Photography

Many of you have indicated on our recent survey that you would like to have more posts on the topic, "What makes a winning image?" Several years ago I discovered a photo that embodies some of the best practices of a best selling photo. I've written about it in my book as well as using it as an example of how iofoto did everything right in creating this image that has been a consistent microstock best seller for years.

For Digital Content Creation Professionals, the ability to control colours is essential. With today's complex colour management workflow, getting colours to match between devices can be challenging. If your monitor is not displaying colours and shades accurately, then all your efforts in image adjustments will be wasted. The results on-line or in printed media will be unpredictable.

Twenty years ago when the baby boomers reached their mid-forties, smart photographers started using older models more often in lifestyle photos. Then came the "50 is the new 30" idea. Stock photo files were filled with shots of frolicking older folks on motorcycles and surfboards.

It may be some time before new home construction takes off in the USA, but that doesn't mean that the sounds of hammering have been completely silenced by the economic downturn. MSNBC recently reported, "The home improvement sector is off and running... on track to top $133.7 billion in 2011."

Why do many photos dealing with housekeeping have a retro look? My theory, until recently, was that no one since the middle of the last century has learned how to bake, sew, can, iron or grow vegetables. As a woman whose 1950's mother sent her out into the world with a sewing machine and armed with two wooden recipe boxes filled with generations of recipes, I felt sorry for my younger associates, some of whom would starve without Chinese takeout.

The first time my husband visited London, he wanted to leave the hotel as soon as we checked in. I was mildly irritated at his insistence that we hit the streets running. When we got outside, he started walking fast down the street outside the hotel. "Wait a minute!" I yelled at his disappearing figure, "Where are you going?" Then he realized he hadn't made any plans and hadn't a clue where he was headed or why. (He has since become a much wiser traveler).

The lists of the top travel destinations for the new year begin arriving in late December just about the time that discarded Christmas trees start piling up in recycling centers. They continue through January. Now that all the lists are out, 'tis the time for Crestock to sum up the most important destinations for photo buyers.

Most of the pro and semi-pro digital cameras on the market today are capable of saving the captures in both RAW and jpeg formats. For digital capture professionals, RAW format arguably is the most useful file format invented.

Health care is a hot political topic as well as a serious part of life all over the world. From vaccination of children to elder care, a huge percentage of revenue is spent annually in every country. Photos and illustrations that depict health care in all its variations are used both in informational and promotional materials.

We're pleased to announce that Louis Au will start blogging for Crestock on January 27, 2011.