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Blown Highlights on Alamy Home Page Images


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Firstly, this is not in any way intended as a criticism.

 

Looking at the current images on the home page there appear (to my eyes) areas of blown highlights.  I suppose they

would come under the heading of 'creative'.

 

I would be very wary of uploading any of mine if they were like this as I would be concerned about them not

passing QC.

 

It will interesting to read what other forum members think - I'm guessing mixed opinions.

 

Regards

John

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Actually not blown.Quite varying values below 255-255-255. Just checked. But you are right - at first glance it looks as if it is could be blown.

 

Quite acceptable I think, though covering a large area of the photo.

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My first darkroom instructor said on my first day in the darkroom..."The secret is that it's called Black & White. You need to see both." I think the same applies in colour...there are two opposite ends of the tonal scale from pure white,(could be blown out hilights) to pure black, and the strength in a lot of images is in having both. There will always be the exception, but blown out hilights never bothered me unless they detracted form the image.

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Can't comment on the exact technical quality of the images but I liked them and when I saw some of them I thought.......hmmmmm  most of my images are very safe because of QC fears and I would be reluctant to upload some of my more "creative" stuff.  Maybe time for a rethink?

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Can't comment on the exact technical quality of the images but I liked them and when I saw some of them I thought.......hmmmmm  most of my images are very safe because of QC fears and I would be reluctant to upload some of my more "creative" stuff.  Maybe time for a rethink?

 

+1

My feelings exactly.  I'm always overly careful when regarding extremes: focusing, highlights, DOF, etc. in order to comply precisely with QC requirements.  I think that it might be time to take a risk or two!

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I think the people at Alamy QC get it when a shooter is going for a creative effect. The "blown" window light in the first image is a common effect in interior magazines. This image of mine would not be at all interesting if it did not include both under and over exposures at the ends:  

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/mannequins-ed-rooney.html

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I think the people at Alamy QC get it when a shooter is going for a creative effect. The "blown" window light in the first image is a common effect in interior magazines. This image of mine would not be at all interesting if it did not include both under and over exposures at the ends:  

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/mannequins-ed-rooney.html

 

Very nice, Ed. I like the effect. However, I would have been hesitant to upload an image like that after reading Alamy's submission guidelines, which make no mention of creative effects. Why has QC made us -- or at least some of us -- so paranoid? I think this is a fair question.

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I think the people at Alamy QC get it when a shooter is going for a creative effect. The "blown" window light in the first image is a common effect in interior magazines. This image of mine would not be at all interesting if it did not include both under and over exposures at the ends:

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/mannequins-ed-rooney.html

Very nice, Ed. I like the effect. However, I would have been hesitant to upload an image like that after reading Alamy's submission guidelines, which make no mention of creative effects. Why has QC made us -- or at least some of us -- so paranoid? I think this is a fair question.

Yes, you're right of course, Ed, but along with John I too have been nervous about swerving off-course from the submission guidelines for fear of failing QC.

 

I uploaded a first test in my last submission two days ago (very bright; 'natural' but exaggerated flare and saturation). I took the picture more than 3 years ago, but have not submitted it until now precisely because of the reasons stated:

 

DA6EBJ.jpg

 

...but it got through OK - as Ed suggests would be the case with his example. Time to get a little braver maybe?!

 

Edit: BTW, there's only the slightest suggestion of blown highlights along the bottom blade and the sunburst at the bottom of the mast.

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FLASH!  I have NOT got that image in my Alamy collection . . . thought I had, but no. So be careful, mates.  :o

 

Give it a go and let us know! :)

 

LOL  Don't think so. Alamy is neither a fine arts agency nor a print agency. My everyday tendency is to shoot subjects for Alamy that I think of as stock, going for a normal exposure. I would have no hesitation in submitting the shot that the OP was talking about . . . but my yellow mannikins are a bit out there. I feel that in stock no one image is very important. 

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I'm currently in the 'sin-bin' having uploaded what I thought was a creative and evocative image in evening sunlight. It's been nearly a year since I had a QC failure which was entirely my fault - isn't it always?

 

I am still of the opinion that it has photographic merit/ sales potential but am expecting a failure due to SoLD. 

 

It's a judgement call and in fairness to Alamy, their rules are abundantly clear. 

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FLASH!  I have NOT got that image in my Alamy collection . . . thought I had, but no. So be careful, mates.  :o

 

Give it a go and let us know! :)

 

LOL  Don't think so. Alamy is neither a fine arts agency nor a print agency. My everyday tendency is to shoot subjects for Alamy that I think of as stock, going for a normal exposure. I would have no hesitation in submitting the shot that the OP was talking about . . . but my yellow mannikins are a bit out there. I feel that in stock no one image is very important. 

 

An Update: As it turns out I do have this mannequins image on Alamy! AX4NRT 

 

I just missed it when looking through my collection the other day. So whatever lesson you (and I) have drawn from this, let's reverse our opinions. So as I think I've said, QC gets it. I was of course looking for something else when I tripped over this. 

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I'm currently in the 'sin-bin' having uploaded what I thought was a creative and evocative image in evening sunlight. It's been nearly a year since I had a QC failure which was entirely my fault - isn't it always?

 

I am still of the opinion that it has photographic merit/ sales potential but am expecting a failure due to SoLD. 

 

It's a judgement call and in fairness to Alamy, their rules are abundantly clear. 

 

IME, it's seldom the image that I think is going to fail that ultimately does. QC can be full of surprises.

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