I like to keep still and video separate.  Folks can do very well on short clips using the Canon D5 MII, but if you arre doing something more challenging like weddingws, productions or musicals a Canon HF, HV or HG will give you a little more diversity.  I am thinking about upgrading to a Panasonic HMC40.  Though I am just getting started on video I have been doing a lot of work for our church trcording their musicals and drama productions.  I also want to get something with a viewfinder - that can come in handy at times.

Just a thought; I realize the more intelligent people have better ideas.  I just like to keep things simple.  I simply use Magix ME Pro 15 Plus or QuickTime Pro to process my work.

Roadrunner

I made it Sharpshot - I'm on line with Pond5!  Now I can get busy.

I just received a rejection from SS; it was for Lighting.  Seems they do not like cloudy days - better reserve my sunny day clips for them. 

Sharpshot - I just uploaded my first submission to Pond5.  Hope I get through.  I used Magix Pro 15 Plus for trimming and exporting a Quicktime.mov file.  Unforunately there hasn't been much sun here in Florida the past couple of weeks.  So I'm a little concerned about the light.  I also shot in Cinima, Progressive at 30fts.   I seem to like Video mode as I can adjust the F/stop or Shutterspeed more easily with the Canon HF-100.  Will probably shoot some clips tomorrow if it stops raining.

Roadrunner

Artemis - I only managed to get 16 images accepted on IS.  I'm not blaming them; I just could never see the artifacts or noise they say I have.  Even at 200 % I can't see it.  On Lucky Oliver they would give me a hint as to where they found something they didn't like.  I don't bother to put the images on the forum because I don't need to get slaughtered.  I did post a couple of images on SS forum early on, and did get some great help.  After applying those tips my acceptance on both SS and DT went up significantly.  I doubt if I can do any better so I don't put images up any more.  I just take my lumps.

I think my sales on IS is around $24.73 or something like that.  On other sites I have between 180 to 300 images.  That is realy small considering what you guys and gals have, but I don't get around much as I used to and don't want to get involved with models.  So my work is quite limited.  I try to submit objects, travel type shots and historic buildings/sites.

So I do know it's my fault, and I really shouldn't bother the reviewers at IS.  Might be time to give up the ghost.  I'll make that decision after my next submission.  If they reject 8 out of ten, I'm going to throw in the IS towel.  There is no sense applying so much effor for no results in a positive light.

Roadrunner

With me it is FT and IS that are having a contest as to who can reject the most.  FT won last month , but I believe IS will win this month - if their upload application ever gets fixed.

I figure they just don't like what they see, because I do everything I am supposed to.  If they claim artifacts it doesn't matter to me.  I very rarely resubmit.  I only resubmit to SS if the reviewer indicates I should do something and directs me to resubmit.  Otherwise I find resubmitting is a waste of time for me.  Others may do well by resubmitting.  I have five sites accepting 75% to 90% on most submissions.  IS and FT rarely accept more than 10 or 20 percent and often accept 0.  I'm not worried about FT as I manage to get a couple of payouts per year - even with a very small portfolio.  IS is another bear - I have been trying to give them what they want for nearly two years and don't expect a payout for at least 10 years or more.  So their reasons for rejecting my images no longer means anything to me.  I figure IS just doesn't care for whatever I submit.

Newbes should just look for sites that accept their work and keep plugging to build up their portfolios.  By the end of two years you will know where your efforts will be rewarded.  I never let one site or person ruin my day.  Now if every site rejected my work the way IS does, I would find something else to do with my spare time.

I just requested to have my account closed, but it was nothing personal and I think it is a good site for those who get sales.  In 22 months I didn't have as many sales.  Just business, and I hope Elena can turn the site around.  I have been thinking about closing any account that has practically no sales (For me of course) or sites that reject more than 50% of my work on a consistant basis.  That will leave me with 5 of the so called Big 6 to work with.

I also closed out another site today, and I will be closing out a third account within the next month if things don't change in the way they reject things.  I din't like wasting their time, and I especially don't like going through a hoop of fire trying to upload, keyword and select categories when rejection rates are between 80% to 100%.

Again it isn't personal and I do not blame the site; things just don't work out for everyone on every site.  But I did try!

