #12 on:** September 05, 2007, 15:45 »

How many pictures can be submitted? Are we sticking to 5 or 2 or no limit.

leaf · « **Reply #13 on:** September 05, 2007, 15:55 »

3 is the limit

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #14 on:** September 05, 2007, 16:04 »

eggs, hunh?? humm...... i've gotta think about this one... eggs....

an original idea with an egg. I'm there!

-tom

hatman12 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 05, 2007, 16:25 »

I exhausted my egg ideas earlier in the year. Now, I never want to see another egg....

leaf · « **Reply #16 on:** September 05, 2007, 16:35 »

awww common.. you must be an egg pro by now.

johngriffin · « **Reply #17 on:** September 06, 2007, 11:48 »

if we got a shot of someone with egg on their face, do we still need to get a model release ;-)

ancientimages · « **Reply #18 on:** September 06, 2007, 14:37 »

Why just Istock?

Bateleur · « **Reply #19 on:** September 06, 2007, 14:56 »

Quote from: hatman12 on September 05, 2007, 16:25

I exhausted my egg ideas earlier in the year. Now, I never want to see another egg....

Don't you mean you eggs-hausted them ...

Seriously ... does it have to be a picture with one chicken's egg, or can it be a number of them?

leaf · « **Reply #20 on:** September 06, 2007, 16:11 »

Quote from: ancientimages on September 06, 2007, 14:37

Why just Istock?

because istock allows us to create a link to the lightbox in the file description - and when you get files on there they have good downloads so the ´competition´part of it will have things happening

leaf · « **Reply #21 on:** September 06, 2007, 16:14 »

Quote from: Bateleur on September 06, 2007, 14:56

Quote from: hatman12 on September 05, 2007, 16:25
I exhausted my egg ideas earlier in the year. Now, I never want to see another egg....

Don't you mean you eggs-hausted them ...

Seriously ... does it have to be a picture with one chicken's egg, or can it be a number of them?

you can use 1 or more eggs

ancientimages · « **Reply #22 on:** September 06, 2007, 20:43 »

Well, would love to play - but I can't. I was banned from Istock several years ago because I reviewed photos for another site after I was accepted by them. They were quite rude about it - 9 e-mails saying I was banned from everything from viewing their site to breathing the same air (or some such). I had never even uploaded an image. So I don't play.

Bateleur · « **Reply #23 on:** September 07, 2007, 02:14 »

Quote from: ancientimages on September 06, 2007, 20:43

... I was banned from Istock several years ago because I reviewed photos for another site after I was accepted by them. They were quite rude about it ...

Wow! That seems a bit harsh! How can they ban you for reviewing at another site? What's it got to do with them? Were you exclusive?

leaf · « **Reply #24 on:** September 07, 2007, 03:27 »

Quote from: Bateleur on September 07, 2007, 02:14

Quote from: ancientimages on September 06, 2007, 20:43
... I was banned from Istock several years ago because I reviewed photos for another site after I was accepted by them. They were quite rude about it ...

Wow! That seems a bit harsh! How can they ban you for reviewing at another site? What's it got to do with them? Were you exclusive?

yeah that is surprising.

ancientimages · « **Reply #25 on:** September 07, 2007, 05:18 »

No, I wasn't exclusive. (I think that was before exclusivity was even offered). It was back in 2004 and I had just started. I had been accepted by them and I had also joined a couple of (then) new sites. I had not even uploaded any photos to them or participated in any forums or really anything when I got this whole slew of e-mails saying my account was closed and I was banned because I was reviewing for another site and apparently that was a horribly bad thing. It was the first (and only

) time I've ever been banned from anything in my whole life. I still don't recall seeing anything that said I shouldn't review for another site when I originally joined. I know they've had a change in ownership since then, but they had made it pretty clear that I was unwelcome and that reviewing for another site was an egregious act.

bjorn · « **Reply #26 on:** September 07, 2007, 09:49 »

To get you guys inspired (or vomit

I shot my egg photo today, now lets hope it gets accepted $:-\$
Assuming you all are creative enough to think of something better and not steal the idea...
Not enough time to go really creative (vacation planned).
Comments to improve are welcome...
Great idea Leaf!

hospitalera · « **Reply #27 on:** September 07, 2007, 10:00 »

Quote from: ancientimages on September 07, 2007, 05:18

No, I wasn't exclusive. (I think that was before exclusivity was even offered). It was back in 2004 and I had just started. I had been accepted by them and I had also joined a couple of (then) new sites. I had not even uploaded any photos to them or participated in any forums or really anything when I got this whole slew of e-mails saying my account was closed and I was banned because I was reviewing for another site and apparently that was a horribly bad thing. It was the first (and only ) time I've ever been banned from anything in my whole life. I still don't recall seeing anything that said I shouldn't review for another site when I originally joined. I know they've had a change in ownership since then, but they had made it pretty clear that I was unwelcome and that reviewing for another site was an egregious act.

