The image of the week… is all about enjoying your photography!

The image is protected by copyright but is is available for sale and use at:
http://yaymicro.com/stock-image/male-carer-pushing-woman-in-wheelchair/8357166

From all the images I reviewed this week, one definitely made me stop and this is usually the moment when I realize this might be the image of the week. It’s called Male carer pushing woman in wheelchair and it’s been uploaded by Peter t.

He uploaded more and I had to reject several pictures for Trademark issues. I sent him a short message about the need to remove the brand names. I am a contributor myself and I know how it feels to have images rejected, after spending valuable time with uploading and keyword-ing. But Peter t answered politely asking for more information. Then I realized what stood behind the image of the week: good manners, a different attitude and a will to do things better!

Obviously, I wanted to know more and I found out that Peter t is actually Peter Titmuss, featured in the British Press Photographer of the Year award and World Press Photo Exhibitions!

He has been a photographer since leaving college, working in Fleet Street for many years and has been concentrating on producing stock images for the last ten years. His library extends beyond 40,000 images.

But let’s see the way he describes this image:

The plan was to shoot the female model sitting in a wheelchair, alone and looking out into empty space. It was shot on a hilltop within parkland in Hampshire England.

Planning the shoot was easy for me, the male model, a friend and chairman of a charity which loans and supplies equipment for disabled people wanted some images for a brochure. These were shot , and in exchange he loaned the wheelchair for the shoot.

The female model, Susan Parks, and I have worked together for many years and she knows just what I am thinking setting up a shot (must be woman’s instinct)! Best model in the world!

Arriving at the location the shoot plan started to change, for the good. Spotting a ‘disabled’ only car parking space was too good an opportunity to miss. We were able to shoot the model erecting the wheelchair from the boot of the car, then with the disabled markings on the ground, disabled markings without model were taken also. A few shots in the can already.

Male model then starts to push wheelchair to the designated site, it was uphill and quite a climb. Another opportunity for some shots, man exhausted pushing woman in wheelchair were soon obtained, oh joy!  The shot that we had struggled up this steep hill went without a hitch, I used a low camera angle to keep the ‘empty space’ feel.

Swapping the model’s roles,  shots of the female model, now a carer, pushing the man in wheelchair were also obtained.

We had some fun, took lots of pix and had a great day, that is just what it is all about, enjoying your photography and earning a living at the same time.

Peter Titmuss

What’s so great about this picture?

• It is a great lesson about what means to live with disabilities and even with people with disabilities.
• It uses an unusual angle, letting our imagination free to read a life story. The faces are not really visible letting more space to the feelings, just perfect for this kind of topic.
• The background gives us a feeling of serenity and hope but it speaks also about the loneliness of the disabled persons and about their dreams and their aspirations.
• It’s simple and natural. The models don’t seem to pose at all!
• It really makes you stop and think too!
• It has copy space in order to allow adverts or inspirational quotes.

How could we use it?

1. Adverts for professional medical services dedicated to people with disabilities.
2. Inspirational posters about marriage, suffering, illness, determination, unity and not only…
3. The very image of a campaign for a charitable project or a foundation where more volunteers are needed.
4. Outdoor billboard advert for health and life insurance.
5. Cover book for publishing useful information about care-giving.

The image of the week: Be the winner!

The image is available for sale at: http://www.yayimages.com/stock-image/winner/8180784

We’re all born winners, some of us just don’t know how to tap into that power of winning yet. We have our wins and our fails and the attitude to fit both situations. Winning give us that boost to continue fighting while struggling with life’s challenges. The key to a winning attitude is determination. As soon as you realize this is absolutely necessary, then you have to think about getting yourself tuned up for competition. Humans are competitive animals and driven by a constant need of power. Of course there should always be some kind of a balance to keep, in order to succeed without losing your morals. Make plans of what you are going to make out of your life then work as hard as you can to achieve that goal. Ronald Reagan said: “We never lose – somehow we win out.”
What i most liked about this image made by Adam121 is that it has a positive message, but shows also that the road to success is a difficult one (the hands are dirty from the struggle). One thing i try to remember each day is that if you don’t win, you are already a winner because you gave your best and the experience made your life richer with knowledge.

