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19Jan
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Storm clouds are looming on the web!
Yesterday many sites on the Internet – Wikepia as the prime example – decided to go dark as a protest against so-called free speech in the proposed SOPA (the U.S. Senate’s Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA ( the Protect-Intellectual Property Act). And millions of gullible people are believing what they have to say i.e. that all information on the Internet should be free.
I could just as easily say that I believe that all food at McDonalds should be free. Would you believe me and petition for it? Producing images to license as stock has cost me thousands of dollars in professional education and equipment over the years. My images are the product of my business and belong to me. They may not be downloaded or copied without a fee being paid. Taking something that does not belong to you in the “real world” is called theft and could land you in prison, so why is there a double standard of morality on the web? Why is there such an outcry that websites would have to take responsibility for stealing and/or for accepting stolen work?
So,why have I almost obliterated this image with copyright information? Well, I am protesting the anti SOPA and anti PIPA protests . It’s all about THEM, folks! Those huge Internet concerns are themselves making a huge profit out of making sure my hard-earned work can be given away for free. It’s all about those companies making tons of money at the expense of not only large film and music companies, but also at the expense of millions of hard working small business people like myself. Those who are protesting are the ones who are going to profit big time by convincing the unsuspecting public that this is all about free speech!
It’s not about free speech versus censorship. It’s not about old versus new. It’s about the seemingly old-fashioned idea of right versus wrong.
Matthew 10:10 …. for the worker is worth his keep. (NIV)
Tags: censorship, Clouds, copyright, Diane Macdonald, double standard, free, free speech, image, information, Intellectial Property, Internet, IP, looming, Matthe3w 10:10, morality, Photo, photographer, photographers, Photography, PIPA, professional, protest, right, SOP, stock, stock image, stock photo, stock photography, storm, theft, versus, web, Wikepedia, wrong
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15Nov
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The Isle of Skye is the most hauntingly beautiful place on earth, and although I grew up in Scotland I had never taken the time to visit it. You know how it is! When something is practically in your own back yard, you have a tendency to say you will go there sometime!
Sometime for me finally came when I brought my husband to visit Scotland for the first time, and I was able to see my homeland through the eyes of a tourist. We both fell in love with Skye and have visited it on several occasions now with stock photography in mind.
As a stock photographer, I am always looking for photo opportunities wherever I go. Travel photography has been pretty hard hit in the declining stock photography business, as it no longer makes economic sense for most photographers to spend thousands of dollars on a trip and sometimes models too, when many times the images are licensing for such small fees.
So, what’s a photographer to do? What I do, is look at my own vicinity in Florida through the eyes of a tourist. Who better to take the travel shots of a location than those who live there? I live a mile from the Atlantic Ocean with its miles and miles of beautiful beaches, and downtown Jacksonville and also Saint Augustine are each twenty minutes from home. The Golden Isles of Georgia are just an hour away. All it costs to get there is the cost of gas.
So, no longer do I say “I’ll go there sometime,” but whenever I have the chance, I shoot travel photography close to home!
Tags: Absence, Barren, Beauty in Nature, Blue Sky, Clouds, Crags. Craggy, Cuillins, Diane Macdonald, Glamaig, Glendale, Hill, Hills, Idyllic, image, Inner Hebrides, Isle of Skye, Majestic, Marsco, mountain, Mountains, Photo, photographer, photographers, Photography, Red Cuillins, Scotland, Skye, stock, stock image, stock photo, stock photography, Stream, UK
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24Oct
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It has been over three months since I last posted here. Around that time both of my computers failed on the same day. (How likely is that to happen?) The failures were not related to each other, but were two separate incidences on my two work computers. As you can imagine, my routine was severely disrupted for a long time, so posting here was not my top priority as I worked to edit a backlog of images.
Over the years I have created fine art images based on my photography using Photoshop and Corel Painter. I have always enjoyed the post production side of photography, but until recently it never occurred to me to create some digital art from scratch. A few days ago I needed a break from the constant editing, so I opened a blank page in Photoshop and created some abstract art. I had so much fun doing it, that I have decided that it will be a part of my weekly routine from now on.
The creativity I unleashed was priceless. The change from my usual routine was like a much needed rest and by the time I was finished I had conjured up countless new ideas for photo shoots. And besides, maybe I can make a sale or two on Fineartamerica!
Tags: abstract, colors, colours, Diane Macdonald, digital art, digital. art, impact
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02Jul
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It’s Fourth of July weekend again and photographers both professional and amateur all over the United States will be preparing to catch the pyrotechnic display on their cameras. For many, the results will be hit or miss as they expect their cameras to do all the thinking for them. For others though, results are more predictable because they have a method which seems to work every time. Following are a few simple steps you can take to make sure that you capture the best of what you see.
1. Place your camera on a tripod
2. Turn OFF Image Stabilization – if left on it will have the opposite effect and cause camera shake results
3. Set ISO to 200
4. Set f-stop at f16
5. Set speed to B (Bulb) mode
6. Use a remote switch
7. Hold aperture open for a few seconds at a time so that you can capture more than one burst on a single frame
That’s it! Happy July 4th!
