The Stock Photo Guy - John Lund Stock Photographer

Woman Wearing Only A Barrel Showing Financial Ruin

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 05:37:00 +0000

A woman stands on a street corner wearing only a barrel in a stock photo about financial destitution.

Financial Hardship

Women suffering financial hardship is nothing new and an important challenge for our society to address. The reasons behind women finding themselves in financial hardship are many…divorce, discrimination, medical adversity and more. But how do we visually show such challenges for women…and actually, for men as well?

An Iconic Symbol Of Financial Ruin

An iconic symbol of financial ruin and destitution is that of a person wearing only a barrel held up by suspenders. That image comes from the days of the great depression, but still gets its message across quickly and clearly. Putting a woman into that barrel creates a stock photo of financial adversity for women that is clearly and powerfully stated, but also adds an element of humor that can make the message just a tad more palatable, more memorable and more effective.

A Stock Image Of Financial Hardship

It was with the above in mind that my partner, Stephanie D. Roeser, created this stock image of financial hardship…a woman wearing nothing but a barrel as she stands on the street corner of a large city. By having her standing at a corner she introduced the idea of choice and by having the setting be a city she introduces the element of business into the image.

Hitting Rock Bottom Financially

While it is natural to tie this image to women’s issues, it can also apply to men as well. In fact, anybody who has hit rock bottom financially can be represented by this “woman wearing only a barrel” stock photo. The idea of a person wearing only a barrel with suspenders first became an iconic symbol in the 1930s when numerous cartoonists used that visual to represent bankruptcy and destitution.

From Post Divorce Poverty To Tax Ramifications

Stephanie created the image with ample copy space for including headlines and text. Because the image has a ton of potential uses for everything from post –divorce poverty to challenges for women in the workplace to tax ramifications, she felt it best to put the image into the Royalty Free collection with Getty Images.

Woman's Head Exploding From Technology Overload In A Funny Stock Photo

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Sun, 10 Jun 2018 02:45:00 +0000

A woman's head explodes from technology overload in a humorous stock photo.

Feeling Overloaded By Technology

Have you ever felt overloaded by technology? Well, I feel that way a couple of times a day! Sometimes I feel like my head is going to explode from it all. If I am feeling that way, then others are too…and that means fertile ground for a stock photo…a surprised woman with her head exploding from technology overload.

A Technology OverloadStock Photo

To create this technology overload stock photo I turned to a previous shoot I did to create a humorous head exploding from social media stock image. I used one of the out takes of the model with an expression surprise. I also turned to my archives to find a suitable “explosion” image…in this case a pile of face powder being hit with a burst of canned air. The final raw material image was a close-up, or more accurately several close up images of the computer circuitry traces on a motherboard.

Complex Computer Circuitry And A Face Powder Explosion

I combined the circuitry images, stripping out the traces, to create a very complex set of circuits with varying colors and brightness to add a sense of complexity and depth. I wanted the circuitry to be unusually complex to add to the sense of overwhelming technology. I used a white to gray gradation as a background. I then dropped in the face powder “explosion”, and finally, added the woman’s face using a layer mask to fade her head into the explosion.

Enmeshed In Technology

The final steps were to add a bit more of the circuitry on top of her and adding a layer mask and “painting” out the circuits from her face. By adding the additional layer of circuitry on top of the woman we further “enmesh” her in the technology boosting the idea of the overwhelming nature of her situation.

Easy Cropping And Royalty Free

The image was composed to allow for easy cropping to any format be it square, horizontal or vertical. Finally I chose to distribute this image through Getty Images as a Royalty Free image (whoever came up with the name Royalty Free…jeez).

Strong Woman's Back Showing Health, Fitness and Strength

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 03:57:00 +0000

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A strong woman's back for illustrating concepts such as beauty, health, fitness and strength.

Beauty, Health And Fitness

A long neglected category for me is that of beauty, health and fitness. But it was less my desire to tap into that category than my appreciation for the particular woman in this shot that led me to create this strong woman’s back stock photo. The woman whose back is the subject of this stock photo is an avid indoor rock climber and an awesome example of physical fitness and I wanted to capture her strength and beauty on film, uh, er…pixels?

A Strong Back And An Active Pose

To create the shot I photographed her in my studio, then isolated her back onto a separate sky image, then added a blue monochrome look to make the image more artistic and less literal. I lit the image with soft but directional light to bring out her muscles. I selected a pose that both showed off her musculature and the graceful lines of the female body and provided a more dynamic body position than a more traditional straight on shot of her back would have offered. Images with a more dynamic feel to them generally sell better.

Women, Strength And Boldness

One of the beautiful things about this image is that it can actually illustrate a pretty wide variety of concepts. Obviously this image can work for health, fitness and beauty ideas but it also works for strong women and for success. It fits well the new paradigm of women with strength and boldness.

Cropping Flexibility And Copy Space

As with most of the stock images I create I composed it to work well whether used as a vertical, horizontal or square image. Additionally, there is room for copy on either side of the woman’s torso.

Variations And A Royalty Free Licensing Model

I actually created this image ten years ago…that brings up an interesting change in how I shoot stock. Had I done this image now I would have created several versions…one with no breast showing (because Getty has labeled this image as "nude" and therefore remains unseen on the default settings).I would also create a version without the blue tint creating a more "commercial" image. In addition, I would make these Royalty Free images rather than Rights Managed as is the current image. Matter of fact…maybe I’ll start working on that now!

How The Internet Works Stock Photo

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 03:29:00 +0000

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How the Internet works: A stock photo about cloud computing, networking and cloud computing infrastructure.

Communications Technology Stock Photos

With the importance and ubiquitous nature of networks, cloud computing, and the Internet, it’s hard to go wrong when making stock photo images to create images dealing with communications technology. It was with that in mind that I created this image that shows, conceptually, the infrastructure of networking, cloud computing and the Internet.

Servers, Routers And Internet Technology

Servers, routers, and other equipment necessary for running the Internet, are visually represented in this stock photo with gears, sprockets and chains. This intricate set of gears illustrates the complexity of communications technology as well as the physical aspects of running the net.

