Hi.

I noticed that when I upload images to Fotolia, and that large previrew when mouse over, it has dull washed colors, but on other sites colors are preserved OK. Did you notice that problem?

SS took 16$ of tax from me this month. Thats not as much as I would expect, not bad, hope it wont increase in next months.

But anyway, prices are going lower and lower... 

Funny thing: since FT introduced subs, I sold maybe 1 EX licence, and I used to sell about 1-2 per month before that. Do buyers think when they buy subscription package that they dont have to buy EX licence separately or something? I cant remember when I sold my last EX licence....

Come on! Everybody talks they are going to delete portfolios, stop uploading... bla bla bla...

And reality is: never more images has been added to SS than last week, LOL. What is next? Every month, 1 more million of images. I think SS should really put some upload limit. Seriosly.

I see a lot of images of objects, food, etc... with "nobody" keyword. I mean, what the...? Why? Do you really think that buyers type "nobody" in search?

30% less money than last month (march)

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The certificate is only valid for *.stockxpert.com.

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original


http://eu.fotolia.com/id/5908618

possible thief?


http://eu.fotolia.com/id/6593046

OMG! I have just sold 2 images to the same buyer. Funny thing is that those 2 were exactly the same image, but first he bought larger, than smaller size! LOL! This is pure waste of money, he could resize to smaller if he wanted smaller one. But I like those kind of buyers, they make me more money

you can move unsold content to free section.

what do you think about this?

I dont give my images for free! Subscription sales are too low, it is almost free, I dont give anything for free!

I noticed few days ago I got accepted some new images, 3 days later still cant be found by keywords, search engine not indexing them. Is it just me, or anybody else? I wrote to support, but they didnt get what was I talking about.

http://www.wegif.com/gifs/sserrano/3655/

LOL!

one rule in particular:

------------
If you are a "US Person" as said term is defined by the IRS, a signed and completed IRS form W9 must be submitted to Shutterstock for Shutterstock to make payments to you. You will receive an email containing instructions on how to download and submit this IRS form to us. A W9 is used to certify under penalties of perjury that your social security number is correct and that you are not subject to backup withholding taxes. Foreign persons might be subject to U.S. income tax on income they receive from U.S. sources. If you are a "Foreign Person" as said term is defined by the IRS, a signed and completed IRS form W8 must be submitted to Shutterstock in order for you to claim a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding as a resident of a foreign country with which the United States has an income tax treaty. You will receive an email containing instructions on how to download and submit this IRS form to us.
-------------

what does it mean? If I live in Bosnia (europe) do I have to submit those documents or what?

What do you think? Should SS introduce daily upload limit, for example, 15 uploads per day? Or per week.

This is very strange now. I have requested payment (via moneybookers) on 19th December, and it is 7th january and it is still pending. Is it just me or is it present with others? I wrote to support, but they were of no use, replying me this:

QuoteThank you for your inquiry.

Electronic payment requests are usually processed within three business days.
Check requests are processed at the beginning of each month and the checks are sent out at the middle of the month.

If I can be of further assistance, please let me know.  Thanks!

and I clearly stated that I am waiting payment for 15+ days. I know there was holiday vacations, but now they are over, and I woul like to ask another payment, but I cant before pending one is processed.

I contacted StockXpert support again, hope this time they will be more helpful. Does StockXpert have forums of their own?

I requested payment ond december 19, still nothing. But reviewers are working just fine... only payment is late.... guess they are on vacation?

I have just ordered this calibration device from ebay:

http://www.pantone.com/pages/products/product.aspx?pid=79

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/reviews/pantone_huey.html

I want to buy new 24" LCD, and calibrate it properly. Do you calibrate your monitor?

Another question: Do buyers and reviewers calibrate their monitors? What is the purpose of calibrating your monitor, when buyer doesnt have calibrated one?

are you expiriencing slow reviews? I have about 100 files pending since 7 days ago...

  I just deleted 376 of my old, poor-seling, ugly images. And I plan to delete about 1000+ more tomorow, to clean my portfolio a little bit, so only hi-quality remain. I had 9.100 images online, but after this cleanup I should have about 7000-7500, or so.

Do you delete your old, non seling, poorly viewed, ugly images, and how does it impact your sales? I think buyers would easily browse trough my portfolio when there is less junk images

Hi. I didnt get email from SS this month about my earnings. I cheked spam filter also. I hope it is not a problem, and  I will get the money anyway

who said eos 50D is bad camera? who did it?

ISO 3200 accepted on SS!






(massive noise removal, and resize to about 4MP from 15MP LOL!)

Did you notice since 4-5 days ago, new images not appearing in "view gallery"?

Since 4 days ago, newly aproved images are not indexing in "Images from the same series". Sent support a message, but no answer. Anyone noticed it? Contact support, maybe they are unaware of problem.

Is it a good idea to clean Hoya Super HMC multicoated UV filter with alcohol napkin (specialy made for optic cleaning)? I have been cleaning my lenses with those, and never have problems. How about multicoated filters?

