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Author Topic: Critique need for Shutterstock Application  (Read 22649 times)

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« on: January 16, 2008, 18:14 »
0
All,

I'm looking for critique help here with my proposed images (that have been approved elsewhere) that I plan to submit in my next Shutterstock application.

I will post their links here and delete or add appropriately due to feedback received here on this forum. I greatly appreciate anyone's comments regarding whether or not an image I plan to submit or not will meet shutterstock's criteria and standards for my next application.

Here is the start of my proposed submission list:

Approved at DT:
#1 "Urban Living"
http://www.dreamstime.com/modify.php?imageid=3954339

#2 "Solar Energy is the Future of Electric Power"
http://www.dreamstime.com/modify.php?imageid=3954344

#3 "Seattle Skyline with Sailboat"
http://www.dreamstime.com/modify.php?imageid=3925685

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10


Also if you see other photos in my portfolios that you feel are a "shoe in" for my next application, please let me know :)

Your feedback is greatly appreciated !

Mark


« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2008, 18:36 »
0
All three pictures are very nice if dreamstime approved them they should do fine for shutterstock unless they would need a property release for the buildings and sail boat. :)

« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2008, 18:37 »
0
First thing is to check for noise at 200% magnification. Noise for SS is not what noise is for other agencies. Every digital camera, except the 20-30k$ digital backs, has noticeable noise in the shadows, no matter how good exposed the photo is (I run into very little exceptions with very clear subjects on a still life table).

So the best strategy is to clean out all the noise you see with an appropriate plugin and/or other methods (I sometimes used a small gaussian blur on a different layer masking in just the most troublesome shadow parts that really didn't have any worthwhile detail to be saved).

In the first two images you posted I already can foresee noise problems due to the exposition latitude, I'd personally go for brighter images for another reason too. It is that SS seems to me more oriented to "commercial" shots that stand brightly out with vivid colours. For example the buildings in the foreground of your first image are too much greyish imho. The overall exposition is fine but I could bet that SS reviewers would say it's not because of it.

Take my words with the obvious grain of salt as I can just talk from my (limited) experienced, most professional microstock contributors can probably give you more solid advices.
« Last Edit: January 16, 2008, 19:26 by ale1969 »

« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2008, 18:41 »
0
Ale,

FYI: All of my images are run through "Neat Image" for noise reduction as the last thing done to the file before uploading.

Mark

« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2008, 18:44 »
0
Can't see 'em.  Is "modify.php" your edit page?

« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2008, 18:46 »
0
Ale,

FYI: All of my images are run through "Neat Image" for noise reduction as the last thing done to the file before uploading.

Mark

My first submission images were processed through neat image too and already approved from DT and some of them by IS: 6 out 10 rejected.

It's not the plugin what makes the difference, it has many different usages and graduations. Your eyes are, if you can see noise so will do the SS reviewer, and you can't get rid of noise in dark images without them becoming too much processed.

The best trick to use is to upsample at SS with the lower size possible, alas 4 mp. It makes wonders to the noise and the sharpness no plugin can.

« Reply #6 on: January 16, 2008, 18:50 »
0
Updated List and links:

All,

I'm looking for critique help here with my proposed images (that have been approved elsewhere) that I plan to submit in my next Shutterstock application.

I will post their links here and delete or add appropriately due to feedback received here on this forum. I greatly appreciate anyone's comments regarding whether or not an image I plan to submit or not will meet shutterstock's criteria and standards for my next application.

Here is the start of my proposed submission list:

Approved at DT:
#1 "Urban Living"
http://www.dreamstime.com/urban-living-v1-image3954339        (Noise here?)

#2 "Solar Energy is the Future of Electric Power"
http://www.dreamstime.com/solar-energy-is-the-future-of-electric-power-image3954344
(Noise here?)

#3 "Seattle Skyline with Sailboat"
http://www.dreamstime.com/seattle-skyline-with-sailboat-image3925685

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10


Also if you see other photos in my portfolios that you feel are a "shoe in" for my next application, please let me know

Your feedback is greatly appreciated !

Mark

« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2008, 18:51 »
0
Ale,

What do you mean by "upsample" to 4mp ... ?

Mark

« Reply #8 on: January 16, 2008, 18:52 »
0
Ale,

What do you mean by "upsample" to 4mp ... ?