Light Trails, Streaming Data And Online Connections

Multi-colored light trails, created with long-exposures of city lights at night and camera movement, provide a metaphor for streaming data, online connections, and networking. The light trails provide a sense of motion and add color to the image. The background is a gradation of blue to black. Blue is the color of business and both the blue and black areas provide copy space for headlines and text.

Big Data Collection, Management And Distribution

Another concept area that this image can illustrate is that of big data issues. The merging of the separate light trails into one as they go through the gears symbolizes the collection, management and distribution of data…and big data in particular. All manner of data ideas can actually be visually represented with this image of light trails and gears.

Internet Infrastructure, Speed And Bandwidth

One hallmark of a great selling stock image is in it’s versatility…it’s ability to represent numerous concepts and to be easy to use a lot of different ways. This image can represent Internet infrastructure, communications technology, network and complexity, not to mention speed and bandwidth issues. I was also careful in composing the image to allow for vertical, horizontal and square cropping.

Internet And CloudComputing Royalty Free Stock Photo

This Internet and cloud computing stock photo I have assigned to Getty as a Royalty Free image. I chose RF because I think the image will be easy to use and appropriates for so many different clients. RF gives more visibility than RM and I am hopeful that a high volume of sales will offset the lower fees. I’ll let you know in a year or so (which is often how long it takes me to really see how well a stock image is doing).

Sprinting Cheetah Photo Showing Fast Cloud Computing

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 18:29:00 +0000

A cheetah sprints through a cloudscape in a visual metaphor for fast cloud computing and networking connections.

Speed In The Cloud

Speed in the cloud, fast connections, and high bandwidth are all concepts illustrated by this Cheetah sprinting through a cloudscape. In fact, any aspect of cloud computing, networking and connections that are in need of speed can be effectively illustrated with this Cheetah stock photo. An earmark of a good stock image is it’s ability to illustrate a wide range of ideas…and the element of speed covers a lot of ground…quickly!

Cheetahs…The Symbol Of Speed

Cheetahs are THE iconic symbol of speed just as clouds are now a symbol of cloud computing. Put the two together and you have a quick-reading clear visual metaphor for speed in cloud computing, fast connections and high-bandwidth networks.

A Sense Of Movement

To help this image become a best seller I composed it to crop easily to any format and to have ample copy space for the needs of art directors, graphic designers and photo editors for headlines and body copy. I added just a bit of motion blur to the fast cat to add a sense of movement…something that often helps an image sell better.

Cheetah Sprint Through Cloudscape

Another plus for the image is in the fact that the image is not one we’ve seen before. I did a considerable number of searches, both in stock agencies and online…and did not find any other images of a cheetah sprinting through a cloudscape. Put that symbol of speed (the cheetah) into an unexpected environment and you really increase the chances of grabbing a viewer’s attention and creating a lasting memory of the image and message behind it.

A Getty Rights Managed Stock Photo

I uploaded the image to Getty as a Rights Managed image. I chose RM because the image is hard to duplicate (most photographers don’t have the cloud and cheetah raw materials) and I think is well suited to print campaigns. But my hope is to make a few large sales as opposed to a bunch of small ones. We shall see. Despite the fast subject matter it will probably be six months to a year until I find out if the image is successful. It still seems to take that long before most of my images hit their stride…so to speak.

Gypsy Fortune Telling Cat Stock Photo And Greeting Card Image

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Mon, 21 May 2018 23:56:00 +0000

Need to know the future? Where better to go than a Gypsy fortune teller cat and her trusty glowing crystal ball...a stock photo created for advertising and greeting card use.

Forecasting The Future And Gypsy Fortune Tellers

If there is anything that everyone wants to know it is the future. What does the future hold for us, and for our business? Knowing what the future holds is the ultimate advantage. And what is the iconic symbol for the key to the future? The fortune teller of course, and her trusty crystal ball. In fact, a Gypsy fortune teller, hovering over a crystal ball, is an image we all ingrained in our collective consciousness.

Fortune Telling Cats

It stands to reason then that a well-crafted stock photo of a gypsy fortune teller, crystal ball and all, could find a hefty market…and help a stock photographer make at least a step towards their own fortune. With this in mind my partner Stephanie D. Roeser, set about to create not just any fortune teller stock photo, but an image of a feline fortune teller. Not an easy task when you think about the anatomical challenges of fitting a cat to a human pose…and the fact that cats don’t tend to wear earrings, nose rings, bracelets or other such adornments.

Cat Imagery And Crystal Balls

To actually create the prognosticator of the future Stephanie went to our archives for the cat imagery and crystal ball photo and background curtain. She set up the table, which we shot (using our trusty Canon 5D MKIV camera), as well as the various articles of jewelry and the vibrantly colored scarf or shawl.

Funny Stock Photos And Cat Eyes

When putting these funny animal stock images together you never know what challenges are going to pop up. In this case none of the cat shots we had that worked the best for this pose included any good “eye” photos. Stephanie did find a different, not quite as good-looking cat, that had perfect eyes for this image. It even looked like the cat had eyeliner on!

Hair, Fur And A Glowing Crystal Ball

It takes meticulous work to strip out hair and fur, but Stephanie did a stellar job…as you can see. And for the eyes…talk about eye contact…there is a powerful connection between cat and viewer. Stephanie even managed to make the cat appear to be primarily lit by the glow from the crystal ball. The attention to detail is one of the things that sets Stephanie’s work apart.

Business Blue And Cropping Options

This funny cat photo was created as a stock image and as a humorous greeting card photo. The image was crafted, as such, to be easily cropped to square, vertical or horizontal formats with plenty of copy space for text, captions, etc. BTW, blue is the color most associated with business, so adding the blue curtain in the background makes the image just a bit better for business uses to.

Fortune Tellers, Crystal Balls, And Profit

What Stephanie has created is an image that draws on the power of iconic symbols, gypsy fortune tellers and crystal balls, adds the impact of using a cat as the gypsy…a twist that further adds to the impact of the symbols, and appeals strongly to any cat lovers. I am predicting a profitable future for this stock image!

