Sebastian Czapnik Photography

Dreamstime's new pricing structure

2008-07-15T10:40:00.003+03:00

It's just arond the corner - Dreamstime is adjusting its price structure and image levels. For most photogs it will mean their images will advance faster to higher levels thus costing more and bringing more cash. Sweet.
There will also be more image sizes, extra small and very large will be introduced.
Here's the table:

Shutting down flickr account

2008-07-15T10:35:00.002+03:00

I won't write much about my decision, but it has been just about to make for some time. Finally, after reading some more about flickr's attitude towards contributors' copyright settings and complete lack of response when contacted about infringments, I decided to shut down my flickr account.

Read more about the whole thing in Scott Bourne's blog article.

New findings

2008-06-25T13:59:00.002+03:00

Summer holidays are finally here! It means more time to shoot hopefully - there are some projects waiting in my notebook.

Meanwhile, I found some more shots of mine used by clients who purchased them via Dreamstime.
If you look here, you will find this shot used:

Another one:

was used here.

TinEye - what a tool!

2008-06-13T13:07:00.005+03:00

Have you ever wondered where your images were used after being bought as RF licence? Trying to find it using google search is one way (I have been using that often) but it only yields something provided the designer of the page mentioned your name.

TinEye is another, revolutionary method. You just upload a small photo, the search engine does the rest.

I applied for the beta testing account and did a few searches. Well, most searches doesn't bring anything, but TinEye is in beta still, so in time it will hopefully work better.

-----------------
1. OK, let's start off with my best seller on DT. It MUST be found somewhere, right? Right!

Now take a look at this, at the left side.
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Trip to Holland

2008-05-31T22:30:00.003+03:00

I am back from a short (in terms of days) trip to Holland. Adam took part in a volleyball tournament, I was a kind of second coach. And driver. Of course I took some shots. Some of them have already been posted as Editorial images, some more as regular RF licence.

The drive itself was fine, my first with GPS navigation which did well. We arrived early on Friday morning, the weather was even too good which led to slight sunburns. Nothing serious though :)

Let me tell you, I am impressed by Dutch suburban architecture - so neat, yet each house is somehow different from another. Cool.

I don't see myself as sports photographer, but it's something I really enjoy doing. The gear I have is not very much sports shooting orientated, still, I took some shots I think are OK.

See the whole set in this collection on DT.

In action - condiments.

2008-05-22T17:11:00.002+03:00

I found another of my photos in action. This time a Russian site, article about food.

This image:

used here.

My first ever Extended License sell.

2008-05-20T21:35:00.002+03:00

Today the sales were rolling quite slowly, when it happened just to save the day - my first ever P-EL (Print Usage Extended License) sell. And that's the image:

I wonder where it will be used ...

2000th Uploaded !

2008-05-20T16:37:00.003+03:00

Another serious milestone reached - today I uploaded my 2000th photo on Dreamstime. It was one of my Beach Barbecue series which went through inspection in almost 100%.

Time to target another thousand :)

Apple iPod

2008-05-11T14:45:00.002+03:00

I finally got my DT Assignment prize - Apple iPod 80GB. I wrote a blog entry on DT about it, so let me just direct you there.

Chelsea fan

2008-05-06T00:57:00.002+03:00

Let me tell you, I am quite proud of these two shots. Partly because the technicals (lighting), partly because I was able to catch some emotions Adam was full of. And thanks to Editorial license DT has recently introduced I was even able to put those two up for sale. I hope you'll like them.

Hands on the book

2008-05-06T00:50:00.002+03:00

I felt I needed to revisit the short series I took some time ago. It proved to be quite successful, so I hired my better half to do the posing with the book. The lighting setup was basically the same, with the snooted flash and reflective glass table. I hope these shots will also find ther way to sell :)

Woman with cup of coffee

2008-04-30T09:59:00.002+03:00

The idea of thi series came to me as a complete surprise. My wife was wearing a blouse of the same colour as the cup. I shot it and then we thought she could change the clothes and the cups, as we have several colours of both :) All of the colourful cups here.

Here we are:

Stitched panoramas

2008-04-30T09:49:00.003+03:00

I am often asked how I make those panoramic shots. Well, there are various ways, you can try PS CS3 for that, they say it has significantly improved compared to CS2. There's a nice feature allowing you to export a panorama as a normal size photo which can be scrolled. A fine way to present panoramics online.