Mark

Sorry I meant to write "upload" downsampled at 4MP  :-[

« Reply #9 on: January 16, 2008, 18:54 »
0
Ale,

Do this for every image submitted to SS? And after NeatImage or w/o using it?

Mark

« Reply #10 on: January 16, 2008, 18:58 »
0
Ale,

Do this for every image submitted to SS? And after NeatImage or w/o using it?

Mark

I'd do for the first ten for sure, and I downsample as the last thing before converting the image into a jpg.

Once approved you can choose the upload strategy you prefer, I downsample everything for SS because their price policy and my images seem to sell nonetheless.

« Reply #11 on: January 16, 2008, 19:20 »
0
yeah, downsampling to get rid of noise would be a good idea.

If you are not sure about if you have too much noise, you can try and send one of the files to me and I can it out

that one with the red sky, or deep blue sky are perfect examples where noise turns up.  if you don't want to sent the whole image, just send a crop of the top of the images.

« Reply #12 on: January 16, 2008, 20:07 »
0
I would avoid skies for application review , one of the best examples where small amount of noise is easily noticable , especially on the dark parts of the sky ,and at SS they don't like noise.

If you do sent them photos with sky , and you said that you use noise reduction as a last step , be sure to use layer mask on the clouds , cause the amount of noise reduction that its
necessary to remove the noise from the dark blues of your sky , will most probably wash out your clouds texture , and you will risk to get refusal for artifacts etc.


I would try to send them 2 -3 simple textures ( stone , metal etc), they are easily to take , its hard to find noise on textures , and from experience I can tell that the don't refuse them. Few of my friends tried with that and it went well every time.


Good luck




     

« Reply #13 on: January 16, 2008, 20:49 »
0
How do I accomplish this "downsampling"?  I have photoshop elements 6.0.

Mark

« Reply #14 on: January 16, 2008, 21:11 »
0
Updated Suggest Application List and links to samples:

All,

I'm looking for critique help here with my proposed images (that have been approved elsewhere) that I plan to submit in my next Shutterstock application.

I will post their links here and delete or add appropriately due to feedback received here on this forum. I greatly appreciate anyone's comments regarding whether or not an image I plan to submit or not will meet shutterstock's criteria and standards for my next application.

Here is the start of my proposed submission list:

Approved at DT:
#1 "Urban Living"
http://www.dreamstime.com/urban-living-v1-image3954339      

#2 "Solar Energy is the Future of Electric Power"
http://www.dreamstime.com/solar-energy-is-the-future-of-electric-power-image3954344

#3 "Seattle Skyline with Sailboat"
http://www.dreamstime.com/seattle-skyline-with-sailboat-image3925685

#4 "Travelers Blur"
http://www.dreamstime.com/travelers-blur-v1-image3726092

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10


Also if you see other photos in my portfolios that you feel are a "shoe in" for my next application, please let me know

Your feedback is greatly appreciated !

Mark

DanP68

« Reply #15 on: January 17, 2008, 00:18 »
0
Ale,

FYI: All of my images are run through "Neat Image" for noise reduction as the last thing done to the file before uploading.

Mark


Wrong.

Don't do this Mark.  Your final products will look fake and plastic, and SS will reject your submissions with the "overuse of NR" response.  It is bad practice regardless.

Here is what you do -

1.  Eliminate as much noise as possible through proper exposure.  With your P&S this is going to be tough.

2.  Use PhotoShop or whatever you prefer, and magnify to at least 200%.  Find areas with noise.

3.  Either through the use of layers, or by careful use of selection tools, use Noise Reduction on those pesky areas which have noise, and ONLY THOSE AREAS.  If too much of the image has noise, throw out the image and create a new one. 

4.  Pick your poison for NR.  You can use NeatImage or Ninja, even the CS2 NR is good enough if used properly.  You can utilize NR, median, blur...whatever works to get rid of that noise while still maintaining image quality.

5.  Combine your layers, or de-select the NR areas, and Save at 100% quality. 


« Reply #16 on: January 17, 2008, 03:23 »
0
How do I accomplish this "downsampling"?  I have photoshop elements 6.0.

Mark

not sure exactly what the menu structure is but something like

edit > image size > .... then change the image size to something smaller.

« Reply #17 on: January 17, 2008, 12:38 »
0
Thanks to both Leaf and Dan.

