Sharing images online

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Ferj

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Just wondering what the latest advice is re sharing images online be it a website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or even on here?

I see lots without watermarks and others with so curious are people resizing images or not so worried anymore about image theft?

Any advice on the best way to post images online would be greatly appreciated!
 
I think that it depends what your intention is. If it is just to share and there is lttle commercial inclination, since a watermark however tasteful is unlikely to improve an image but rather to detract (and distract) from it, then I wouldn't add one. Restricted resolution is indeed often a way of limiting value.

There's no single answer and it's partly a matter of (aesthetic) taste.
 
I use Flickr predominantly as you can choose to hide the exif and prevent downloading of images.

If I post an image to Facebook I share it from Flickr, preserving the afore mentioned permissions.

Terry.
 
GreenNinja67 said:
I use Flickr predominantly as you can choose to hide the exif and prevent downloading of images.

If I post an image to Facebook I share it from Flickr, preserving the afore mentioned permissions.

Terry.
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I hope you're not relying on that 'prevent downloading' Terry. There's no protection worth mentioning.

It's a simple fact that any image posted online is open to theft. Any 'ownership' requirements have to take that into account.
 
droj said:
I think that it depends what your intention is. If it is just to share and there is lttle commercial inclination, since a watermark however tasteful is unlikely to improve an image but rather to detract (and distract) from it, then I wouldn't add one. Restricted resolution is indeed often a way of limiting value.

There's no single answer and it's partly a matter of (aesthetic) taste.
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I guess the issue with restricted resolution is that with more and more devices capable of rendering high quality, restricted resolution has the potential to make your images look poor rather than just protecting them, would that be fair to say or does it not impact so much?
 
The whole way your web browser works is to download the image to your computer in order to display them.. so everyone already has your pics..

If you don't care about people taking your pics then place online with no watermark

If you do care about people taking your pics then either don't put online or put a big intrusive watermark thats hard to be removed


An that is that!
 
I wonder how many pictures actually get stolen on line. Given the volume of images I wonder what percentage are stolen.

Also if you don't share you're images online how do you get your images out there? Galleries? Magazines? Are these still current & relevant?

I guess this comes back to the question, are you shooting for yourself, for others or for business and the risk you're prepared to take. Although it seems most professional photographers have an online presence...
 
As Phil V says, if you post them on line, you have to accept that they will be stolen.

Other than a hideous "watermark" one way to minimise theft is to post them at a size and resolution that can only be printed very small.
I never post any of my best images on the web.
 
Brian G said:
As Phil V says, if you post them on line, you have to accept that they will could be stolen.
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FTFY

Not every image posted online has any kind of intrinsic value, and that includes mine. And, that is why I do not watermark my images. Now, if I was a photographer like @KIPAX then that would be different. Should anyone be so artistically bereft that they were to steal one of my photographs and use it commercially then I would take the necessary steps to seek redress.
 
It is unfortunately a tricky area - but realistically most images will rarely be seen by many people other than other people in one's social network. So there is definitely benefit to getting your work out there and encouraging it to be shared, with a fairly simple logo or name attribution in one of the corners. I'm not personally a fan of heavily watermarked images.
 
The problem with that is that there are people who will happily take small images from (lets say) Facebook and get them printed. Not at any real quality but they'll be happy with it. A small logo in a corner is easily disposed of by simply cropping it out.

I'm in the same camp as Steve - very few of my images have any value but should I discover that someone's making money off them, I'll chase my cut!
 
Any image is easily nicked. A long time ago I used to worry about it more than I do now. I'm just generally careful never to post up high resolution images and don't bother with a WM. Pictures you take are for sharing after all. BUT, if some toe rag is making money off your images without accreditation or payment, then go after the blighters. I found one image of mine being used by a Canadian singer on his single cover. I sent him a polite email thanking him for his good taste and asking for payment or removal of said image. He was surprised and profusely apologetic and removed it. Tight fisted b***tard. So just do the occasional tin-eye check on some of your popular images and find if they are being used by toe rags saving dosh. Or just by someone on their blog who haven't but SHOULD credit you as the author.
 
How do you trace your image though if you share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc? Is there a way to track them? It's something I've often wondered about but not looked into. How do you find out someone is using it in the first place without checking all your images all the time!
 
Ferj said:
How do you trace your image though if you share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc? Is there a way to track them? It's something I've often wondered about but not looked into. How do you find out someone is using it in the first place without checking all your images all the time!
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I can't remember how the tech works, but Google have an image search function and TinEye do the same. You upload your chosen image to them and it searches the web for any posted anywhere. It works, that's how I find the thieves. But I rarely do it, just when sometimes when I might be a tad bored or something.
 
Nick Owen said:
So just do the occasional tin-eye check on some of your popular images and find if they are being used by toe rags saving dosh
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Or use Pixsy and automate it.
 
Interesting thread, i like getting recognition for your pictures. Now days i just love a good screen saver. Honesty starts at home. I have seen pictures just for display and contacted and made a offer for. Author was very surprised
I would even want it. World would be a better place if people didn't want something for nothing
 
worth said:
World would be a better place if people didn't want something for nothing
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Have to disagree it is people being generous with their time and knowledge, that helps to keep this forum and indeed the world going. Not saying people shouldn't get paid for the work they do, but it is those that give their time and skills to others for free that helps us all progress. Just looking at photography. How many here would have got to the level they are now without the help and guidance of others, without financial consideration?
 
Like your attitude,, i have learned many steps along the way. I shoot IR mainly but shoot just as many color when grandkids are around. I got into photography when doing scanning and restoration on my own being helpped by dvd schooling. I remember when I had to ask for payment, very hard to do. The work took so much of my time I stopped. I know if you want to be paid you need to ask, if not, post um up. Or like I said above wait for a call for the good work you do, watermarks can't turn uneye towards your picture.
 
scook94 said:
Wasn't aware of that service, thanks for posting, wonder how disappointed I'd be if I found out no one had stolen one of my images? ;)
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Pixsy and Tineye (and Google image search) are convenient.

But I have to admit my best "pay day" from an unauthorised use came as a result of a different type of search, and none of the image search engines would have found it. It was quite a simple search, but fortunately a lot of the image stealers are also quite stupid - and this can be exploited under some circumstances.
 
Have you ever herd of P-Base, my sister is a member. I remember something about why they wouldn't at the time,,,,about 12 years ago,,,,,let me join. They were asking for business references and they showed me the door. I know now they are pretty good posting and showing your album sets for selling. This sight is the second group I have been on. I still carry on with the other group. I am not good enough to catch the eye as I like to take pictures of old broken down dwellings. I wish you well, 3 members of my family sell pictures, only one takes for the national park service really makes a lunch bag of money.
 
Another vote for pixsy from me ,just had a couple of hundred quid pay out from them ,and lots more going through the process,btw Flickr seems the most used venue for image theft although some from 500px have slipped in as well .
The only trouble is that pixsy have just changed to pay as you go scheme ,so it's a gamble as to being worth it .
 
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