Roadrunner

Thanks guys!  I'll try next week as I have other commitments.  I'm about to give up though, because I just can't get anything acepted on this site.  I have given it two years so may be it just isn't for me here. Other than FT and IS my acceptance rating is between 75% and 90% most of the time.  On IS it like 0% to 29%.  123RF, BS, SS, and DT are no problem,  Ft is a little tough as I am just getting in the 70% range after two years.

I have a feeling IS just doesn'tlike my work or subjects.

I haven't been able to upload anything for a few months, but finally got back into the swing of things. So I attemped to upload some images to IS, and everytime the image failed to get through?  I see the barrs at the bottom moving very slowly to the right.  After it appears the bars moved fully across indicating 100% uploaded, the bars dissappear, but nothing happens.  So I go to "Upload" again, and the number of images allowed to be uploaded remained unchanged.  I can't find the image anywhere.

Is it possible that I am frozen out due to a very small portfolio?  They haven't told me I am fired or anything?  This is really frustrating.

Roadrunner

Thanks for the feedback!  I used FTP to upload for the first time in about 8 months, so it slipped my mind.  I think I had about a 46% acceptance rate here.  When I first started submitting, they were accepting only 20 or 30 %, but I had managed to get that up to about 55% to 70% on my last submissions.  I figure I can get my numbers up over the next few months.

Now I will simply upload 4 images weekly (Like with Alamy) and see how things go.

Good luck with your sales guys and gals.

Anyone having trouble passing your images through after uploading?  I uploaded using FTP, and everything worked fine.

When I started passing through the uploaded images (12 total), I was stopped at five and was given a message:
"Due to heavy uploading, submitters are limited to 50 in a 24hour period.."  In addition I was informed that there is an 85 hour backlog in Review.  Wow; DT must be busy!

Roadrunner

Racephoto - thanks for your input!  I do not use MEP 15+ to burn discs anymore.  I found that MEP 15+ created a file folder that contains all the necessary files to burn the DVD using ""ImgBurn" which is a free software.  So I just go to the Folder "Disk Images" in My Documents/Magix_Movie_Edit_Pro 15 Plus/Disc Images, and select it for burning a DVD using ImgBurn.  Works great!  It is faster and plays on all of my players!!!

Roadrunner

If you are having trouble generating a DVD from your Editing Software (Magix Movie Edit Pro 15 Plus, Pinnacle, Easy Video or any other application) you can try burning the DVD Image or ISO files to a DVD using ImgBurn.

Instructions and links can be found at http://support.magix.net/boards/magix/index.php?showtopic=48972 ; scan down the thread for the post addressing this approach for burning AVCHD to DVD.

It might be better if you go directly to alwyn's web site directly at http://www.aaproductions.net/mep/tips/tips.htm#DVD%20Menus/Burn%20DVD

Scan down to the bottom of the page and print out the instructions on those links.

Roadrunner

I tried another clean install and updated the MEP 15 Plus to Win-7 and installed the newest Burn Routine Update only to fail again?  New code though!  Could I be making progress?
-------------------------- 12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM --------------------------

12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.742:   DLLAV32.DLL loaded, all entry points available
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.758:   AVSDK MsgCbFunc registered
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.774:   AVSDK: StatCbFunc registered
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.930:   AVSDK Version 8.1.185
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.945:   ------------ Reading Device Info ----------------
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.945:   AVSDK: 1 device(s) found
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.961:   Adapter=0  ID=1  LUN=0   D:TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L633C Revision:AC01
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.976:   AVSDK: 1 record device(s) available
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.976:   ------------ done ----------------
12/30/2009 11:04:00 AM.990:   setting no speed limit
12/30/2009 11:04:01 AM.006:   !!! DBK error in CBurnDevSupport::InvalidateDiscInfo(): 202 - burn support - invalid device !!!
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.814:   Open Project: Test_Clip_Number_Only -- dvd project 2009-12-30
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.829:   VideoMode: NTSC   Temp Dir: C:\Users\Harry\Documents\MAGIX_Movie_Edit_Pro_15_Plus\Disc Images\
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.845:   dll version 8.6.1.0
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.861:   PrepareDVDVideoFiles() - Abschätzen des Splitpunktes
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.876:   EstimateLayerSplitPoint()...
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.892:   Splitpunkt 4271833088 auf Disk mit Größe 141426688
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.907:   Title an Stelle 0, Länge 131072, Typ 0
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.907:   Title an Stelle 131072, Länge 131072, Typ 0
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.923:   Title an Stelle 262144, Länge 141164544, Typ 1
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.939:   ... Split möglich nach aktuellem Title, -> Abbruch
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.954:   Step 1 of 6, Encoding movie 1 ...
12/30/2009 11:10:54 AM.937:   Step 1 done
12/30/2009 11:10:54 AM.952:   ERROR: PrepareDVDVideoFiles() failed with errNo 5 - encoding failed
12/30/2009 11:10:54 AM.968:   !!! DBK error in BurnProject: 45 - movie encoding failed !!!