Last week I bought Canon EF 100mm f2.8 MACRO USM lens (with Hoya Super HMC UV 58mm filter), and it so great, I simply love it! In first week made over 100 new macro images for stock.

In few days I am expceting another lens to come - Canon EF 70-200 f4L IS (with Hoya Super HMC UV 67mm filter). Cant wait! It sure will fit great on my also new EOS 50D

Got Lowepro Micro Trekker 200 backpack to put all that equipment

Just to share excitement....

I tested speed difference between PS CS3 and CS4 in converting RAW to JPEG.

10 RAW files, 15MP EOS 50D, total about 200MB in size. All parameters were the same in both tests.


CS3 Camera RAW 4.6 - 52 seconds
CS4 Camera RAW 5.1 - 52 seconds

(Intel Core2Duo E4600 2.4GHz, 4GB RAM DDR2-800, 8800GTS 320MB GPU).

Today I became GOLD rank at FT.

hm... not very impressed.  Perhaps I should get Canon 17-40mm L lens or 24-105 L


here is the test:


ISO TEST:

canon eos 50D
canon 28-105mm @ 50mm (f5.6), low light test:



ISO100




ISO 200



ISO 400



ISO 400 filtered (neat image)



ISO 800



ISO 1600



ISO 3200



ISO 3200 filtered (neat image)




----------------------------------------

EOS 400D



ISO 100



ISO 200




ISO 400



ISO 800



ISO 1600




-----------------------------

EOS 50D vs EOS 400D
f8 105mm



ISO100



ISO 200



ISO 400



ISO 800



ISO 1600



ISO 3200

EF mount. LOL

QuoteDescription (revised)    
   
   
Item Specifics - Camera Lenses   
Camera Technology:    
--
      Maximum Aperture:    
--
   
For Camera Type:    
SLR
      Focus Type:    
Manual
   
Lens Type:    
Extreme telephoto
      To Fit Camera Brand:    
Canon
   
Condition:    
Used
      Lens Brand:    
Canon
   
               
   
Item Specifics - Telescopes   
Condition:    
Used
   
   
   
   


This is a very rare Canon 5200mm photographic lens - possibly one of only three ever built. THE largest & most powerful prime lens ever created for dedicated SLR use. Built in Japan it was purchased by a Chinese company & shipped to China where it has since had little use & is now for sale. The optics appear in perfect condition. It is my understanding that a customized SLR/DSLR/EF mount can be created/included by the team of optical engineers who presently look after the lens. Due to its large size, it may be better suited to astronomy applications. It takes two people to lift the lens. It could also be mounted on a customized truck or SUV. A large geared or motorized support head would be needed to get the most out it. The magnification of this lens is truly staggering. If mounted to a Canon XL series video camera for example, a reach of 1000x optical (at least) would be possible (approx 37,500mm). The lens could also be mounted to HD & cine cameras. Tracking the space shuttle would not be a problem. Perhaps it's already been used for that purpose? - (Did I just say that??!) Manual focus of course. Yes rear drop-in filters can be used. With so few ever built Canon spent "squillions" on the R&D, not to mention the manufacturer of this lens. Original cost price?? - don't even ask!! In all seriousness I can't be accurate. The Canon factory picture shows the lens mounted to an SLR camera (circled in red) - this will further give you an idea of it's size.

For all those out there with a big collection – especially Canon 1200mm EF F5.6 owners, this has got to be the ultimate lens for your collection - quite simply it's incomplete without it.

At present the lens is in China & I am selling it on behalf of the current owners. That's me in the picture - I am currently in Australia. The view scopes mentioned in the Canon information (below) are not included/available. The EBay auction states the lens is in the USA, but that is not the case - I have had to put down my a US address because the EBay auction site seems to have trouble with Chinese postcodes - much to my dismay.

Shipping is not included in the final sale price. Estimate shipping a medium size fridge.. All serious bidders MUST contact me prior to bidding. Bids placed without contacting me first will be removed. I will not ship to Italy, Russia or any South East Asian or African country.

I have the right to cancel this auction at any time if it's taken over by nutters, spammers & time wasters – or if it's sold elsewhere. I am negotiable. Any other questions please feel free to contact me.


Will Ship World Wide

Just ordered EOS 50D from ebay. 1370 USD (shipping included). Cant wait to get it!

Now I have to put my old EOS 400D (XTi) for sale. hh

Is it a good idea to use Canon 24-105mm f4 L IS USM lens, that is made for FF sensors, on APS-C sensor (like on EOS 400D or EOS 50D).

I have 28-105mm f3.5-4.5 USM II lens, but thinking of buying 24-105mm L lens. I do not have (and probably will not have in next 2 years) FF sensor camera.

Is it a good idea?

I wrote to customer support, to close my account at YAY, and delete my 3000+ images I uploaded. In 4 months, only 2 sales. That is ridiculous. They can keep the money, I dont want to waste any of my time on that site. My biggest mistake in microstock world. But learned lesson: never upload on new sites, if they are not offering money per upload.

