Having Fun with Photography

For those of you who do not know - "microstock" is a offshoot of traditional stock photography, where you contribute your best images to an online agency. Prospective image buyers (web designers for example) search for images using keywords and then select from the results that are returned.

The commission for each sale is not a lot but that same image might sell many times over and that is where the appeal lies. I have been contributing to 4 (down from 8) such agencies (see my website - link at upper right of this blog page) and have over 200 images on each site. This is a vast improvement over this time last year, but just a drop in the bucket as compared to the top earners who might have thousands of images.

My goal is to earn enough to help pay for camera gear, studio rentals and travelling and with each submission, I get a little closer to that goal.

There is a photographer from Quebec city (Lise Gagne)who started contributing a few years ago to iStockphoto and now she earns a comfortable living from what started as a hobby. Check out her images if you have a moment or are considering entering the microstock world. Anyway, she is a real inspiration and her persistence and commitment are something to marvel at.

Here are some of the images that I have uploaded to be sold as microstock. They tend to be images that convey a marketable concept - such as the road construction industry or small business tools.

Cheers for now - Gordon

Local Wildlife in Quebec

I visited Parc Omega near Montebello, Quebec on Thanksgiving weekend (Canadian) and came back with some great images of some of the wildlife that are in this reserve. It was bright and sunny (and a little on the cold side), so there are a lot of shadows, but overall, I was happy with the results. The parc is large which permits the animals room to roam - there are bison in the park as well - these are huge animals when they are standing (blocking) the path of a car. I highly recommend a visit but get there early or try visiting during the week to avoid the crowds. The longest reach of my lens was 300mm (35mm equivalent) and it was sufficient although an extra 200mm would have been awesome. I used the IS (image stabilization) feature in my E-30, which I never thought I would, and it does make a difference - thanks Olympus. I will be submitting some of the images to my stock agencies, links to which, you can find on my website - there is a link at the top right of this blog. Enjoy the pics and if you would like to use them, you may, just send me an email letting me know where they will be posted. Cheers for now - Gordon

Today, it rained...

I did not use my camera today, but sometimes just after it rains can present some interesting photo opportunities. A few weeks ago I took these photos through the back door of my home in Verdun (a neighbourhood in south west Montreal). I held the glass in one hand and shot up through the glass door to an almost clear blue sky. The other glass photo was taken on the deck just outside. The rain had only stopped a few minutes earlier. I was happy with the results, mostly because it was a "spur of the moment" impulse... sometimes they work out. We have a long weekend coming up, here in Canada - Thanksgiving. Hopefully I will get the camera out and who knows what I will come home with? As always, your readership is appreciated and if you have any comments or ideas that you would like to share - kindly do so. Cheers for now - Gordon.

Models Wanted for Lifestyle Stock Photography

Have you ever thought of modelling? I shoot microstock photography and there is a growing need for images of the woman or man next door - in other words, average looking people, perhaps like you. Your compensation would be a series of edited images (6) in digital format on a CD. In exchange for this you would offer 1-2 hours of your time in front of the camera in lifestyle poses (drinking coffee, reading a book, listening to music, exercising - this kind of thing). You can see some examples in this blog entry. If you are interested or have any questions, and you live in or close to Montreal, Quebec, then contact me by sending a brief email (please put "Interested in modelling" in the subject line) as well as a recent photograph of yourself to info@gwphotographics.com. You will receive more information that will explain the process more fully. I look forward to hearing from you.

Atwater Market in Montreal

I love Autumn. Not just because my birthday is coming up either... so many photo "ops". Today's was the produce on display at one of Montreal's more popular markets - Marché Atwater. These squash and flower images just popped for me and I had to capture them. I waited for the sun to conceal itself behind some clouds to diffuse the light - thus avoiding the harsh shadows. It is like using one gigantic softbox... and with my 28-108mm (35mm equivalent) lens, I was in my glory. The Olympus E-30 has rewarded me with so many great images. In the film days, I had a Pentax K1000 and later a Nikon FM2 and when things were decidedly heading digital, I went to Nikon first but the Olympus 4/3 system (E-500 at the time) just fit my hand right and felt solid for me. I could easily have gone to Canon as well, but the OLY just "felt" right for me. More compact lenses also means less weight when I have all my stuff (3 lenses and camera body, batteries mem cards etc.) with me on the road. Anyway, I am rambling on. Give the pics a lookover and let me know what you think. Cheers for now - Gordon

Mushrooms or Toadstools?

...I am not sure which is which. Perhaps you can look at the photos and let me know... at any rate, it was ripe with these fungi when I visited a park near Joliette in Quebec this past weekend. The ground was very damp so I propped the camera on some sticks and used the articulating screen on my Olympus E-30 with live-view to set up the shot. I also had the use of a remote control to prevent camera shake which would have occurred when activating the shutter. All in all, I was pleased with some of the results (which are included here for your comments and opinions/suggestions). Enjoy, and let me know what you think. Cheers for now - Gordon