-------------------------- 12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM ---------:-----------------
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.222:      Booktype:   don't care:
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.253:   setting write speed to 11080000  bytes/sec
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.253:   this equals 8.000000x DVD / 62.811794x CD Speed
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.269:   ------------ done: succeeded ----------------
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.269:   ------------ CreateAPIProject ----------------
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.285:   Step 6 of 6
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.285:   creating DVD project in prepfile mode...
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.300:   create volume... OK
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.316:   verify option OFF
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.331:   adding file "C:\Users\Harry\Documents\MAGIX_Movie_Edit_Pro_15_Plus\Disc Images\DVD Image Test_Clip_No_Only\VIDEO_TS.IFO"
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.331:   adding file "C:\Users\Harry\Documents\MAGIX_Movie_Edit_Pro_15_Plus\Disc Images\DVD Image Test_Clip_No_Only\VIDEO_TS.VOB"
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.347:   adding file "C:\Users\Harry\Documents\MAGIX_Movie_Edit_Pro_15_Plus\Disc Images\DVD Image Test_Clip_No_Only\VTS_01_1.VOB"
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.363:   adding file "C:\Users\Harry\Documents\MAGIX_Movie_Edit_Pro_15_Plus\Disc Images\DVD Image Test_Clip_No_Only\VTS_01_0.IFO"
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.378:   Step 6 done
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.378:   ------------ done ----------------
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.394:   ------------ BurnToDisc ----------------
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.394:   time:
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.409:   Step 6 of 6
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.425:   Used burn options:
   simulation:   off
   DiscAtOnce:   off
   BurnOver:   off
   BurnProof:   on
   FormatDisc:   off
   ShortLeadOut:   off
   NoDefectMgmt:   off
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.425:      Booktype:   don't care
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.441:   setting write speed to 11080000  bytes/sec
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.456:   this equals 8.000000x DVD / 62.811794x CD Speed
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.472:   Check on previously direct recorded session...OK
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.487:   AVSDK Message - INFO: :Recording volume ...
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.487:   AVSDK Status - Begin operation Recording 64400 sectors/frames
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.503:   time:
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.519:   AVSDK Message - INFO: :Recording -> writing data ...
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.784:   wrote LeadIn, start DataCopy
12/30/2009 12:18:35 PM.799:   time:
12/30/2009 12:23:04 PM.182:   AVSDK Message - ERROR: :Cannot write to disc -> Cannot access medium/cartridge, unknown or incompatible format or application code mismatch (SK/ASC/ASCQ 02/30/05)
12/30/2009 12:23:15 PM.539:   AVSDK Status - End operation Recording 64400 sectors/frames
12/30/2009 12:23:15 PM.555:   AVSDK Message - INFO: :Recording failed, refer to previous error messages for more information
12/30/2009 12:23:15 PM.570:   !!! AVSDK error: BurnToDisc() calling AvVolWriteToDisc(): 204 - illegal log. or phys. disc format !!!
12/30/2009 12:23:15 PM.570:   Step 6 done
12/30/2009 12:23:15 PM.586:   !!! DBK error in CBurnDevSupportPoint::BurnToDisc(): 249 - illegal log. or phys. disc format !!!
12/30/2009 12:23:15 PM.601:   ------------ done ----------------
12/30/2009 12:23:15 PM.601:   time:
12/30/2009 12:23:15 PM.617:   project burning failed
12/30/2009 12:23:15 PM.633:   !!! DBK error in CBurnDevSupport::BurnProject(): 249 - illegal log. or phys. disc format !!!
12/30/2009 12:23:15 PM.648:   !!! DBK error in BurnProject: 249 - illegal log. or phys. disc format !!!

