I need just few dollars for payment at Zoonar. I like the site, it's functional, it's easy. Making lightboxes is super simple, upload process is awesome....now we just need more buyers...

Haha, yes that's true Only 4 chords are enough. Thanks for sharing Adelaide!

I doubt it's worth buying if you already have a softbox, for the purpose you mentioned.

Let me get this straight:

For the record: I have never shot with a ring flash before and I have the following question.

When you take the set-up like in the youtube video posted by Leaf above and you're approx. 12-15 feet away from the model using a flash that has a 15 inch diameter with a hole in the middle, don't you always get nearly the same result as shooting with a regular flash?

My point is, that at this distance, how is it possible for the light (being such a "small" light source) to illumante the model any different than using a speed light mounted on the top of the camera?

Of course the speed light is even a smaller light source but that could be compensated with some MacGyver tricks or using one of those inflatable "softboxes" for the speedlight in order to diffuse it some more/create a larger light source.

I originally though that a ring flash only really shows its characteristics when shooting close-ups and where you can actually see that distinct ring reflection in the eyes or (sun)glasses of the model.

Other than that I wonder how the ring flash makes this shoot or this kind of lighting so special when we consider the distance to the model and the relative size of the light source.

Can anyone chime in on this?

There is a difference, especially between built-in flash and this ring flash adapter. There is a slight difference between my SB 800 and this kind of ring adapter too, but it's not so significant. Ring flash still IS bigger and makes softer shadows than regular flash, if regular flash is pointed directly to the subject. (I'm talking about flash without softbox)

Dont understand why they cant get that together? and as far as conceptual keywording?  well thats beyond belief.

Even tho it's very important to sort all this out, it's also enormously boring, and very complicated, and it can never be perfect. So I guess no one really wants to start to sort these things out. At least not while earnings are decent even with this CV.

is there someone who can explain what IS search engine does with words that are not in CV? Seriously, this is not a trick question or an ironic one. Does it count these words or not? Like names of cities that are not in CV for example.

Quote from: stockastic on May 05, 2010, 10:45

"Thermal", attached to a group of soaring, circling birds, makes perfect sense.   That is in fact exactly what the photo is showing.  It's not the photographer's fault that our atmosphere is transparent and so a 'thermal' is invisible.

Ok then __ let's see how much it helps not having a CV and where the word 'thermal' can be used with complete freedom by the contributor. Try doing a search at FT on 'bird thermal' and see what you get. DT isn't much better.

I think we are all talking about the same thing, but we don't listen to each other good enough.
I was saying, I think IS should invest more in faster development of CV. They should have more people more specialized in some areas who will develop CV. I don't think they have to pay huge money to genetic engineers, or linguists, or astronomers. I think they should pay some small money to more people who would help development of CV in certain areas. No offense, but I'm sure I know much more about biology, medicine, or astronomy than average person, and they could hire me to make suggestions in these areas. I'm sure everyone of you guys also have experience and knowledge in certain areas that could help CV development.
IS could provide a form where contributors could write their suggestions, and we could analyze and approve, or correct if needed. Maybe you guys who submit huge numbers of photos don't have time for this, but there are people who would do it. I would do it in the first place. I am not a pro photographer, I don't depend on microstock completely, and I have time to do it. there are probably more people like me who could help.

Does IS CV suggests "turbocharger" when you enter "turbo"? If it does, than it's ok, but if it doesn't, than it should.

Turbo is of course something different from engine.
IS vocabulary is too tight. Yesterday I was uploading an image of flock of vultures soaring using thermal, and I added word "thermal". Thermal is the only noun that describes hot air rising from the ground that birds use to gain altitude without flopping their wings. But IS CV couldn't accept this word, and it gave me suggestions type "thermal spring, spa" and similar.
I think someone in IS should work on faster development of CV, at least to make the submitting process easier for contributors, because it's already complicated.  

Veer is probably doing this because they need more content. Even if they are doing this because maybe they noticed decrease in uploads and disappointment of some contributors, I'm glad things are finally starting to turn around, and sites are starting to pay contributors to upload. Deposit Photos, than Zoonar, now Veer (I probably forgot someone)...
nice, nice...

Did you check settings in your camera? Maybe you have sharpening turned on there.

I didn't notice any slowdown. SS sales are regular, I had one EL on FT today, audios and photos on IS also sell normally...even Yaymicro surprised me today.