I thought this was great. As designers we’ve all probably seen (or maybe even had to use) lame B-Roll stock imagery or footage at one point or another.  This is a pretty hilarious spoof on stock footage, or B Roll material as some might call it. Stock can get really corny sometimes, especially when the actors aren’t as talented as they could be.  The late night infomercials seem to always have the cream of the crop, and this clip here is definitely highlighting the exact types of clips you would find in those types of advertisements.  Videographers, graphic designers, and anyone else producing stock will have a laugh at this clever skit. Embedding was disabled, so click the photo to view it on youtube.

WE GOT THAT B-ROLL!!!

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I don’t have many images that I say, “Hey, I want to print that really big and frame it – slap it on my living room wall.”  I was talking to a close friend this weekend, and said to me plainly, “That’s because you see dollar signs every time you shoot.  You’re looking too much for stock, and missing out on the rest of the world.”  You know what?  He’s right.  I need to start taking time to shoot my own personal artsy/fartsy stuff, or even street photography, in addition to my normal backgrounds/textures/model shoots.  My friend Tim can spot things that are dying to be captured.  I give him a lot of credit, he just shoots strangers in the streets and takes their dirty or confused looks, if they even give him any.  Maybe once I can get over that fear, I can start to capture some cool street-photography style stuff that I would normally pass by. Sometimes I also reason to myself, “No, I won’t take that shot – I don’t have a model release for that person, so I can’t sell it as stock anyway.”  That’s probably my main problem.

Check out more of Tim’s work here. He is an amazing photographer with a strength in travel, editorial, street photography and lifestyle images. Tim is a busy guy – he has a lot of great images that would even sell great as stock – but no time to sell them.  If you’re interested in purchasing licenses for any of his images for use in stock or prints, by all means contact tsla1124 AT gmail.com

He has photography from Italy, Greece, Panama, San Blas Islands, Mexico, Boston, New York City, and more.

All images Copyright © Tim Sala 2009

All images Copyright © Tim Sala 2009

All images Copyright © Tim Sala 2009

All images Copyright © Tim Sala 2009

All images Copyright © Tim Sala 2009

All images Copyright © Tim Sala 2009

All images Copyright © Tim Sala 2009

I wish stuff like this took less time.

I still end up spending up to 30-60 mins on one portrait sometimes…sometimes it’s worth it in the end, other times it’s not as cost effective.  You have to remember when you’re just having fun messing around, and when you actually should be getting your work for the day done   Plus, you only learn new skills and techniques by practicing.

I’m not a model, and don’t wear makeup – thank god.  My nose has blackheads (need to get one of my wife’s nose strips or something) I have the occasional zit (don’t we all) and all these little things add up to more time in post processing.

BEFORE:

Me sitting facing a large window, and a $2.50 white plastic shower curtain tacked against the wall behind me.  50mm f1.8 lens at ISO 200, f3.2 and 1/125.

AFTER:

Isn’t photoshop fun !?