It's a different perspective and my first time.

After more than two years of making YouTube videos, I have achieved a small milestone. Thank you all and enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3u_U9lhC6M

Not a good month for me. Hopefully, next month will be better.

The fall colors are very nice in the Niagara Falls this year. Many tourists don't get to take a close look at the beautiful landscape and other outdoor options.

Many of these photos are available on Istock and Alamy, as well as my own website. Hope you enjoy my video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ5ssnR4LZM

I rarely upload videos to SS after its merger with P5. I don't upload to P5 often, but video sales are slightly better in the recent months.

August has always been a slow month for me.

Quote from: angelacat on August 17, 2025, 10:12

England used to lock up the insane in lunatic asylums.  So possibly the word has being  shortened over time to loony or loon to refer to someone behaving strangely.   


Nice video - I guess if Microstock doesn't work out we can always go gold digging in drill cores.

LOL, look, I've picked up another part-time gig, looking for treasures on the beach. 

Take a look, and it is really fun! https://youtu.be/NvCl0gvF64g

Quote from: Asthebelltolls on August 20, 2025, 21:34
The shots and narrative are well done. You might want to consider improving your editing skills. Background sounds like loons in the distance, soft dissolves, clean narrative, music added, etc. I think it would be well worth the effort. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you very much for your suggestions. It is a real challenge to make a YouTube video like a documentary. Yes, I need to buy a microphone. I have been looking.

The dilemma is how much time I should put into a video. In the meantime, I will try harder to improve the quality.

Quote from: angelacat on August 16, 2025, 12:03
In England Loons means Idiots, thought you were photographing idiots in Northern Ontario 

Enjoyed the video - the narrative was lovely.

Cat

LOL, that's funny! Since Canada was a British colony, I wondered if it has some connection to its original meaning in English. According to the internet, "The word loon is derived from a Scandinavian word lōmr referring to someone who is lame or clumsy, from the loon's awkwardness on land."

It fits the unassuming nature of most Canadians.


I have released another one about finding gold in northern Ontario. Here is the link if anyone is interested:

https://youtu.be/tCOpVoJwgjc

I just got back from Northern Ontario, Canada, and would like to share my new YouTube release with you. It is a short video, only a little over 3 minutes.

https://youtu.be/wm_c8EWtuTM

Watch the misty sunset over Gull Lake, a hidden gem in Kirkland Lake, Northern Ontario. This cinematic video captures the serene beauty of the Canadian wilderness, with soft nature sounds of loons and other birds, perfect for relaxation and nature photography inspiration

I am pleasantly surprised by this little yet powerful camera.

If I don't have to shoot birds or macro, I can just use this one camera. I haven't tried to shoot the northern lights yet.

But I hate it because I had to download the app to register to activate the camera.

The site won't allow me to modify the broken URL. Let me try to post it again.

https://youtu.be/LMNz6xZ2RI8

I have had many GoPro Blacks over the years. But my last GoPro 10 Black was a big disappointment. The camera and batteries have many bugs, and the image quality was worse than the previous versions.

It has been almost a month since I bought the DJI Action 5 Pro.  I made a video while testing some of the shooting modes, including SuperNight, Slow Motion & Timelapse.

Please take a look and let me know what you think.

[urlhttps://youtu.be/LMNz6xZ2RI8][/url]

I just did another full review of my DJI OSMO Action 5 Pro in low light.

https://youtu.be/RsRauO7QGPA

It's incredible that the price has dropped from $489 (what I paid a few days ago) to $379 (Toronto) today.

My review is not sponsored. I have nothing to do with the maker or sellers.

But this little camera is indeed very powerful. It is totally useful for stock footage.

I bought a DJI Action 5 Pro a few days ago. It is my first time ever to try a DJI. I used many GoPro cameras but encountered more quality problems with my last GoPro 10 Black.

Anyway, I tried to use the DJI for Canada Day's fireworks. it is supposed to have a great dynamic range. My report is on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/XFysOLTT_9o

I imagine that I could have done better if I know the camera better.

Please share your experience with this camera in low light settings when you film the night sky including the Milky Way and northern lights and of course, city nights and fireworks.

I wonder if it has something to do with your fps.

Maybe you can try to export your clips at 23.98 fps (NTFC) and see if they are accepted.

If you have any ideas about how I can improve my YouTube videos, I am all ears. 

I released a new YouTube video which includes videos, slides of my photos, and timelapse northern lights.
https://youtu.be/V6VWcyQAhnw

Take a scenic journey through Georgina, Ontario in this 5-part video showcasing the natural beauty, history, and charm of this Lake Simcoe destination.

