Professional Photography: Importance of Specialized Evaluation Criteria

[peredv]

There is a significant lack of experience and professionalism among those reviewing images. Many of my photographs, created using specific techniques such as long exposure (day or night) or captured in extreme conditions—rain, storms, overcast skies—are marked as low quality due to 'overuse of filters.' Let me tell you, it is crucial to differentiate between an image altered by filters and one achieved through advanced photographic techniques. While I know Adobe might not read this, I feel compelled to point out that these reviews undermine the effort and expertise behind the work of many photographers

[daniellei4510]

"Excessive filtering" is just one reason among many when an image is rejected for quality issues. Why do you feel the overuse of filters specifically is one of them?

[Ricky336]

One thing to bear in mind, is that Adobe Stock is a commercial business, meaning that the images in stock have a specific target audience; images that show a concept do well. I am not sure how photos in 'extreme' conditions would fare. 

Perhaps you could post an example of a photo in extreme conditions that didn't pass due to 'overuse of filters' - which can cause artefacts - hence the quality rejection reason.

'Achieved through advanced photographic techniques' is also ambiguous. 

[RALPH_L]

Let us see an example.

[Jill_C]

I don't think it's possible to know that "overuse of filters" is the specific reason for which the image was rejected. Adobe doesn't care about the difficulty of acquiring an image, nor the skill level required. They are focused on commercial appeal. 

[peredv]

[daniellei4510]

The effect caused by the use of a wide-angle lens was probably the bases for this rejection. It's a beautiful photograph, but not "stock-worthy" apparently, at least according to Adobe. This was done pretty hastily, but I bet it would pass "inspection" if something similar were submitted.

[Jill_C]

The distortion and leaning verticals is quite likely the reason for rejection. The image does seem to be over processed in general, too contrasty. I would also remove the blurry bird in the sky.

[Ricky336 · Accepted solution]

Hello,

So, the 'overuse of filters' in this case will be connected to your toning. Generally speaking, Adobe wants contributors to submit more 'natural' tones because the downloader can add their own effects. If you do what you have done here, it makes it harder to apply one's own desired effect.

But, looking at the lamppost, not only you have darkened the sky, but also the top of the lamppost:

So, this isn't good!

You have to be careful when masking and darkening the sky, and using masking in general.

The perspective as mentioned should also be corrected.

The rejection was warranted.

[Abambo]

Besides obvious image errors, like here, the multiple bird: 

...and the HDR filter applied, giving an unnatural look to your picture, you have also IP related issues and you probably would need model releases from some of the people in the picture. 

For stock, you need natural looking pictures, well exposed and free of artefacts, not finally processed artwork. Check the contributor's manual.

(I agree, that the picture is not unpleasant, but as this, it would never make it into the stock database.)

[Abambo]

The image moderators are certainly not perfect, but from time to time, I think, a little more modesty of the contributors is probably appropriate. And by the way: many works of good and professional photographers would be rejected here because they do not meet the required criteria. A rejection is not always an evaluation of the work itself, but a statement as to whether this image fits into the collection. As a landlord, Adobe has the house right, and can reject images as they like. There is no right of acceptance here.

[Abambo]

(...) are marked as low quality due to 'overuse of filters.' (...)

By @peredv

The refusal reason states quality issues. The rest is stock text, that may or may not apply to your picture. There is indeed no indication why exactly a picture gets refused, and how many errors a picture has. The moderator refuses at the sight of the first error they see.