Interesting, I heard stories about it before I joined even istock but I can't find for the life of me anything in their tos that prohibits me to do so. Anybody any newer information about that? Sorry, for kidnapping the thread Leaf,

SY

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #28 on:** September 07, 2007, 10:02 »

Good idea bjorn!

If it would be possible, it would be nice if all the grass would be in a similar hight and a bit shorter, so the egg is more exposedand maybe add more sky to the top, with a blurred golfclub swinging towards the egg

bjorn · « **Reply #29 on:** September 08, 2007, 01:09 »

FP thanks for the comments, I thought about the idea, but not sure if it would sell better. The story it would tell is rather limited I would think, perhaps as 'breakfast at the golfclub'

But it would sure be fun to make it

Had/have more blue sky and clouds (shot it portrait) but it sort of distracted from the grass/egg.

If I can find the time, i'll give it a try...

Pixart · « **Reply #30 on:** September 11, 2007, 11:48 »

These eggcellent photos came in an e-mail. Pretty awesome hey, anyone got shots like this? Sorry - they are in an attachment so you'll have to pop them up.

I better get crackin if I want to participate in this one

, but at Istock's current rate, when willl they be reviewed - November?

susieswe · « **Reply #31 on:** September 16, 2007, 06:46 »

Hi,
My first egg picture finally made it through inspection.

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4183850 [nofollow]

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #32 on:** September 16, 2007, 10:06 »

Got mine approved too:

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4183684

leaf · « **Reply #33 on:** September 16, 2007, 12:04 »

looking good guys.

Freezingpictures - get that lightbox link in your pic and i will add it to the lightbox.

--> I need to get to work.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #34 on:** September 16, 2007, 13:13 »

O yeah right, forgot about that.. its linked now

leaf · « **Reply #35 on:** September 16, 2007, 13:25 »

Quote from: Freezingpictures on September 16, 2007, 13:13

O yeah right, forgot about that.. its linked now

.. great - thanks. 2 entires so far

remember you can submit up to 3... hopefully we can get around 20 images in the lightbox at least - but minimum 10 would be good.

susieswe · « **Reply #36 on:** September 17, 2007, 10:17 »

Got one more egg picture approved today.

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4191591 [nofollow]

bjorn · « **Reply #37 on:** September 18, 2007, 01:12 »

Hi Leaf,
can you add this one? thanks.

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4198051

le_cyclope · « **Reply #38 on:** September 19, 2007, 17:25 »

Hi Leaf,

Here's one of mine:

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4213712
(I know, it's not exactly a «photo» of an egg but...

)

And here's a more classic one:
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4213745

Thanks,
Claude

Read_My_Rights · « **Reply #39 on:** September 20, 2007, 09:50 »

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4222684

Hopefully more will be approved.

Thanks Leaf.

Unfortunately I have not seen a boost in sales of my pictures in other lightboxes.

Time will tell

Read_My_Rights · « **Reply #40 on:** September 21, 2007, 07:43 »

Two more approved pictures from the same egg.

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4222826

Wanted to call this picture "egg striptease" but the reviewers lack of humour made me reconsider;)

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4222381

Thanks Leaf. Where are your egg pictures. You must have had something in mind when you started the lightbox.

leaf · « **Reply #41 on:** September 21, 2007, 09:26 »

great images guys. It will be fun to see who 'wins' with the most sales.

No i didn't have an idea in mind. I just tried to think of something simple that everyone could easily take a picture of.

I still have to take my egg picture.

Peter · « **Reply #42 on:** September 22, 2007, 04:37 »

I have this one

http://www.fotolia.com/id/4393208

But I do not think it is good enough comparing to others.....

leaf · « **Reply #43 on:** September 22, 2007, 04:55 »

Quote from: Chode on September 22, 2007, 04:37

I have this one

http://www.fotolia.com/id/4393208

But I do not think it is good enough comparing to others.....

i think you need to look at the rules again

You have to upload it to istock, and put the banner in the description

susieswe · « **Reply #44 on:** September 22, 2007, 07:03 »

my last egg photo:

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4216381 [nofollow]

hatman12 · « **Reply #45 on:** September 22, 2007, 13:51 »

Sadly, I still don't have any new egg ideas....