If you would like to see more of my photos of Lake Simcoe Region, please visit my website at: https://charline.pixels.com/collections/lake+simcoe+region 

Part 1 features De La Salle Park, known for its sandy beach and crystal-clear waters.
Part 2 explores the historic Spring House, also called the Courting House.
Part 3 highlights local eateries on the main strip of Jackson's Point.
Part 4 captures the picturesque views of Jackson's Point Harbour and Marina.
Part 5 presents a stunning display of the aurora borealis over Lake Simcoe in real-time, slideshow, and time-lapse formats.

Perfect for travelers, photographers, and nature lovers looking to explore Ontario's hidden gems. Subscribe for more travel content across Ontario and beyond.

Thank you for your kindness on behalf of Canadians!

Although we have not had any serious wildfires in Ontario this year, smog can be seen on a clear day.

This YouTube video shows how a charming small town (Sundridge) in northern Ontario was under the influence of wildfires elsewhere: https://youtu.be/KsphulU7qsY 

Thank you everyone for your kind words and support. I really appreciate it!

As I said, FAA allows you to set your prices. Some prices can be much higher than others.

But how much I made was not the point. My point is if we try different ways to promote our work, perhaps there are other possibilities.

A few days ago, I saw that there was a 6.25 money transfer fee, but today, the fee is gone. Maybe it was just a glitch.

$560 is my net for a single print sale. The hosting company prints, frames, and ships at no cost to me. I sold 10 prints at various prices from my website in May. You set your own prices. Sometimes I get $$$$ when the buyers buy multiple prints.

Once I got $700 (half of 1400) from Alamy for one digital download for a print many years ago. But I haven't made anything nearly as much for a single download from the stock photo/video agencies since then.

My point is, perhaps promotion through my YouTube channel is helpful to my print site.

I sell videos through various agencies, but none of my single video download was close to $560.

Quote from: SimonSays on May 29, 2025, 17:00

Quote from: stoker2014 on May 29, 2025, 11:37

Quote from: Orchidpoet on May 27, 2025, 18:16
but I still got over US$560.

So, what I read about the author.
"Charline Xia. One of her exhibitions was sponsored by and held at Steam Whistle Art Gallery in Toronto. Her photos have been published by many major public and private entities including the United Nations, Parks Canada, Forbes, The Globe and Mail, Linux, Canadian Geographic Magazine and many many others globally."

I apologize, of course, but for a photographer of this level, an income of $ 560 is very little. And as I understand it, you usually earn less.



I'll give you some advice, ditch your photography, shoot videos, you'll earn more dollars.

It doesn't say she was hired by those organisations/companies to do a shoot but only that they have published her photos. Myself, and probably many others out here, have all seen our photos bought and being used/published by big organisations and companies worldwide. But maybe my interpretation is wrong.

Quote from: Pacesetter on May 29, 2025, 09:43
Really good! Besides the sales you mention in your post, do you make regular sales? And is your website powered by Shopify?

Yes, I am making monthly sales. You can choose any hosting site of your choice and do your own promotions.

I use FAA. Now it charges for each money transfer, on top of the membership fee. But it is still worth it for me.

It has been a great month! Does it have anything to do with my recent YouTube promotion?

In May, I have sold 10 prints through my prints site charlinex.com https://www.charlinex.com/. One print was sold at a discount but I still got over US$560.

A few weeks ago, I started to link my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@charlinex5186) to charlinex.com, and vice versa.

I don't know if the sales were linked to the promotional efforts, but it certainly does not hurt.

Thanks for sharing your success story and experience, well deserved! I have subscribed.

I also have a YouTube channel which only has over 900 subscribers. https://www.youtube.com/@charlinex5186

My channel has not reached monetarization but I am learning a lot and trying to improve.

Now I aim at improving the quality with more editing and story-telling.

I agree with you that we do need to find other ways to supplement our stock video revenues. Besides that, YouTube allows us to build a personal brand, while stock agencies don't often give us any credits.

Just an update.

Since I posted my intention to promote my print website through my YouTube channel, some people have started to pitch their businesses, either to promote my YouTube channel or my website.

Thanks, but no thanks. I will not respond to any such emails.

But in case you enjoy my YouTube videos, here is another video about the courtship ritual of water birds, especially the trumpeter swans, in Lake Ontario: https://youtu.be/nNWpzU-IXhM?feature=shared

I would greatly appreciate if you subscribe to my channel and give my video a thumb-up.