Posted by Phillip Noll on April 16, 2013 at 2:34 PM
Visited Three Rivers Petroglyph Site in the Tularosa Basin (New Mexico) over the weekend and did some light painting. There are over 21,000 petroglyphs in a 50 acre area just west of Sierra Blanca. They were made by the Jornada-Mogollon people between 900 and 1400 AD. An astounding collection of rock art and well worth a visit!
I love it! The red glow is very cool. However, trying to understand the watermark running its course through your fine image.
Posted by Phillip Noll on April 16, 2013 at 11:01 PM
Why do I place a watermark on my images? Like all of us here I put a lot of work into my images, whether in the field or in the digital darkroom. It really irks me to find that someone has lifted an image from a website and is using it to market their products online, using it on their blog or website, or just downright cropping off my name and claiming it as their own work. This kind of behavior is rampant on the Internet (I've seen many an NPN member's images passed off as someone else's work). Sending take down notices and emails, trying to rally friends and other photographers to harass thieves (by posting comments) until they take the images down (or sending copyright violation notices to Facebook, etc.), and writing letters to web hosts is a poor use of my time. Why make it easy for thieves? And I can't really afford lawyer's fees and in most cases it's just not worth the cost and effort of a lawsuit. The thieves know this and thus get away with it. The only time legal action would make sense is if someone made boatloads of money off my image, and the chances of that are slim.
Plus, the user agreements used by many, if not all, of the major companies that allow photo sharing gives broad permissions for them to use and sub-license anything that is uploaded to their site with no payment to me. They are not likely to use an image with a watermark on it. And now the Google image search presents your images directly to anyone who searches for them without requiring the person to actually visit your page! Just right-click and save!
A watermark can let people know that the image is copyrighted and not an "orphaned work" (many companies would dearly love to get their hands on what they think are "orphaned" works!) and also direct people back to your website. I try to make them as inconspicuous as possible while still serving a purpose. I also make sure my copyright information is in the image's metadata (EXIF).
Do I like plastering a watermark on my images? Not really. But how else can I protect my work?
Posted by Richard Olsen on April 16, 2013 at 11:22 PM
A way cool image Phillip, but I'd loose the watermark or lower it so it don't ruin the photos.
Really neat, creative and intense take on that petroglyph, Phil, I love it. As far as the watermark goes, I certainly sympathize. I was contemplating the issue recently, and looking at a lot of pros' websites for inspiration. I was struck by how many serious working pros, folks with real financial skin in the game, didn't watermark at all, or did it very unobtrusively. Food for thought, I guess. Every solution to the problem certainly has serious trade-offs.
I hear ya Phil, however I prefer a less obvious watermark. I just feel i connect easier with an image when my eyes can flow without being distracted with and centered watermark. In the end, the topic sort of brings me back the realities of Internet Piracy. Personally, I think your nice image is a better topic.
Posted by Phillip Noll on April 17, 2013 at 11:27 AM
Good points. I go back and forth on the subject. I have seen quite a few pros (not necessarily Landscape photographers) that have fairly large and prominent watermarks on their images. Some subject matter seems to require them more than others (sports, concert photos, etc.). But in the last 6 months since I have been including watermarks I have had exactly 4 complaints after posting close to a hundred photos on Facebook, 500px, etc. I think most people understand the need and just look past the watermark. But maybe next week I'll change my mind!
Do you officially copyright your images with the US Copyright Office? I have been doing this for years because one of my stock agencies won't even look at submissions without knowing they have already been officially registered with the Library of Congress.
On a side note: I've just resubmitted a bunch of images (I use the hardcopy submission form for $65.00) with Copryight Office for the 3rd time!!!
They finally sent me a hardcopy VA form that is only 2 pages long instead of the 7 page long form that one downloads from their site. Evidently the 7pg form is no longer used? If so why is it still on their website?
I've tried doing the eCO form online but their site keeps telling me I have to disable my pop-up blocker (which is already disabled) and won't complete the submission.
Discussion
11 repliesPlus, the user agreements used by many, if not all, of the major companies that allow photo sharing gives broad permissions for them to use and sub-license anything that is uploaded to their site with no payment to me. They are not likely to use an image with a watermark on it. And now the Google image search presents your images directly to anyone who searches for them without requiring the person to actually visit your page! Just right-click and save!
A watermark can let people know that the image is copyrighted and not an "orphaned work" (many companies would dearly love to get their hands on what they think are "orphaned" works!) and also direct people back to your website. I try to make them as inconspicuous as possible while still serving a purpose. I also make sure my copyright information is in the image's metadata (EXIF).
Do I like plastering a watermark on my images? Not really. But how else can I protect my work?
Thanks.
Re: watermarks- I use a small © with name in the corner. I don't think a 720pxl long side image can be used for anything other than web display and as such even a fee charged for use on someone's website is rather puny.
Do you officially copyright your images with the US Copyright Office? I have been doing this for years because one of my stock agencies won't even look at submissions without knowing they have already been officially registered with the Library of Congress.
On a side note: I've just resubmitted a bunch of images (I use the hardcopy submission form for $65.00) with Copryight Office for the 3rd time!!!
They finally sent me a hardcopy VA form that is only 2 pages long instead of the 7 page long form that one downloads from their site. Evidently the 7pg form is no longer used? If so why is it still on their website?
I've tried doing the eCO form online but their site keeps telling me I have to disable my pop-up blocker (which is already disabled) and won't complete the submission.
Funny, ive never had an issue with my images being swiped--i guess i just suck lol...