Weekly Showcase (formerly PTOTW) - Progress

Share some of your progress since you've started uploading to iStock. Where did you start, where have you improved, where are you right now? Let's see one file from each period of your time here - beginning, middle, and current. Feel free to take the time to write and share where you'd like to be. (please don't bring examples from other members in)

Share up to three files. Don't forget a brief description to explain your files to us, especially for Google searches.

We are in need of some fresh ideas for Weekly Showcase! We appreciate you all taking the time to input, but a lot of what has been provided is very seasonal or not very "fun" topics. We want those suggestions too, but we want a good mix of fun and happy (games are great too!) along with the serious topics. Share your theme idea by filling out this form. Feel free to submit as many ideas as you can come up with! (one idea per form, please). I am the only person who reads these suggestions. You need not fear if your idea is crazy! I may contact you to get more info trying to understand how you see the topic working so I make sure it's explained here properly.

Also, I've seen a few submissions to the form above with actual Weekly Showcase (PTOTW)-intended file numbers. I can't post your file for you but I am happy to help get it in the thread if you're having trouble. Please sitemail me for that as I don't see the form responses right away.

Have a fantastic weekend all!


(Edited on 2013-02-16 10:54:34 by pink_cotton_candy)

2008 . . .





 


2010 . . .





 


2012 . . .

At first I was all





And then I was all





But now I'm like all




(Edited on 2013-02-16 10:17:47 by casenbina)

I started with a lot of safe and boring objects,  like this Staircase isolated on white with clipping path  


 


 


Then I figured out how to work with models, like this studio portrait of smiling hispanic mature man with grey hair.


 


Now I enjoy going in more artistic direction, like this Body art: young woman with metalic robotic bodypainting.


 

One from 2008...


 


One from 2010...


 


And one from 2012...


 


Hopefully there's been some improvement. 

Guess my favorite model did change more than me!


2008 on a beach...


 


2010 on a beach...


 


and 2012 on a beach!


 


Soon, photos from 2013 on a beach... 

I started out in late 2007 and to begin with I travelled around with my camera looking for shots, rather than actually making them.


 


Then I started to work with models and to begin with did some pretty weird and whacky stuff!


 


Now I'm trying to improve my food photography


 

Ireland--2011





Easter Egg Hunt--2012





Holiday Lights--2013

At first I would shoot people as they came in their environment (I still do but with better lighting)





Then I would hink I might get more powerful result by compositing them into better concepts





And then I tried to really enhance my composites using all sorts of effects that would lift me out of the ordinary:

I have toooo many pictures to choose from.  my start was Zero photography knowledge  


 


in the middle there were some studio years  


 


Now and in the future, people shots have a big priority, as it always was though


 

Thought this was such a great shot when I shot it back in the day....ignorance is bliss


 


Thought this was a great shot...


 

This was only my 5th image accepted into my portfolio way back in Nov.2007:


 


I then attended my first Lypse in 2011 and had proper lighting...


 


Now i find myself hiring models and shooting in not so professional lighting


 

2009: Bright yellow flowers in spring, forsythia.



2012: Red deer stag practising operatic scales (video).



2013: Latest upload, starting a series of family coats of arms. From 17th Century copperplate engravings:



(Edited on 2013-02-17 04:04:08 by Whiteway)

 2007 


 


 2013

One of my very first accepted images back in April 2009.  (I think the inpsector was being kind)  A bit dark and shot before I applied to iStock.


 


Early attempt at actually producing something "Stocky" in August 2009:


 


A recent shoot with models for a Valentines theme.  I've become much better with isolations but still like collaborating with people.


 


 


 

Here is the progress of my people photographs over tha last few years.

2010 - My first shoot with models, not very sucessful, but I learned a lot.



2011 - Started shooting small business themed photographs.
 

2012 - Continued shooting small business themed photos and have gotten great downloads and files in the agency collection.
 

(Edited on 2013-02-16 16:02:40 by flugga)

progress of my favorite model...............


from screaming- 


to "public service"(safety)- 


and now it's fashion- 


 

This was my first photo uploaded in the spring of 2009. I focused on shots without people.


 


Then I went to my first lypse where I learned about lighting and working with models...


 


and found I love working with models and started focusing on more complex shots with improved processing.


 

Self portrait model progression...

In 2009, I was learning about stock and heard that "people images with blank signs" usually did well.  Probably my least favourite photo I have!

 

In 2011, I decided to go with a trade/industry image with a model - and copyspace never hurts, right?

 

In late 2012, I had learned a bit about lighting and starting playing around a bit more with post-processing and got to this:

 

I started here in 2009, a few medicine vials here and there

 

Then I started shooting a few editorials like this one of a QR code.

 

Then in 2012 I attended a lypse and started shooting some models like this steampunk guy

 


 

(Edited on 2013-02-16 16:41:11 by youngvet)