What i so great about this image:

1. It shows the hands of the people dirty, not hiding the fact that to win means you have to try hard, make sacrifices and struggle with yourself to keep going.
2. It has a positive message that helps you focus on determination.
3. It has plenty of copy space. You can write your own message/slogan on the sky.
4. Great isolation, the hands with the trophy can be cut out from the background and used separately or put on a different background.
5. The colors are bright and warm.
6. It’s simple yet it hides a very complex message and process.

How could we use it:

• Inspirational posters to put in offices in a multinational company, but also in your own house as a constant reminder to never giving up.

•  Motivational campaigns.

• As a main image in an advertising campaign for the services of a bank/stock market investments. Using their services you will be the winner.

• As a layout/background for a company that offers training on personal development.

• As part of an advert for all kinds of products from cars to pharmaceuticals, etc. Choose this brand/product and you win.

• As a billboard for any sports competitions.

• As an advert for the national lottery.

• As part of an advertising for casinos.

• For a recruitment company/website.

• As book covers and also interior of magazines, etc. I can already picture it as a cover for a very familiar business magazine.

The image of the week jumps out from the crowd!

The image is available for download at: http://yaymicro.com/stock-image/jump-from-crowd/4280407

As microstock agencies have now millions of pictures, some might feel discouraged and give up before making a try. Comparing to the famous top sellers it’s absolutely normal to feel like you don’t have any chance to compete: when will I have money to hire 10 models to shoot business images? when will I have my own studio?

I think the real challenge is in fact to go on in spite of all odds… Where there is a will, there is a way! Hard work is the best strategy on long term. More, look at the bright side of the street: the lack of some resources might stimulate your creativity and help you discover an original vision of many interesting topics.

The image of the week speaks by itself about being different in a good way! After all, creativity will always be needed! It comes from Jakub Danek and it is called “Jump from crowd“!

What is so great about this image:

1. It’s catchy as it makes you stop and look at it instinctively. Even if you see it on a billboard passing by, you will automatically pay attention to it.
2. It’s funny as it illustrates a saying mot-a-mot! By the way, what a great idea to illustrate proverbs literally! I can already imagine some funny pictures for: “In one ear and out the other”; “Nobody can serve two masters”; “Every man has his price”…
3. It fits to lots of topics, from corporate and business to commercial promotional offers.
4. It has copy space. You can easily add any text on the black low side or even thought or speech bubbles next to every man in the picture!
5. It’s an original way of making a group picture with only one person. So, it’s a great example of how you can cut costs!
6. It is dynamic as the man is literally jumping out from the crowd.
7. It has a positive, optimistic message!
8. The description of the image is already a start or a title for an article.

How could we use it:

• an inspirational poster on the wall of a multinational company
• outdoor adverts for “winning” products like: bank credits for business start-ups, online games, visa lottery
• any topic regarding getting hired by a prestigious corporation: from international study programs and recognition certificates to interviews and jobs
• advert for any product that brings you happiness, at least in certain moments: good internet connection, sport competitions, car/life/home insurances…
• motivational campaigns about social behavior and about the dare to be different and responsible

The image of the week: The frailty of life

The image is available for sale at: http://www.yayimages.com/stock-image/embryo-in-the-egg/7421690

How wonderful is the birth of life, from its conception to to the actual release of the human life into the world! We are small gods that give birth or help conceive life at its greatest. We create from our own flesh and blood a new form of life that carries our genes further into this world. If you ask me I think perpetuation of the species is the only palpable proof of immortality that we have up to this date.

This image by Zffoto reminded me of the progress that science made into researching the whole process of conception and birth and making it much safer and controllable in a world where everything gets harder and unsafe. Some may disagree and say that this evolution is actually an involution, looking at the past and how things used to happen naturally with just a little bit of aid. The truth is the world has changed and it became harder to conceive and give birth to a healthy normal child, due all the climatic change, the use of chemicals in our food, the sedentary lifestyle, the high level of stress, etc. Science brings damage to our life, but it also helps fix things that it already broke. I guess there is a sort of balance about these and the reality is the world has evolved towards these present situations and we can either choose to take advantage of this evolution, or choose an alternative option. In the end the choice is ours, for each individual.