Cheetah Speed: When FAST isn't fast enough!

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Thu, 17 May 2018 17:50:00 +0000

The ultimate speed stock photo...a rocket powered cheetah...when fast isn't fast enough!

A Stock Photo Illustrating Speed

The concept of speed is an important need in the world of stock photography and you can never have too many such images. Speed images are needed for advertising and promoting everything from fast networks and Internet connections to delivery and transportation services. For my latest effort at creating a stock image illustrating the idea of speed I decided to start with a cheetah and give it a bit of a boost.

Cheetahs: Iconic Symbols of Speed

I believe that one of the best ways to create successful stock imagery is to start with an iconic symbol and give it a new twist. When you are talking about speed the iconic symbol is that of a cheetah. Factoid: Cheetahs can hit 70 mph! That is fast! In this case I chose to add wheels and a rocket to make an already fast cat even faster.

Cheetahs, Starting Blocks, and Motorcycles

In the past I have created speed stock photos featuring a cheetah in the starting blocks, a cheetah sprinting through an office, and a cheetah riding a motorcycle. But really, a rocket-powered cheetah has to be faster than any of those…right?

Cheetahs, Rockets and Skateboards

I started with a standing cheetah image, a desert shot (photographed at burning man…everyone should go once), a sky shot, a road photographed near my Marin County home and a skateboard and rope photographed in my studio. A piece of ducting, painted red, also shot in my studio, became the raw material for the rocket. And finally, a burst of flame, from a lighter held in front of a can of spray paint (I am NOT recommending such reckless behavior), provided the flames for the above-mentioned rocket.

Enhancing The Impression of Speed

It was a relatively simple matter to strip out and combine the various elements in Photoshop. I added forward lean to the cheetah to make the image feel a little more dynamic…and added blur to the foreground to enhance the impression of speed. The image was composed to allow for vertical and square cropping as well as the native horizontal format…and to provide ample copy space for headlines and text. I also added just a touch of a smile to the cheetah…smiles are contagious and I want the viewer to leave with one! One other detail…I have the front wheels of the skateboard just lifting off the ground…that cat is literally taking off!

A Rocket Powered Cheetah

The finished image of a rocket-powered cheetah is a blend between comic book and photorealism. When I finished it and sat back to ponder it the words “When fast isn’t fast enough…” came to mind…a perfect headline for a humorous stock photo illustrating the concept of speed!

Cheetah Speed...A Rights Managed Image

Choosing whether to put this image into a Rights Managed or Royalty Free pricing model was not easy. Ultimately I feel that with the amount of photography and post work going into the image it should be Rights Managed...and so it is. This image definitely leaves me with a smile…and I am hoping it leaves you with one as well!

Two Elephants Riding A Motorcycle

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Sat, 05 May 2018 21:40:00 +0000

This funny elephant stock photo is sure to capture a viewer's attention...the primary task of any stock image!

Great Elephant Stock Photos

The very first thing a great stock photo has to do is grab a viewer’s attention. This image of two elephants riding a motorcycle certainly does that! The artist vision and attention to detail that Stephanie D. Roeser put into this image results in a realism that almost has one thinking OMG…were there really two elephants on a motorcycle? Throw in the right headline and you are sure to get your message across to the intended audience.

Anthropomorphic Elephants

In our collection we have over 100 anthropomorphic elephant stock photos ranging from an elephant on a bathroom scale to elephants perfecting the flying trapeze! If you are looking for a funny elephant picture to hang on your wall, to advertise your product or service, or for any number of other reasons, check out what we have to offer.

Elephants As Symbols

Elephants make great stock images because of many of reasons. First, people love elephants and have an emotional reaction to them. We think of them as noble, emotional, strong, and, of course, with great memories. They are great a symbolizing the large and powerful. They also, of course, have a strong political symbology here in the United States.

Elephant Assignments

If you don’t see the elephant image you want in our collection just shoot us an email (john at johnlund dot com)…we create elephant images on assignment as well. If you can dream it up the odds are that we can turn it into a photographic reality!

Evil eyes in computer circuitry: A stock photo about the dangers of Artificial Intelligence, hackers, and malware.

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 02:21:00 +0000

Evil eyes in computer circuitry...a humorous stock photo about the dark side of artificial intelligence and online threats such as hackers, cybercriminals and malware.

Artificial Intelligence, Hackers and Malware

Artificial intelligence run amok, spyware, malware and hackers are all ideas that are creatively shown in this stock photo of a pair of evil looking eyes staring at us from within a complex network of computer circuitry. This one image can address so many dangers and threats that exist in cloud computing, the Internet, and networks on a global basis, and do so with compelling humor. Pretty cool!

Computer Circuitry And Evil Eyes

The computer circuitry is an iconic indicator of all things computer including computers, servers, networks and the Internet. The eyes in this image have the inverted arch of a severe from or an evil intent…a graphic that has only been intensified in all of us through cartoons that we have all experienced throughout our lives.

Threats And Imagination

The “monster” like aspect of these eyes are enhanced by the fact that some of the computer traces that overlapped the whites of the eyes are red…as if the eyes had the red veins that are a further indicator that all is not well. The eyes are all we see within the circuits leaving our imagination to flesh out the details of the threat that is eyeing us. Depending on the headline and text that accompany this image that threat could be Artificial Intelligence turned against mankind, spyware, malware, or the hackers and cybercriminals themselves.

Square, Vertical And Horizontal Formats

Like most good stock photos the image has been carefully crafted to allow for cropping to square, vertical or horizontal formats…and in this case the image also is easy to crop for banner ads as well. It is a quick read even at thumbnail sizes with a clear message of evil intent.

Stock Photos Easy To Use

Because the image can be used so often in so many ways, from online ads to newsletters to print advertising to social media and blogs, I made it an RF image and placed with Getty Images. How an image is distributed is perhaps more important than the image itself…if nobody sees it nobody licenses it!

