Newbie with a question about posting pictures online

[bippity11]

Hello Everyone,

Brand new to the digital photography world so bare with me. I noticed that some of the pictures that are posted on the site have the person's name on part of the photo. What is this for? Does this protect the photographer? What is to stop someone from taking one of the pictures posted here and selling them as their own?

[Photo-John]

First of all, welcome to the site. I hope you find it friendly and useful!

Your question is a very good one. And I'm one of the photographers here who puts their name on posted photos. Basically, anything you post on the Internet can be "borrowed" and used by someone else. There are ways to physically block people from saving images on the Internet, but fo most images, it's not worth the effort.

1) Most Web-sized images are too small to be printed
2) It's illegal for someone to use your images without your permission
3) If you put your name on the image, it makes it harder for someone to use it and take credit.

The most important thing to remember is that images posted on the Internet are usually relatively small. I size most of mine to 632 pixels on the long dimension. If you print them out, not only will they have my name on them, but they won't look very good at any size over about 2x3 inches. No one is going to be able to sell them to a magazine and make a bunch of money.

I put my name on them for two reasons, actually. One is to claim ownership. The other is because I know people are going to pinch them and share them. By putting my name on photos that I think are good and will get some distribution, I get to market my work for free. So rather than worrying about people stealing from me, I make their sharing work in my favor. It's understanding the reality of the Internet, how people use it, and using that behaviour to my own benefit - I hope

[bippity11]

Thanks for that. That definitely answers my question. Another dumb question. Do you add the signature in photoshop? If so is there a quick way to do that to all the pictures? If this answer is to technical don't worry about it I'm sure I can figure it out.

Thanks for the info.

[another view]

John's right - if someone wants to copy them, then they will do it whether or not they know it's stealing. At least you get your name out there. I usually put my website URL on images I post on other sites, but not usually here - for whatever reason. Keep the images this size and below and they're of very limited use so it's not really that big of a problem IMO.

In John's shot above, it would be easy enough to clone out the logo in Photoshop - or even just crop the bottom out. I don't think most people that copy other people's work would take the time to do it, but it's possible. I've seen people put a logo or a copyright image "watermark" symbol over the whole image which has it's uses, but it's not real easy to look at an image that way.

I saw this article, Part I and Part II on Will Crockett's site - you do have to register to see it but it's free.

[bippity11]

thanks again