Maybe we should start with a short explanation:
What is stock photography?
Some people are able to write whole books about "stock photography" but this is often done to impress readers or to complicate a topic which is quite simple to explain. Not that there aren't areas of stock photography which you can write novels about, but just to answer this simple question now "What is stock photography": Stock photography is, in most cases, pictures you have on file which you try to sell. Some stock photos are taken on assignment but many pictures are taken by stock photographers in advance in the hope to be able to sell them later.
We are concentrating on nature and wildlife travel stock photography. This means we travel a lot, take pictures of places where others only go to enjoy their vacations. Thats the tough part, that we actually have to work there - and yes, it is quite often hard work which often involves around 16 hour days spent walking with 30 KG of equipment, in temperatures ranging from 35 degrees celsius plus... (... more information below the photos)
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Northern Lights Show Churchill Manitoba A show of natural wonderment is displayed by the Northern Lights over the town of Churchill, Manitoba and an Inukshuk has been created on the landscape below. Three rows of lights seem to be dancing and swaying across the sky amongst the stars with a... |
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Killer Whale Sunset BC A brilliant orange sunset reflects in the cloudy sky while a Northern Resident Killer Whale swims by in British Columbia, BC, Canada. A large male Orca Whale cruises the waters of Weynton Passage just off Northern Vancouver Island,... |
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Wildlife Photo Polar Bear Hudson Bay Wildlife around the Hudson Bay in Churchill, Manitoba is plentiful and this beautiful photo of a Polar Bear shows how real it is. With the blue colored water of the Hudson Bay in the background, a Polar Bear roams the rock cliffs... |
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American Eagle A powerful bird of prey, the American Eagle is well adapted for hunting. This American Eagle was flying past when he suddenly caught sight of a fish. It was like watching... |
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Black Reef Gannet Colony An Australasian Gannet prepares for take off at the Black Reef Colony on the North Island of New Zealand. A great picture to see how massive the wing span of the Australasian Gannet is at the Black Reef... |
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Mythical Creatures Mythical Creatures, a surfing Killer Whale behind a whale watching boat of Vancouver Island, British Columbia Photo of a surfing Killer Whale, Mythical Creatures. Orcas are very mythical... |
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La Alhambra Granada Andalusia Spain Standing solid on its narrow plateau fortified on every side, La Alhambra is a monumental complex overlooking the city of Granada in the Andalusia region of Spain. Construction of La Alhambra, which was originally created for military purposes by the Nasrites,... |
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Valencia Tourist Attractions L'Hemisferic and Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia are amazing tourist attractions to visit while in Valencia, Spain in Europe. At the City of Arts and Science in Valencia, Spain in Europe there are two tourist attractions... |
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Plaza De Espana Moorish Revival Architecture Seville Constructed for the 1929 Spanish-American Exhibition, the Plaza de Espana is an iconic building for the Moorish Revival style of Architecture situated in Seville, Andalusia, Spain. The main buildings are today mainly used to house government offices in the city of Seville in... |
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Abel Tasman Sea Kayaking Adventure NZ A great family vacation adventure during a visit to New Zealand is paddling the pristine waters of the Abel Tasman National Park during a sea kayaking Tour. The coastline of the Abel Tasman National Park on the South Island of New Zealand is the ideal... |
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Denali Alaska Alpenglow on Denali in Mount McKinley National Park, Alaska Alpenglow on Denali, the highest Mountain in the USA. Mount McKinley National Park is a famous... |
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Historic Architecture Cordoba Andalusia Spain A city featuring a mix of historic styles of architecture dating from the occupation of the moors and romans, the old town centre of Cordoba was designated a UNESCO site in 1984. Originally founded in the Roman times, the city of Cordoba in the southern region of Andalusia,... |
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Tower Of The Captain Window Alhambra Granada Towers and walls surround the Alhambra of Granada, solid walls such as those of the Tower of the Captain, with perhaps only a window or two were designed to keep the inhabitants safe. There are in excess of 10 towers dotted around the walls of the great Alhambra in the city of... |
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Air Pollution Global Warming Ontario Canada The leading industrial province in Canada, Ontario, is often the focus of groups concerned with global warming by contributing to air pollution. Accounting for over 50% of the Canada's manufacturing, the landscape in Ontario is dotted with... |