Dangers, Challenges And Rewards Of Networks And AI

As we grow ever more dependent on computers, networks, and artificial intelligence, the need for visuals (read stock photograph) that deal with such developments, will increase exponentially. I don’t think you can go wrong at this point in creating stock that addresses the dangers, problems, challenges, and rewards of both networks and artificial intelligence.

Funny Elephant Floating From A Yellow Balloon Stock Photo

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 00:33:00 +0000

A funny elephant hanging from a yellow balloon is a popular and effective stock photo...see below to find out why!

Improbable and Unexpected Elephants

One of the earliest of our improbable and unexpected elephant photos is this stock image of a happy elephant hanging on to a yellow balloon with his trunk as he floats serenely through a summer sky. A number of factors work together to make this a successful stock photo.

The Unexpected

If you want to create a stock image that sells a good place to start is with the unexpected. In a time where we are bombarded with images to an almost unbelievable degree the unexpected can still stop us and have us take that all-important second look. An elephant…floating in the sky? That is unexpected.

Having Fun And A Positive State of Mind

People enjoy seeing other people having fun (or at least most of us do). It has been well established that positive images outsell negative ones. In this case the elephant is wearing a happy smile…and the viewer can’t help but feel a bit happier seeing that smile…though the whole process happens subconsciously. Too, yellow of the balloon is a happy color…and the sky reminds us of a carefree summer day. The entire image works together to put us in a positive state of mind.

Sympathetic Subjects

The choice of the elephant itself as the subject is also important. People naturally gravitate to elephants and elephants are known for a number of positive traits. They are seen as loyal, noble, with excellent memories and strong emotional bonds to their fellow elephants. We are all in awe of their size, power and strength. On the whole, elephants are one of the most positively viewed of all animals.

Contrasts

Another quality that can help produce a top selling stock photo is that of contrast. In this case the contrast is between the lightness of a balloon and the size and weight of the elephant. That is a contrast that is both fun to view and useful for a lot of advertising and editorial messages.

Copy Space And Cropping Options

This elephant stock shot has been crafted to facilitate easy cropping to square, vertical or horizontal formats and always with ample copy space for the addition of headlines and text. Making the image easy to use for art directors, photo editors and graphic designers is always an important consideration.

Hard To Duplicate Images

Finally, to end up with a truly worthwhile stock image it never hurts to create an image that is both unique and hard to duplicate. To duplicate this image requires some appropriate, and hard to get, elephant photography. We photographed this elephant with soft directional light (using a huge silk to flag the sun) in order to facilitate the considerable Photoshop work needed to achieve the appropriate look and body position. The Photoshop work itself also makes the image more difficult to copy as not many people are willing to put an entire day into creating one image for the speculative venture of stock photography! To create this image, with the quality we achieved, requires and elephant shoot, an appropriate sky, a balloon shoot, and hours and hours of Photoshop work. Not a task for everyone.

Advertisements, Editorials and Greeting Cards

This funny elephant stock photo has been used for greeting cards, advertisements, and editorials and has certainly been well worth the effort in producing it. Perhaps even more importantly, it has brought a smile to thousands of people…and who can put a price on that!

Pros And Cons Of Cloud Computing Stock Photo

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 19:49:00 +0000

The Pros And Cons of cloud computing...a versatile and effective stock photo about online computing.

Cloud Computing…A Hot Topic

Cloud computing has become a hot topic in the business world, and any company or consultant who wants to gain exposure for their cloud computing products and/or services will need visually compelling content whether that content is for a magazine ad, social media post, or website. A review of the pros and cons for cloud computing is a great way to introduce the benefits of online computing and the particular positives (and negatives) of individual products and services that relate to online computing, networks, and Internet enterprises.

Pros And Cons

It was with the above in mind that I decided to create a simple a graphic image that would be an obvious “cloud computing” image and, in this case, also an obvious “pro” and “con” image. The undertaking was actually pretty simple, though a bit painstaking. The “painstaking” part was creating a single cloud that would represent cloud computing. I used several shots of clouds stripping out cloud parts and assembling them in Photoshop. After that it was easy enough to past the cloud onto a black background. I then selected half of the image and inversed it. Presto…a cloud computing “positives” and “negatives” stock photo.

Yin, Yang And Balance

As an added plus the image also brings to mind the idea of Yin and Yang and balance. I also believe that people who view the image will have that Ying/Yang idea pop into their minds and thereby have a subliminal and positive force working on them.

Unlimited Cropping And Copy Space

The image, by being on a simple white/black background offers unlimited cropping options and ample copy space. Copy and headlines can be reversed out of the black, or printed black on the white areas. I think it would be fun to see a headline that stretches across the top, reversed out of the black AND printed in black over the white.

An RF Cloud ComputingStock Image

Because I think the image can be used often and by many, I uploaded it to the stock agency (Getty Images in this case), as a Royalty Free (for those of you not familiar with the term…that does NOT mean free) image.

Virtual Reality Business Stock Photo

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 01:54:00 +0000

Virtual reality in business is the concept in this stock photo of a woman rising up a vortex of light trails while wearing VR headgear.

Virtual Reality Business Photos

I recently read how NFL teams are using VR (virtual reality) to train their players. It triggered a thought in me…there are so many applications for VR in the business world (and I count the NFL as a business) that now is the time to create some Virtual Reality stock photos aimed at a business audience.

VR Goggles and Stock Photos

I picked up a pair of VR goggles at a local thrift store for $3.95. The next time I hired some models I included my VR ideas in the shoot. I wanted to create an image that could symbolize the ability of Virtual Reality to offer training, business opportunities and, in essence, a new freedom.

Emphasizing The Business Aspects of VR

I photographed the model wearing the headgear and jumping with her arms upraised to give the impression of flight. It was my belief that by having the model flying it would add drama and emphasize the revolutionary aspects of virtual reality. For a background I chose an abstract composite of various cities (including Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, New York and San Francisco). By having a backdrop of a metropolitan environment I felt the business aspect of the image would be emphasized.

Colorful Light Trails and the Future

By adding a colorful light trail image I could add some eye appeal and further the futuristic aspect of the image. I used blue light trails, captured with a long exposure of city lights at night, because blue is the color of business. I manipulated the light trail image to take on an artistic spiral, a conduit to new opportunities, and within which the model is flying.

