O que são microstocks?

A fotografia é um hobby que não é barato. Enquanto a pessoa fica satisfeita em imprimir as fotos 10x15 das últimas férias ou enviar aos amigos o relatório do último passeio de fim-de-semana, uma compacta de 3MP chega perfeitamente. Mas quando uma pessoa apaixona-se por fotografia e inevitavelmente torna-se mais exigente, enfrenta uma questão de ter na mão uma ferramenta mais poderosa. Assim aparece um problema: se posso permitir um gasto acrescido pelo meu hobby? Qualquer um de nós gostava que a sua paixão ainda acrescentava algum dinheiro na sua conta. Não é verdade?

Uma das possibilidades é a venda de imagens nos microstocks.
Tenho acrescentar aqui que não só os fotógrafos podem pôr o seu hobby a render. Os microstocks aceitam também para venda os ilustrações digitais (vectors e  raster), audio, video, 3D modelos.

O que é microstock? É uma empresa - banco de iamgens que tem uma colecção de imagens e coloca-as à venda. É um entremediario entre fotografo (ilustrador) e comprador.

Como isso funciona?  Fotografo (ilustrador) fornece imagens à microstock, o microstock expõe imagens online, faz publicidade, vende imagem e paga à fotógrafo (ilustrador) uma comissão de venda.

Como começar vender as imagens?

Free vector of the week.

My vector is Free vector of the week. This week Shutterstock.com promote my work. You need to create acount. It´s free. You can download this vector here. 

How To Take Your Landscape and Nature Photography to The Next Level

Posted by: Lauren Margolis into http://blog.photoshelter.com

Photo by Leland Howard/Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho

As photographers, we sometimes get trapped in the technicalities of photography, thinking only about where to position the strobe or what ISO to set our cameras on. We obsess over gear and critique each other’s setup. We might even forget what we love about the medium in the first place.

But after over twenty years in the field, mechanics come as an afterthought to fine art nature photographer Leland Howard. He’s been published by the The National Geographic Society,Hallmark, Outside, and more. But what sets him apart now is his dedication to making his landscape and nature photography into fine art. But what does it take to take your beautiful nature and landscape photography to the next level?

“When asked how I got started doing this, I can’t pronounce momentous events, sudden inspirations or a mentor experience,” says Leland. “I’m not even sure when it was that I first picked up a camera…Creating remarkable photographic imagery requires far more than deploying a bag of learned tips and tricks that we find emphasized by popular media, how-to seminars or photographic equipment manufactures. The real work that makes an image remarkable lies elsewhere, including the development of a unique vision and style.”

Keeping your head above water in the sea of landscape and nature photography is no easy endeavor.

Shopping bag in Progress. #1

Process-#1
Originally uploaded by yaskii

Shopping bag in Progress.
Nº1. Sketch. Materials

Night

Night
Originally uploaded by yaskii

Xmas expectative

I liked to have a postcard designed by me and send to my friends. But I finished this picture too late to be printed. So I have only a digital version this Xmas. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Wallpaper November 2010. Free for download

Free November wall. 1920x1280.

Download

Personal project. Photoshop. Wacom.

Fotografia. Pós-produção. Photoshop.

Antes:



Depois:

Garçon. Final

Photoshop, Wacom. Personal project.

Seduction. Step 1.

Seduction. Step 1.
Originally uploaded by yaskii

Playing with Photoshop and Wacom. Step 1.

New picture.

Personal Project
Originally uploaded by yaskii

Digital Drawing. Photoshop. Wacom.
Personal Project

Photoshop paint.

Photoshop + Wacom

Shutterstock. Free vector of the week

Nice notice! My vector was selected for free vector of the week. You can create free account and download my work here http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-54709921.html

This is the vector

Cherry Shop List. Free download.

Just added new Cherry Shop List for free download.
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Enjoy!

Just Memory

Às vezes eu tiro as fotos de casas.
Há casas sem cara, como outra qualquer a virar de esquina.
E há outras, vivas. Neles vive uma história. Lá há um certo ambiente. As coisas falam, contam. Lá vive uma alma.
As casas que eu vejo são para a venda. Tenho sempre pena. Parece-me uma história de animal que está prestes a ser abandonado. Que já fazia parte de uma família, que era amado, mimado, e já não querem dele.

Esta foto é uma alma de casa. Linda.

More stock pics...

Vector Illustration for Stock Agencies. See more on my Shutterstock portfolio.

More stocks pics

Bokeh Background. Illustration for Stock Agencies. See more on my Shutterstock portfolio.

Red grape

Red grape. Vector illustration for Stock Agencies. See more on my Shutterstock portfolio.

X-Rite Color Checker Passport

Online Tutorial

Review

The X-Rite (former Gretag Macbeth) ColorChecker is the industry standard color target for many years. We own the normal and mini ColorChecker but rarely take it out into the field. Why? They are great tools but way to fragile for field use.

This changes with the new ColorChecker Passport.

 

 ColorChecker Passport

The ColorChecker Passport features 3 targets in a rugged slim and self standing case (with a lanyard):

• Classic Mini ColorChecker (bottom)
• Creative Enhancement Targets (top)
• Gray Card (not shown)

Note: We will cover only the use of the ColorChecker in this article

 This by itself would make a very useful tool.

 But this tool comes with additional software that allows to create DNG color profiles for Adobe Lightroom 2.x and Camera Raw.

Passport Camera Calibration Software

This software is really easy to use. There are two ways to create a DNG color profile:

• 
  
   From a single image and this means a single illumination. This would more or less create a scene specific profile
• From two DNG images at different illuminations (e.g. shade and sunlight). This can create a DNG profile for a broader range of illuminations.

Here are the simple steps:

•  Shoot the ColorChecker as shown in the top photo (try not to make the ColorChecker too small)
• Create DNG files from your RAW image (in Lightroom or the Adobe DNG converter)
• Load one (single illuminant) or two (dual illuminant) DNG images (via drag&drop)

One image loaded

Two images loaded

As you can see the software finds the ColortChecker automatically even if it is somewhat tilted.

•  Create the profile 

Name the profile 

• 
  
  Software generates the profile

Generating the profile

•  Restart Lightroom, Bridge or Photoshop and the DNG is ready to use (it is of course camera specific)

Select the profile in the Calibration Tab

 As far as we can tell these profiles seem to work very well. The real strength is to be able to create scene specific profiles. Of course you could do this before but it has never been this easy.

Lightroom Plugin

The software also comes with a Lightroom plugin that makes the process even easier. You still have to restart Lightroom.

Conclusion

We find the ColorChecker Passport a very helpful tool at a fair price ($99). We plan to snap ColorChecker shots for most scenes. This way we can create a profile whenever we see the need for it.

Right now we cannot create ICC profiles for other RAW converters. We hope future version of the software will allow just this.

Highly Recommended