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #46 on:** September 24, 2007, 02:13 »

Comeone hatman, do some brainstorming!

Read_My_Rights · « **Reply #47 on:** September 26, 2007, 11:49 »

Still no DL for anybody. WE ARE ALL IN FIRST PLACE!!

leaf · « **Reply #48 on:** September 27, 2007, 02:54 »

only 3 days to go before it is too late to upload.... get your shots in TODAY.

hospitalera · « **Reply #49 on:** September 27, 2007, 02:57 »

Quote from: leaf on September 27, 2007, 02:54

only 3 days to go before it is too late to upload.... get your shots in TODAY.

Eh, haven't you missed a tiny little problem? Uploading/ editing is still disabled at IStock $:-\$ SY

leaf · « **Reply #50 on:** September 27, 2007, 02:58 »

Quote from: hospitalera on September 27, 2007, 02:57

Quote from: leaf on September 27, 2007, 02:54
only 3 days to go before it is too late to upload.... get your shots in TODAY.

Eh, haven't you missed a tiny little problem? Uploading/ editing is still disabled at IStock $:-\$ SY

what?? i am still able to upload and edit my images.

hospitalera · « **Reply #51 on:** September 27, 2007, 03:42 »

Funny, now it works again, but yesterday not, sorry for the panic, SY

snoozle · « **Reply #52 on:** September 28, 2007, 02:05 »

In the spirit of the olympics (it's the taking part that counts) here are my 3 images.

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4286299
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4286311
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4286326

leaf · « **Reply #53 on:** September 28, 2007, 02:30 »

great.

next time we will have to have a more sales worthy topic

bjorn · « **Reply #54 on:** September 29, 2007, 02:03 »

Hi Leaf,

Can you add my 2th one?

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4283950

thanks...

leaf · « **Reply #55 on:** September 30, 2007, 16:36 »

allright, i submitted an image to istock but i have strong doubts they are going to take it

here's hoping.

GeoPappas · « **Reply #56 on:** September 30, 2007, 17:16 »

Quote from: leaf on September 30, 2007, 16:36

allright, i submitted an image to istock but i have strong doubts they are going to take it here's hoping.

I also submitted an egg image the other day, but I have my doubts as well. Most of my stuff gets accepted everywhere else, but IS gives me lots of rejections. I guess it's because I'm not exclusive.

Hopefully, they will find the image "eggcellent". Sorry, but I couldn't resist. This contest reminded me of the Batman TV series from the 70s (specifically Egghead). I used to watch that show every day.

maco0708 · « **Reply #57 on:** September 30, 2007, 22:34 »

OK, I did my part. I uploaded 3 pictures and now it is up to iStock if they pass or not.

I hope that at least one of them makes it.

I am a little surprised that none of the 12 pictures in the lightbox sold.

LEAF: When are we going to declare the winner? Few months later, a year, 2 years???

leaf · « **Reply #58 on:** October 01, 2007, 02:51 »

well i was thinking just a 'running' winner to end winner.. but someone might be the 'leader' this week another person the leader next week. I was thinking to have a competition every month and then when the leader changes in a certain competition then it would be shown on the site. - if that made sense.

maco0708 · « **Reply #59 on:** October 01, 2007, 13:18 »

Quote from: leaf on October 01, 2007, 02:51

well i was thinking just a 'running' winner to end winner.. but someone might be the 'leader' this week another person the leader next week. I was thinking to have a competition every month and then when the leader changes in a certain competition then it would be shown on the site. - if that made sense.

Sounds good!

WHAT IS THE CATEGORY FOR OCTOBER???
Batteries are charged, memory card is empty, lenses are clean and my finger is on the shutter release... I just need the "go"

GeoPappas · « **Reply #60 on:** October 02, 2007, 11:45 »

Oh well. My egg image got rejected for "sensor spots still visible".

The "sensor spots" that they are talking about are actually spots on the egg. If they ever looked at an egg up close, they would see that it isn't a perfect white object. It has micro cracks, discolorations, spots, etc.

