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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Photo Critique => Topic started by: minneola24 on November 26, 2010, 14:06

Title: First iStock Application
Post by: minneola24 on November 26, 2010, 14:06
Hello,

I have been into photography for 5+ years now, and decided to try putting in an application for iStock. Here are the 3 images that I have chosen, let me know what you think,

Thanks,
Justin

(Size has been reduced for quick loading)

Downtown San Diego
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/8553/76868360.jpg (http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/8553/76868360.jpg)

Abandoned Train Tracks
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/5314/43579060.jpg (http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/5314/43579060.jpg)

Sunrise in the Desert
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/9986/95115794.jpg (http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/9986/95115794.jpg)
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: luissantos84 on November 26, 2010, 14:38
hi there

first picture I would crop it a little bit at the bottom, the beach is a little distracting..
second picture I would send another, what is the concept in it?
third picture I love it, it rocks in my opinion.. but dont know if IS will take it

nice job
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: minneola24 on November 26, 2010, 14:50
hi there

first picture I would crop it a little bit at the bottom, the beach is a little distracting..
second picture I would send another, what is the concept in it?
third picture I love it, it rocks in my opinion.. but dont know if IS will take it

nice job


Thanks for the feedback,

Downtown Edit:
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/4274/img2398c.jpg (http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/4274/img2398c.jpg)

Different concept, same tracks:
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6061/img2524j.jpg (http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6061/img2524j.jpg)

Different sunset image:
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3668/img28989tonemapped.jpg (http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3668/img28989tonemapped.jpg)
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: luissantos84 on November 26, 2010, 14:57
first picture - whats the max size you have for it?? why don't make it panoramic? the bottom is still distracing..
second picture - liked it better but again the sky is blowout.. don't think its a good option
third picture - a lot more better the other sunset pic

what kind of pics you have more?
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: minneola24 on November 26, 2010, 15:10
first picture - whats the max size you have for it?? why don't make it panoramic? the bottom is still distracing..
second picture - liked it better but again the sky is blowout.. don't think its a good option
third picture - a lot more better the other sunset pic

what kind of pics you have more?


Thanks,

I  tried to remove the beach out using airbrushing. Were you suggesting to not make it panoramic? I couldn't understand, sorry.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/4506/img0993yt.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/4506/img0993yt.jpg)

Here are a few different pictures I have to show, I have a ton more if you don't like these ones:
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3056/img2018oe.jpg (http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3056/img2018oe.jpg)
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8522/img1915n.jpg (http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8522/img1915n.jpg)
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/9798/img620456tonemapped.jpg (http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/9798/img620456tonemapped.jpg)
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5977/img283345tonemapped.jpg (http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5977/img283345tonemapped.jpg)
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/1111/img1631pm.jpg (http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/1111/img1631pm.jpg)
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/504/img0993f0.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/504/img0993f0.jpg)
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: a1bercik on November 26, 2010, 15:23
I think this is not good idea to publish hi-res images without watermarks or any copyright protection.
If you take pictures to sell them don't let people to steal them.
This hint is for free.

Pawel
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: minneola24 on November 26, 2010, 15:28
I think this is not good idea to publish hi-res images without watermarks or any copyright protection.
If you take pictures to sell them don't let people to steal them.
This hint is for free.

Pawel

Thanks, I removed the high res in place of a lower resoltuion.
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: luissantos84 on November 26, 2010, 17:11
downtown - crop it a little down BELOW the rocks at the centre left, dont think this black is a good idea.. can you make it and get I guess at least 7megapixels?.. (because of FT and IS sizes)

I like a lot your pictures but the sunset, sunrise etc are a little in abundance..

like this one a lot http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5977/img283345tonemapped.jpg (http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5977/img283345tonemapped.jpg)

also like the first sunset picture you place on your first post..

can you come up with a model shot or a isolation? a little of everything is good to reviewer..

san diego cropped, sunset or that rock picture.. I guess they will get, are they good at 100% zoom? san diego has trademarks on buildings? remove them ..
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: minneola24 on November 26, 2010, 18:05
downtown - crop it a little down BELOW the rocks at the centre left, dont think this black is a good idea.. can you make it and get I guess at least 7megapixels?.. (because of FT and IS sizes)

I like a lot your pictures but the sunset, sunrise etc are a little in abundance..

like this one a lot [url]http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5977/img283345tonemapped.jpg[/url] ([url]http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5977/img283345tonemapped.jpg[/url])

also like the first sunset picture you place on your first post..

can you come up with a model shot or a isolation? a little of everything is good to reviewer..

san diego cropped, sunset or that rock picture.. I guess they will get, are they good at 100% zoom? san diego has trademarks on buildings? remove them ..