Tags: 4th of July, America, celebration, celebrations, Diane Macdonald, fireworks, Fourth of July, Getty, image, Independence Day, July 4, July 4th, July Fourth, patriotism, Photo, photographer, photographers, Photography, pyrotechnics, stock, stock image, stock photo, stock photography, United States, US, USA
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30May
You know me as a stock photographer, but most of you don’t know that I use a program called Corel Painter to create digital paintings from my photographs. These paintings are not created by the touch of a computer key, but as with traditional painting, strokes are added one at a time with a pen and tablet and digital “paint” is built up according to the style and medium used. I have been away from this for a few years now, but have recently decided to start marketing the paintings I have created (along with traditional photography too) as art prints. Check what’s currently available from the ART PRINTS tab above. I will be adding new work almost daily, so be sure to check back often.
One of my favorites is this image of Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland. If you have never visited Eilean Donan, I suggest it as one of your must see places before you die! Also check out all the other great Eilean Donan art by other artists on fineartamerica: eilean donan art. When you see this magical place through the eyes of others, I’m certain you will add it to your list of places to visit!
Tags: Art Digital Painting, Castle, Castles, Corel Painter, Diane Macdonald, Digital Art. Digital, Eilean Donan, Eilean Donan Castle, Highlands, image, Loch, Lochs, Painting, Photo, photographer, photographers, Photography, Scotland, Scottish Highlands. Scottish
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09May
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Love, happiness and healthy eating- this brand new image of a whole grain pancake with blueberries on the Getty site says it all.
There was a time when I avoided creating work on a white background because it seemed so…. well, corny! Recently I have changed my mind about that. Well, perhaps it is still kind of corny. But I have changed my mind about shooting those types of images. No one can say that the message is not clear, and it is definitely simple in style.
What made me change my mind? I have been noticing some very interesting trends in the analysis of my income recently. These types of images sell. Not only that, but a Rights Managed image on a white background sold for a book cover for the highest figure I have ever made for a one time sale on a single image! How can I argue with that?
Tags: Diane Macdonald, happiness, healthy eating, impact, love, Photo, Photography, simple, simplicity, stock, stock image, stock photo, stock photography
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05May
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There is a world of difference between simply beautiful photography and stock photography! Although all stock images should in a sense be beautiful in the eye of the targeted beholder, not all beautiful photographs are good stock images. A beautiful photograph may sell once or twice in its lifetime, but good stock imagery will sell over and over again for years.
The following questions are very often asked by newcomers to stock photography:
Q. Why were my images rejected?
A. Perhaps the agency is flooded with the types of images you are submitting and has no need for any more. Perhaps your images are beautiful, but have no clear message. Perhaps they are of poor technical quality. Perhaps the editor just had a bad day!
Q. Why are my images not selling?
A. Perhaps your images don’t have impact when compared with others in the same category. Perhaps the messages of your images are not clear enough at first glance. Perhaps your images are just filling holes in the agencies’ collection and there really isn’t much of a market for them. Perhaps you have not left enough copy space for commercial usage. Perhaps your images are now outdated and need to be redone if they once sold well. Perhaps your concepts are too negative – positive concepts are much more salable.
Q. How can I make my images more salable?
A. Decide first on a concept (preferably a positive one in most incidences) you wish to convey and keep it simple! Then check to see what is already available on your agency’s website. Remember, there is nothing new under the sun! No matter how original you think your idea is, someone else has already thought the same thing! Once you have checked out the site, you must now determine how you can make your images different from those you see online. For example, the Getty site has many images of seedlings conveying “new life,” “growth” and “beginnings,” but my image of a seedling bursting forth from a hyacinth bean is unique.
Make your images stand out from the crowd and you will start to see results in your royalty checks! Happy shooting!
Tags: beginnings, concept, concepts, Diane Macdonald, growth, hyacinth bean, image, impact, nature, new life, Photo, Photography, seedling, simlicity, simple, stock, stock photo, stock photography
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23Mar
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“What do moldy cupcakes have to do with stock photography?” Had someone asked me that question about ten years ago, I would have replied, “Absolutely nothing!” However, times have changed and just about any photograph can be considered a stock image these days. But just because an image is offered as stock, there is no guarantee it will ever sell! Agencies these days are anxious to “fill the holes” in their collections. That means they are willing to accept images that cover everything it is possible to think of covering!
Although the editors at Getty chose this image for their flickr collection, I don’t expect it to become my best seller ever! It may sell a few times to illustrate a point about decay, safe handling of food or hygiene, but I can never imagine some company using it to promote their business!
The market may be flooded with imagery and there may be a demand in certain areas for images showing negative concepts, but the images that will consistently be licensed for higher returns will almost always convey a positive concept!
So, my number one tip for producing a high earning, best selling stock image is STAY POSITIVE!
