Waiting for some new books

I’ve ordered some new books, which I look really forward to get. They are about model posing, and I hope they aid me in my quest for becoming a great stock photographer. Theres much more to stock than posing, but its an area where I still have a lot to learn. I also try to look for concepts and ideas where ever I am. Sucking in inspiration from images, adverstises, tv-commercials, websites. Making notes. Taking screenshots. Ripping out pages from magazines, which sometimes makes me kind of unpopular with my girlfriend, if I get my hands on the mag before she’s done with it.

Anyway, these books are in the mail:
Jeff Smith’s Posing Techniques for Location Portrait Photography

Photomodel-Posing: more than 600 images / posings, tips and tricks

Hurry up, postman…….

2009 in stats!

First of all, I’m going to wish you a very happy new year! May all good come to you in 2010.

I’m going to look a bit back over ‘09 on this post. I’ve had a lot of visitors and I thank you all for your time and interest. I hope you found what you were looking for. If not, try let me know.. I might be able to help you.

Heres my total visitors for the last years:

12254 times was my blog views during this year. I find that amazing. Its an average of 34 visitors per day. The month with the highest average was aug with 54 visits/day. January with 21 visits/day was the lowest. The busiest day was the 28th of october were I had a stunning 152 visitors!

Take a look at the monthly visitor numbers:

Of my 136 posts these were the Top 3 most popular:
1) Model poses – 1515 views
2) DOF – 339 views
3) Exposure – 264 views
I’m sorry, but these post are in danish. I suggest you try translate.google.com. It “might” give you a clue to what I write.

The Top 3 search engine terms:
1) Fototeknik  (Phototechnique) – Used 323 times
2) Model poseringer (Model poses) – Used 316 times
3) Poseringer (Poses) – Used 204 times

The Top 3 referrers: (Thank you! )
1) Iso8000.dk (My danish photoclub) – 486 referrals
2) Vuudhouse.dk (A great danish photographer’s blog) – 345 referrals
3) Skovlundefotoklub.dk (Another danish photoclub) – 97 referrals

The Top 3 most clicked links/files:
1) Elgaardfoto.dk – My own website
2) Iso8000.dk – My photoclub
3) Pose10.jpg

That was my blog.. Something else I’m spending a lot of time on at the moment is, if you are a regular visitor you know this, iStock! Heres not much to tell, but take a look at this:

I think 2010 is going to be very interesting! Don’t you? I hope the new year will give a kick!

Merry christmas

Hey its snowing!

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a merry christmas. May all your wishes come true! And do try, to take some time off and spend it well with you family. While you’re at it, set up your camera with a timer, unless you have it built-in like on the Nikons, and create a great timelapse video! Found one made with the D700.

I created this drawing, sorry for the lack of quality, on my new Wacom Intous 4.. If you don’t already own a tablet, I suggest you try it out. Its a great tool, and doesn’t take long getting used to. Now I’m also a ambidextrous, meaning I use the Wacom with my left and the mouse with my right, which I know not all of you can, but still I think you’d find it very relaxing for your hand and arm, not using a mouse for editing at all times.

By the way, on your right, at the top of the menu, I add a subscription widget. If you want an email whenever this is updated, feel free to signup.

And now for some handwritten ART!!

Merry Christmas!

Portfolio grows

Slowly my portfolio on iStock grows.
I have started uploading images from a new shoot and just got 15 files accepted, which I’m really happy about. But it surely takes time with the 15 files/week upload cap. I hope these new uploads will be well accepted by the buyers. They are not yet showing in my portfolio, but thats just a matter of some search database indexing. Its happens normally pretty fast.

Check out my port HERE.

There’s another post on its way. Well two. I’m currently trying to sort my links for the big international photographers that I follow, and will share them with you, though you probably already know them. Maybe you can help expanding the list? Also I’m going to make a post about what gear I have in my bags.

Changes hitting iStock in 2010

Istock is adjusting their system. It can turn out to quite good for many photographers (And not so good for others.) They are, like some of the prices, adjusting the canister levels. As for now and until the 24th of february you need 250 downloads to be able to apply for exclusivity, but after you need 499 downloads. I need 166 more by that date. I’ll be crossing my fingers. Oh, and if you happen to download a file of mine, I’ll buy you a beer!

HERE’s a quick overview over iStocks changes in 2010.

<— Here’s a link to my newest files online.

More lomo!

I have earlier made a post about lomography (in danish, sorry – Here’s a link if you don’t know what lomo is: Lomography) and its been really popular! This morning I read on NikonRumors.com about a giveaway. They giveaway free DIANA lomo-lenses for Nikon F-mount. Maybe something for you to? All you have to do is submitting your email, with a free choice of signing up to a lomography newsletter or not.

Take a look at their post HERE.

Have you shot lomo? If yes, show me.

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Converting from color to B/W

I’ve been writing this small article for my photoclub here in Aarhus, ISO 8000, and I thought that some of you might like it too.

Its about converting your images to black and white using the channel mixer in Photoshop.

Check it out! –>  BW USING CHANNEL MIXER

Help setting up light and 30.000 hits

I found this site, a while back, when I was all new to studio lighting. In many ways I’m still new, but I remember I used to be in the dark about shadows on models, where to place the light, and what I could expect to get out of my shots. This site is a really helpful tool in getting that information! Check it out HERE. And theres a similar 3D site HERE, which I think gives more options. So if you need help setting up studio lights, its here.

I also, over this weekend, have had over 30.000(!) visitors on this blog. I thank you all for your time, accidently or not. I hope I have given you something valuable, and I helped you find what you were seeking. Thanks again.

On a final note I have gotten some more images on iStock. Check them out!
<— Clicky!

Awareness test

I know this isnt exactly about photo, but its really cool, and paying attention is our game as photographers. We need to fast observe whats happening in front of us.

Take a look at this ‘Awareness test’, and see if you get them all. Let me know..

Miniatures

Look at this interesting gallery of 80 tilt-shift images. Click HERE. I think I would like a tilt-shift to play around with! Think this one is getting on my wishlist for christmas.
You can also create that same effect in Photoshop, like I did. Heres a tutorial -> Click.

Wonder if images like this would sell on istock?

New files online

I have some of my latest iStock uploads online. 15 out of 15 approved. Take a look.

<— Press icon