What is so great about this image:

• It has a powerful interesting appearance – the human embryo into a bird’s egg.

• It shows the frailty of life in its beginning.

• The number of colors is small, it doesn’t tire the eye and delivers the message easier to its viewers used to be pelted with excessive colors to draw attention. Visually it is a “breath of fresh air”

• It’s simple and the subject central.

• It has a lot of copy space where you can write your own message.

• The editing is perfect. Look at it carefully and you will not find any mistakes.

       How could we use it:

1. A pro-life campaign/anti-abortion or even pro-abortion. It is very versatile.
2. In science magazine and even regular ones with the subject of human birth and conception.
3. As a book cover and for use in the inside pages of a book.
4. As a desktop wallpaper, logos for websites, layouts, with of without the backgrounds. It is very easy to cut out the subject from the background. You can either choose to put the subject on a different background, keep it as it or use the subject separately.
5. An advert for a fertility clinic.
6. An advert or the main image for a commercial for dietary supplements.
7. A campaign to raise awareness of the frailty of a human embryo due to pollution, the negative effects of wrong taken medication.
8. An advert for a life insurance for soon to be mothers.
9. The main image for a fashion campaign for pregnant women. We all know that clothes should make us feel good and protecting your skin and comfort also help protect the baby’s evolution inside your womb.
10. A campaign to raise awareness amongst pregnant women about the importance of getting the blood test done regularly during pregnancy.

The image of the week: 5 steps to pose naturally!

Do you look horrible in your ID photo? Have you ever felt embarrassed to show your driving license? If yes, it means: “Thanks, God, I’m not the only one!”

Well, if our Id cards don’t look so great, the reason is obvious: it’s a fake forced posture. Nobody feels comfortable like that. So, here’s one of the secrets: comfort!

Of course, it’s not a tragedy having scary Identity cards but what happens when we want to use models and make them look natural?

The image of the week comes to help us with a great and simple example of how to do it right.

It’s called “Couple having a disagreement” and it’s uploaded by a French contributor: Phovoir!

The image is available for sale at:
http://yaymicro.com/stock-image/couple-having-a-disagreement/4319165

Looking at the picture, I could find the 5 steps to success:

1. Concept: build your picture on a fact/feeling/character/story!
2. Simplicity: use only relevant elements, nothing else!
3. Usual and comfortable posture: don’t ask your models to freeze, but to behave like real actors! Let them take their time to understand the concept!
4. Facial expressions: Can’t they freeze with that facial expression more than 5 seconds? It means it’s not the right one!
5. Originality: Dare to be free in expressing your own vision regarding the concept you chose, no matter how silly could seem!

What’s so great about this picture? (more…)

The image of the week: We wait, time doesn’t!

The image is available for sale at: http://yaymicro.com/stock-image/time-concept/8185160

Time is relative, according to Albert Einstein. To the rest of world time is either called the enemy either the savior. We always say that time will heal all wounds or we panic when we realize that time is ticking just like a clock and the more we move in the future the more we feel we don’t have enough time to do whatever we want. The truth is time just is, it never moves faster or slower. These are just the perceptions that we have about it. This image by stokkete is so wonderful that i fell in love with it and its concept. I like it so much that i might actually frame it and hang it on my wall as a reminder that we all have time, it’s just the way that we use it that will make a difference in our lives.

What’s so great about this picture?

1. It has a great message that is always actual. Since forever people have complained about either the lack of time or the amount of free time that leads to boredom.

2. It has fantastic geometry that raises this image as a beautiful piece of art.

3. It has a vintage look due to the colors. Vintage is the new modern in our age, also an indication how time actually moves from past to present and future.

4. The amount of copy space gives the buyer the opportunity to write a lot of messages on it.

How could we use it?

