[ASK] Why my post was declined for "quality problem"

[pictures_julien]

Hello everyone,

I'm just asking for a clarification on the rejection of this photo, the photo is with a very good resolution, there is not too much noise, and no retouching has been done.

Thanks in advance! 
Julien

[oleschwander · Accepted solution]

Julien - the image is not in focus. The lighting is not good. The composition is not good. Try some daylight images.

[pictures_julien]

Dear oleschwander thanks for your response,

The image is slightly out of focus, but that's more than enough for press articles.  I think you're being a bit mean about the composition, because during this event the streets are so crowded it's hard to get around and get the perfect angle. To you, this may seem like a banal photo, but it's a photo of a fountain decorated during the "Fête des Lumières", and many media outlets are currently using old photos of artworks from recent editions to talk about the one coming up in just over a month's time.

[daniellei4510 · Accepted solution]

Were this image to be accepted and purchased, you wouldn't be able to stand behind the buyer and explain that it was too crowded to get a better composition or that other media outlets are using old photos of artworks. And agreeing that it's "slightly" out of focus doesn't make it sharp. If you. ask for critiques here, you will get critiques. You are free to either accept them or discount them. Bottom line, the image was rejected and most likely for the reasons @oleschwander pointed out.

[Abambo]

@pictures_julien ,

Stock is about perfectly crafted and edited pictures. I don't know where this impression comes from, that good pictures do not need post processing. Every picture needs that, and simply the fact to save an out of the camera picture as JPEG did some post processing. 

A slightly out of focus picture is an out of focus picture and that is a quality issue, as is exposure and as is composition. The picture is not a good press picture, I'm sure there are better ones. But stock is also about advertizing, posters, book covers, merchandizing… and all applications you even can't think about it. And your pictures need to be good for all of those applications. 

BTW: resolution is not a quality criteria, the only requirement to get pictures into stock is that they need to be 4Mp, which is for today's standards simply very small. Noise is a quality criteria, so you need to work that.

[Jill_C]

All images must meet the quality standards, regardless of the subject and conditions under which you were shooting. This one is a good memory for you of a unique event, but does meet the standards for Stock imagery.

[pictures_julien]

And it's a very complicated event to take photos of, first of all it takes place at night so the photos are all a bit noisy, it's crowded with people and every year it rains so it's not always easy.

[oleschwander]

Julien - where is this fountain. If I really want to shoot such an image where lots of tourist are I'll be there 6 o'clock in the morning to get there before everyone else. But of course it can be a problem if it's winter time or just bad weather. That's the way it is.

[Nancy OShea · Accepted solution]

no retouching has been done.

By @pictures_julien

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• Almost all digital photographs require some correction in Photoshop or Lightroom.
• Night photos are especially challenging, even for seasoned experts.
• Composition could be better, uneven lighting & color balance are problems for commercial use.
• In addition, the statue and lighting could pose property issues.  Stock could ask for signed release forms.