Virtual Reality, Success and Freedom

The image is composed to facilitate easy cropping to any format, and the background is dark enough to reverse out headlines and type. The image speaks of Virtual Reality, possibilities, holograms, success, freedom and the future…and probably a few more too…never underestimate how a fellow creative might use your images!

Angry Jury And A Guilty Verdict Stock Photo

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 05:34:00 +0000

An angry jury is all about concepts around verdicts, guilt, innocence and judgement.

Guilty: Anger In TheJury Box

A Jury, in the jury box, is demonstrating their intent for a guilty verdict by making over the top gestures and facial expressions such as thumbs down and imitating nooses with their ties. Their expressions are angry and the outcome is obvious.

Humor, Familiarity, Products, And Services

The strengths of this image lie in it’s humor, its familiarity, and its obvious concepts. The image is about judgment whether that judgment is about products, services, or even political issues. In this case the judgment is obviously a negative one…that an advertiser can use to malign the competition or show how their product can alleviate or eliminate unfavorable opinions.

Verdict, Guilty And Innocent

Juries are something we are all familiar with from being called for jury duty to the numerous television shows that deal with the legal world. There are some great and emotional words that go along with the image such as “guilty”, “verdict”, and “innocent”.

Flexible Cropping And Copy Space

The image can work as a vertical crop, though by cropping out some of the jury members, and offers ample copy space for headlines and body copy. It can actually apply to a huge number of situations depending on the creativity of those using the image.

Creating A Jury Box

As I didn’t have access to an actual jury box, I created the box by adding highlight and shadow to wood paneling I photographed in a high-end corporate office. I photographed each model separately…and in a variety of positions. I created several versions, and ultimately will no doubt add further variations over time.

Angry, Bored, Shocked and Virtual Reality Juries

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Right now I have the angry jury, the bored/sleeping jury, the shocked jury, and the jury using VR (virtual reality) headgear. In fact, after completing this series of jury shots I immediately followed up with an animal jury of cats and dogs. Maybe down the road I will do a robot jury…kids would be good as well. Lots of opportunity here...maybe I should get back to work!

Social Media Success In The Palm Of Your Hand

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 16:29:00 +0000

Social media success...in the palm of your hand...and a whole lot more!

Social Media Success

Social media success is the key concept behind this stock photo featuring a complex orb of light trails within which are a series of social media portraits and all of which are hovering over the palm of an outstretched hand. Indeed, this is social networking in the palm of your hand…literally!

Light Trails, Portraits And Conceptual Stock Photos

Social Media has become such a vital and important part of our lives that it has become a significant subject for illustrating via stock photography. The needs are many and far-reaching in nature…from individuals using cell phones to highly conceptual stock photos such as this combination of light trails, a hand, and a series of portraits.

Mastery of Social Networking

In this image I wanted to convey a mastery of social media, more specifically, social networking. The light trails, captured by shooting city lights at night with a long exposure and camera movement, are a metaphor for networks, data transmission and connections. Putting a series of portraits of individuals within the complex net of light trails indicates that the network is a social network. And, as mentioned above, by having that composite “float” over a hand we are implying mastery and control of the networking experience…and adding the human element bring some worth to an otherwise high tech looking image. I used a white background to make the image upbeat, a quick read, and open to cropping (and adding background) to a variety of ways with ample copy space.

Connections, Technology, and Big Data

This image has a chance to do well in terms of licensing, in part, because it can illustrate so many concepts. It can be about connections, community, big data, technology and the future. But it can also be an image illustrating a distributed workforce, digital assistants and global teamwork. The key to what direction the image points one to is in whatever headline and body copy is added by the art directors and graphic designers that use the image.

Multiple, Disparate Images

Will the image sell well? One can only hope…but I always hedge my bets by using the models for a given shoot for multiple, and usually disparate, images. Often I find myself using imagery of models shot up to twenty years ago! The models in this image were actually photographed over a period of seven years. The light trails were shot last year and the hand specifically for this image. Okay…off to create another stock shot!

Dog CATCHES car!

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 16:27:00 +0000

A bulldog, jaws clamped firmly on a speeding car's bumper, realizes he has not exit strategy as he hurtles down the street.

Dogs Chasing Cars AndExit Strategies

Who hasn’t wondered what goes through a dog’s mind when he chases a car? What does he plan on doing if he catches it? There is a metaphor here…have an exit strategy! The bulldog in this image has his jaws firmly clamped on a car bumper as his body trails out behind the fast moving vehicle.

Funny Dog Stock Photos

I created this funny dog photo for use as a stock photo and possible greeting card use. Dogs, heck, pets in general, can be great subjects for stock photography because so many people naturally gravitate towards them. If you can create concept imagery from animals you have a paw up on the road to success!

Speed, Determination And Success

As I mentioned above, a great concept for this stock shot is having an exit strategy, but other concepts include speed, determination and even success. The image draws on our common experiences (seeing dogs chase cars) to create a sense of familiarity with the image…even though I am pretty sure none of us has ever actually seen a photo of a dog that has actually caught a car. Another thing this image has going for it is plenty of copy space for headlines and text. The image was also composed to allow for vertical or horizontal cropping from the square format.

“Aha” Moments And Endorphins

I have a theory that when people see an image and have that “aha” moment of understanding the concept, they get a shot of endorphins…and are much more likely to license the image (if they need it) or share it (if they don’t). All theory of course, but either way, fun to believe…and this is an image all about fun!

Animal Concept Stock

I photographed the young bulldog in my studio…and combined two images of him to get the desired body position. The road scene was shot near my studio in Marin County, California. The car was photographed separately in a parking lot (Jaguar XKS). The car was originally silver, but I felt a little color would help the image. Red seemed too dominant so I settled on blue. Voila…a unique and funny animal concept stock photo that hopefully will have plenty of “aha” moments.

Up To Your Ass In Alligators Stock Photo

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 05:28:00 +0000

At the end of your rope AND up to your ass in alligators...a stock photo for promoting products and service that can save your butt!

