Recently I have given more thought to the importance of metadata and watermarking for images published on the web. I have always been a little slack in marking my images with the proper metadata. I create so many different versions of each image and save them in so many sizes and formats that I more often than not forget to check that I have included keywording and metadata. Even when I remember to mark an image as a copyrighted piece of original art, complete with keywords and warnings; they somehow end up naked and metadata free when they finally show up on a clients web page. No copyright, no keywords, a completely untraceable image. 20 years from now an image could still be circulating in cyber space and I might not even remember that I created it! It's not that I'm that concerned about unauthorized use or suing somebody for damages when they have inadvertently used an image beyond our agreement. I just think it would be great if every image had a simple reasonably small watermark that could point web surfers in the direction of the original content creator. Maybe something as simple as a 3 number system with letters replacing numbers in different positions when the original 999 numbers have been exhausted.
Example: 000, 001, 002, thru 999 then 00A, 00B, 00C and continuing, letters in the first position A01, A02, A03, and second position 0A1 0A2 etc... should give 8,722 different combinations that would be permanently connected to individual photographers worldwide. Each person having a number for life! We would of course have to reserve the number 666 for 'Celebrity Photographer' Annie leibovitz (Just kidding).
If we take it to the next level and use 3 letters and include case sensitive lettering, the possible combinations go far beyond my ability to calculate. After I sell this idea to Corbis or Bill Gates I don't care what the rest of you do with the number system, I'll be living on an island with my harem, counting my money.
Now, the idea in my head is an elegant, artistic font ( Watermark ) that would be uniquely recognizable as a creator tag, possibly contained in a sphere or rectangle with rounded edges. It would definitely have to be so attractive and hip looking that it would be an interesting yet non distracting inclusion into an image. Something like the signature of the artist in an illustration or painting, which we now expect to see on any piece of artwork. For web images, I can't imagine it would be too hard to implement this system. One organization could be created to establish and manage the assignment of each lifetime code with a one time fee that would grant each individual permanent ownership of the number combination, similar to a Brand burned onto a cattle rancher's inventory. To simplify the point, each image is like a wayward steer who has escaped from the rancher's property. Without a brand ( that can't be removed ) the animal's owner cannot be established. An image with a simple code could be connected to you ( Content Creator ) and your website as quickly as you could look up a word on Wikipedia. Without this simple solution, web viewers are unlikely to connect an image with the 'Photographer' who worked so hard to create it. The available options for hidden watermarking and metadata don't address the simple vanity issue of having your work identified with you, the photographer!
People are already accustomed to Social Bookmarking Buttons, favicons in the URL and similar logo identifiers. Why not create something similar for photographers?
Remember, I came up with the idea first! Send your check or money order to......
Monday, July 9, 2007
Time For A New Watermark System
Friday, July 6, 2007
Nikonians.org Website for Nikon Lovers
A reader has turned me on to a really great website www.nikonians.org for Nikon Shooters. It's quite a comprehensive website, featuring articles on Nikon Cameras, lenses, flash and related gear. Nikonians offers it's members varying levels of service including inexpensive ( niksecure ) camera / gear insurance, forums and the option of displaying personal gallery images in forum posts. Classifieds, photo tours and seminars open to Silver level ( $25 yr) members round out the extensive package. Basic membership is free, with Silver, Gold or Platinum level memberships costing $25, $75, and $200.00 respectively.
From the Nikon site:
Full membership levels have access to:
- Receive rebates from selected companies
- Show your support with special icon in the community
- Sign up for our attractive Photo Insurance NikSecure
- Get your own image gallery
- Access local Nikonians events and workshops
- Upload images and link to images in the forums
- Access to classifieds (sell & buy area)
- Free shipping from the Nikonians Pro Shop (Platinum only)
- Search for photography friends in your area
Almost makes me wish I shot with a Nikon........almost!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
The Work of Chema Madoz at haha.nu
haha.nu which bills itself as a lifestyle blogzine has a wonderful page of images by Photographer / Artist Chema Madoz. There are around sixty incredibly beautiful black and white images to view on the page, mostly quirky and thought provoking images of mundane objects. It is an amazing example of what a great mind can do with the average 'found' object. The artists book "Chema Madoz", 80 page hardcover from Publisher Assouline '1999' is available at Amazon.com. I noticed that there are several used available at very reasonable cost.