After reading theabove, I tried another manufacturer's DVD, but got the same message.  Guess I'm at the end of the rope on this one.

I just reinstalled the editing software - Magix Movie Edit Pro and installed the Win-7 update supplied by the developer's web site. I also installed the Burn Routines patch.

Result when trying to burn the Video DVD:




-------------------------- 12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM --------------------------

12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.742:   DLLAV32.DLL loaded, all entry points available
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.758:   AVSDK MsgCbFunc registered
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.774:   AVSDK: StatCbFunc registered
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.930:   AVSDK Version 8.1.185
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.945:   ------------ Reading Device Info ----------------
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.945:   AVSDK: 1 device(s) found
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.961:   Adapter=0  ID=1  LUN=0   D:TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L633C Revision:AC01
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.976:   AVSDK: 1 record device(s) available
12/30/2009 11:03:49 AM.976:   ------------ done ----------------
12/30/2009 11:04:00 AM.990:   setting no speed limit
12/30/2009 11:04:01 AM.006:   !!! DBK error in CBurnDevSupport::InvalidateDiscInfo(): 202 - burn support - invalid device !!!
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.814:   Open Project: Test_Clip_Number_Only -- dvd project 2009-12-30
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.829:   VideoMode: NTSC   Temp Dir: C:\Users\Harry\Documents\MAGIX_Movie_Edit_Pro_15_Plus\Disc Images\
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.845:   dll version 8.6.1.0
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.861:   PrepareDVDVideoFiles() - Abschätzen des Splitpunktes
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.876:   EstimateLayerSplitPoint()...
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.892:   Splitpunkt 4271833088 auf Disk mit Größe 141426688
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.907:   Title an Stelle 0, Länge 131072, Typ 0
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.907:   Title an Stelle 131072, Länge 131072, Typ 0
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.923:   Title an Stelle 262144, Länge 141164544, Typ 1
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.939:   ... Split möglich nach aktuellem Title, -> Abbruch
12/30/2009 11:05:21 AM.954:   Step 1 of 6, Encoding movie 1 ...
12/30/2009 11:10:54 AM.937:   Step 1 done
12/30/2009 11:10:54 AM.952:   ERROR: PrepareDVDVideoFiles() failed with errNo 5 - encoding failed
12/30/2009 11:10:54 AM.968:   !!! DBK error in BurnProject: 45 - movie encoding failed !!!

It appears that the Burn support is not supported which might explain the encoding failing also?

What a pain!

Thanks Racephoto!  I do have a friend that can help me with this approach.  He will be coming over to help me install a new burner in my old XP unit.  That one is my desktop.  It is four years old; so I'm hoping to get a couple of eears more out of it.  It runs at 3.8 GHZ and has hyperthreading.  Itt isn't as good as Dual Core, but I'm able to do most of what I get involved with.

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!

Roadrunner

I did try to run another editing software that was very basic, but did provide the essentials to produce a Video DVD for players connected to TVs.  That software was Easy Video.  It did the same thing - edited smoothly, but when I tried to burn the DVD it aborted with the same symptoms.  There was code burned to the DVD, bit it can not be read on either the Computer or the DVD Player attached to my TV.

If I use the "Export" command to create an MPG-2 file, the file can be burned to a DVD.  That DVD will run on the Computer, but will not play on the Player connected to the TV.

In order to get a DVD that will work with the player attached to the TV, I must transfer the MPG-2 file to my other computer.  Then I can successfully burn the DVD for TV.

I also went to the Manufacturer's web site, but there were no updates to the driver for my particular burner.  So I think it will be better if I reformat the new laptop and make a clean install of Win-XP.  That's another $89 cost I don't really need abd the pain of reuploading all my software and drivers etc.

Hope this clears things up, but folks should forget about Win-7; it sucks!

The burner is up to date - it isw a Toshiba TS-L833C.  I don't have any trouble burning data disks or making copies.  I do notice that the disk has something written to it, but it seems to abort at the time it is supposed to "Finalize" the disk so that it will play on a tv DVD player.  I can't even run it on the computer.  I suspect the softeware just isn't compatible with Win 7.

