Popular Stock Images

I’ll start a section in the site analyzing popular stock images and trying to explain what I was trying to do with the image. One photo that is selling well at the moment on Shutterstock is this one of some white-water rafters. I took this image on the Youghiogheny river in Pennsylvania (Ohiopyle state park). I clambered down to the water’s edge and watched numerous kayakers, and some rafters coming over the rapids. The trick in stock photography where you cannot get model releases from people passing by is to make sure that no-one is identifiable. Even with this image, some sites have rejected it because of a lack of a model release, but Shutterstock took this as well as a number of single kayak shots. I also carefully cloned out any identifying names on the life jackets and helmets. The words “White Water” on the side of the raft are OK as they are generic enough not to be a trade name of a company. I think this one sells well because it could be used to illustrate business articles as well – “out of control”, danger, risk, challenge are all suitable keywords and concepts.

Youghiogheny river scene with rafters out of control