I had an interesting comment by a regular reader on my post earlier today: Sometimes, it's best to see your own area through the eyes of a tourist. The reader noted that I watermarked all of my photos and had a lengthy copyright notice in the footer of the article.
He wrote the following:
"Great pictures Richard. . .just wondering why don't you want to share those beautiful pictures with others? You have your name all over them and your disclaimer at the bottom is almost telling me to be very careful or I may get charge for reading your post?
I know about copyrights but. . there is a balance there that some people in Active Rain are taking it to the extreme. I personally think that if anyone takes one of my pics. .they are paying me a compliment.
We are NOT PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS!
Your pictures will not appear in the cover of Time Magazine suddenly. .trust me on this.
If you want to promote your city, what better way than sharing your pictures with the world?
Sorry. .that is been bugging me for a few weeks now. . but it is just my opinion and if others want to take my comments too personal. .sorry~ That is not my intention."
Fernando Herboso Real Estate Maryland, DC and Virginia
First of all, I do not take it personally. Fernando has an opinion that is valid and well presented, and I respect it. I also appreciate his honesty and candor. And I appreciate all of his regular comments very much.
But I do control the use of my photos. I have spent countless hours and dollar honing and perfecting my craft, and I think that my photos reflect the investment, And while I do not allow the use of the photos themselves without permission, I have gladly shared photography tips and tricks and copyright info in my blog on more than one occasion::
How Much is a Good Photograph Worth? Protecting your Photos in an Internet World.
Why choose a digital SLR over a point and shoot camera?
Photographs and planer geometry. It's part of what it means to have an eye for a photo!
Art and Science. Sometimes, they can be merged into something beautiful!
More on permission and photography ... weighing the conflicting elements of civil rights!
The kind of things I used to do when I had a lot more time! I need more of it now!!!
OK here's a simple tip ... your digital camera may be the fastest scanner in the world!
Photography is my refuge, far away from the maddening crowd!
Photos, Copyrights, Digital Rights ... A Photographer's Perspective
Do you have enough memory storage? How to back up your photos on the cheap!
Is a picture really worth a thousand words? Apparently, not to everyone!
The luck of the shot ... sometimes a photo just happens!
One of the coolest coincidences in my life ... it's eerie, don't you think?
Marked indelibly on a cookie box? Yes, it's another strange but true fact!
And will I make the front page of time magazine? I haven't yet. But my photos have been used in thousands of publications and products, and even as a backdrop for a speech by the President of the United States.
And so, I will enforce my digital rights? It is my hard work, and it is my decision on how the photographs will be used.
All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of ERA United Realty and Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com!
All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate Better Homes and Gardens Metro Brokers, Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser REOS, E-Pro. licensed Auctioneer. 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required. Visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. North Georgia Photos.
Featured @ Club Chaos
The Blue Valley is fabulous, it COULD get selected for the cover of a magazine, you could be professional photographer, and for all I know, you are. Ha, ha, you might be selfish, who knows, but those pictures are worth protecting!
Kim Barber
RE/MAX Legacy
Office 638 383-1425
US Office 602 334-4359
US Landline 408 890-7806
KimJBarber@hotmail.com
www.RockyPointKim.com
Hi Richard, I am fast changing my mind about my photography, and have started to put my name on it.
Great work you do, and I will be checking out all that information you put in the post. Thank you.
C...
Thanks so much for the feature my friend ... I know that this subject is VERY near and dear to your heart too!
Kim...
I believe that photo was used on the cover of a minor magazine once. Thanks for the comment!
Andrea...
It was nice talking to you today! Thanks for reading my posts, I really appreciate it!
I saw that comment, Richard, and was waiting for the gentle rebuttal :)
I know how you feel. I am constantly battling on-line over my stuff and it can be very tiring... There are days I don't mind being kind and then there are days when I'm like WTF??? A copyright is an asset. It is worth money/compensation to the owner.
If someone decided they liked your car and removed it for their own purposes I bet everyone here would call the police to report their car stolen. Why? Because a person owns that car and it has value to him or her. Well, we photographers, artists and musicians own our creations. They have value to us.
