Flickr, Photographers, and the Law

From Photo Business News & Forum by John Harrington:

Flickr and the Law

Recently,

I was having breakfast on a travel project with a colleague of mine. He

asked of me “what’s the big deal with Flickr? I don’t get it. I don’t

see the benefit of being there, of taking the time to be on it. It’s

just for people to share their family photos, right? What does it help

we professionals?” I reponded, telling him that Flickr is not just

that, and that friends, prospective art directors, and so on, can make

you a “friend”, and then, whenever you post new photos, they turn up on

their Flickr page. It’s friends and these prospective clients are choosing

to want to be alerted when you add photos, and it’s all automatic and

shows up on their own page straightaway! Further, properly tagged

(think Keywords, Check here,

for Stan Rowin’s insights on this and a link to a report with even more

information), people can find the photos, and get in touch with you,

or, maybe, mis-use your photo.

Stan has other insights on Flickr here,

but how do we, as professionals, not only leverage the value of Flickr,

but also encourage fair and just use of our work there?

(Follow the link to the full post.)

I’ve begun experimenting with Flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/gdanmitchell/) as a repository for my photographs, and I’m trying to get my mind around the whole contacts, friends, etc. business.

—–

Most Valuable Photographic Tool?

Jim Goldstein writes:

The Loss of My Most Valued Photographic Tool

… On this trip I lost something which previously I never gave much of a second thought to and which I’ve since realized is one of the most critical components of my photographic arsenal. What could possibly be so key and why?

The answer — my cable release.

Keep in mind I’m not just talking about the impact of losing a piece of equipment. I’m talking about losing something that is an extension of ones mind and body critical to the creative process….

[JMG-Galleries]

(Click his title link to read the full post at his blog.)

I understand. Not only about forgetting something, but about how important this silly little thing called a cable release is to the process of making a photograph. There is something about setting up the shot and then waiting, cable release in hand, as light changes, clouds move across the ridge, people move in and out of position… and you stand back or to the side of the camera watching and waiting… and holding the cable release.

– Dan

—–

Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.