Here we go:

Full downtown, new crop

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/7704/img2398j.jpg (http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/7704/img2398j.jpg)

Downtown 100% preview

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4561/img2398b.jpg (http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4561/img2398b.jpg)

Sunrise 100% preview

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/7960/img623012tonemapped.jpg (http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/7960/img623012tonemapped.jpg)

Rocks 100% preview

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5977/img283345tonemapped.jpg (http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5977/img283345tonemapped.jpg)
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: luissantos84 on November 26, 2010, 18:29
they look good, the sunset is better at 100%.. have you edit them a lot? I see that the downtown no but the other seem to have something.. I say this because I dont edit, almost nothing, just wb and some exposure sometimes..

do you have more subjects? to have a different third pic? try for a more stocky picture, I would say perhaps a portrait (dont need to have a strict concept) or a isolation maybe

you can also just pull a little the right part of the sunset picture, align a little the horizon
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: BImages on November 26, 2010, 18:55
I like the img94, the img522 and the img217 but crop this way:


You better not summit anything that has any lens flares to IS, at least for initial approval.

Tony
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: minneola24 on November 26, 2010, 18:58
I like the img94, the img522 and the img217 but crop this way: [url]http://tonytremblay.com/images/76868360rrr.jpg[/url] ([url]http://tonytremblay.com/images/76868360rrr.jpg[/url])


You better not summit anything that has any lens flares to IS, at least for initial approval.

Tony


Thanks, I'll crop it out like that.

What is IS? Image stabilization?
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: BImages on November 26, 2010, 20:14
I like the img94, the img522 and the img217 but crop this way:


You better not summit anything that has any lens flares to IS, at least for initial approval.

Tony

Thanks, I'll crop it out like that.

What is IS? Image stabilization?

IS is Istock. They will reject most of the pictures that has any kind of lens flares. 

Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: minneola24 on November 26, 2010, 20:15
I see, thanks.

Which is weird because there are alot of HDR sunsets with lens flares in their site...
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: nruboc on November 26, 2010, 20:34
Hope you make it in, be sure to let us know when you make your first 15% commission.
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: cathyslife on November 26, 2010, 20:37
Which is weird because there are alot of HDR sunsets with lens flares in their site...

Welcome to microstock, that's how it works. Maybe they have been submitted by exclusives and/or long-timers. New submitters have to be way more careful about what they send in for their application. But that's not written in stone. Depending on the reviewer, yours could slide right in. But I think the safe route is to choose good, solid stock images to begin with, and add the artsy stuff later on.

As far as the cropping of your city at night photo goes...

Do a search at IS for downtown AND city AND night. If there are lovely reflections in the water (which you had) sometimes the reflections are NOT cropped out. Also bear in mind that I have read in forums numerous times of buyers complaining about too much cropping going on. Sometimes the buyers like more image so they can choose the crop themselves. I'm not trying to contradict what others have told you previously, but, well, microstock is a big contradiction. Just my two cents worth.
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: luissantos84 on November 26, 2010, 23:29
Hope you make it in, be sure to let us know when you make your first 15% commission.

are you leaving IS?
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: donding on November 28, 2010, 11:49
Do you have more of a variety of images. iStock likes to see different types, such as a model shot, a food shot ect ect. They aren't real big on landscapes any more unless they really pop. They are saturated with the types of landscapes you have...other than the city shot...and even though yours are better than many, they don't usually accept them because of that fact. Also so your aware of this....just because you get the initial photos accepted, that doesn't mean they will always make it on the site to begin with.
Title: Re: First iStock Application
Post by: Will Dutt on July 15, 2011, 05:42
Wow, your photography is beautiful! I absolutely love some of your images. My favourites are:

Down Town San Diego
Ocean Sun Set
Bridge Across The Water

Have you submitted your photos to Istock yet?

I hope you get in ;)