... The indian scalp concept?

Whatever floats your boat.

I�d like to know whether I could choose three from these images. If yes then which three. If no critique please.
Thanks.

http://www.bdspn.com/Istockphoto/Candle.html

http://www.bdspn.com/Istockphoto/StrawberryLeaf.html

http://www.bdspn.com/Istockphoto/GroundTurmeric.html

http://www.bdspn.com/Istockphoto/girl.html

http://www.bdspn.com/Istockphoto/girl2.html

http://www.bdspn.com/Istockphoto/Momordica.html

http://www.bdspn.com/Istockphoto/OldMan.html

http://www.bdspn.com/Istockphoto/OldMan2.html

http://www.bdspn.com/Istockphoto/Sari.html

http://www.bdspn.com/Istockphoto/ShakingHand.html

http://www.bdspn.com/Istockphoto/TwoSpices.html

http://www.bdspn.com/Istockphoto/Soap.html

http://www.bdspn.com/Istockphoto/Cowskin.html

Forget all of them, maybe, just maybe the the hand shake could make it IF properly focused - it's just too soft and not enough depth of field.

Just because you can shoot f2.8 at 100mm focal length doesn't mean that you HAVE to!!!

Depth of field can be a tool but don't just always do it.

In the portraits the focus isn't on the eyes but rather the hairs from the man's nostril 

The isolated shots will not get you into iStock! You need to be more creative.

Just shooting objects over white does not require a lot of creativity.

iStock wants to see that you can produce highly commercial images that will sell (a lot).

It appears that you are located in India or in that region - forgive me if I'm wrong. Still, you have access to plenty of opportunities in that culture that will fit into a niche in western countries so I'd focus on that.

Depending on what you prefer to shoot though.

$2500 - $3000. That would be about the rate for a commissioned buyout illustration of this type.

Two things:

1. It depends on what you believe your work is worth

2. Who is the client? Is it Microsoft or is it Joe the plumber from around the corner who needs a couple of bumper stickers printed and maybe a couple hundred business cards?

I know what my images are worth and shoot out my quotes but I also have to mention that many potential clients simply declare you insane for asking $1,000.00 or more for any sort of usage rights (not talking about Microsoft sized clients of course).

There is a software called fotoquote which helps you to determine licensing costs as long as you know what and how the client wants to use your stuff. If you add up all the licensing costs for the uses he had in mind and it amounts to let's say $5,000.00 or more then it's more than fair to charge $2,500 to $3,000 for an unlimited usage license as a one off thing (non-exclusive of course).

If however, the client planned on printing a set of business cards and a few bumper stickers - even if he had the money they'd rather license a similar image from Alamy paying $185 for the business cards license and $98 for the bumper sticker license. Nobody pays $3,000.00 for such small uses.

... unless IS do something drastic and quickly __ which is very, very unlikely. ...

Hm, I'm sure IS will come up with something drastic no doubt about that - but will it be in our favor? That's probably something I can already answer now...

... I have to say I'm quite surprised that the self-styled "America's Photo Historian" is selling his wares for microstock pennies ... just like us.

Exactly, what a shocker. Now we have to wait for some old trad shooters who still haven't heard of DIGITAL SLRs who will scream: "You're ruining our business".

LOL.

Did anyone else just get a bunch of photos/illustrations refunded? I just got a bunch of refunds issued on some illustrations, Illustrations that would have brought in decent coin before the micostocks companies killed the art industry now I am lucky if I make $10-20 off and they refund due to too credit card fraud. This is BS! Being a artist sucks!!!! You get ripped by everyone!!!

How long have you been with IS?

I just had a bunch of files refunded a couple weeks ago.

It happens ALL THE TIME at IS. Get used to it.

That's a nice unrealistic dream list for a video stock site....for me, my perfect video stock site would be one that has consistent sales with a decent commission.

What's wrong with Pond5?

Hi there,

I haven't been much here, but I wanted to share that I licensed an image that the buyer - a local company doing a book project for a corporate client - found in Flickr. And this may lead to another image being licensed, as I have an old image (1940s, taken by my father) that may suit their needs and wasn't online.

I am very pleased, and even surprised as this was a very ordinary image of a building in downtown Rio. I'm glad I have Flickr!

