Big Data Handshake Photograph

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

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

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.

-->

Now onto the next image!

Global Business Teamwork Stock Photo

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

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...