I'm demonstrating using Flickr for photos in blogs

Max
Originally uploaded by Pixel Theif 

Well, I was earlier today, which is why I put up this lovely picture of a dog - to show a group of bloggers how easy it is to find a beautiful and relevant - and legally usable - picture on Flickr that will add visual impact to one's blog.

It's all about using Creative Commons licences of course. These seem to be elegant and simple, but in some ways they are a bit of a nightmare. The more you get into the detail of Creative Commons, the more pitfalls you see - or imagine.

I've been doing a project to look at how people in our organisation can use CC licensed photographs without fear of legal recriminations and with a clear conscience.

One of our directors came up with a fantastic suggestion on hearing me present the project - in return for pictures that we use from CC, we should submit photography from our archives under CC licence so that other people may use them freely.

I thought it was a very wise idea and a good solution to the problem that commercial use of (appropriately licensed) CC photographs may be legally OK, but somehow against the spirit of Creative Commons.

What's the most valuable contribution Flickr has made to the quality of corporate life?

Hah! Can you guess?

The correct answer is the volume of free, quality photography available to everyone to brighten up their PowerPoint presentations.

We had some great ones at the conference. I didn't have a good enough camera with me to capture them in their true majesty, but here's a grimy shot of Roo Reynolds from IBM (more on him later) in front of one of his slides.


We haven't even begun to take advantage of the wealth of photography available to us through Creative Commons licences yet. But that's another story.

The changing shape of photography

A sizeable proportion of a traditional publisher's magazine content budget goes on photography - a combination of stock images and photographs commissioned from professional photographers. But it doesn't have to be this way.

The former are generally outrageously over-priced and the second are a lot of trouble as photographers are - in my experience - ridiculously precious over the rights they will assign. If you think publishers have been slow to get their heads round the new publishing landscape, spend half an hour on the phone to a photographer re-negotiating usage rights.

One of my hobby horses is that as a business we are missing major opportunities to lessen our images bill. Sites such as flickr are full of decent enough - sometimes excellent - images that are available for free if you go about it the right way. Many amateur photographers are flattered to have their photography recognised and will willingly consent to having their images used for no more of a consideration than a credit and a link. And I should know, because I'm one of them.

Even though I know it's cheap content for the publisher, I'm still proud that this picture I took at Helsinki's Linnanmäki fairground (I'm the one on the left, by the way) has been used used in the Schmapp!! online guide to the city.



along with this one.

The downside for a publisher is the amount of time it takes to find a suitable photograph and get permission from the photographer (if at all) but if time and resources permit, it's got to be cheaper than the alternatives.

Presumably what they do is identify a whole bunch of possibles to increase the chances of getting a "yes" because it's pitched as a shortlist.

Here is the first Flickr Mail I received...

:: Schmap: Helsinki Photo Shortlist


Hi Andrew,

I am writing to let you know that two of your photos have
been short-listed for inclusion in the third edition of our
Schmap Helsinki Guide, to be published early September 2007.

http://www.schmap.com/shortlist/p=48919690N00/c=SE18211664

Clicking this link will take you to a page where you can:
i) See which of your photos have been short-listed.
ii) Submit or withdraw your photos from our final selection
phase.
iii) Learn how we credit photos in our Schmap Guides.
iv) Browse online or download the second edition of our
Schmap Helsinki Guide.

While we offer no payment for publication, many
photographers are pleased to submit their photos, as Schmap
Guides give their work recognition and wide exposure, and
are free of charge to readers. Photos are published at a
maximum width of 150 pixels, are clearly attributed, and
link to high-resolution originals at Flickr.

Our submission deadline is Sunday, August 26. If you happen
to be reading this message after this date, please still
click on the link above (our Schmap Guides are updated
frequently - photos submitted after this deadline will be
considered for later releases).

Best regards,

Luke Ritchie,
Managing Editor, Schmap Guides

And here's the second. (I wonder what happened to Luke, by the way)?

:: Schmap Helsinki Third Edition: Photo Inclusion


Hi Andrew,

I am delighted to let you know that your two submitted
photos have been selected for inclusion in the newly
released third edition of our Schmap Helsinki Guide:

Linnanmäki
http://www.schmap.com/helsinki/activities_fun/p=57794/i=57794_11.jpg

Linnanmäki
http://www.schmap.com/helsinki/activities_fun/p=57794/i=57794_8.jpg

If you like the guide and have a website, blog or personal
page, then please also check out our schmapplets -
customizable widgetized versions of our Schmap Helsinki
Guide, complete with your published photos:

http://www.schmap.com/schmapplets/p=48919690N00/c=SE18211547

Thanks so much for letting us include your photos - please
enjoy the guide!

Best regards,

Emma Williams,
Managing Editor, Schmap Guides