Hi guys,


I want to take a few minutes of your time to highlight some of the best stock that I have seen in 2008. Stock is one of the most profound gifts that a photographer can give back to the community, and many, many hours are dedicated to making sure these images are of good enough quality to let other artists use them. I know they do not do their art for awards or recognition, and for this reason I think it is all the more important to recognise them.

As both a stock provider and CGI artist who regularly uses stock I feel it is important to recognise those images that have made an impact in the last 12 months, and also show the sheer diversity of these wonderful resources. I have used the following criteria to reach my decision:

1) Was the image produced between 1st January 2008 and today?
2) Did I favourite the image or artist since January 2008?
3) How much of a wow factor did they evoke in me when I first saw it, and when I reviewed the image today?
4) Finally, what was the reaction of the rest of the community to the image/artist?
5) It can't have come from our gallery.

Here is the list of winners, and congratulations to each of them for their deserved award:

by - In two series of pictures Chaiki and Ona have captured the essence of the original series of Star Trek, and given all artists an amazing of series of images to play with. They deserve all the plaudits for producing such a wonderful set of images. For this reason their two Trek series get my Stock Series of the year 2008.

by - Sarah gets the award for Break Through Stockist of the Year 2008. Her work regularly intrigues, beguiles, and makes me want to use it. A stockist on top of her game, and well worth perusing her gallery if you are looking for nude, sexy, sensual, or out there stock.

by - Despite their own doubts this group of stockers have shone from the moment they arrived in July 2008. A wander through their gallery brings a candy store of delights, and the quality shines through in the sheer quality of all the images. For this reason they get my Best Newcomer 2008.

by - Christine has provided some of the most dynamic and creative stock in the last 12 months, and her ability to pull off incredible poses with poise and grace continually draw me back to her gallery, and for this she gets the Stock Model Of 2008.

by - For me Marcus is the epitome of stock. His work is the yardstick to measure stock by, and personally I use his work more than any other, and for these two reasons he is my stockist of the year 2008. His work continues to break new ground in ideas, angles, and just sheer gorgeousness. If you are looking for stock to use he should be the first port of call.

Stock highlights of 2008, and nominations for the Best Stock Image 2008are:

The winner is: by - Alevtina has produced a sensation series of images in this set, and I was drawn to this piece as it is so unusual, profound, and inspires so many ideas in my head. Her work shines through as an example of what makes stock so special, and long may she continue to produce such wonderful pieces.

by - this image is simply wonderful, and captures the feel of the original stock with verve and grace. Jonathan has managed to keep the soul of the photograph, and bring his own unique take on it. For this reason he wins the Best Use of a Tigg-Stock stock 2008 award.

by - This wonderful lady, through her journal, has shown me an insight into a wonderful artistic world, and opened my eyes to a whole new universe full of ideas regarding life, art, and the universe in general. For this reason Shye is my Deviant of 2008. She has inspired me in ways which I hope one day to thank her for in person, and it is a privilege to share her world view through this site.

My final award is for the face of 2008, which recognises a model/artist stockist who encapsulates what 2008 was about artwise. This model has stormed Deviantart in such a profound way that she is recognised by her eyes alone, and her whole look has shaped my view of photography through her work is people like Perry Ghalleger, MJ Ranum, and Michael Helms.
Congratulations to Mosh for her continuing gorgeousness, and if you ever need a muse to spark a creative endeavour her gallery is a litany of awesomeness that is well worth a gander.

So this is it for 2008, who knows what wonders 2009 will bring? Hopefully the new year will bring a bucket load of great stock, and who knows, maybe you will be up for one of these awards next year.



Rachel
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