•  As the main image for an insurance company, great for promoting a life insurance.

•  Motivational posters for improving life’s quality by becoming more organized and establishing one’s priority. We all know that saying;”Don’t Put Off Until Tomorrow What You Can Do Today!”.

•  An investment campaign either for stock market or real estate.

•  An advert for a miracle cosmetics that stops the aging progress.

•  A campaign for a recruitment company. Time is now, apply and we’ll help find you a job faster so you save the time you spend applying your CV everywhere.

•  Wallpapers for your desktops. (By the way, this is my current wallpaper)

•  A framed print to put on the walls either in your home, office, etc. It really is such an artistic image.

•  The cover for a book or inside print in either books, magazines or newspapers.

•  Outdoors billboards for different campaigns.

The image of the week: A tragedy for both sides…

I do believe in the missionary character of photography and I really think as any other art, it is meant to bring beauty and happiness in our lives. I also see photography as a social and educational powerful tool.

The image of this week is a real example of how photography can educate people, namely me in this case.

It is called Combat boot and crutch for war concept and it is uploaded by num_skyman.

The image is available for sale at:
http://yaymicro.com/stock-image/combat-boot-and-crutch-for-war-concept/4327211

I always used to see wars and military interventions as a primitive and violent manifestation of hatred. I really believe they are meant to serve secret financial interests and not only. I know that many of you could have a different opinion but … this is my point of view. Anyway, with this radical belief, when I saw the image of the week, it made me stop a bit and think. It didn’t change my mind but it made me understand war is a tragedy for both sides! It’s amazing how powerful can be such a simple image. The simpler, the better!

Looking at this shiny black combat boot beside a crutch I could imagine the feeling a military hero could have… No doubt it should be a terrible feeling losing one leg… A simple spot of coffee on my jeans could ruin my day…

What’s so great about this picture?  (more…)

Image of the week: Freedom in a world of constrains

Image available for sale at: http://www.yayimages.com/stock-image/tied-up-woman-screaming-/3611051

When i first saw this image uploaded by BDS my mind stopped for a few minutes and i kept starring at it like a kid at something new and lovely. It intrigued me so much because it has so much power and it is so versatile and it speaks so much about freedom and how tied down are all of us by the society. I met once a very wise old man who told me that freedom is not how we perceive it and freedom is not achieved through wars and violence, but through our own minds. In society we need to have rules that we must obey in order for it to function, but what we can do for ourselves is to set ourselves free from the inside out, not the other way around. We can become free by changing the way we see things, the way we think and act towards the world and the others around us. That reminds of a great quote by Mahatma Gandhi that fits just right: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

What’s so great about this picture?

1. It has a powerful full of emotion message – a woman tied up and screaming.

2. It has endless opportunities of usage.

3. It has a lot of copy space on the black background where you can write you own words, message. Actually looking it more carefully you could even write something on the model’s tongue, like a cry for help, etc.

4. The colors are bright and vivid, even though the black background can be a little “threatening”

5. It has great emotional impact reaching subjects as freedom of humans in society, freedom of speech, abuse towards women, emotional and financial constrains, etc.

How could we use it?

•  Outdoor and indoor adverts and billboards with a message about freedom of speech, freedom of women in the Muslim community, stop the domestic violence.

• A commercial for a new radio station where you don’t hear any more bad songs.

• A politician’s campaign image, through which he wants to liberate people of all previous financial and political constrains.

•  A commercial for a new medicine for head-aches or even flu or allergies, asthma, etc.

• A powerful campaign to raise awareness about the human traffic situation.

• A nonconformist job add, for a firm that promotes a different type of working environment, where people are treated nicely and have the freedom to speak without being judged and fired.

• An add for a psychotherapist new office with a possible message like: Rid yourself of constrains and start living a new life!

• Wallpapers for our desktops, banners and logos for applications.

• In magazines and newspapers on a huge number of subjects regarding freedom in every way.

• Inspirational posters.

• Printed on shirts, caps, mugs, promotional material, book covers, agendas, etc