At The End Of YourRope

Ever felt you were at the end of your rope…or up to your ass (excuse the profanity) in alligators? Well, even if you haven’t I am sure you have heard those idioms before. And idioms are fertile ground for stock photo ideas! Of course this alligator inspired image relies on crocodiles for the visuals…crocs I photographed at a crocodile farm in Thailand.

Crocodiles, Chickens And Bamboo Poles

After the Crocodile show I spent a few minutes shooting the fearsome creatures for my archives. On all my travels I am always trying to anticipate what I might need for some future stock photo project…and some subjects, such as crocodiles…well you KNOW those will come in handy some day! In addition to shooting the crocs lying around I grabbed some shots of them leaping out of the water to grab a chicken. At the “farm” they also would let you buy chicken carcasses secured to bamboo poles with string. I had my partner, Stephanie, feed the crocs…they were amazingly quick I might ad, while I captured images.

Idioms, Crocodiles And Stock Photos

Fast forward a year later when I am mulling over idioms for stock ideas and shazam…two idiom’s in one! I hired a guy (if I did it over again I’d use a woman) to model. I hung a rope from the rafters of my studio, had him hoist himself up, and fired a few frames off. Then it was just a matter of selecting, silhouetting and pasting a few crocodiles and choosing a sky for the background.

Stock Photos Solving Problems

A great thing about this image is the multiple uses it has. It can be used to advertise or promote and product or service that can “save” someone and offer solutions to very dire problems. The image is particularly good for products and services that can’t be readily pictured…such as consulting services. Further, the image is fun and humorous…with a high entertainment value…and when there is so much competition for eyeballs…every little thing helps!

Up To Your Ass In Alligators Stock Photo

In addition to the ability to illustrate multiple concepts, this “up to your ass in alligators” stock photo is easy to crop to square, vertical, or horizontal and has ample copy space for headlines and text. Of course, in these challenging times it would also be nice to have about thousand people to license the image!

Big Data Handshake Photograph

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 18:20:00 +0000

Two hands symbolize connection in a world of Big Data and future technology in a stock photo.

The Need For Connection

I am always working at coming up with new images that show the idea of connections. Connections are the foundation of the new digital world we live in. Connections are what make our new, networked world work…and the need for powerful images that can show connections is constantly growing.

Handshakes And A Networked World

This image is one of connections in a networked world. The light trails indicate networks and streaming data. They also add a sense of motion and obviously provide the excitement of vivid colors. The handshake has not yet happened providing a feeling of anticipation and adding further layers of meaning and concepts.

Long Exposures, Light Trails And A Near Handshake

I captured the light trails with long exposures of city lights at night. The handshake (or near handshake) I photographed in my studio. I combined the hands and three different captures of light trails to complete the image. The image is a Rights Managed stock photo with Getty Images.

Bandwidth, Communications And Teamwork

A great thing about this image is that it can represent so many different concepts. It can show bandwidth, speed, communications, and future technology. In addition, the near handshake image can represent teamwork, unity and agreement and success.

Produce To Earn

Of course, after being deeply involved in the world of stock photography for almost forty years one thing I can safely say is you never know if an image will be successful in stock. Another thing I can safely say is if you don’t produce you won’t earn…so now I am off to produce another image!

Artificial Intelligence Photo

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 05:08:00 +0000

Artificial Intelligence, creativity and ideas are all demonstrated in this stock photo of a human brain created from light trails manipulated in Photoshop.

Creativity, Ideas andArtificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence seems to be in the news a lot these days making it a prime candidate as a topic for stock photography…and one I certainly didn’t want to ignore! Add to the concept mix “ideas” and “creativity” and I had to come up with some imagery…resulting in the above image of a human brain fashioned from light trails.

Long Exposure of Lights At Night

I began with long-exposures of city lights at night, with camera movement, and used Photoshop to combine and manipulate about a half dozen captures resulting in a colorful brain image with points of light…representing thoughts…punctuating the composition.

Futuristic and Scientific Light Trails

The use of light trails to create the brain lends a futuristic and scientific feel to the image…something particularly important if you are trying to communicate the idea of AI. I put the image on a black background which enhances the rich feel of the colors and provides a limitless boundary which can be expanded as desired to facilitate headlines, copy and other inset photos. It makes it easy for art directors and photo editors to crop the image to any format.

Innovation, Complexity and the Future

Among the concepts that can be portrayed, besides creativity, ideas and artificial intelligence are innovation, complexity, the future, and research. I am sure creatives will be able to come up with other applications as well.

A Rights Managed Image

While this image didn’t cost anything to make I do have about five hours of Photoshop time invested in it. One of the difficult choices I have to make with each of my stock images is whether to place it as an RM image, or an RF image. Because of the degree of difficulty in make this image and it’s unique nature, I decide to make this a Rights Managed image.

An Elephant In The Cloud Stock Photo

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 16:25:00 +0000

An elephant in the cloud is a perfect metaphor for presenting the challenges and dangers of cloud computing in a stock photo.

Microprocessor Flaws And Cloud Vulnerability

I read this morning that authorities have found two major flaws in pretty much every microprocessor that makes it possible for hackers to steal information…and the “cloud” is particularly vulnerable. That knowledge is now the proverbial “elephant in the room”, though in this case it is the “elephant in the cloud”. Hmmm…sounds like an idea for a stock photo to me!

An Elephant in theRoom (and the cloud)

Obviously there must be a lot of “elephants in the room”…in the cloud…given that the cloud, online computing, is a relatively young development and one that is made up of so many parts. With that in mind I created my elephant in the cloud stock photo for companies to use to advertise their cloud-related products and services, and for use in editorials that deal with cloud issues.

Hackers And Cyber Criminals In The Cloud

A great stock photo can be used for a wide variety of messaging…and this image can be used to represent the challenges of Big Data in the cloud, all kinds of hackers and cyber criminals, and the potential loss of massive amounts of information. The image can point out bandwidth problems, vulnerable data, and over hype. The possibilities are practically endless! The image works even better if the cloud issues are BIG ones!

