Welcome to the TwentyThird issue of Stockilicious

Index
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1 - Thumbnail Feature and Stock Tips - Reflecting Stock
2 - Featured Stocker
3 - Featured Resource Club
4 - Stock Forums Activity
5 - Resource News!
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FEATURES AND TIPS:
We see it a lot in paintings; the gorgeous reflection of a mountain or town against a beautiful lake setting, or the shy look a model gives a mirror as she gazes at her own reflection. Thats in the world of fine art - so what about the beautiful reflective stock that can be the inspiration for these wonders?
Its not all about some random girl, holding her camera in one hand and pouting at herself in the mirror, or kissing her own reflection. Stock is about useability and that is exactly why good quality stock that depicts reflections is such an amazing find when you stumble across it.
Your art can be a magical setting near a crystal-topped lake, or a horrific shot of twins mimicking each other - whatever the case may be, they're showing an original person, place or thing being copied as a duplicate in the same shot.
And here's WHY those images are just so damned inspirational.




TIPS FOR REFLECTION STOCK:
What reflects: You hear the word 'reflect' and you immediately think 'mirror', right? Well don't just stop there. Water gives a gorgeous
reflection too. Whether it is rippled or dead-still it will still do the trick. Ice has the same effect, though distorted. Most shiny metals (ooh shiny!) and glass can also get the job done. So the next time you walk passed the windows or a shop, take a look. You'll reflect. Don't just think of the things that reflect most. Distorted reflections may give a better effect than a clear one would.
Focus depth: Its all well and good to get a perfect mirror double in your photos or with your renders, but don't forget that you can focus with your depth. Focus more on the reflected image, or more on your original that is being reflected not just making sure both are perfectly focussed - jazz things up a bit by giving one of them more attention than the other.
Mocking reflection: You may have a whiz-bang camera that lets you use special exposure so you can stand sideways facing left, and then run around to face right all in the one shot. Kudos to you (damn you!), this would be a perfect opportunity to try faux reflection. You don't need to be born as a twin to be one for a photo. After all, who would look more like you than yourself? A few nifty little effects, or even using the help of photoshop, will give you the twin you've always wanted for the sake of a mimicked resource.
Avoiding camera reflection: A lot of people think 'mirror stock' is about a girl standing in her bathroom, kissing her mirror while the camera ends up in the photo as well. With any luck - that doesn't happen. BUT if you want to avoid it, make sure your camera is pushed far enough away to be out of view. Zoom in if you have to. Also take the photo on an angle so you can get a better mix of you and your mock-twin without any of the hardware showing up and ruining the shot.
Bad reflections: Its hard to avoid, really. Bad reflections are where your camera makes a cameo, the rest of your bathroom is in the shot, or people see way more of your room than they wanted to. If you're using your mirror, don't forget to check what is in view from the mirror's Point Of View. Clean up, zoom in and get rid of all the yucky stuff that gives me nightmares.
Twincest vs Twins: Twincest. Yes, that IS you kissing your mirror. Apart from hardly being useable as stock (good luck if you can!) it really isn't necessary. If people want to draw you kissing yourself (or your twin) they will paste two images of you together. There's no need for the lip-stick smudges on the glass, it just makes it look even more fake. Twins in general is the GOOD kind of reflection. It looks so real its as if you really DO have a twin.
As opposed to Twincest, this type of reflection is clean, un-cluttered and easy to use in any kind of art. Some scientists say that some twins think 'as one'. So move like it, pose like it, and dress like it.


FEATURED STOCKER:
A little section to showcase a particular stocker each week. Its not just because I LOVE their stock - but because of how useful it can be and just how generally amazing it is! You will be kicking yourself if you don't take a few moments to check them out!

This week: *Jabberwock-stock
*Jabberwock-stock is an awesome chum. Talented with the camera and putting it all up in his gallery for artists to use. He has an eye for stock art, ranging his works over animals, architecture, plants and more. The rustic buildings, the gorgeous gardens and the cute little critters you'll find in here are of AWESOME quality and highly useable for your art. Download a pack or two, its well worth it.




FEATURED RESOURCE CLUB:
Where on Earth would stockers be without a place to congregate (besides the forums)? Resource clubs! Hosting contests, creating challenges, inspiring involvement and most of them as a place for stockers to promote their works. If you don't know where to find a certain stocker, or you're looking for someone new to add to your devwatch, then resource clubs will be the best RESOURCE for finding them! _{Besides me...}

This week: *Manip-Equips
*Manip-Equips started back in 2005, quickly blossoming to be one of the most well-known clubs for resources amongst our crew. With `chasing-butterflies at the helm, you already know this club is going to kick ass. Full of fun contests and challenges, featured stocker interviews and more - this is the next club you need to check out.



FOCUS ON THE FORUMS!:

The StockArt forums are located here: [link]

A place for stockers to promote their contests, artists to request specific stock, ask for help finding stock, discuss stockart in general and much more! We go a little silly sometimes but don't let that scare you off! Just remember what we're about - STOCK!!

This thread will change forever the way you look at stock !: by *Cat-in-the-Stock. I would expect nothing less from our most loveable stock cat. What do you call us? Really? Stockers, stockists, stock ARTists? We go by many names, but which one suits?

Worst Stock Clichés?: by =AlinePotter-stock. Most of us are guilty of it at some point - succumbing to the cliches that are out there. Blindfolds, long flowy dresses, run-down castles... care to add a few to the list?


RESOURCE NEWS:
Keep up-to-date with all the news revolving around our favourite subject - RESOURCES & STOCK!
Resource News is the place to be. Keep an eye on it regularly for fantastic features, terrific tips and some bitchin' contests!

Imagine OBJECTS by *sheispretty
Stock Resources Vol. 1 by ~narghaash-stock
Special features by *lugubrum-stock
Antique photography by *Helium-Raven
Weekly - From Stock to Art #8 by *almudena-stock
forty // eight + nov // 03 with added pendlestock by =pendlestock
Shells Stock Weekly Vol. 1 by =shelldevil


MONTHLY STOCK PROJECT:
NOTE: =Project-StockART is going on hiatus for the month of November.
I have a full-time job now, and NaNoWriMo has just started - so I'll be lucky to keep posting these news articles let alone keep submissions up on that account. Sorry

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PREVIOUS ISSUES:
Vol 14: Technology
Vol 15: TV & Movies
Vol 16: Kids Stuff
Vol 17: Unknown Stockers
Vol 18: Stock Tutorials
Vol 19: Poster Boys (MC)
Vol 20: Stock Prints
Vol 21: Emotive Stock (MC)
Vol 22: Architectural Stock
Stockilicious Index!

And there we have it for another week!
Tune in for the NEXT STOCKILICIOUS... featuring Landscape Stock!!!
Demonic