Leaf, I'll definitely plan to use the downsizing for Shutterstock images as their pay only warrants 4mp images anyway ...

I see where I can input the image size ... Does anyone know if 800 x 600 will work? Or does it need to be higher. That's a typical size for web use I believe ...

Dan

I'll start giving that process (selective noise reduction) an immediate shot with my images. I will say though that I have all but eliminated rejections due to "noise" by using Neat Image. I'll have to investiage how to use NR selectively and see if its possible in Photoshop Elements 6.0 or Neat Image

Thanks for all the help over the last couple of months. I've had my first sales at DT, BigStock, FT and 123rf.

Mark

« Reply #18 on: January 17, 2008, 12:48 »
0
they have to be at least 2.5 megapixels.

« Reply #19 on: January 17, 2008, 12:51 »
0
they have to be at least 2.5 megapixels.

It's 4MP for new submitters if I remember correctly.

« Reply #20 on: January 17, 2008, 12:58 »
0
I think there was some sort of "grandfather" clause for 2.5. I think 4mp is the minimum ...

Mark

« Reply #21 on: January 17, 2008, 14:12 »
0
Updated (4th & 5th Images) Suggest Application List and links to samples:

All,

I'm looking for critique help here with my proposed images (that have been approved elsewhere) that I plan to submit in my next Shutterstock application.

I will post their links here and delete or add appropriately due to feedback received here on this forum. I greatly appreciate anyone's comments regarding whether or not an image I plan to submit or not will meet shutterstock's criteria and standards for my next application.

Here is the start of my proposed submission list:

Approved at DT:
#1 "Urban Living"
http://www.dreamstime.com/urban-living-v1-image3954339       

#2 "Solar Energy is the Future of Electric Power"
http://www.dreamstime.com/solar-energy-is-the-future-of-electric-power-image3954344

#3 "Seattle Skyline with Sailboat"
http://www.dreamstime.com/seattle-skyline-with-sailboat-image3925685

#4 "Travelers Blur"
http://www.dreamstime.com/travelers-blur-v1-image3726092

#5 "Isolated Hand with Scars with Key v1"
http://www.dreamstime.com/isolated-hand-with-scars-with-key-v1-image3709441

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10


Also if you see other photos in my portfolios that you feel are a "shoe in" for my next application, please let me know

Your feedback is greatly appreciated !

Mark

« Reply #22 on: January 17, 2008, 15:19 »
0
mwp1969,
Not sure that asking others to do your work is the right thing here. You may need to decide what works and what not by yourself.

Here is a tip from me: pick the ones that look best at thumbnail/small size.
Crop at a different ratio if needed (3:4 etc). Of course all the other ingredients have to be there as well.

It may also help if with your submission you send a link to your portfolio on other sites where you have some success. Make sure sure you don't make a big deal out of it thou.

Knowing what SS wants, you may need more subject matter of the kind they want: cr*ppy studio shots (I have plenty of them).

« Reply #23 on: January 17, 2008, 15:36 »
0
Uber,

I agree that I am quite capable of slecting my photos myself. This is what I have done. I've selected some of the best, that haven't been rejected. I am merely posting here to help descriminate between photos that are already approved on my other sites that have the stricter criteria. The examples above have been previously approved on DT which seems to be the toughest for my photos out of DT, BigStock, FT, 123rf, Featurepics, and Albumo


This is the MSG "Critique" forum so its certainly a great place to ask for critique of photos that may or may not already be posted across multiple sites :)

Thanks for your suggestions :)

Any other comments on the images chosen on the most recent posting of my list?

Mark

« Reply #24 on: January 17, 2008, 16:02 »
0
Uber,

I agree that I am quite capable of slecting my photos myself. This is what I have done. I've selected some of the best, that haven't been rejected. I am merely posting here to help descriminate between photos that are already approved on my other sites that have the stricter criteria. The examples above have been previously approved on DT which seems to be the toughest for my photos out of DT, BigStock, FT, 123rf, Featurepics, and Albumo


This is the MSG "Critique" forum so its certainly a great place to ask for critique of photos that may or may not already be posted across multiple sites :)

Thanks for your suggestions :)

Any other comments on the images chosen on the most recent posting of my list?

Mark

See what you mean. Sorry: seeing your top 10 I thought you expect others to fill in the gaps. I, for one, would not trust strangers for that (myself included).


 

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