Here's one more interview with one of deviantART's stock photographers. I like to think that this series of 20Qs with my fellow stock producers will lend a feeling of familiarity with the people that provide the photos that are available for use in your artwork.

My interview this week is with Glenn from ~Deaths-stock.



Glenn is another Aussie stocker. (I seem to have the happy experience of encountering stockers from Australia more and more these days.) He's been offering stock photos at deviantART since July 2006. To commemorate his first anniversary as a dA stocker, I thought it might be fun to offer you a chance to get to know the guy responsible for ~Deaths-stock.

One of the first things I noticed about Glenn's stock was his talent for capturing some really breathtaking landscape backgrounds. This kind of brilliance can also be enjoyed in his personal art account, ~Aximili-6116. Both galleries also tell of his skill for photographing animals as well as a variety of other subjects.

This deviant agreed to my request with a friendly enthusiasm that makes him very approachable. He shared his thoughts about photography, modelling, seeing his stock used in art, and other topics in his insightful and cheerful manner. After reading this interview, I hope you will come to see this stocker as a helpful resource in dA's stock communtiy...

1. How did you first get involved with stock photography?

~Deaths-stock: Well I, as most people did, started off with a normal art account (~Aximili-6116 for those who'd like to have a look ), and I was encouraged by a few people to make a stock account. At first I was reluctant and just told people that if they wanted to use my photos just to take them, but then found it was hard to keep track of comings and goings, so I opened up Deaths-stock.

2. What made you decide to offer stock photos at deviantART, as opposed to going some place else?

~Deaths-stock: Well, I found that deviantART was just convenient. I'd been using it for about 6months before I'd decided to open a stock account, so the only thing I had to learn about was putting photos into a different category. Plus the fact I've never really thought that there was anything as large as DA out there.

3. What made you decide on the user name "Deaths-stock"?

~Deaths-stock: Ah well, I've always had a strange fascination with death, but mainly I read a lot of Terry Pratchett's Discworld books and love the character Death. lol Although there were a few complaints from users when I started up that I didn't run around taking photos of dead animals and stuff... *insert shaking of head here*

4. Which stockers at this site inspire you (or challenge you to improve) the most?

~Deaths-stock:


Well, first and foremost, I have to say *Hanratty-Stock. She has some of the most tasteful female stock available, a HUGE variety, and the fact that she seems to enjoy her time on DA makes her an awesome stocker to watch. Although I'm pretty sure everyone already does.


Another really great stocker is *faestock. She does a great range of female stock, and they seem to be really original. She also [has] some bloody amazing scenery shots!


~wet-ground-stock has a nice range of pretty much everything ranging from animals to buildings to flowers. Even if your not up for using stock images, her photos are good even just to browse through


A recent addition to my watch list has been *lugubrum-stock, and I'm really glad I did. Trawling through her photos was an eye opener. [She has] a huge amount of textures and Photoshop brushes, plus great old castles and stuff

5. What is your favorite thing to photograph for stock?

~Deaths-stock: I really like taking photos of backgrounds. I don't really mind what kind. The beach, in the bush, or just a dirt road with a sunset can be really beautiful and it's always nice to get out and about.

6. To the best of your knowledge, which of your stock photos gets used the most?

~Deaths-stock:


I'd have to say I get a lot of notes telling me that [Stock - Cliff 2] has been used. I really like this photo, and I guess it gets used a lot because there is a lot of space for people's own tastes to move in, and a lot can be done with it.

7. What is your favorite thing about offering stock?

~Deaths-stock: I suppose for anyone offering stock is to see what people can do with it. ...How someone can come in, take your spider, a girl from someone else, a background from that person, and the next thing you know your jaw is on the ground because they've made a superb manipulation and wondering how the hell it was done!

8. Which do you enjoy more, stock photography or art photography?

~Deaths-stock: Its pretty 50/50 for me because I like to take nature photos. They can really [be put in either art photography or stock photography], but of course with stock other people can improve on it.

9. What do you feel are the major differences between stock photos and art photos?

~Deaths-stock: This is a really hard question, but I think the biggest difference is that when your going through the end resulted photos, you have to think 'can something be done with this?'


My all time favorite photo that I've ever taken was [Cliff face stock]. BUT the angle, and the view would make it really hard to use as a stock photo. And even though I put it in as stock (and on my art account, SHH don't tell) I think I just did it as a brag photo.


A good example of a useable stock photo would have to be something like [Stock-Beach] because it's plain. [It has] a few objects around, but it's not cluttered. Doing a few manips myself, I know that having to work around things is a time consuming act. It also has good lighting, which can be played with. It could probably use a little more beach, but it's really hard to find a medium with shots like this.

At the time with both of these photos, I was using some kind of dodge Kodak easy share, and after having an amazing Cannon IXUS 55 for... *sigh* 1 week before it was stolen, I now am enjoying the beautiful Panasonic DMC-FZ5, which is just amazing

10. If someone told you that they were thinking of opening a stock account at deviantART, what advice would you have to help them get started?

~Deaths-stock: I'd have to say, don't be put off by your works not being used right away. You have to remember that there are like a billion people here, all trying to get their works seen. But don't run around advertising like mad because people will just get annoyed with you. Be patient, and you'll get there.

