Copy link to clipboard
Copied
This photo was taken with my Z Fold 3 camera by hand. I'm a complete newbie, but ready to start a new hobby of posting stock photos. I read a couple of articles on editing stock photos before submission. I looked at using Canava free editor, and Adobe Photoshop Express but decided against doing edits, as I had no idea what I was doing.
I'm looking to buy a new camera. I'm looking for a great online on-demand course. I usually take courses on udemy. Should I complete my photography masterclass before making another submission?
This photo was rejected for quality issues: I'd like to know what the specific quality issues are, and how to fix them going forward.
Thanks for taking the time to respond to this post,
James
Greetings!
The first thing that I noticed was that there appears to be a white hazy blur outlining the animal when viewing at 100% view. I think the photo could use some sharpening, and the light that is shining through the trees at the top of the frame appear over-processed in some areas. The light spots at the top of the frame also left the some unnatural looking spots on the trees(artefacts).
For this sort of shot with bright sun & forest shots, it may be helpful to avoid the sky. Ther
...You absolutely need Phothoshop or Lightroom Classic to edit photos. Not some drawing app aimed at kids. I mean Photoshop CC, not Photoshop Express.
A basic Photography Plan will cost you $10/month for 12 months and it's worth every penny. Here's what you get.
Hello,
You also need to learn about white balance/colour temperature, and how having a green background can influence white balance- especially if taken with a white subject!
White balance:
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/white-balance.html
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Greetings!
The first thing that I noticed was that there appears to be a white hazy blur outlining the animal when viewing at 100% view. I think the photo could use some sharpening, and the light that is shining through the trees at the top of the frame appear over-processed in some areas. The light spots at the top of the frame also left the some unnatural looking spots on the trees(artefacts).
For this sort of shot with bright sun & forest shots, it may be helpful to avoid the sky. There are several composition techniques for this. Using a longer focal length would also help, which may or may not be possible with a phone camera. It's also common for me to clone out those bright areas when I'm processing the image.
It will take some experimenting to know whether your phone camera produces results that are adequate for stock, which is partly the limitations of the camera and partly the technique used when shooting + editing. It's not impossible to get decent results with a smartphone, but there are additional hurdles like having a fixed wide open aperture and a smaller sensor that doesn't handle low light conditions as well. If you are serious about stock, you may want to consider a dslr at some point.
Good luck and welcome to the forums!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Let me say this: yes, you should take classes.
You won't find any asset on stock, that hasn't been edited, and you won't find any picture of a great master photographer that hasn't been edited. It's like driving a car without paint. Even trucks get paint, because it's necessary.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Creativelive.com is a great source of on demand photography and editing courses from some of the best practitioners and trainers in the business. It's not free though - requires a subscription.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
You can also go for linkedIn learning. There is a month free, if I'm correctly informed.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
My advice:
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
You absolutely need Phothoshop or Lightroom Classic to edit photos. Not some drawing app aimed at kids. I mean Photoshop CC, not Photoshop Express.
A basic Photography Plan will cost you $10/month for 12 months and it's worth every penny. Here's what you get.
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html
You will also need courses in Photoshop & Lightroom as the learning curve is steeper with pro-level software. But these are the tools that separate amateur snapshots from commercial-ready photography suitable for Stock.
Finally. start saving now for a good entry level DSLR camera and lenses (new or used). What you ultimately buy will depend on your skills as a photographer and your budget. Mirrorless cameras are nice but they also cost more. As a beginner, you'll learn your craft just as well with a decent DSLR.
https://www.techradar.com/news/best-entry-level-dslr-camera
Hope that helps. 🙂
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
You're welcome. Best of luck! 🙂
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Hello,
You also need to learn about white balance/colour temperature, and how having a green background can influence white balance- especially if taken with a white subject!
White balance:
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/white-balance.html
Copy link to clipboard
Copied