Beyond Street

[Ed Rooney]

I shoot a lot of Street. Not HCB or Robert Frank Street -- editorial Stock Street. Since leaving Seville in July, I've not been out on a single planned shoot. When going here and there for other reasons, I always have the Sony 100-6 with me and sometimes I have a shoulder bag with both the 100-6 and my a6000. So other than food shots, all my captures are of subjects I've found in passing. 

 

I need to expand my subject matter. I feel that I'm becoming repetitious and boring. Staying with common-access editorial subjects, do you have any suggestions. 

 

Edo

[Phil Robinson]

Statues and stained glass windows. (If you were down here I wouldn't mention it, but if you promise to stick to Liverpool.....)

 

Having had a look at your stuff, I see you're doing statues already. They do well for me.

[geogphotos]

Go indoors? 

 

I've been visiting lots of historic churches and enjoying the treasures within.

 

But the photography is just part of it.  It also involves research and takes a bit longer in processing and key-wording.

 

No real hard evidence that it is paying off financially. Doubtful I expect. But then again what does pay off these days?

[John Morrison]

2 hours ago, Ed Rooney said:

I need to expand my subject matter.

 

Liverpool has an important place in British social history as a place of arrivals and departures (and involvement in the slave trade). Britain is currently going through a protracted and self-inflicted trauma, re Europe, with no obvious end in sight. Our democratic traditions are being undermined (hard to contemplate in a country which has done more than most to establish democracy, the rule of law, equal rights, freedom of speech, etc). A few of us (not me…) seem to be grieving for the loss of empire, and over-estimate our importance in international affairs.

 

So… there must be many opportunities for an outsider to dig under the surface - and the Beatles heritage business - to find telling images. The juxtaposition of wealth - those iconic buildings - and deprivation (lack of investment in a post-industrial age). You’ve arrived here at a moment of change and anxiety; take on the task of chronicling our confusion... before the civil war starts...

[geogphotos]

The port would be an interesting subject especially if a trade deal with US is under discussion. 

[Ed Rooney]

7 minutes ago, geogphotos said:

The port would be an interesting subject especially if a trade deal with US is under discussion. 

 

A trade deal with The Donald? "I'd rather be dead in a ditch."

[meanderingemu]

12 minutes ago, Ed Rooney said:

 

A trade deal with The Donald? "I'd rather be dead in a ditch."

 

another subject

[Mr Standfast]

A little bit of spin on the question.

 

Maybe keep the same subjects but as an exercise, how about pictures in the style of...

 

Pick someone who's work you like or maybe don't like and try to incorporate an aspect of that in some pictures.

 

Cheers

[Allan Bell]

 

Whatever you do don't shoot like me as your sales will drop.🙄

 

Allan

 

[Keith Douglas]

6 hours ago, John Morrison said:

 

Liverpool has an important place in British social history as a place of arrivals and departures (and involvement in the slave trade). Britain is currently going through a protracted and self-inflicted trauma, re Europe, with no obvious end in sight. Our democratic traditions are being undermined (hard to contemplate in a country which has done more than most to establish democracy, the rule of law, equal rights, freedom of speech, etc). A few of us (not me…) seem to be grieving for the loss of empire, and over-estimate our importance in international affairs.

 

So… there must be many opportunities for an outsider to dig under the surface - and the Beatles heritage business - to find telling images. The juxtaposition of wealth - those iconic buildings - and deprivation (lack of investment in a post-industrial age). You’ve arrived here at a moment of change and anxiety; take on the task of chronicling our confusion... before the civil war starts...

 

Just had one of my images used in an article in the Guardian about Lancaster (UK, in the North West, about 60 miles north of Liverpool, a port and city with a maritime and slave trade history, buildings that reflect the wealth at the time etc). Many of the issues mentioned by John covered in the article.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/sep/13/lets-move-to-lancaster-lancashire-grander-than-you-might-think

 

 

[John Mitchell]

6 hours ago, geogphotos said:

The port would be an interesting subject especially if a trade deal with US is under discussion. 

 

Caveat emptor! No one trades with The Donald, they just get screwed over (if you'll pardon my French).

 

But that is indeed another story...

[John Mitchell]

Becoming repetitious and boring -- I can certainly relate to that. 🙄

 

In their latest picture needs e-mail / tweet, Alamy says that they are in need of "more authentic content in all areas."

 

Don't know if you've checked out the lightbox they put together for inspirational purposes.

[Bryan]

AOA - Somebody has been looking, without success, for a shot of a sign pointing to Liverpool and Everton football stadiums.  Football related might be worth a try?