Check this debate on FT forum:

http://us.fotolia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=138543

what do you think about other companies selling prints of our images, bought from FT. Do they need to by extended licence, or not?

I think it OK way to promote further more our work trough FT API program, and I am OK with this. At least they dont buy subscriptions! LOL!

I didnt quite read TOS, so maybe this is wrong what they are doing, I dont know.

What do you think?

Hi. English is not my native language, can you pleae help me with this:



What is the name of that pad-thing that you hit with gavel?

Tnx.

I have a personal webpage for a year now, and it is time to re-new my domain, but I dont see how the site helped me in terms of sales. Do you have personal web site, and do you think it helps you?

I think I wont re-new my domain, it is just waste of money and FTP space. Not popular enough.

2nd third 2008 (May, Jun, Jul, Aug)

My stats (eranings $):







(made mistake in title, not quartal, but third)

I used to earn about 100$ per month from StockXpert (3500+ images online), but July and particulary August was very low - 30$ total in Aug. I hope it is just summer slowdown, if not, I wil consder stop uploading new material there if I dont see at least $50 per month in september.

How is your expirience with StockXpert in august?


P.S.
Also, I should add 123rf, they are low too last 2 months (20$ per month). If I dont see raise of income when I upload new material, I wont be bothering anymore with them. I wont close account, but wont waste time on uploading new either. We shall see how september will go.

Silently, like always, they introduced EU version.

http://eu.fotolia.com/


I wonder can we europeans switch from USA to EU version.

I got rejected some images for reason "please clean bacground". LOL! Should I use cleaning products shown on image to clean it? LOL!





I dont know what to clean on bacground?

How ironic, or should I say funny rejection. LOL!

Would you recomment this lens for stock shooting? does it produce quality images for SS to accept them?

I am on 123rf about 6 months, but I just discovered Donate option few days ago:

http://submit.123rf.com/submit/donatephoto.php

Do you donate your photos for free download? Does it help regular sales?

I picked 20 of my (low quality) photos for donation 30 days. In the first days 80% of them were downloaded few times.

Does it really helps in normal sales?

Hm.... Just a theory. Few days ago FT changed again search engine relevance order. Since then (my) sales dropped dramaticaly.

It does not matter any more how many keywords image has. Now I think it favorizes images with more sales (which is totaly redundand with "Sort by downloads" filter). So new images with less sales are pushed back in relevance order. Circulus vicious, I would say.

Yesterday I got email about my payment being aproved:

QuoteYour request for payment has been approved. The money will be sent according to the method you have chosen. Please allow up to several days for the transfer.
Note that the earnings section of your account on Dreamstime.com will update in the next 24 hours

But I didnt receive anything on my MB account. I know it says "Please allow up to several days for the transfer.", but usualy it takes few minutes, now it has been passed one day, and no payment arrived.

Anybody else expirienced this?

I bought some portable lightning equipment for my little sutudio for people. I am still waiting the batteries from ebay, and I have my first photo shooting on 16th August with models, until then I will test and calibrate lightning...... I cant wait to get results.....





(4 flashes for background blow out (2 tall, and 2 short ones), 2 with difusers for direct lightning, and one (Canon) bouncing from the celing. All connected with radio or optic triggers.

what would I get when I reach bronze canister? I need 14 more sales for it.

After 5 months, my IS stats:

Total Downloads:   236
Total uploads:   279
Account balance:    $7.83
Total earnings:    $208.83
Acceptance rate:    84.08%

not very happy with it, but better than nothing for sure.

try searching "cherry".

75 results.

"cherry fruit" 7265 results.

"lemon" - 975

"lemon fruit" - 12122 results

geez

Views number under the each image in portfolio (or search) is not refreshing since 5 days.

I wrote about it to support, and they answered:

QuotePlease contact our US Director of Operations in regards to this matter at [email protected] he will be able to assist you.

I mean what is their purpose? It seems they are not aware of the problem at all.

Gee, like I created this cabbage! Its not my fault it has not some more interesting colors. It is shoot as is, dont know how to improve the colors without producing artefacts or ruin image.... pft....

Quote


Poor color: this image has a low color profile and needs improvement in order to increase its sales potential. You can process your image with color enhancement software, such as Photoshop, giving it the appeal it needs.

For the first time ever, my image is in Best sales (USA) 7 days! Whohooo! I had many images in best sales in "TODAY", but never in 7 days! I hope this will boost my sales...

Hm.... Just got rejected 33 out of 86 submited. I am OK with "simmilar", but those were:

"Poor lightning/composition"


(scroll horizontaly to see entire image)

Lightning is OK, so it comes down to composition. I wouldnt agree with reviewers. I got accepted those on other agencies (BIG6) with no problems...


Miz, will you please borrow me your siren, so I can calm myself down






hhhhhhhhhh