Maria, are you "just" ticking the box that you allow the images to be licensed through Getty or did you make it into the Getty Flickr collection?

Also, and most importantly, do you upload the images straight or do you add a watermark for your Flickr stuff?

I would suggest to do what Luis mentioned last:

Goto to the agencies and look through their best selling images. At Dreamstime, Fotolia, Canstock you can register and use the zoom feature to see how sharp the details are in those images.

This will help you understand what the quality is for successful images.

You might not be there as of now, just try to understand the technical aspects of stock (or better microstock) photography.

So besides the technical parts, you also have to learn how to create photos that contain a clear concept.

You can argue that there are successful images of flowers already at the agencies and that's true, BUT, there is more than flowers and there is a lot of money to be made with OTHER concepts besides flowers, petals and landscapes.

If you thoroughly don't enjoy taking pictures of people, isolated objects and the like then microstock may not be the right place for you.

Not everyone can just pick up a camera and be making a living off of it if their heart isn't into it.

It takes years of learning and improvement of skills to become and stay successful!

...
I have tried photographing mountains with F/8  ISO 100 and around 1/640 Shutter speed with VR off
Long time exposure on a tripod with VR Off and also many other shots.
Do you think I need a replacement for this lens ?
...

There is more to the whole story than what you wrote.

First look at the price point of those lenses, they are certainly not top of the line, which means sharpness will already suffer no matter how you look at it.

If you're into sharpness you should stick to prime lenses as they will deliver optimum sharpness.

Zoom lenses mostly cannot produce the sharpness of a good prime.

Secondly, do your research what the "sweet" spot is for either of your two lenses.

Each lens has a so called "sweet" spot where the lens performs "the best".

To shoot mountains at f8 is probably not your best bet. Landscape is usually best shot at f11 or higher (depending on lens).

No need to shoot landscape at 1/640 of a second, usually the trees won't run away unless you scare them - pun intended.

So the longer exposure time will compensate for the higher f-stop.

Long time exposures are always tricky as it's imperative to have a good tripod or place the camera very sturdy to prevent any shake during exposure.

I live close to the coast and sometimes I simply cannot shoot long exposures as the gusts are so strong that even a pro-tripod cannot prevent the camera from shaking.

I mean shaking is relative, we're talking about tiny movements that will soften your image. So that actually has nothing to do with the lens.

The softness of the lens will add to the problem mentioned above.

So take these issues into considerations next time.

Quote from: click_click on October 27, 2012, 15:08

Quote from: Mantis on October 26, 2012, 20:48

All these sensitive use sales are great until you regret it later. If you are in the sensitive use and have no peeps in your port, then great.  If you have peeps you risk an ugly situation regardless of a model release.

Sorry non-native English speaker here: What are "peeps"?

Like... birds?

People

Cool thx.

i contribute on SS for 11 months now.... in the last 3 months a new type of sale appear at SO section; the $16.80 single & other sale. I have tried to find what type of sale and what rights that licensee entitles ( on forums, SS site etc.) but no success.

I believe is some sort of EL stripped of some rights or is a regular EL license for high volume buyers at a special price.

Anyone know more about this particular license???


Nik

Since most of us here don't work at Shutterstock we couldn't tell you what the image will be licensed for!

I think it's fair to say that contacting Shutterstock is your safest bet in finding out more details!

You can get in if you keep improving and keep posting your results here for critique - that's the fastest way to get in!

I do like the concept of the first one but as mentioned before too much white space on top and cut off arms. Otherwise a very useful image. Lighting, focus, exposure and white balance look good to me (bearing in mind that the image is downsized...).

Second one is too dull. Get more creative with the lighting.

Forget shots like #3. Submit something else but nature shots unless it's blows our socks off!

Obviously IS wants to see what you can do that many others can't!

In regards to money it mostly depends on your skills and amount of time you can spend doing this.

To get off the ground to get a steady payment every month it might take you 6-12 months (always depending on your amount of submissions/acceptance and quality of work of course - which should be considered "good" or better in order to get some money out of it).

Never give up, spend a lot of time shooting, evaluating, internalizing critique, improving, re-shooting, proper post processing etc. It's a learning curve and a steep one as well but if you love photography it shouldn't hold you back.

Best of luck!