I recommend PTGUi software, it's highly intuitive and automatic. When you have good base photos, everything should go smoothly.

To find all my panoramics on Dreamstime, click here.

Motocross and quads series

2008-04-30T09:39:00.003+03:00

Beautiful Sunday morning. My friends took me with them to some motocross riding. The seaside woods are just ideal for that.
I used two lenses for that, first, my new baby, 90mm 2.8 and wide Sigma 10-20 for more dramatic look.
There were also two quads, and because I produced quite a few shots of them, I decided to arrange them into a collection, here it is. All the photos from the series are in my Sports collection though.

A few examples:

Celebrating my 2000th download

2008-04-18T12:35:00.002+02:00

Yup, I've made it! Or, it'd be better to say, the clients made me make it:) I have reached my 2000th download on Dreamstime! Time to celebrate! Or, maybe I should look around for another piece of gear? ;)

The lucky 2000th image was one which got downloaded for its first time, though it's been in my collection for quite a time.

"The sporting life" - Assignment

2008-04-17T19:29:00.005+02:00

So, the deadline of another assignment on Dreamstime is getting closer. This time I posted two shots. If you have a Dreamstime account and you like my shots, you can vote for those two photos here. Thank you!

Bert Stephani's gear - movie

2008-04-17T19:20:00.002+02:00

Bert Stephani, a photographer whom I have already mentioned here in my blog, has just posted an interesting film where he showcases his gear. It's the first part, cameras and lens gear. See below.

New series - metalworker

2008-04-07T12:13:00.004+02:00

I grow to LOVE my k20d! Incredible camera! Together with my new Tamron 90 f2.8 lens it produces very pleasing effects. The quality of the images is great.

I produced the first series using this combination. It's called "Senior metalworker in his workshop". I played with the strobe a bit, for majority bouncing light against the ceiling, but I also used snoot and umbrella. All of the photos are available in People at work collection.

Here are just a few shots:

New lens!

2008-03-28T13:51:00.004+02:00

Ladies and gentleman! Let me present you a lens I fell in love with from the moment I touched it:
Tamron 90 f2.8 !

Beautiful, fast, optically great, macro, shweet!

Can't wait to take photos!

And thanks to Jennifer for purchasing it in the USA and posting it to me, you rule !

K20d's first photos

2008-03-28T00:16:00.002+02:00

Still testing the new camera. The more I know it, the more I like it:)
I took it with me to the swimming pool where Adam swims. This one is shot with Tamron 18-250 and through a window pane, ISO 800. No problem with the noise, I love it.

I won !!!!!!

2008-03-24T21:01:00.005+02:00

I am absolutely thrilled! I have won an Assignment on Dreamstime!

The Assignment was all about House and Home and spring - cleaning, renovation etc. People voted and I won:) What's more, all four images I posted got through to top 15.

And the winner is:

© Photographer: Sebastian Czapnik | Agency: Dreamstime.com

The results start to appear in some places, my google alert brought me this:

1. How to make money selling your photos blog.
2. Rosyjska strona microstock.ru też pisze o tym.

New collection - Education

2008-03-21T14:00:00.003+02:00

I've just realised that I have quite a few photos having something to do with Education, Teaching, Learning. I groupped them and here you have it.

The latest additions to it:

DT milestone.

2008-03-21T11:39:00.003+02:00

Well, it is not a milestone as you might think of. No round numbers, whatsoever.

I've been uploading to Dreamstime intensively for more than a year. I always had more photos in my portfolio than downloads. Now, it's opposite. It means I reached the point I call 'critical mass'. Those many photos I have generate such DL numbers that I can't cope with them uploading new ones. I guess it will be getting even harder as time passes.

I am not worried by the fact, though :)

Equipment update - new body.

2008-03-21T11:30:00.004+02:00

So, I finally have it! After selling my k100d, I purchased k20d. Great machine, so customizable, great ergonomics, shweet:) Looking forward to working with it.

Lab shot in action.

2008-03-17T19:14:00.002+02:00

I have found another photo used thus adding up to my In Action label. This one:

used here.