Are photographers paranoid

[AnonymousKiwi1]

I've been doing a little research in to an on-line photo store front that I'm thinking of using. In the course of my web surfing I found an interview with the Creative Director of Photomerchant, Kain Tietzel
He had this to say:-

"Photographers are paranoid about photos being downloaded from their website and somehow feel re-assured when customers are unable to right-click to save the photos. What they fail to realize that it’s just as easy to take a screenshot using basic screen capture tools that come with Windows and OSX. When an image is copied in this way, the meta data is no longer attached to the image and you’re no longer in control of where or how it is used.

In my opinion, I think that watermarking should be used to create a brand around your photography, it should promote the website where the image can be legitimately purchased and be integrated into the design to enhance it’s aesthetics, rather than destroy it’s practical application. The image should be packed with useful metadata that includes your website address, instructions on how the image can be distributed and attributed, keywords and EXIF information. Then, use Social Media to share your photographic gift with the world, allow it to be used in Creative Commons instances and set it free. The more you allow the photo to be distributed, the more likely you are going to create new business opportunities for yourself "

I wonder what the good folks of DPS think of this??
Should we just let our photos float about the net in the hope that they'll come home to roost?

[Jim Poor]

I think he's talking out both sides of his mouth.

He's right that right-click disable is trivial to defeat.

On one hand he says pack the image with meta-data, and on the other, he says use social media to share. The problem is that most social media sites strip out the metadata anyway.

On watermarks being used for branding, he has a point, but there are specific types of photography where that watermark simply MUST render the image unusable (or nearly so) to prevent theft. Event work comes to mind. Youth sports, Equestrian events and dog sports are all rife with image thieves.

[BuddhaPi]

he also says
"When an image is copied in this way, the meta data is no longer attached to the image and you’re no longer in control of where or how it is used."

so much for packing in meta-data...

[Jim Poor]

I took that to mean he feels it's better to allow downloads to save the metadata rather than force people to use screen capture?

[AnonymousKiwi1]

Yes, I think that's what he's saying.
If it's copied with the meta data attached, that info goes wherever the photo goes.

[BuddhaPi]

true that makes sense, however even if the meta-data is there a simple re-save of the image will probably strip it out...

One thing I have done to give the right clickers a hard time is to slice up the image in PS, then re-assemble the image in a page, if they right click they'll have to do it numerous times to get all of the pieces, then they will have to put it back togehter...time consuming for sure

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by BuddhaPi

true that makes sense, however even if the meta-data is there a simple re-save of the image will probably strip it out...

One thing I have done to give the right clickers a hard time is to slice up the image in PS, then re-assemble the image in a page, if they right click they'll have to do it numerous times to get all of the pieces, then they will have to put it back togehter...time consuming for sure

You've surpassed my knowledge, but wouldn't that be really time consuming to do on our end as well? I'm thinking about event galleries and such with 1000s of images.

[BuddhaPi]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

You've surpassed my knowledge, but wouldn't that be really time consuming to do on our end as well? I'm thinking about event galleries and such with 1000s of images.

yes it would, however now I have an idea runninig around in my little head...perhaps a pre-programmed script that would allow the user to upload the images, in one shot and have the script resize them appropiately, then slice them up and reassmble them for your viewing pleasure..must think on this I'm fairly certain it can be done..a good example would be my site, if you right click anywhere in the header and note the file name, then right click somewhere else in the the header and note the file name..you'll also notice the images load fast cause there a bunch of small images as opposed to one large image..

[theosus]

Originally Posted by BuddhaPi

true that makes sense, however even if the meta-data is there a simple re-save of the image will probably strip it out...

One thing I have done to give the right clickers a hard time is to slice up the image in PS, then re-assemble the image in a page, if they right click they'll have to do it numerous times to get all of the pieces, then they will have to put it back togehter...time consuming for sure

So the person just hits ctrl+print scrn opens Paint, and hits paste....then selects, copies and re-pastes the new image, defeating your carefully split up image in a third of the time it took to make it.

[BuddhaPi]

Originally Posted by theosus

So the person just hits ctrl+print scrn opens Paint, and hits paste....then selects, copies and re-pastes the new image, defeating your carefully split up image in a third of the time it took to make it.

yup! theres always a way regardless, you'd be surpirsed at how many people know to right click , but have no clue about the print screen option... I hear things like "why when i hit print screen on my keyboard nothing ever prints, iis it my printer??