Microstock Calendar

Image: 43-00664113
Title:  “Wall of old analog clocks”
Contributor: drob

Time’s running out for holiday gift shopping!  Are you ready?

In a world of rapidly growing digital media and fancy mobile devices, these old-fashioned analog clocks are a welcome reprieve.  We love how the timepieces are squeezed into every nook and cranny, creating an unusual texture that keeps the eye busy.  It evokes the memory of a time gone by when things were slower and less complicated.  We can almost hear the sea of ticks, perhaps inside an antique store off the beaten path.  At the same time, the sheer number of clocks scream “Wake up!  Hurry!  Pressure!  Deadline!” 

This example shows you don’t need a studio full of overly stylized props and complex lighting to shoot a great image.  Appealing subjects are all around us!  Keep your eyes peeled for standout shapes, texture, and colors.  Use existing light to accentuate your subject.  Shoot many frames and shoot often until you find the perfect composition.  You might not always stumble upon something wonderful like a wall full of clocks, but keep in mind that visual interest can come from unlikely sources.  Everyday objects, while seemingly mundane, can be transformed with your camera.  Take a look at the entries from this 2005 photo competition called “Interesting Photo of a Boring Subject”:

http://www.myfourthirds.com/folder.php?id=473

…And if you’re still not sure what to get your loved ones for the holidays, a quality timepiece makes a great gift! 

- Betty

Hi -

We’ve heard from many that have missed our “Image of the Day” blog feature. Sadly we’ve been busy, and our blog has indeed been looking lonely lately.  We’re back and we’re changing things up a bit this time ’round. We’ll be switching to a weekly format – and while I’ll continue to chime in, we’ll also be featuring posts from SnapVillage reviewers and other team members.

Kicking things off – this IOTW (Image of the Week) post comes from Maggie, one of our lead image reviewers. 

Enjoy!

   – Brian

————————————————————————————————————

Image: 43-00621761
Title:  “Loose Green Tea”
Contributor: Elenathewise

 Great shots like this one by Elena the Wise beg the question, “What makes a great food shot?” As an image reviewer, one sees many examples of food photography so I thought it might be helpful to share some hints for successful food shots. Here’s why Elena’s image works well:

• Nice lighting: The shot is well lit with no unsightly areas of shadow or blown out highlights.
• White balance: The lighting helps keep the white balance accurate. Food shots with greenish or yellowish color casts from improper white balance are usually pretty unappetizing.
• Interesting props: The use of the porcelain spoon vs. a regular teaspoon adds interest and a splash of color. The spoon’s decorative blue border contrasts nicely against the pink of the petals in the tea.
• Great composition: Getting close-up and shooting the spoon from slightly above rather than from the side really lets the tea stand out as the main subject. The use of selective focus draws the eye to the subject.

Nice work, Elena!  If you’d like to learn more about how to make your food shots look fabulous, check out these resources:

Introduction to food photography:
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/food-photography-an-introduction/

Food photography gear:
http://stilllifewith.com/2006/12/12/my-guide-to-food-photography-gear/

 Equipment on a budget:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-build-a-food-photography-light-stand/ 

Bon appetite!

- Maggie

Hi SnapVillagers -

Heads-up! SnapVillage will be down for a scheduled temporary maintenance outage starting at 5pm PST Friday December 6th. 

We plan to be back up and running during the day on Saturday.

Be sure to check back here for the latest updates.

Have questions or comments?  Feel free to drop a comment here, or you can reach us at contactus@snapvillage.com

- Brian