I started Alamy365 back in December 2011 and hoped to continue for 365 days to create and submit one quality image a day to the Alamy stock image library.  And I succeeded to a large extent with all but one image being accepted by Alamy QC.  However, as of Monday 13th February I have started work as Sales office manager at SealSkinz Ltd and feel that I am no longer able to commit sufficient time and energy to this project and so I have taken the decision to abandon it.

The images I have shot in the last week or so of this project have been of a much lower standard than I am happy with.  In short, I began just looking for anything to photograph to fulfil the assignment rather than have a vested interest in creating something I was proud of and happy to call my own.  For me, this was not acceptable and so rather than do something just for the sake of it, I feel it better to stop it now.

But that does not mean I am ceasing submitting to Alamy or from being a photographer.  On the contrary, I am as committed as ever but now I will just focus time at the weekends to create work I am happy with again and continue to submit suitable material to Alamy.

This has been a fantastic project and I feel that it was key to kickstarting me back into action.  For over 18 months I threatened to sort out my keywording, annotation and selection of images on Alamy but never got round to it.  But now, as I leave this project, I am proud to say that all my images have been cleansed, rubbish marked for deletion, keywords updated and improved and generally the whole stock library is in far better order.

From now on, rather than adding new blogs posts, I will submit directly to my stock image feed Alamy and Tweet updates as and when over on my twitter account @mickbuston.

Thanks for those who have followed my progress.

Mick

A stock image of winter red berries covered in snow

The winter weather continues to cause traffic disruption today following yesterdays snowfall.  However, there is always beauty to be found in nature.  Todays stock image demonstrates this with the dominant colour of these winter red berries set beautifully against the green foliage covered in fresh snow.

Keywording todays stock image is causing me some issues though as I have no idea of the english or latin name for this plant.  If any nature lovers or photographers out there can help, please leave a message in the comments below?

First real overnight snow of 2012 in Norwich 04th February 2012

Todays stock image of snow in Norwich, England was uploaded to Alamys Live News feed as it offered a newsworthy stock image of the extreme weather experienced today across the UK.  With heavy snowfall forecast, it was no surprise to see up to 4 inches fall overnight but with the weather offering a regular headline to news blogs and newspapers, weather related stock images continue to be in demand.

The Alamy Live News feed offers photo and image editors with a direct feed of freshly uploaded stock images covering news, entertainment and sport images from photographers at events all over the world.

A stock photograph of a full Asda supermarket shopping basket

A full Asda shopping basket with a range of healthy foods is the subject of todays editorial stock image and is filled with a selection of vegetables, fruit, fish and yoghurts.  This shopping basket stock image contains both the supermarkets own brand alongside major branded products.

This stock photograph could suit a range of editorial uses by newspapers, magazines and blogs to illustrate food price increases, healthy eating, healthy shopping and healthy living as well as in general food articles.

A woman reading a paperback book on an underground tube train in London

The third and final stock image upload to Alamy today is of a woman reading a paperback book on a London underground tube train.

This stock photograph can be used literally to illustrate somebody reading or using freetime on a commute.  Alternatively it can be used as a stock by a newspaper or magazine looking at the shift from printed words on paper to consumption on digital devices.

Related posts from Day 64:

Alamy365 – Day 64: Flytipping stock image

Alamy365 – Day 64: Stock image of buckled wheel

A stock image of rubbish possibly flytipped on a pavement in Chatham, Kent

The second stock image uploaded today is of a pile of unwanted goods which appear to have been fly-tipped on a pavement in Chatham, Kent.  An old television, chair and electrical lights and cabling are stacked up in a pile and will become the responsibility of the local council to clear up.

This is the second stock photograph uploaded today with one more to come in a subsequent blog post.

Related posts:

Alamy365 – Day 64: Stock image of buckled wheel

Alamy365 – Day 64: Stock image of woman reading a paperback on the London underground

Going nowhere fast - this bicycle in London with a buckled wheel

Todays stock photography upload to Alamy is a photograph taken in Victoria, London of a bicycle chained to a post.  The bicycle is going nowhere fast with a buckled wheel at the front and the chain missing off the ring.

This stock image could be used literally for buckled wheel or missing chain or more conceptually to illustrate ‘going nowhere fast’ or poor transport.

This is just one image uploaded today, others in separate posts to be blogged soon.

Related stock images from Day 64:

Alamy365 – Day 64: Flytipping stock image

Alamy365 ‘ Day 64: Stock image of woman reading paperback on London underground train

Self help for sleepless nights

Libraries are a great source of inspiration for stock images.  This book, Worry Cure by Dr Robert L Leary, inspired the idea of sleepless nights so I photographed a copy of it resting on a pillow.

With many people anxious about money and work situations, a stock photograph such as this may prove popular with medical image buyers for editorial illustration of the affects of worry such as General Anxiety Disorder (GAD), depression, insomnia, mental illness  or the growing market for self-help books.  I can see a stock image like this used in magazine or newspaper articles as well as illustrating blog posts.

’til tomorrow then,

National cycle network stock image

A grab shot today of a sticker for the National Cycle Network trail.  Actually, only found the trail this sign relates to  by accident on Sunday when I took my camera out for a walk looking for an appropriate stock shot.  Seems to run for miles but so far I have only done a short circuit of it but seems to be really popular with walkers, joggers and dog owners as well as cyclists.

’til tomorrow then.

Keep Reading

Reading is a passion of mine.  From magazines to shampoo bottles, I love the written word.  I go through phases though where I don’t pick up  a book for weeks, or even months, but I read constantly.  The internet is replacing the book a bit for me but that tends to be research or interest based reading rather than for pure enjoyment.  Time for a trip to the library to grab a Grisham or something similar to read for pleasure.

Photographed this editorial stock image at Waterstones on the campus of  University of East Anglia after dropping Sal off for lectures this morning.

Can’t think of a better way to keep dry and warm this winter than curling up with a good book.

’til tomorrow then.