Elephants And Clouds

I photographed the elephant in Thailand, and the clouds from an airplane window on my way back home to California from Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Photoshop provided the magic elixir to combine the imagery. Having light clouds, which match the light on the elephant, with darker clouds in the background enhances the sense of depth to the image.

Vertical, Horizontal, and Copy Space

I made the image easy to crop to vertical or horizontal from its square format, and the clouds make it relatively easy to place headlines and body copy within the image. I always try and make an image as easy to use as possible for art directors, graphic designers and photo editors. Because the image isn’t an easy one to replicate I decided to go with a Right Managed category.

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Now onto the next image!

Global Business Teamwork Stock Photo

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 00:19:00 +0000

Global business, global teamwork, and a distributed work force are all concepts illustrated by this concept stock photo.

Global Business

Global business is big business…even for small businesses. And global business is a growing category of business as well…so it makes perfect sense to create stock photos that address the “growing” need for all aspects of global business. It was with that in mind that I created this “Global Teamwork” (and more) stock photo.

Four Models JoiningHands

I hired four models and had them join hands in my studio. I lay on my back and shot them from the low angle you see. For those interested in such details I used a combination of ProFoto and Speedotron strobes and my Canon 5D Mark IV. The background I shot them against was just the wooden ceiling of the studio. I might add that stock photos with multiple people generally have a higher intrinsic worth.

The World’s Continents

I stripped them out and combined them with a map of the World’s continents…and added in the white background…all in Photoshop. I chose a white background because it kept the image simple and upbeat. Trying to have the continents show up reasonably clearly, while minimizing visual confusion, also called for the white background.

Women...The Trend In Business

I used predominantly women because women are the hot trend in the stock world, and traditionally there is more call for women in stock photography over all. I used a diverse group from African American, to Hispanic, to Asian and Caucasian…both because a Global shot needs such diversity and because there is a huge need for diversity in stock photography.

Global Teamwork And More

I have pretty high hopes for this image, as an RF (Royalty Free…what a misnomer) image, because it fills a number of conceptual needs for those who use stock imagery. It speaks of Global Teamwork, a Distributed Workforce, Global Success, Connected Consumers, and Business Alliances. Heck, the image can also show social media ideas as well! I find the best performing stock images can successfully portray a number of different needed concepts.

Best Selling Stock Photos

Will this global business stock photo be a best seller? Hard to say…only time will tell. But I am comfortable in my belief that this image will sell enough to have made it worth my time…I think….

A Mobile Connection and Networking Stock Photo

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 19:58:00 +0000

A Mobile Networking And Connections Stock Photo

Colored lines form a complex network spreading out from a cell phone in a stock photo about mobile connections, networking, and Big Data.

Given that mobile connections and networking are such a huge part of the growth of business throughout the world, I gave myself the assignment of creating a stock photo that businesses could use to draw attention to the products, services and issues surrounding mobile communications.

I have created many images using colored light trails, which I think are great for representing data transmission and handling, so naturally I turned to the of such imagery, captured through long exposures of city lights at night, as one of my primary elements.

A cell phone is the obvious mobile device of choice. Heck, I just found out that my own brother doesn't have fast Internet service at his house...and he spends hours on the Internet using his phone. Who knew! At any rate, I photographed the phone in profile to avoid having to disguise the make an model. This isn't really a shot about the phone...but rather about the CONNECTION.

Having the phone and the colored light trails against a dark background makes for a more beautiful image and makes the colors stand out all the more. A pure black background, however, does lack some interest. I chose a blue to black gradation because blue seems like the primary color of business.

I think there are several important factors that contribute to make this a successful stock image. First, it is eye-catching. We don't see images like this one every day. Secondly, there is room for cropping to horizontal or vertical...not a lot of room...but enough. Too, there is room for copy to be added or reversed out of the background. And finally, there are a number of concepts that can be illustrated with this one image. For example, it can be about Big Data collection and transmission...positive or negative, from one's cell phone. It can be about wireless connections. The photo can be about networking, staying connected, access to information and the Internet. It can show bandwidth and speed. No doubt there are a host of other possibilities as well...depending on the creativity of the art director, graphic designer, or photo editor employing the image.

Of course, one thing I have learned in thirty years of shooting stock...one never knows which images will be the ones that sell...

America And The Power of Diversity

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 05:06:00 +0000

The American flag filled with faces: America And The Power Of Diversity

This image of well over a hundred different faces, of all ethnicities and ages, and both sexes, super-imposed over the American flag, has several things going for it. The image, at least in my humble opinion, is cool looking. It has many commercial (editing and advertising) uses, and address important and current social issues.

There are ten years worth of individual portraits, all model released, in this one image. With the variation of ethnicities, ages and sexes, the image can be used to illustrate concepts involving diversity, politics, demographics, immigration, patriotism and who know how many other ideas.

Just looking at the image makes me proud of the diversity within our country and reminds me of the strength found in differences embraced. I can only hope that this stock photo can move our country just a bit further in the direction of respect and tolerance for everyone by everyone.

Instagram and Its Influence on the Art of Photography

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 05:15:00 +0000

Instagram and Its Influence on the Art of Photography

A guest post by Megan Arevalo

With more than 500 million monthly users, Instagram is now one of the most active social networks, beating Twitter and sitting behind parent company Facebook, which acquired the platform for $1 billion when the company was just 2 years old. The photo-sharing app has morphed to become the leading platform for visual communication, changing the way we consume photography altogether. Some professionals dislike the way things are headed because it cheapens their talents. In the past, painters who were celebrated as artists had a similar feeling towards cameras cameras. Photographs taken were more realistic than paintings and artists were worried that their work would lose its significance. Digital photography has made analog photography a loving memory and whole generation has never even used them.

On the flipside some photographers and artists embrace the Instagram because they can connect with their fans and showcase their work to a new wider audience. The high-quality smartphone cameras don’t replace DSLRs, but they are a viable alternative even for the professionals. Whatever the opinions of professionals, the everyday person can now utilize their smartphone camera and Instagram filters to create appealing photos and build a following – whether their models taking selfies, travellers showing off their destinations, or even meme creators making people laugh.

