Share your oversaturated subjects sales

[John Mitchell 2,168]

Since there has been a recent discussion about oversaturated subjects, I thought it might be instructive to share some examples -- e.g. Empire State Building, CN Tower, Buckingham Palace, Taj Mahal, etc., etc. -- of oversaturated subjects that have sold despite there being thousands (even millions) of others to choose from. Please also give the reason or reasons why you think your image was chosen.

 

Here's one of mine shot and sold earlier this year. There are zillions of images of the Vancouver skyline available here and elsewhere, taken from every angle imaginable and in all kinds of lighting conditions. This one was captured from my doctor's office through a thick glass window with a kit zoom.

 

Reasons why I think it sold: Mainly the vantage point. I lucked out in that my doctor's office had (he has since moved to a windowless cubbyhole) a difficult-to-find view of downtown Vancouver. Also the image was up-to-date. Vancouver's skyline is constantly changing. You literally have to hit the refresh button every couple of months due to all the new construction. It ain't Florence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 10, 2017 by John Mitchell

[geogphotos 831]

Can't think of any reason at all why it sold.

 

As a proper photographer once said to me on a forum ' He would not have lifted his camera'.

 

I didn't know any better.

 

 

 

Edited November 10, 2017 by geogphotos

[spacecadet 1,787]

"Glastonbury" 35495 images.

Why chosen? Because it's a cracking image, naturally.

Edited November 11, 2017 by spacecadet

[John Mitchell 2,168]

4 minutes ago, geogphotos said:

Can't think of any reason at all why it sold

 

 

 

 

Dull day perhaps. Makes it different from all the ones taken in balmy weather. Also, not the usual spectacular perspective.

[geogphotos 831]

Just now, John Mitchell said:

 

Dull day perhaps. Makes it different from all the ones taken in balmy weather. Also, not the usual spectacular perspective.

 

In other words fairly dull in all respects 

[John Mitchell 2,168]

Just now, geogphotos said:

 

In other words fairly dull in all respects 

 

Dull can be good.

[geogphotos 831]

Just now, John Mitchell said:

 

Dull can be good.

 

Tell the stock 'quality' police. 

[geogphotos 831]

Okay, time for some real gritty honesty. This is so dire that I haven't even moved this pic to my top pseudo ( as is my normal practice for any zoom or sale). 

 

maybe it was for a photography 'how not to do it' article?

 

 

[wiskerke 2,124]

Today:

(From the deck of a ship.)

 

wim

[Simon Evans 139]

over 107000 images of the union flag but this one has sold multiple times.

 

[Brasilnut 181]

[losdemas 1,473]

Estate agent display. Why? You tell me. 

[Jill Morgan 794]

CN Tower  6,500 images.

 

I have 3 on page one.

 

I think this one sold as they were searching for people doing the Edge Walk.

 

[TeeCee 436]

 

13,528 images of "Speed Camera".
This one licensed 7 times - it was used for several years on the rear inside of a series of road maps.

Made decent money way back then ....

[Bryan 8,435]

Sold several times, each time for less money! I've lost count of the number of times I've been asked to take a photo of a tourist at this spot, I generally struggle to find the button to press on their cameras or phones.

 

 

and then there is this view ( think it was this one that sold, I have some similars!), can't imagine how many photos exist!

 

 

 

[Phil Robinson 635]

 

About 168,000 of the Eye, always useful to add a boat.

In fact it think it was the boat that the customer was looking for, possibly even "Thames RIB Experience" which is a supertag

[RWatkins 26]

 

Close to 38000 donut photos and over 7000 on white.

Edited November 13, 2017 by RWatkins

[wiskerke 2,124]

39 minutes ago, RWatkins said:

Close to 38000 donut photos and over 7000 on white.

 

Half of them do not have the keyword doughnut.

None have the keywords without a hole. Nor with a hole. (with doesn't count - but a does)

I even didn't know there were any donuts without holes.

To top it off the only image with the keywords doughnut without a hole, of course shows donuts with holes.

 

wim

 

[vpics 496]

17 hours ago, wiskerke said:

I even didn't know there were any donuts without holes.

 

The ones without holes are jam-filled. In Germany they are called "Berliner". 

[wiskerke 2,124]

59 minutes ago, vpics said:

 

The ones without holes are jam-filled. In Germany they are called "Berliner". 

 

Which puts the famous quote "Ich bin ein Berliner" in a different perspective.

The dutch version berlinerbol. It also exists filled with cream.

 

We have always used the quote irreverently as" Ich bin ein Burrleenerr Boll" ;-)

 

wim

[vpics 496]

34 minutes ago, wiskerke said:

 

Which puts the famous quote "Ich bin ein Berliner" in a different perspective.

The dutch version berlinerbol. It also exists filled with cream.

 

We have always used the quote irreverently as" Ich bin ein Burrleenerr Boll" ;-)

 

wim

 

Apart from Berlin where they're called Pfannkuchen or pannenkoek in Dutch.  Which is probably nothing like a pannenkoek.

 

Once had a Berliner filled with cream and advocaat.

 

Edited November 14, 2017 by vpics

[imageplotter 128]

Just to add to the confusion - in Austria and Tyrolia, the "Berliner" is called "Krapfen". My granny (not Austrian) used to call them Kräbbelchen.  And if Wiki is to be believed, Kräppel or Kreppel is what they call them in Hesse. But they're all equally yummy! This is the sort of stuff where the automated translation thingy will probably struggle...

[hdh 285]

1 hour ago, imageplotter said:

Just to add to the confusion - in Austria and Tyrolia, the "Berliner" is called "Krapfen". My granny (not Austrian) used to call them Kräbbelchen.  And if Wiki is to be believed, Kräppel or Kreppel is what they call them in Hesse. But they're all equally yummy! This is the sort of stuff where the automated translation thingy will probably struggle...

yep, I think of automatic translation in the same way as putting my camera on full auto. 

It is almost certain the automatism gets it completely wrong. 

Also reminds me of the email I send re translation-questionaire, where I used a different example: 

 

<snip>

take the German word Hammer.
This is, as one may guess, in English exactly the same word: hammer - just not capitalized and pronounced differently. 
The issue is that depending on (image) context the German word could also refer and therefore translate to 
- sledge 
- gavel
- malleus 
- mallet 

Translating back with, say, "sledge", may either yield the original Hammer (engl. hammer) but also the German word Schlitten (engl. sleigh).   
</snip>

 

Edited November 15, 2017 by hdh

[Ed Rooney 1,475]

Bryan, there are not as many Brooklyn Bridge shots taken from that spot on the Manhattan Bridge as you might think. I plan to add my own this week. Am I copying you? Well . . . no. I grew up 20 minutes from that spot. 

 

In the good old days of film, the definition of a valid stock photograph was: a cliche done perfectly. 

[Bryan 8,435]

6 hours ago, Ed Rooney said:

Bryan, there are not as many Brooklyn Bridge shots taken from that spot on the Manhattan Bridge as you might think. I plan to add my own this week. Am I copying you? Well . . . no. I grew up 20 minutes from that spot. 

 

In the good old days of film, the definition of a valid stock photograph was: a cliche done perfectly. 

 

Better be quick Ed, I've arranged to have the entire skyline covered in scaffold, while it's going to rain most days 😉