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Author Topic: Request for critique  (Read 2720 times)

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« on: February 24, 2013, 20:57 »
0
I don't know any other professional photographers so my feedback has come from lovely yet biased friends and family.  I'm learning a lot from MS rejections and reading critiques of others, figured it's time to grow a spine and ask for opinions on mine  :D

I'd appreciate any thoughts on my work, areas in need of improvement etc.  Thanks!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/petathames/
http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?gallery_id=1294957


« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2013, 21:14 »
+1
You seem to master a wide range of photographic techniques and your photos are good and some quite striking as this one: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8459300845_bd3307d6eb_m.jpg
as well as the waterfalls.

So no problems there.
BUT, you photograph what you see and what impresses you visually.
Many photographers do, but thats not stock photography.
In stock you should rather photograph keywords and concepts. The simpler and more iconish, the better.
Thats quite a different approach.
« Last Edit: February 24, 2013, 23:22 by JPSDK »

« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2013, 22:47 »
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Thanks!  The last 2.5 years, I've been reading and practising a lot to try and get the hang of technical aspects of photography beyond framing and capturing directly what's in front of me, it helps to hear it's paying off.

I see what you mean about stock photography, it's something I've come to learn about recently as I understand more about the stock world (through this forum and others like it), and I definitely don't have the knack of thinking like that.  It clearly shows that I haven't yet made the choice to deliberately try and only focus on stock photography, although I've had a go at some very recently which aren't online yet.  I think I need to practise more of that and see if I can do it, and more importantly, enjoy it, then choose.  I hoping my technique and eye is up to scratch though, those inspectors are demanding taskmasters!

« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2013, 23:21 »
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Good.
Let me give you a concrete example.
This photo is a pretty straight stock photo.
http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/1294957/125034347/stock-photo-beware-alligators-warning-sign-by-a-creek-on-sanibel-island-florida-125034347.jpg
Concept: "Dont feed the alligators", the sign tells the concept.

You have taken it from a downwards perspective to show the water, which is very relevant for the concept. Good.
"It is the background that sells the picture" PLUS "KISS"
The green pasture in the background is irellevant for the concept, so it should not be there. You will loose many sales because of the distraction from the meadow and the trees in the background.
But the alligator is missing. And if there wasnt one, clone one in.
Next the "dont feed" part is missing.
You need something an alligator would consider food.
So what about an old Lady with her back towards the lurking alligator and a poodle on a leash?
See what I mean?
« Last Edit: February 24, 2013, 23:24 by JPSDK »

« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2013, 18:20 »
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I see what you mean, but, phew.  If that's the effort needed for stock photography then I'm not cut out for it.  I do like playing a bit with post-processing but not to that extent.  I think I can remove the the bushes easily enough and I'll do that, thanks for highlighting it for me, but while I can see the concept with the gator and the woman with the poodle, my photoshop skills aren't up that level of work (and not least because I don't own photoshop!).

Ironically, this very photo sold overnight.  It must have known we were talking about it and wanted to prove itself worthy! ;)

« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2013, 22:09 »
0
Im not saying you should photoshop that photo. That would be too much work.

It was more an example of what stock is.....
and how precise you have to be.


 

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