I think people who make comments like the one you featured just don't get it. It's like suggesting that it's flattering for someone to appropriate your words . . . or works . . . or graphics for their own use. You spend a great deal of time creating your content. People have to learn to respect that. A number of years ago someone was called to task about plagiarizing pages of content on a website. His response . . . a horrified, why would I reinvent the wheel? Excuse me!!! Would this same person walk into a store and cart off a television set without paying for it just because he liked it. I think not.
BTW, your photos are remarkable.
Richard you do take beautiful pictures and you deserve the right to do whatever you want for them. For somebody like me who is a hack the photos are yours to take.
Richard, but you DO allow the copying of your photographs through the reblog. If they want to share your photos with the world... they can reblog them to their blogs... and share them with the world... with all of your information, and copyrights attached.
Richard - WATERMAK until the cows come home. I like looking at your photos not stealing them. It inspires me to work my camera and get out of the office. Great post
Alan, the re-blog is a limited specific permission to re-publish per the dictates of the platform rules and the writer who expects the community rules to be honored (e.g. on Active Rain's Network). It is not permission for me to cut and paste it on TannStarr.com. The re-blog limits syndication to (a) the AR dashboard, (b) the outside blog, and (c) groups. A re-blog doesn't go to Localism. It is not supposed to go anywhere else. It is not supposed to be disassembled and re-assembled for other uses. If a writer does not choose to give permission for a re-blog, but a member cuts and pastes someones work into their post, it is a copyright violation. A re-blog permission is not a get out of jail free card.
Lisa...
I know that Fernando is sincere, and I really do respect his opinion and want him to feel free to comment, even if he disagrees! THX
C...
And it is a true monetary value ... I was once offered $150,000 for a collection of photos ... I should have taken the money! lol
Geri...
I used to find it surprising, but there is so much free stuff out there today that people have lost the concept of paying!
You put way to much time and effort in your work to allow it to be ripped off! Thanks for all the links, this post is a veritable wikipedia of great photo info!
Richard, I agree with you 100%. They are a product of your hard work, your investment, and your time. I feel the same about mine. Your work is wonderful, and deserves protecting.
Debi
Russ...
I think it's more of a "don't take before you ask" kind of think ... we were all taught to ask: "may I?" Thanks for the comment.
Alan...
Where is your photo> And you are right, as long as the rules are followed they are there for the taking! Thanks, my friend.
Claude...
Thanks for the support, I really appreciate it!
My headache right now is my Shea Stadium stuff is everywhere... I'm either asking to be credited or demanding they take it down. It all depends upon how disrespectful a person is when caught. Some people really don't understand and I am not trying to put someones Grandpa through crap because he likes my work. I am simply trying to keep people who should not be monetizing my work from doing so. There was one site that devoted time and effort to collecting every single video I have ever made and hooking up a fan page. I was flattered. Then another site took the stuff off of the fan page and got serious advertising dollars for it. I was not flattered. Seems they were very upset with me for killing a source of funding. Their attitude changed when I mentioned treble damages for defrauding their sponsors, violating my copyrights and stealing revenue from my kids who are a part of The mind Of Minion (LOL). Stealing the music never entered their mind. I had to remind them that was a sep lawsuit... Each performance of the song would cost them. Fascinating how reasonable people suddenly become when you tell them to go find the attorney of their choice to do the math (LOL).
If I ever have to get real serious with a knucklehead I am soooo calling Lenn Harley for an introduction to her attorney...
C...
That is so right ... the idea of a reblog is to syndicate what's already there, not to reformulate the post. Great comments, my friend.
Russell...
I do work hard, and thanks for the support. I really appreciate it.
Debi...
Thanks you so much for the kind words ... your support means a lot to me!
Richard, they are your pictures so you should have control over them.
Richard, I would like to reprint that picture you took of me... oh never mind! lol! I agree. You put a lot of time, effort, money and experience into your photos and you have the right to control how they are used.
Richard, they are yours and they are are not for anyone to use, unless of course they pay. That is fair IMHO
Bo
I thought you watermarked them just to brag.
Richard, Protect, protect, protect. Nobody else is going to do it for you. There are far too many people out there looking for the easy way out...using someone else's work. Rich
Richard - I do have a sincere question, because I'm not sure of the answer. Have you granted the right to use some of your photos to other bloggers yet? Just wondering -
Richard,
I agree with you 100%; why should you give your stuff away?