It isn't worth it for me to send this to Scout, so I will have to take a pass on this competition. Sorry that I wasn't able to play...

kabby · « **Reply #61 on:** October 03, 2007, 07:14 »

Here are my two files:

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4338201

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4305320

leaf · « **Reply #62 on:** October 03, 2007, 10:51 »

great, i have added them to the lightbox.

jcphoto · « **Reply #63 on:** October 03, 2007, 16:11 »

Here are mine:
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/4332205/2/istockphoto_4332205_peer_pressure.jpg

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/4337989/2/istockphoto_4337989_two_eggs_on_white.jpg

leaf · « **Reply #64 on:** October 03, 2007, 16:17 »

glad to see so many people got in on this.

You need to add the banner jc!

jcphoto · « **Reply #65 on:** October 03, 2007, 19:26 »

Oops sorry

, done now
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/4337989/2/istockphoto_4337989_two_eggs_on_white.jpg

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/4332205/2/istockphoto_4332205_peer_pressure.jpg

bjorn · « **Reply #66 on:** October 04, 2007, 11:49 »

Yes, Leaf come on, lets hear the next subject/round...
(as long as its nothing with people...).

I still have 20 eggs in my fridge, if anybody is interested ;-)
Amazing to see, how difficult it is to find a white egg here, had to see 5 supermarkets...

maco0708 · « **Reply #67 on:** October 06, 2007, 11:53 »

So all three of my images got accepted and here they are:
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4355111

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4355168

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4355183

Leaf, can you please add them to the lightbox?

(All of those were uploaded at 10:00pm on September 30th

)

GeoPappas · « **Reply #68 on:** October 07, 2007, 17:01 »

Quote from: GeoPappas on October 02, 2007, 11:45

Oh well. My egg image got rejected for "sensor spots still visible".

The "sensor spots" that they are talking about are actually spots on the egg. If they ever looked at an egg up close, they would see that it isn't a perfect white object. It has micro cracks, discolorations, spots, etc.

It isn't worth it for me to send this to Scout, so I will have to take a pass on this competition. Sorry that I wasn't able to play...

Well, I checked the image at 100% and it actually did have two sensor spots! But I had to look at the image for about a half hour and compare it to some other images from the same shoot to be able to tell which spots were egg spots and which spots were sensor spots.

So I fixed the image and resubmitted it. The issue now (for this competition) is that the resubmitted image now has a new submission date of 10/02/07, instead of the original submission date of 09/27/07.

So I will leave it up to Leaf on whether or not the image should be considered for the competition.

GeoPappas · « **Reply #69 on:** October 08, 2007, 06:28 »

I just realized I forgot to include the link, so here it is:

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4366527

Read_My_Rights · « **Reply #70 on:** October 09, 2007, 16:54 »

The good news first: Everybody is still tied for first place.

Now the not so good news:
It is very strange that the combined might of MSG is unable to produce a single DL since the inception of the eggs light box. Perhaps the real message is this:
Competition in mundane subjects that are dominated by the microstock gorillas is becoming increasingly more difficult for the mere mortals that have submitted to this challenge. An egg picture that has 1 million DLs (hypothetically speaking) and is available online since the beginning of time will continue to serve its purpose even though there are newer egg pictures added to the collection every day.

Just some food for thought.

leaf · « **Reply #71 on:** October 09, 2007, 16:58 »

in addition to the fact that eggs are a far from popular subject.

Read_My_Rights · « **Reply #72 on:** October 10, 2007, 21:36 »

Yeah! First one on the board (for 0.40).

leaf · « **Reply #73 on:** October 11, 2007, 02:04 »

congrats. here is the image

guess i had better get the thing organized to 'showcase' the winners.

le_cyclope · « **Reply #74 on:** October 11, 2007, 17:30 »

Oh no! I went from 1st place to last!

Bravo Read.

Claude

Read_My_Rights · « **Reply #75 on:** October 11, 2007, 22:18 »

Wanted to call this pic "Egg-tease"

- like striptease by an egg

Fortunately my common sense prevailed.

Are you guys getting creative with your picture titles or are they just descriptions?

bjorn · « **Reply #76 on:** October 12, 2007, 04:36 »

congrats RMR!

>Are you guys getting creative with your picture titles or are they just descriptions?
I have the feeling that a simple name like 'EGG' would do best (in searches etc), but from time to time i can't stop making it funny/creative

maco0708 · « **Reply #77 on:** October 16, 2007, 15:52 »

This bad boy just got its first sale:
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4355168

And it was a large so I got a whopping $1.32 for it!!! (I am going to celebrate now

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