People are now suddenly inspired by their surroundings as they constantly search for Instagram-worthy moments. Everything from the meal you just cooked, to the book you just finished, to the landmark you visited, can be snapped and has the opportunity to garner likes.

It is therefore understandable why professionals might feel threatened, especially when advanced filters can make even a low quality image look appealing. However the positioning of objects, lighting and subject matter chosen by career photographers is still likely to have an edge over the average selfie taker. Hours of effort still trumps computer generated airbrushing. Some Instagram celebs still use professionals to take their photos to get the best of both worlds.

In fact the overuse of filters has created a situation where a large percentage of Instagram posts have the same look and somebody who uses a rarer filter or thinks outside of the box can benefit from uniqueness. This may be where professionals still have an edge.

Is Instagram helping to feed narcissism, the kind not typically seen with traditional phorography? Selfies, legs in the beach, taking photos of meals, flexing in the gym, etc are some of the trends popularized by the social network that weren’t that common previously. At the same time however, Instagram is also the main medium behind the popularity of body positivity campaigns as real people share real photos as a form of protest against the rampant use of filters.

Whether we like it or not Instagram is a modernist take on photography and the industry is looking for ways to embrace the technology so that the art form doesn’t alienate the audience.

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A Rooster Crowing A Dawn Stock Photo

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 04:50:00 +0000

A rooster crowing at dawn makes a great stock photo for illustrating the concepts of new beginnings, getting started, and important announcements.

A Rooster Crows At Dawn
When any of think of a rooster crowing we immediately picture a rooster, crowing at dawn, and standing on a wooden fence post. We also instinctively know that a crowing rooster is a signal that the day is starting and that hard working people are rousing from their beds and getting to work. As a stock image, a rooster crowing at sunrise offers the power of the unconscious familiarity that we all have with both the visual and the concepts that are represented.

A Rooster On The Road
With the above thoughts in mind a rooster crowing stock photo as been one that I have contemplated creating for several years, but have just never gotten my act together in finding and photographing a rooster. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when I was in Kyrgyztan on a photo trip with Jeremy Woodhouse. We were taking a morning tour of a small village when I spotted a rooster on the road. I managed to get five or six shots of the big guy before moving on. Later, on that same trip, but this time in Uzbekistan, I got some great images of a colorful sunset.

Roosters, Sunrises, Fences And Photoshop
Back from the trip, and in my Sausalito studio, I picked the best of the rooster captures, stripped it out, and manipulated it to have its beak wide open. I dropped the rooster shot into one of the sunset shots. I used a series of adjustment layers, Hue and Saturation, Curves, and Color Balance to make the lighting on the rooster fit the background image. I found a fence shot, also photographed in Kyrgyztan…on the same morning as I photographed the rooster…stripped it out, and placed it into the composite. I positioned it to make it appear that the rooster was standing on the fence post. Again I used several adjustment layers to match the lighting and color of its new surroundings.

The Rooster In My Imagination
Finally, in my archives I selected a star field image and faded it into the top of the composite. The whole process took several hours and a lot of fiddling with, but in the end I was able to come up with a rooster crowing at sunrise stock photo that perfectly matched the visual I had held in my imagination all of these years.

Announcements, New Beginnings And Time Issues
The crowing rooster image was composed to allow plenty of copy space and cropping options. And speaking of copy, depending on the headline and body text included, the image can serve to illustrate such diverse ideas as announcements, new beginnings and/or time issues.

Blend Images And Royalty Free Stock Photos
The next question is what to do with the image. I will be uploading it to Blend Images for distribution. I, however, am still struggling with whether to put it in as a Royalty Free image or a Rights Managed one. My heart is always with RM because I started out as an RM photographer and I believe my images are worth more money that the prices generally charge for RF…but the audience for RM images has dropped in size to a mere fraction of the audience for RF images…and Getty now routinely licenses RM images at microstock prices. Oh well. In his case I am counting on a big audience and am submitting the rooster image to the Royalty Free collection.

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The Power of Simple And Stock Photography Success

noreply@blogger.com (John Lund) — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 15:42:00 +0000

A simple image with a clear and strong message is one of the keys to successful stock photography.

Power In Simplicity

There has always been power in simplicity, and now more than ever, simple images are one of the keys to success in stock photography. Think about…just about every image is chosen from thumbnail sizes on an Internet site. An image must communicate a message quickly and clearly at postage stamp sizes to in order to be considered for licensing.

Simplicity, Clarity And Impact

As attentions grow ever shorter the importance of simple also increases. A simple image communicating on idea in an instant is necessary to cut through the constant media assault that competes for our attention. An image is far more likely to be successful if it combines simplicity and clarity with impact.

Risk, Danger And Weak Links

While I do not yet know whether this image of the risk and danger of a weak link will sell well, I do believe the image is simple and clear. I also believe it has a stark beauty to it that makes it stand out among similar images. Just for fun, I did a search for “weak link” on the Getty site using the “best match” filter. This image will stand out!

Rust, Storms And Clearing Skies

Using a rusty chain accentuates the vulnerability of the metal. Having the weak link stretched out and with only one thin piece of steel still holding, adds to the drama. The stormy sky background indicates additional stress and turbulent times. The light on the chain is consistent with the last rays of the sun before the approaching storm, or for optimists, the sun breaking through clearing skies.

Copy Space And Cropping Options

Other attributes that I trust will make the image appropriate for as many uses as possible are that there is plenty of room for copy and that the image can be cropped to square or vertical as well as its natural horizontal format.

Blend Images And Royalty Free

I placed the shot with Blend Images as a royalty free photo. With Blend I can submit the image once and have it available through out the world. It will also be available on the Blend site as part of a highly curated collection (great for art directors and designers who don't want to waste time looking through a lot second tier imagery). Too, there are a ton of uses for it ranging from pointing out aging infrastructure to bringing attention to old and faltering paradigms. The list is really endless which favors the larger audience available for Royalty Free imagery. Oh yeah, and Royalty Free is simpler too…and there is power in simple!