Submitting Images, what we want is what you do best!
Hi Ed,
Thanks so much for your offer.
This IMAGE LIBRARY resource, we named our RAWFOTOBANK™. It's meant to be very different from the information in sites that review cameras. That is not our job.
We just want to present images representing what real photographers do in their profession.
We want pictures that would be something you would do for your own work or pride. That way the camera is fairly representing what some particular photographer gets with the combination of lens, camera (back) and subject. We will have many pictures each with a different approach, but the discerning photographer should find a kinship in certain types of work and will be able to learn more about that lens-sensor combination than laboratory test charts.
Just pick pictures from amongst a shoot that is correctly exposed and has some interest. It does not need to be any prizewinner. However, your © will be in the image IPTC as well as contact info if you wish to get people to purchase that or other images. So the image though not stellar, needs to be presentable.
Any subject relevant to your interest. The idea is that architects would use the camera the way architects want to, but each to their own taste, whereas a product or news photographers would have likely entirely different considerations.
This way, we do not set unrealistic conditions. Rather the photographer must use his/her own judgment as to what is professional and what they like.
Note that if you use a specialty camera, the f stop might need to be entered by hand (an Eos camera with a Leica or Pentax lens, for example, or a View Camera with a Digital Back. Always specify the lens name and aperture with the shutter speed, as otherwise the EXIF might be empty and the critical information will be missing.
After we get the first hundred or so images, our database will be reviewed to see if we should refine it.
Which I'm sure we will.
If you can test several lenses at several apertures relevant to your type of work, then that is even better. These can be marked as a series.
Then use key words in the usual way so it can be searched for.
I am currently setting up the front end of the image-searching interface. Then we have to store the images. We already have a test site up but it will not go online until we see that the interface works and we have tracking.
Any suggestions or ideas will be received with appreciation.
There will be no charges to anyone.
Send what you think might be OK. If it is not fitting, we'll let you know, but I believe most submissions will be of professional quality and will be used.
We will rank the pictures as they are chosen so the database will become weighted towards images that photographers find most useful. However, all images will be available.
So thanks Ed and everyone else for helping to kick start this resource.
Yes, I think I'd be willing to donate and maybe even take some shots under specific circumstances just for the bank.
However, I don't know what kind of shots you are looking for. I guess I'm not sure where to start!
Are there any submitted that you can display as examples yet?
The M8 pictures from New York Central Park would be excellent examples, but the pictures do not have to be anywhere near that beautiful.
I do think it will be helpful to post sample images, and we'll do that, but don't wait to get started.
As soon as we have the site up we'll post the information.
However, right now, all the files will be isolated, virus checked and catalogued and the database is being tested.
Asher