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Fall Getaway Vacation Algonquin Provincial Park A great place for a weekend getaway or vacation during fall is Rock Lake in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario. Before the snow and frigid cold of winter arrives, a weekend getaway during fall is a great... |
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Desert Christmas The salt on the desert floor in Death Valley made for some interesting christmas pictures. Christmas Scene with Snowman, Devils Golf Course, Death Valley, Death Valley National Park,... |
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Sleeping Polar Bear Churchill Manitoba Canada Unperturbed at having an audience, a young polar polar continues sleeping in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. From June through to November the Polar Bears in Hudson Bay, Manitoba conserve energy by sleeping... |
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Pictures Of Volcanoes New Zealand Pictures of the snow covered volcanoes of Mount Egmont-Taranki in New Zealand are spectacular at sunset. Volcanoes create some of the most magnificent and intriguing pictures that any photographer can... |
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Male Orca A lone male orca surfaces at sunset in Weyton Passage off Northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. A male orca with his tall distinctive dorsal fin appears out of no where in Weyton Passage off... |
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Niagara Waterfall The best known waterfall in Ontario is Horseshoe Falls, the main attraction in Niagara and a great vacation spot in Canada. The Horseshoe Waterfall is the best known waterfall of all 3 Niagara Waterfalls. Its name is given... |
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Boats Port Credit in Ontario is a popular travel location for travelers with boats with great facilities at the marina. The Port Credit Marina is situated at the mouth of the Credit River making it easy access for boats... |
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Cute Animals Red Panda's are native to China and definately belong in the category of really cute animals as you can see Red Panda's are really cute Animals. The red Panda is a endangered animal and can only be seen in... |
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Bubo Virginianus This beautiful bird is more known under its name "Great Horned Owl". bubo virginianus , great horned owl |
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Panoramic Landscapes Table Lands in Gros Morne National Park, an outstanding landscape panoramic landscapes, panorama photography |
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Alaska Glaciers The famous glaciers of south east Alaska, the Sawyer Glacier in the Tracy Arm Fjord is situated in the Fords Terror Wilderness Area. USA, Alaska, Inside Passage, Tongass National Forest, Tracy Arm - Fords Terror Wilderness Area,... |
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Beyond The Sea Humpback Whale Tail at sunset, beyond the sea beyond the sea, showing a beautiful Humpback Whale Tail at sunset, Megaptera novaeangliae |
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Cougar Animal A beautiful but also dangerous sight, a cougar animal, also known as mountain lion. This stock photo of a cougar shows a fairly young animal. Among the top predators of Canada next to bears, the cougar is a powerful animal. Cougars are... |
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Moorish Architecture La Alhambra Granada Spain The beautiful moorish architecture has been retained throughout the Casa Real (Royal House) at La Alhamba in Granada, Spain and is seen on columns, ceilings, archways, and walls. Throughout the Casa Real, the Royal House at La Alhambra situated in the city of Granada, Spain,... |
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Castillo De Santa Catalina Jaen Andalusia Spain The current Castillo de Santa Catalina which sits high above the city of Jaen in the Andalusia region of Spain, is of Christian origin constructed during the 13th century. The buildings seen today at the Castillo de Santa Catalina in the city of Jaen, were originally... |
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Autumn Haze Lac Monroe Quebec Canada As the autumn season reaches it's peak in Quebec, a haze is often seen on the surface of Lac Monroe , a result of the difference between the water and air temperatures. A peaceful serene setting as the cooler autumn evenings approach, creating a haze on the water... |
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Fly Fishing Flies Picture A picture that thrills fishermen is a table strewn with multi-colored fly fishing flies which are tied and ready to be used. Fishermen that spend their vacations at the Rifflin'Hitch Lodge in Southern Labrador, Canada are... |
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Romantic Vacation Destination Gros Morne Newfoundland Set amongst geological wonders, the pebbly beach of Green Point is a romantic vacation destination situated in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland. A west facing position provides a glorious view of the setting sun from Green Point - an ideal... |
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Fox Glacier Summit South Island New Zealand At the summit of the Fox Glacier on the South Island of New Zealand, the scenery is stunning as the sunlight reflects off the snow and ice under the deep blue colored sky. Rocks beginning to peek out on Fox Glacier in Westland National Park on the South Island of New... |