Check it out
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
My New Software Has Arrived!
I finally got around to picking up the mail at my old address. The new software from Alien Skin had been waiting patiently for me on the porch. Thank goodness no one else found it before I did. I have not had time to install the new Plug-Ins, but have gone over the documentation ( Pamphlet ) included with each disk. The good folks at Alien Skin were smart enough to include some of the clearest and best written install and usage instructions I've seen in quite a while. Each Plug-In is Mac and PC compatible and runs on Adobe Photoshop CS or later.
The Plug-Ins I will be testing are : Blow-up ( for upressing ), Exposure ( The final version. I have been using the Beta for more than a year ) and Snap Art. Check back with me in a day or so and I will post my impressions of each, along with a sample of some final art.
Time to cook some hot dogs on the grill and enjoy the day. Happy 4Th of July to All!
Monday, July 2, 2007
Editing......Part 5
Continued from the 'Editing The Raw Files...Part 4' post on June 19Th :
12) Don't get too carried away with color corrections at this point. There will be plenty of opportunities to tweak the final image in Photoshop. The goal is to get all your Raw Files taken in the same setup to have a consistent density and color balance. This is also the best time to apply the basic level of sharpening to the images.
NOTE: Most digital cameras will de-focus ( blur) the Raw Output slightly to combat Moire Patterns which plague images captured digitally. It is recommended and expected that there will be a basic level of re-sharpening applied in the Raw Processing Software. The old debate about sharpening or not sharpening the Raw file before conversion has been settled. The majority of professional camera manufacturers explicitly recommend a minimal re-sharpening on the Raw File before conversion. Canon digital cameras will definitely produce a softer Raw Image than the same file produced by a Nikon or Fuji. This is the way the camera was designed and is not a flaw.
I generally run a level 2 sharpening on my files processed in Canon's DPP ( Digital Photo Professional ) Raw Processing software. It is a minimal, but effective starter point prior to un-sharp masking.
Contrast, color temp and gamma can also be dealt with on a case by case basis; although I rarely change any of theses settings and tend to leave them in their default ( 0) state. Your final output should determine how snappy you should set any of these parameters. I believe the best practice is to find the settings that produce the smoothest, noise free, color rich images that your camera is capable of, and then leave them alone! You will more accurately learn your camera's true capabilities when you process your files consistently using the same settings.
NOTE: Under or overexposed images can benefit from a duplicate file with the proper exposure correction. The extra file can be used later to composite the missing ( blown out / too dark ) data back into the final Tiff image. Most Raw conversion software will let you copy and paste from a thumbnail to create a duplicate of any image. Remember, it's always better to manipulate the data rich Raw File when making extreme exposure corrections. You will always have the best end result when you are working from the master Digital Negative.
to be continued...
Sunday, July 1, 2007
More Canon Secrets?
For those of you who e-mailed me about the technical drawing featured in the June 28th Post "Technology You Haven't Seen!" , there is still no definitive answers from Dr. P at Space Command Headquarters. The executives at Canon USA won't acknowledge any proprietary research on Special Focus Invisibility, which is rumored to be the technology behind the New Canon EOS 1D Mark III. Any of my readers capable of interpreting the data featured in last week's post will have their photograph posted and excerpts from their research included in a special article on this site!
Good Luck to all!
Update :
Response from the SCH and Dr Pimento:
-
re: More Canon Secrets
I feel I must respond. This is, after all, a subject of unique interest to me. I am Dr. Pimento. In 1973 I earned my Ph.D. in esoteric crypto-linguistics (admittedly an obsure science). I have examined the code in the Canon 1D MkIII and have found, shall we say, "parallels" between it and the glyph-language found on fragments of the infamous Roswell "flying disc".
Canon, however they came to be in possession of this "außerirdischen" code, decided to incorporate it into the autofocus instruction set in the new 1D MkIII. They would have been well advised to contact Dr. Pimento for his input before committing themselves to production.
I have discovered an error in their translation of the code. For the present, time does not permit me to discuss the matter at greater length. All I can say at this time is, a crucial MISUNDERSTANDING of one key symbol in the code has crippled the autofocus.
God willing, Dr. Pimento will set the record straight and call the guilty to account.
Dr. Pimento
- received: July 2, 2007 1:50 PM
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