[Ed Rooney]

Mister B, 

 

Running around chasing one photo or one subject is not my idea of stock. It’s more a spec assignment that rubs me the wrong way. 

[Inchiquin]

9 hours ago, John Morrison said:

 

take on the task of chronicling our confusion... before the civil war starts...

 

 

...and be sure as hell to be ready with your camera when it does.

 

Alan

[John Mitchell]

59 minutes ago, Ed Rooney said:

Mister B, 

 

Running around chasing one photo or one subject is not my idea of stock. It’s more a spec assignment. That rubs me the wrong way. 

 

Rather than going out of my way to chase photos, I often make a mental or written note of searches / requests like the one Bryan mentioned in case I happen to spot the wanted image(s) in my wanderings. I think this has resulted in a number of sales (no proof, though).

[Mr Standfast]

20 minutes ago, John Mitchell said:

 

Rather than going out of my way to chase photos, I often make a mental or written note of searches / requests like the one Bryan mentioned in case I happen to spot the wanted image(s) in my wanderings. I think this has resulted in a number of sales (no proof, though).

 

My thinking for the "sold to america thread", rather than search out something, have it in the back of your mind so you don't walk past it.

 

I am though always happier wondering with a camera an capturing whatever serendipity provides.  Those presentations and newsletters don't get illustrated on their own you know!

[Bryan]

9 hours ago, John Mitchell said:

 

Rather than going out of my way to chase photos, I often make a mental or written note of searches / requests like the one Bryan mentioned in case I happen to spot the wanted image(s) in my wanderings. I think this has resulted in a number of sales (no proof, though).

 

I effectively kicked off my selling with Alamy by studying the searches made by customers in AOA, previously my results had been at best mediocre, then suddenly the sales started to appear. Now however, that approach no longer seems to work, the competition has magnified manyfold and  those same images of unchanging objects rarely sell. I clearly need a new trick or two!

[Mr Standfast]

Can't teach an old dog new tricks but what if the old dog wants to learn new tricks?

 

[Abiyoyo]

I do not know if there is a bus to https://www.visitliverpool.com/things-to-do/dream-st-helens-p197871.

 

but I like Plensa

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_(sculpture)

 

 

In Madrid

 

 

[John Mitchell]

11 hours ago, Mr Standfast said:

Can't teach an old dog new tricks but what if the old dog wants to learn new tricks?

 

 

In the end, I think that the old dog has no choice but to just keep following his or her nose.

[Bill Brooks]

On 13/09/2019 at 04:18, Ed Rooney said:

I need to expand my subject matter. I feel that I'm becoming repetitious and boring. Staying with common-access editorial subjects, do you have any suggestions. 

 

Edo

 

Edo

Select a subject that is at hand, and which you are interested in, and photographically explore it deeply. Not just the surface, but explore the subject deeply over a year or so

 

I suffer from the same subject matter malaise.

 

I am going to start doing more surrealism in photoshop. Move over Rene Magritte. First attempts will depend heavily on Magritte, but hopefully I will be able to go my own way with later images. 

https://www.google.ca/search?q=Rene+Magritte&lr=&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjYrL2vmtHkAhVCqZ4KHfX5AtUQ_AUIESgB&biw=1751&bih=1248&dpr=2

 

I have also considered 36 views of the CN tower. The CN tower dominates the Toronto skyline and seems to be always in view from anywhere in the city. If printmaker Hokusai can do it with 36 views of Mount Fuji in 1830 so can I

.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty-six_Views_of_Mount_Fuji

[John Mitchell]

I found this photographer's urban "double vision" images interesting (if a bit chaotic).

 

Have not experimented with this technique myself as I'm not sure how the results would sit with Alamy QC.

 

P.S. Do you think images like this would pass QC?

[Bryan]

5 hours ago, John Mitchell said:

I found this photographer's urban "double vision" images interesting (if a bit chaotic).

 

Have not experimented with this technique myself as I'm not sure how the results would sit with Alamy QC.

 

P.S. Do you think images like this would pass QC?

 

Don't see why not, particularly if you submit a series of images using the same technique when it should be obvious that this is your intent and not a processing error!

 

I've seen Alamy photos sell where nothing is sharp, but it is clear that the tog wanted to convey an impression of speed.

[Ed Rooney]

Illuminating thoughts, Bill, in both my recent posts. However, advanced Adobe tricks are a giant step. 

 

I agree, Bryan. QC seems to understand creative efforts on our part.