Also when you upload, mass uploads are something that get to me a bit, so here's a hint with uploading human shots (or any really). I think you should get your photos, choose maybe the best 10, and make sure they are all different positions. Upload those and with the other 100 pics which are pretty much the same as the other 10, offer them in a pack for people to download.

But especially HAVE FUN. If you wake up in the morning and think 'oh god I have to take photos' you shouldn't be doing it. Enjoy what you're doing. Otherwise what's the point? You're doing it for you as well as others.

11. Have there been any outstanding uses of your stock that make you especially proud to be a stocker?

~Deaths-stock: Well, I guess seeing one of the first use of one of my photos was especially awesome...

by ~Espirradeira
It was just really great to see someone choose MY photo to use lol

by *Fraai
[This] is one of my all time favorite manipulations. It's just a really excellent, soft [image]

by *Fraai
[This one] is just so awesome. You really do have to full view it to see the detail that has gone into the layers. [It's] one of my favorites I'd have to say

by ~Libellula
Even though my stock was a small part in this [image], I think all of the random photos brought together made an awesome manipulation.

by ~empyreus
This [image] is brilliant! I sat there for ages looking at this. It's so well put together, flawless

12. If you could go anywhere, meet anyone, and if money were no object... What would you most love to have in your stock gallery?

~Deaths-stock: Ah well... I would have to be a bit of a geek and say space... God, it would be awesome to stand on the moon and take just 'the perfect photo' of Earth. That would be the best feeling in the world

13. Of which photo in your stock gallery are you most proud?

~Deaths-stock:


As I said earlier [Cliff face stock] is in my opinion the best photo I've ever taken, though I'm happy to be corrected When I took this photo I didn't think much about it on the 2-inch screen that the preview showed, but when I got it home on computer I was so excited. Wild fascinations of being the greatest photographer in the world were running through my head! And then I saw the rest of my photos and though 'meh... fluke' lol but I don't care It's my fav.

14. How did it make you feel the first time you saw your stock used in a piece of art?

~Deaths-stock: It was really weird the first time someone asked me if they could use my stock, and I got really possessive and quick 'no!' was snapped lol They were my photos and mine alone muhaha!

But then I realized that was stupid, and a few days later I apologized and said 'go for it', and they lol told me to go away.

The actual first time I was told someone had used my stock I was so excited. I couldn't believe that someone wanted my photo to be used. [It was] a strangely awesome feeling

15. You've posed for some of your own stock photos. Which do you prefer: being the model or being the photographer?

~Deaths-stock: I really don't mind doing both. I don't do many model photos just because I have a large family who would think I was a slight dork for taking photos of myself. All of the ones you see on my account were taken about 3 am lol

For me its also a matter of space as well, my room is not very big, and it's cluttered... ok a mess, so finding a cleared room for a few houses is a hard thing to do, so being behind the camera is a far easier thing to do, but I enjoy both of them.

16. In your experience, what are some of the best features at deviantART for stock providers?

~Deaths-stock: I don't really have things I can point at and say 'that something I like.' It's more just the ease of use. You take a photo and put it up. There's no stuffing around, and I also like the interaction of users.

17. What will we never see in your stock gallery?

~Deaths-stock: Nudie pics. I will do just about anything anyone asks, but if they want to see snakes in the wind, a long walk off a short jetty is the answer they will get lol

18. On the other hand, what can we expect to see next in your stock selection?

~Deaths-stock: Well my dear mum works for the National Parks and Wildlife, so I have access to a lot of close ups to animals that most people don't get. I just recently put up a few photos of our Kangaroo. And just the other night we got an Owl, so once its wing is better I'm going to steal it for a few minutes and haha! It will be famous.

19. What do you consider "good stock"?

~Deaths-stock: Just going through a few people's stock accounts, I'd have to say...

by ~wet-ground-stock

by *almudena-stock

by ~burningtherosesStock

by *Hanratty-Stock

All are good, clean and useable. The sizes of the photos are good, and there is so much potential!

20. What else would you like us to know about ~Deaths-stock?

~Deaths-stock: Well I don't really know what to say here. I start TAFE in a week or 2 to do a diploma of justice That means off to the police force for me! lol So maybe a few good photos of guns and copper uniforms in a while.

Also just a like N.B? I think that's the word.

Can I just say to all the people who USE stock photos that the people who take your stock photos do it for fun. They don't get paid. And I know its not everyone who does it, but give us a break sometimes; ok? Life is stressful enough without someone telling you your photos shouldn't have even been put up. If you don't like a photo, don't use it... It's really simple. And also maybe thank the people who do the actual hard work for you once in a while. Getting a note saying 'stock used here' is good for cataloging, but... Well, [it's] a bit cold; don't you think?

Anyway, I'd just like to say thank you =FantasyStock for asking me to do this, too kind and it was a pleasure.

You're welcome. Thank you, Glenn, for taking the time to answer my questions for this interview!

_{Previous Interviews:
20 Questions with Eli-Stock (July 2, 2007)
20 Questions with LadyEdanaStock (June 25, 2007)
20 Questions with Cookiekitty-Stock (June 18, 2007)
20 Questions with Hanratty-Stock (June 11, 2007)
20 Questions with Resurgere (June 4, 2007)
20 Questions with LDD-Stock (May 17, 2007)
20 Questions with Markopolio-Stock (May 14, 2007)
20 Questions with Gracies-Stock (May 7, 2007)
20 Questions with AlinePotter-stock (May 3, 2007)}