Funny but proves a point - DPChallenge Forums

08/21/2006 04:41:25 PM · #1

This image

//www.shutterstock.com/pic-1683720.html

is my current most popular image at Shutterstock.

The ducky cost me 97 cents and the shoot and PP took me all of 5 minutes. But, in only a few days it is my quickest selling image on shutterstock.

My second most popular image at the moment is a similar white isolated image of an old 8mm movie camera.

Why am I saying this? Well, because it proves a point that you don't have to have expensive setups or great ideas to make money in microstock.

Even if you are into macro stock, producing these types of images can net you some good money too.

08/21/2006 04:43:27 PM · #2

hehe, bet you have quite the collection of toys :)

What are you using for the seemless background? The paper backdrop I currently use comes across more splotchy, not a nice crisp white like yours.

08/21/2006 04:43:50 PM · #3

Could you give a brief explanation of your setup and post processing?

edit: I am slow.

Message edited by author 2006-08-21 16:45:09.

08/21/2006 04:49:42 PM · #4

Originally posted by Kaveran:

hehe, bet you have quite the collection of toys :)

What are you using for the seemless background? The paper backdrop I currently use comes across more splotchy, not a nice crisp white like yours.

That is white poster board from a drug store with the glossy side facing the camera.

As far as lighting goes, I shot this one with my Clouded Lightsphere, dome off, pointed at the cieling. Simple, quick and effective.

PP ... I set levels by choosing a point on the background to make it pure white. The point I chose was near the shadow under the duck. Saved the file as a JPEG and sent it off to Shutterstock.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/21/2006 04:56:15 PM · #5

I've used black posterboard a couple of times but I think ISO issues caused some grainyness, and I didn't even think about getting posterboard with a glossy side.

messerschmitt

08/21/2006 05:01:57 PM · #6

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

This image

//www.shutterstock.com/pic-1683720.html

is my current most popular image at Shutterstock.

The ducky cost me 97 cents and the shoot and PP took me all of 5 minutes. But, in only a few days it is my quickest selling image on shutterstock.

My second most popular image at the moment is a similar white isolated image of an old 8mm movie camera.

Why am I saying this? Well, because it proves a point that you don't have to have expensive setups or great ideas to make money in microstock.

Even if you are into macro stock, producing these types of images can net you some good money too.

Leroy its not for the shot 'cause i know u are perfectly capable to make decent shots and thank god humor is not a strange thing to u but i really must say it also proves populair taste is (too)often a sad thing

o ofcourse i should not forget to mention this point of view is according my Humble opinion

.. realize my remark is a bit off topic
sorry for that
prob just had to get rid of the remark i guess

Message edited by author 2006-08-21 17:16:23.

error99

Canon EOS-6D

08/21/2006 05:03:54 PM · #7

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

As far as lighting goes, I shot this one with my Clouded Lightsphere, dome off, pointed at the cieling. Simple, quick and effective.

That worked great.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

08/21/2006 05:18:46 PM · #8

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Nicely done, thanks for the followup.

jdannels

Nikon D300s

08/21/2006 05:24:04 PM · #9

Originally posted by klstover:

I've used black posterboard a couple of times but I think ISO issues caused some grainyness, and I didn't even think about getting posterboard with a glossy side.

if you have raw you can add more shadows to drop it to completely black. Or you can use curves to drop and drop the left hand side to create deeper shadows then mask out the object that you have. Also try and manually set your exposure for the object will make things easier.

Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200

08/21/2006 05:24:35 PM · #10

Originally posted by messerschmitt:

.. realize my remark is a bit off topic
sorry for that
prob just had to get rid of the remark i guess

No big deal...:-)

I guess everyone has to keep up with the bad tastes of society though. Look at the styles we wore in the 80's :-)

TG73

08/21/2006 05:26:14 PM · #11

Do you have the posterboard curved so the duck is sitting on it as well as it being the background?

i'm slow, too. :)

I bought posterboard once and my kids stole it. I should get some more. ;)

08/21/2006 05:26:39 PM · #12

Originally posted by jdannels:

Also try and manually set your exposure for the object will make things easier.

Yeah and using a grey card to get an exposure reading is the best way to go when using either white or black backgrounds.

08/21/2006 05:28:40 PM · #13

Originally posted by TG73:

Do you have the posterboard curved so the duck is sitting on it as well as it being the background?

That's exactly what I did. It's on a table close to a wall. The duck is sitting near the front edge of the paper.

Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200

08/21/2006 05:29:31 PM · #14

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Yeah and using a grey card to get an exposure reading is the best way to go when using either white or black backgrounds.

Do you fill whole frame with the gray card and use evaluative metering or switch to spot and just target the grey card. I havent done a lot of experimenting yet with the new 30D, been too busy working :(

TG73

08/21/2006 05:30:37 PM · #15

Mon-Wed are the only days I have for shooting, so I just sent the man to the store for some posterboard. :) I have a whole toyroom full of goodies here to play with. Have you ever heard of RubbaDucks? I'm not sure they make them anymore, but they were really cool rubber duckys in all kinds of dress. I had a cowboy one.

Lisa

edit: RubbaDucks

Message edited by author 2006-08-21 17:33:05.

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

08/21/2006 05:31:21 PM · #16

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by messerschmitt:

.. realize my remark is a bit off topic
sorry for that
prob just had to get rid of the remark i guess

No big deal...:-)

I guess everyone has to keep up with the bad tastes of society though. Look at the styles we wore in the 80's :-)

I wouldn't get too worked up about popular taste in this case. People buy images from a stock company because they need them for some specific purpose, not to hang above the fireplace! I'd say the trick here is to find an image that fulfills a need and does so in a crystal clear fashion.

Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200

08/21/2006 05:36:00 PM · #17

Originally posted by Kaveran:

I don't have spot metering, so I have to use evaluative. Even if I had spot, I'd still fill the frame with the grey card to enusre I got the best exposure reading.

TG73

08/21/2006 05:39:29 PM · #18

This is where I wish I had a light meter.

08/21/2006 05:39:41 PM · #19

Originally posted by jdannels:

Originally posted by klstover:
I've used black posterboard a couple of times but I think ISO issues caused some grainyness, and I didn't even think about getting posterboard with a glossy side.

if you have raw you can add more shadows to drop it to completely black. Or you can use curves to drop and drop the left hand side to create deeper shadows then mask out the object that you have. Also try and manually set your exposure for the object will make things easier.

I don't do raw... don't have a lot of experience in manually setting exposure but I will keep that in mind next time as something to learn about or try - thanks!

I have used curves before, in this entry -

I kind of thought it made the ducklings look a bit unnatural. Some comments were about how the contrast seemed too much, but at the same time a lot of people did like the colors. It's my second highest scoring image. If I were doing the post processing today, I'd try a combination of curves and neat image, so that maybe I could achieve a nice black without making the ducks *so* bright? Although I can't say I'm not pleased with the entry the way it stands.

My other challenge entry with posterboard is this one and looking back on it.. ouch. I wish I'd started using Neat Image sooner, maybe that would have helped, hehe.

I got such a perfect black by inverting a shot where my on-camera flash was super-close to the white washing machine (to keep everything from being completely blown out, I stuck some paper over the flash).

edit to replace thumbnails with links

Message edited by author 2006-08-21 17:42:33.

messerschmitt

08/21/2006 05:40:17 PM · #20

Originally posted by posthumous:

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by messerschmitt:

.. realize my remark is a bit off topic
sorry for that
prob just had to get rid of the remark i guess

No big deal...:-)

I guess everyone has to keep up with the bad tastes of society though. Look at the styles we wore in the 80's :-)

I wouldn't get too worked up about popular taste in this case. People buy images from a stock company because they need them for some specific purpose, not to hang above the fireplace! I'd say the trick here is to find an image that fulfills a need and does so in a crystal clear fashion.

u are right its not even off topic but also bad timing to make remarks about sheep err cheap taste
exuse me again

08/21/2006 05:42:47 PM · #21

Originally posted by messerschmitt:

to make remarks about sheep err cheap taste
exuse me again

Or cheese :-)

Mattel Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera

08/21/2006 05:45:43 PM · #22

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by jdannels:
Also try and manually set your exposure for the object will make things easier.

Yeah and using a grey card to get an exposure reading is the best way to go when using either white or black backgrounds.

Hmm...
glossy-sided posterboard...
manual exposure...
grey card...

So much to learn and get and do! :-D

digitalknight

08/21/2006 05:46:27 PM · #23

--

Message edited by author 2006-08-21 17:52:25.

08/21/2006 05:48:45 PM · #24

Originally posted by TG73:

This is where I wish I had a light meter.

You should be able to use the cameras built in meter just fine.