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Putting Green Shot Oliva Nova Golf Course Valencia The ball is in a direct line to the hole on the green at the Oliva Nova Golf Course in Valencia, Spain but putting this long distance in one shot would definitely be considered a winner. From where this golf ball sits on the green at the Oliva Nova Golf Course in Valencia, Spain, it is... |
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White Island Volcano Landscape New Zealand The volcano landscape of White Island on the North Island of New Zealand is partially made up of streams and sulphur deposits. The bright yellow and orange colours of the landscape of White Island on the North Island of New... |
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Taft District Beach Oregon Coast USA Glass floats along the the quaint Taft District beach in Lincoln City along the Oregon Coast in the USA. As two people walk along the Historic Taft District beach in Lincoln City along the Oregon Coast in... |
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Karlstein Golf Course Scenery Czech Republic A twosome walks the Karlstein Golf Course in the Czech Republic while enjoying the scenery of the Karlstein Castle. From each fairway that these two men are playing on the Karlstein Golf Course in the Czech... |
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Scenic Travel Destination France An extremely scenic travel destination in the Provence region of France is the Grand Canyon du Verdon in the Alpes de Haute. Verdon River running through the Grand Canyon du Verdon, Gorges du Verdon, Parc Naturel Regional du... |
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Small Horses Camargue Provence France The small horses of the Camargue pause to eat in the long grasses of the Plaine de Camargue, near Arles in Provence, France. The small horses of the Camargue area of Provence, France are an old breed of horses, and they are,... |
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Foggy Day Pack Ice Newfoundland Canada Pack ice fills the Strait of Belle Isle in Newfoundland, Canada as the foggy day makes the surroundings very hard to see across the water. Along Highway 430 in Newfoundland, Canada there are many fascinating places to pull over to enjoy... |
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South Bay And Kaikoura Mountain Range Picture Green pastures and South Bay are illuminated with the last rays of daylight as the Kaikoura Mountain Range is shrouded in a thin layer of fog in Canterbury, New Zealand. New Zealand's South Island is renowned for its diverse landscape and this picture demonstrates... |
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Fly Fishing Guide Main Brook Fly fishing is a great outdoor sport in Main Brook, Newfoundland and a guide can show you the proper techniques to catching some fine fish. As you stand out in the fast moving Salmon River in Main Brook, Newfoundland fly fishing, you can... |
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... to -40 degrees celsius.
Depending on whether we have an assignment for the shoot or not, we work with a picture request list from the company which hired us OR we photograph what we think will sell.
There is not a lot of money in travel stock photography because most publishers don't pay a lot (fortunately there are still some which pay a fair price), this is also the reason why especially in the last few years a lot of photographers concentrate on other stock photography which is taken under controlled circumstances - a studio. Although it is a lot of work to do studio pictures, and takes a lot of knowledge, creativity and technical know how, it is way more difficult to get good travel stock photography.
In the field you not only have to deal with creativity and technical skills, but also with the environment which you can't control, with paperwork and permits, different languages, and a lot of research on where and what to photograph. Additionally, there are all the normal travel risks and problems like flying, robbery, living out of a suitecase in hotels, and renting cars - which sometimes break down. I could write another 5 pages on those topics.
These are all reasons why travel stock photos are way more expensive to produce. On one production in Spain we drove almost 6000KM (with gas prices reaching an astronomical 1.50 Euro per liter) within 2 weeks, just to finish all of our "to do" list. There is always the time pressure too, you have to be very efficient, otherwise it costs too much money.
This is one of the reasons why I personally believe that travel, nature and wildlife stock photography should be paid better then the studio work where you place some flowers in front of a white cartoon and you have all day to take those two amazing pictures.
Again, please do not get this wrong - I totally take my hat off and appreciate the work of studio photographers (I still do some large format work in my studio) but what I'm trying to say is that it is not always fair when a studio photograph attracts a price which is 10 times more the price of a travel picture.
So - that said, here are some pictures of my nature, wildlife and travel stock photography which have sold well over the years. To see more please go to my stock photo catalogue. Enjoy this little selection of my most popular stock photography which has been used in magazines, calendars, postcards, travel guides, television, advertisement, and in many other media platforms.
Please use the search (powered by Google) to find what you looking for - give it a try - you will be surprised how well it works!