I don't think your copyright takes away my right to read your stuff and look at your photos but to steal them and use them without permission or credit is just plan wrong.
I think that if someone wanted to use a photo of mine simply ask.Tell me what you are going to do with it and then Im sure I would let you. Otherwise is CP.
Richard,
I follow your blog occasionally, because I enjoy seeing what's going on in the area. I was also a real estate agent for 5 years before going into what I wanted to do my whole life (TV Reporter.) Personally, I think you should make your photos free and change the watermark to your website. It could add to your business, and I'll bet a number of websites would use your stuff. Just a thought. You do take great photos.
Raymond
Richard - protection of "intellectual rights" is both necessary and important. Your pictures and your words are your property, just because they are visible does not make them available for others to use without your permission. I have found several of my blog posts and pictures stolen and used elsewhere (unfortunately, mostly on sites originating outside of the U.S.). I don't like it.
Richard, we have all been able to view your beautiful photos, as you stated, you have spent countless hours on perfecting your craft. Of course you shouldn't be expected to give it away. I hope you will continue to share your photos with us here in the Rain. I look forward to them.
Richard, first of all, your photo in this post is simply breathtaking! One of your finest ever, in my humble opinion.
Second of all, there are people in the world who believe in redistribution of whatever anyone ELSE produces. I do not. I support you 100% and understand that is a lot more to it than just pointing a camera and pushing a button. It is your work product and you deserve to claim it as such!
Carry on!
Hi Richard,
I agree that you should have complete and total say over what happens with your art. I always enjoy looking at it. Thank you, my friend.
Richard...a good comment and a better answer. You have a talent that you spent a lifetime building. That is worth something, just as much as someone selling an informational article to a magazine.
Richard - I'm selfish too.
I don't mind if folks use the photos, per se. But I find it rude (and quite maddening) when people will steal (yep - STEAL) photos and promote them as their own. That is an inexcusable act, IMO.
No - I'm not a 'professional' photographer. Don't claim to be. But, like you, I have spent quite a bit of money on equipment, much time on locating worthy subjects to photograph, and considerable time in editing, adjusting and posting the photos to share.
If someone wants to use them ... Thank you. Just have the decency to ask permission. At that point we will work out the details on HOW you want to use them and what will afford me the best protection from invasion of the photo thieves.
In my not so humble opinion, your pictures are just that, your pictures. You should be allowed to do whatever you want with them, because they are your property and no anyone elses.
Hi Richard,
Great topic. But I don't think it has anything to do with being selfish, or being a professional, or anything else. It has to do with ownership - period. Some people think if they give the person 'credit' that somehow makes it okay. It doesn't. It's still plagiarism. Again, great post.
I agree with Richard! Taking photos is an art that few agents have mastered. Richard is willing to share his tips and you can view his photos, just not take them.
Would you copy anothers book or painting? There is no diference with photos just because they are poste on the Internet. They are art! They belong to the person who took the photo!
Great photos Richard. I don't see where Fernando was going with his comment. I fully realize how much time, skill, thought, and money goes into taking great photos and in no way should you "donate" to agents that can't or don't want to put out the effort.
The photos on your blog are fantastic....you should do with them what you want!
I guess I wonder about the whole "my" and "yours" thing. Are you looking to develop a stream of income with your photos? Are you looking to share them with the world? Ar you looking for recognition that "I did it" by asking people to ask for permision and credit you for their use.
Your photos are fabulous, and your format is appealing, too. I've started marking mine as "copyrighted", but mine are not in your league by a long shot. If you produce quality work (which you do) you deserve to receive full credit for that, Richard.
I think that you have a right to protect your pictures. If someone asks you to use them, then I would say you should allow them as long as they are crediting back to you. You are somewhat of a Professional Photography if your pictures have been published, and even if they arent I still think that it is wrong to steal someones work without giving credit where credit is due.
No, not selfish at all. This person probably doesn't know what it takes to produce such beautiful images. If that person knew they would understand you want to protect your art!
Your photographs belong to you, period. There is nothing wrong with putting a copyright notice on them. I've had a problem or two in the past with some people pulling my photos of the internet and using them to promote a listing or themselves. I've always solved the problem by talking with them and explaining why this is unacceptable. They have always (so far) either taken down the photos or signed a licensing agreement with me to use the photos and paid me a reasonable fee.
Michael