Firstly, what is the S4?
The S4 is a new society dedicated to promoting stock artists who we feel are dedicated to their own kind of art. We encourage stock artists to create the kind of stock art that photo manipulators are always searching for - large, professional images, with that little sparkle that can only come from an artist.
How did the S4 begin?
It started as a bitch-fest.
and
, both being photo manipulators, were talking about how difficult it can be to find decent stock. They were bitching about the kind of stock that is all too common - small, damaged, low quality... And so the idea was proposed that they should start a group for the serious stock artists who really do
care about art.
So what does "S4" stand for?
"Sterling Stock Support Society".
What is the point of the S4? What do you hope to bring to the community?
We hope to "set an example" in the stock community. While there are many fabulous stock artists out there, there are also many who do not care about the art that is produced from their stock. So. The point of this club is not to be somewhere were photo manipulators can download good stock art - that's just a plus - the point is to create a stock community that is about the art in stock art.
I feel that I am well qualified to join this group - how can I?
In order to join, simply note the club account with the following message:
Subject: Join
I, <username>, give ~
The-S4 permission to showcase my stock art in their club gallery.
The S4 leaders will take a look at your gallery and send notes to the accounts they feel are wide, diverserse and usable.
How can I submit to this club?
Simple - send a note to the club account with "
Submit" as your subject. Include a link to the piece you wish to display, along with the catagory, keywords and any description you may have (however, please do not include your personal rules of stock use in the description).
What are you looking for in a stock gallery?
In the case of male or female stock art: size (large), a range of diverse poses, blank background, full body shots AND face shots, the use of a tripod (or third party), etc.
In the case of other stock art such as animals, plants, etc: size (large), a diverse range of angles, original composition, etc.
What are you not looking for?
Small, low quality images (such as webcam pictures), images with distracting backgrounds, only face shots, shaky shots, etc...
I'm not a stock artist, but I support this club. How can I get involved?
Simple.
Just check out the stock artists that we promote and use their stock. Watch :the-s4: and catch all the latest work of new and interesting stock artists.
I've found a piece of work in this stock gallery that I love! Where should I fave it?
If you want to favourite any of these stock photos, please go to the original artist's site and do it from there. We cannot stress this enough!
Any last words?
Yes, actually. I would like to ask you to respect the artists that you can find here.
Read their rules and please take notice of them.
Thank you.
Yours,
The S4 Team
Welcome to the S4
4/1/06 : 
The S4 would like to introduce a theme for submissions, month by month. While you do not have to submit something under this theme, you have the choice to do so if you wish. January's submission theme will be the sea. 
