G'day everyone,

I thought I might just take this opportunity to post about some stockers in the Deviantart community who inspire me (and continue to inspire me). This isn't all of them... just some that when I look at their work, I want to make mine better to be the same standard as theirs (or at least try). I have also learnt at least a few things from each of these people. And the list... I think you'll agree with me, is not that shocking.

In no particular order...

- =faestock AKA. Jess

Jess is amazing. I feel so incredibly blessed that I have had the opportunity to shoot stock with Jess twice now - being behind the camera for her (learning a bit about photography), and having her taking photos of me (learning a bit about being a model). She brought something out of me that I never knew I had, a type of grace (the "faestock grace" ) and took this of me: As sad as it may sound, it actually made me ask if that model was actually me because I thought it was so beautiful.
Saying all that, I admire that she will climb sharp rocks barefoot, walk around casually with elf ears on and lay around in public places taking photos of herself, just so she can get a great stock photo.
I am in envy of Jess' skills as a photographer and model and all round person. I've said it before and I will say it again, she is the NICEST person in existence.
And she has a dog - always a plus in my books

- *charligal-stock AKA. Nichelle

If Jess is the nicest, Nichelle is the most hilarious. A muppet by nature, her style of stock I feel is a bit like mine, but sometimes she takes it to places I had no idea a mind could go that way. She is an artist, and that comes through in her stock. She pulls faces, pushes her body into WEIRD positions, does crazy make up and gets super creative with her costumes - 'What blue dress? Oh, that's a sheet'.
Like Jess, I have had the opportunity to work with Nichelle twice, once in Sydney and once in Perth. Like Jess, she also pushes her models to endure interesting public looks and conditions... for the sake of getting an awesome photo.
IE. this particular shot was taken by Nichelle... standing over me, kicking her long red dress out of the frame, with an umbrella over the top of her in one hand (camera in the other) as it POURED with rain, in wet vine leaves covered with 1000s of mosquitoes and a few spiders... but nobody can deny that that photo is fantastic.

- *Tasastock AKA. Claire

When I think about dynamic stock, there is nobody who does it better than Claire in my opinion. Quite honestly... there are photos that I look at and go... "how the heck did she get that pose... how did she think of it..."
It is no wonder that her and Nichelle got on like a house on fire when Nichelle went over to merry England to meet the young lady. In short, this chick does what I like to see - CHARACTERISATION! Christ almighty! When you look at an image by Claire, you don't see Claire - you see her character. Her costumes are excellent, her poses are dynamic, her facial expressions are flawless. It is like ever image is a story rather than a single still frame. I go a bit goo-gah whenever she uploads stock... and then wish I could pull off some of her concepts.
I am SERIOUSLY excited to shoot some stock with her come 2013 when she comes to Australia... and she has promised a trip to Perth.
Between Jess, Claire, Nichelle and I... it shall be stock-fest

- `jademacalla AKA. Jade

As if you can say dynamic and go past Jade. This man... well he calls himself an old man, but I'm pretty certain a few of us stockers would still lick his face and have threatened to do so. He is the king of action stock and encourages stockers to do two things:
1. Push themselves to jump, fall, climb... in short MOVE. Give action to stock photos - and I LOVE that.
2. He promotes the stock community, mainly to communicate with and learn more about each other. I have listened to all his take 10 series, and it is a brilliant idea. Get to know the people behind the photos - we are after all, real people behind the computers uploading the photos that we took that morning. We have lives, stories, feelings, beliefs, jobs and relationships. This is our hobby - its a unique one - so it is nice to learn why each of us do it and who we all are.
There is only one fault that I find in Jade. He doesn't do nearly enough stock! I want to see MORE. He is a great model, a great guy and boy-o, a bit of a looker if I may say so myself (But I can't knock his taste in women - a ranga wife... everyone needs a bit of ginger in their life).

- ^Elandria AKA. Elandria

Her costumes make me drool. She volunteers on deviantart. And she has a unique name such as myself. What is there not to love?
In addition to that, she is also very much part of the stock community on deviantart. She awards DDs on stocks and resources, gives tips to other stockers and from what I can tell, is just a lovely lady.
When you see a piece of artwork featuring Elandria, you know it is her. She is just brilliant. Like Jess has a sort of grace I wish I had (or at least could portray)... yet she has told me that she is a bit of a klutz... I find that hard to believe.
If I could do a shoot with one of the other stockers, I would say her. Just because I want to raid her wardrobe and take photos on some stairs...