As a work around, I was able to export an MPG-2 file to the hard drive.  Then I copied that MPG-2 file to a flash card and loaded it onyo my old desktop that still has XP.  Then I ran MEP 15 Plus and burned the DVD for TV.  So at least the software is partially compatible.  Thank God for that.  That saved me from having to do a complete re-edit.

I have been using Magix Edit Pro 15 Plus.  It does everything great  on Win XP.  It will run on Win 7 - only problem is that you can't burn a DVD in Win 7.  It crashes.  Come to think of it, evry video software I try fails to write a DVD in WIN 7.  I spent 3 days editing something only to find out I couldn't burn the DVD.  I had to redo it on my older computrer with Win XP.

Can someone recommend a good video editing software that actually works with Win 7?  Sony Vegas is too complex and Easy Video failed to write the DVD when I tried it out. 

Roadrunner

Thanks Sharpshot!  I'll give it a try right after the holidays.  I'm doing some work for our church to produce a video of the Christmas Cantata, and I have some still images to pass through to the stock sites for review.

I did just find an article explaining that the first Memory Chip cameras had problems with artifacts when the images were compressed.  The Canon Vixia series seemed to be a breakthrough as the MPeg 4 compression is a lot cleaner.  So it coud be that my images would appear to be on a par with the HV30.  I will let you know if I make it or not.

Thanks for the tip!
Roadrunner

You would be better off sending in 10 new images.  I tok eight shots before I passed.  The first time they gave rejection reasons for four images; so I thought six were ok.  The next time I submitted those six I thought were ok and added four new ones.  The second review showed two of the six original images I thought were ok and two of the new ones were given rejections. Four times in a row - they rejected all ten!  I just about gqave up.  I waited a year and took  the advice of an old timer that was well established.

He advised me to pust the color a tweak, uses the Unsharp aplication slightly (Amount 50, Radius 1.2, Threshold 1), and Resize to 4 MP.  On that final try I had 8 out of ten passed.

Don't qit - you can do it!
Roadrunner

Sharpshot - I ust checked out Pond5 and discovered they primarily reject images from camcorders with less than 3CCD sensors. I just gotr a feedback from a question I shot at them.  They confirmed that I should not submit anything other than from a camcorder with 3 CCds. 

I only have the Canon HF100 that shoots in 720P and 1080i and has only one sensor (1/3 CNOS).  Are there any sites wherer I can submit with this level camcorder?  I can't afford the $2,200 range.

Roadrunner

I failed the first two times that I submitted to Alamy.  So I went on the Forum for help.  I was using Photoshop Elements-6 at the time.  One of the guys gave me this advice which made a big difference.  Get your hands on the full Photoshop software.  I managed to get Photoshop - CS at a good price.  There is a huge difference in the processing of your images as the log rythems are superior.  I ended up with less artifacts and much cleaner images plus better colors.

Now I only use PSE-6 on jobs for the church and some lower specs on various sites - i.e. Greeting Cards and some low res images 4"X6" to 5"X7" for family and friends.  All work for stock sites get the Full Photoshop aplication.  I was accepted the first batch with full version!

I also moved up to the Nikon D-300 from a D-70 and invested in the Nikkor 89-200 2.8 EDIF VR lens.  I love that lens!

Good luck!

This might be a little dumb, but it occurred to me that these car manufacturers, plus Coca Cola, Pepsi, and other manufacturers ought to welcome the free publicity.  Especially since we own a big share of Chevy and Chrysler with the big BAIL OUT Congress gave them.  Ford rejected the handout so I guess they can be a problem.  I figure we should be able to photograph those big bank buildings and logos too since we also bought a big piece of them.

Two of my best selling cars is the Hummer and Model T Ford.  II sold three of the Hummer this week at BigStock and a couple more at DT.

Pretty soon we won't be able to submit anything.  Just about everything was manufactured or made by someone.  That would leave nature the only subject legally open.  Otherwise we will need a MR or PR for everything submitted.  Wonder if we will hsve to get all releases notarized?

It may be time to find another way.
Roadrunner