Tags: cake, cakes, Close-up, cupcake, cupcakes, decay, Diane Macdonald, Directly Above, Food And Drink, Getty, image, In A Row, Indoors, Indulgence, Medium Group of Objects, mold, moldy, No People, Photo, photographer, Photography, Ready-To-Eat, safe handling, stock, stock photo, stock photography, Sweet Food, Temptation, Unhygienic, Vertical
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13Mar
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Ever since I created my Facebook Business Page I had wondered why it was not possible to comment on another Business Page as my business instead of as myself.  I use my personal Facebook page for connecting with family and friends, so I would often change my profile picture to reflect my mood, occasionally using a baby picture of myself for fun. This did not look professional when I would comment on a Business Page! So I changed my profile picture to an image of myself holding my camera, which looked good when I posted on a Business Page, but was a bit over the top for my personal page.
Facebook has now solved that dilemma. You will notice that in the right hand column of your Business Page you have the choice to “use Facebook as … (your Business Page name.)” When you change to using Facebook as your business, you will notice that you may be quite limited in whose Pages you can see and comment on. You may have made some Pages your “favorites” while using the old Facebook. Those Pages have now become your “Likes” and you can now comment as your business on those Pages.
The next step is to “Like” as many Business Pages as you can. If you have been commenting on someone’s Business Page but have never added them as a favorite, you will now need to “Like” those Pages while using Facebook as your business before you can comment as your business. I believe that the advantages to this new feature are huge, especially if you are a commercial photographer or you shoot stock. It’s not enough these days to just let the stock agencies do the marketing, or to simply rely on your website if you are a commercial photographer. You need to be noticed – and what better way to do it than to do it virally through business connections on Facebook! So far, the statistics in my Insights (click on View Insights on the right of the Page) are staggering! One week ago before I started to use Facebook as my business, my Page views (the number of time Fans and non-Fans viewed a news feed posted by my Page) were at 260. Today that number has reached 11,629! I’m getting more than 1,000 views a day and I have “liked” only 35 businesses so far!
Even if you are a portrait and wedding photographer, remember that people work in businesses and those people need your services too. If you create fine art photography, what better way to connect with businesses who may want to purchase your work!
Businesses don’t have “friends” though, so don’t expect to comment as your business on your friends’ personal pages ! You need to switch back to using Faxebook as yourself in order to do that.
There are many new features in Facebook now, so over the next few weeks and months, I’ll share tips as I discover them. See you on Facebook!
Tags: Business page, Business pages, connection, connections new, Diane Macdonald, Facebook, image, like, likes, Photo, photographer, photographers, Photography, stock, stock image, stock photo, stock photography
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08Mar
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Today is known as Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Tuesday or Pancake Day in the UK. Traditionally the Scots serve griddle pancakes , sometimes known as drop scones, but more commonly just simply called pancakes. Immigrants from Scotland brought the recipe for making those pancakes to the United States, where like everything else American, they became much larger than their humble Scottish counterparts!
English pancakes are what most of us know as crêpes, and are made one at a time in a large frying pan. In fact, the tradition on Shrove Tuesday in England is to have pancake races. The object of the race is to reach the finish line while continuously tossing a pancake in a frying pan without dropping it.
In the United States, today is more commonly known as Mardi Gras (French for Fat Tuesday) and is celebrated in New Orleans with a huge carnival and parade. In 1803 , the US purchased the French Territory of Louisiana for less than 5 cents an acre, but its French traditions linger on in the culture of the people.
Mardi Gras had been celebrated in Paris since the Middle Ages, so within a few short years of the Louisiana purchase, the Mardi Gras Carnival of New Orleans started to become more elaborate. The traditional colors for Mardi Gras In New Orleans are gold which symbolizes power, green which symbolizes faith and purple which symbolizes justice.
(Centuries ago meat was always given up for Lent, so the word “Carnival,” derived from Latin words meaning “Farewell to Meat,” came to be associated with the festival.) Over the years the celebration has become very secular in nature, and many people don’t understand why Mardi Gras is even celebrated in the first place. It is a day for eating rich foods before a period of giving up something. But why?
In the Roman Catholic and some other churches, tomorrow (Ash Wednesday) is the beginning of Lent – a time of fasting or giving up something sacrificially, for praying earnestly and for showing repentance. Lent is a forty day period (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter Sunday and lasts for forty days because Christ fasted and prayed in the wilderness for forty days after he was baptized by John the Baptist. During that time he overcame the temptations of Satan. Some Christians believe that by fasting during Lent they are doing what Jesus told them – to become more like hm by resisting temptation – for them the temptation of something they really enjoy to eat!
Traditions are good for society. They help us to feel more part of a community, reinforcing our collective identity. But it is sad when new generations celebrate things without knowing the rich history behind why they celebrate. So wherever you are, i wish you and yours a Happy Pancake Day, PanCake Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, and Mardi Gras!
Tags: Alamy, butter, celebration, celebrations, Diane Macdonald, festival, food, image, Lent, Louisiana., Mardi Gras, melting, New orleans, pancake, Pancake Day, Pancake Tuesday, pancakes, Photo, Photography, Shrove tuesday, stock, stock image, stock photo, stock photography
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