There was/is an issue that you have to "save" your additions/corrections twice before the IS servers will accept the changes.
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=57564&page=261

ETA: It still shows on the Dec Bug Thread

Changes to the file description do not take effect until they are saved a second time. e.g. If a contributor wishes to add a new piece of info such as a lightbox to the description area, they must first make the edit and click on save and then click on continue and then repeat the whole process again for anything to happen. 10OCT12 KJ

Thanks for that. I knew there was something weird happening when I tried to add some LBs a week or so ago.
Teach me to read the bug thread!

Put a new image into DM. Doesn't matter what it is. Remove all keywords/titles/etc.

Put in keyword(s) you want to add. Copy from that file and paste to multiple selected files. Make sure you only select the fields you need, and don't have the overwrite box ticked. Works the same with description fields etc.

Try it with one or two files first to make sure it's right! Don't blame me if it doesn't work!

ETA with keywords IIRC you either have to add ALL the keywords you want, disambiguate, and tick overwrite, or disambiguate the words in each file if you only put one in and don't overwrite. As I say try it with one or two files first until you're sure it's right.

Guess the Beatles weren't big in Scandanavia. 

And 1965  is a long time ago!
(I looked it up. I thought it was later than that. Shades of Ken Grimwood's "Replay")

Things were burbling along okay for me until the site changes in September. I had seen an uptick in August and had expected a strong second half of the year. But, since then, suddenly not good at all. Not quite as bad as some people seem to be reporting, but around two-thirds of what I'd conservatively projected to be earning these past two months.

So is it systemic, business-related and terminal or just a (big) site glitch? I don't know. Can't figure out how to tell.

Speculation welcome. It would distract me from having to change my underwear so much more often.

Similar here as far as being OK until September goes. Been pretty bad since then though. Autumn isn't normally my best time of the year but this time it's been much worse than I expected.
I don't know what they've done now, but I've had ONE DL so far today. Now I may not have the best, or the most commercial PF, but this is just getting silly!
As I've said before I'll take ebb and flow. That's to be expected. Somehow though I get the feeling more and more that the fact that we're there to make money too is just being ignored.
As to the whys and wherefores. I'm as much in the dark as anyone else. Some sort of input from management would be welcome. Is it a glitch, or is this what we need to expect from now on?

Like most things to do with computers if you look at any of the printer manufacturers then someone has had a problem with drivers. I've got a feeling that printers are more complicated to get right than most hardware. Scanners seem to be another problem. I've changed scanners twice now because of a lack of support for a new OS. There again I don't use a scanner for anything much more critical than copying the occasional document.

What OS are you using?
If it's on Windows try uninstalling the driver completely before re-installing.
Could be an automatic update screwed things up. Look to see what updates have been made and restore to an earlier time?

Can't tell much about them technically from these thumbs apart from that the lighting's nothing special on either of them.
Subject, composition and lighting wise these are nowhere near for application shots. Do what Sean (sjlocke) says above.

Exclusive with over 5,000 photos.
Worst month in years...
The site is broken and they don't seem to be in any hurry of fixing it.

I've got 9000 exclusive images and my downloads have nearly stopped too. It's a complete disaster for me and other full time exclusives.

Another exclusive here with over 4500 files. Very bad month for me so far.  It's been bad since the site changes early Sept.

Nothing wrong with these technically as far as I can see.
Now the bad news. Sorry. The button shot won't get you in. It's not really "stock"and has no real concept. The soap shot, not immediately obvious what it is, again it won't get you in. Grasshopper, might possibly be OK, although I have the feeling that nature shots might be tricky for application.

To get into iStock these days you really need to show a variety of types of subject and technique. You also really need to show that you have some idea what stock is about. As an example, you might submit a shot of a person, or people doing something. A still life, preferably with some sort of story or concept, and a landscape.

If I had to apply now I'd shoot my application shots particularly for iStock, and pay special attention to the details.

Quote from: Difydave on September 29, 2012, 05:01

In Gimp (PS is similar) the dropper tool referred to is under the "levels" dialogue. (Colours / Levels from the menu bar) When you open up the dialogue there are three "eyedropper" icons three quarters of the way down on the right. If you hover over them it will say, black point, grey point, or white point depending on which one you are over. Click on the white point dropper then click on the part of the image you want white.

Thanks. I think I've used that before but forgot over time. Unfortunately, it's not making the background completely white. I have found a setting Colors / Auto / White Balance that seems to have the same effect.

Thanks for the trick. I think, it's best to get optimal results in the first place, so I will try to add another flash for the background.

Marian

Exactly, you need to get the shot right "in camera" and then make small adjustments to clean up any problems.
I'm not a big fan of "Auto" anything. The thing about the dropper is that it allows you to control what you're actually making white. Anything "auto" is just a best guess by the software.

@ShadySue
Most of those pictures were taken before getting into this microstock thing anyways.

@Difydave
Oh I have a lot to learn. I know this very well. However I'm a nature photographer at heart so that puts me in a hole from the get go. From what I hear the 20D is good to 400 I don't shoot higher regardless.

Best plan is to shoot images just for application. Forget what you already have.
Same about nature photography. Unless you really are an exceptional and experienced nature photographer, you are unlikely to get in with just nature shots.
As far as the ISO goes, "good" is a relative term like "sharp".
I wouldn't shoot above ISO 100 for application shots if I was using a 20D.

As Shady Sue says. There's nothing on Deviant Art that would get you accepted, or sell if you were accepted. I'm sorry to say that you are some way off with these.

Go over to iStock and read some of the advice given there to prospective contributors.  You need to show that you have an understanding of what stock is, and how to shoot it. You want to demonstrate that you understand the technicalities of how to use a camera, and how to post process to best effect. You need to show artistic appreciation of how to compose a shot.

Common advice given is to submit a portrait of a person, a landscape and a still life to show diversity. I don't know the 20D, but as it's an older body I suspect that anything over ISO 100 will give you noise problems. Turn off all in camera processing like sharpening, nail the exposure "in camera".

Good luck.