The ‘Instagram Act’ And The Importance Of Watermarking Your Images

The UK Government’s Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act became law at the end of April 2013. It has come under attack over its treatment of so-called "orphan works". Those are works where no original creator can be traced. It allows anyone to use any image where a ‘diligent search’ doesn’t turn up the owner of that image. The EU are considering bring in a similar law.

Now you may think this doesn’t apply to your images because your images are on your web site or facebook page etc, so your ownership of them is obvious. Or because you are not in the UK.

But you need to think again!
Your images could be out there as orphan images thanks to the internet and the growth of mobile phones and tablets. It’s now very easy to share photos you find online. In fact on a mobile phone with certain apps, its so easy you can do it without realizing it.

An Example

Let’s say you have a photo of one of your paintings on your web site. Somebody admires it and posts it to their social network on facebook, then somebody else shares it with their friends on facebook, from there somebody tweets it on twitter and somebody else takes it from twitter and puts it up on their blog in a post about wonderful cat paintings!

Now, none of these people are being malicious, they just want to share something they admire. The first person who posted your image to facebook may well have credited you by adding a link to your web site when they posted the photo, but that seldom happens further down the chain. As people take it and pass it on all evidence of where it came from is lost. So it can be impossible to follow that trail in reverse to find the owner of the photo.

Then a company sees your photo on that final web site and wants to use it in their advertising campaign, they contact the owner of the site who has no idea where the photo came from, it was just something they found on twitter. Tracing it back further than that could well be impossible, with the sheer level of data on sites like twitter and facebook. So now they can simply help themselves to your image and use it in their campaign without your permission and without any payment to you!

If you want to see an example of how a family photo went from facebook to a large add in a shop window without their knowledge, look at this article on skinny artist.

http://skinnyartist.com/stop-stealing-my-images/

How To Embrace Sharing

This kind of sharing can in fact be a great tool for artists. Really! Seriously folks, before the days of the internet you had to get a gallery to represent you. Now you can get your work seen by people all over the world because of the internet. This new fashion for sharing photos is an extension of that and will expose your work to so many more people. But it’s only useful if people know YOU are the artist, and where to FIND YOU.

So what can you do?

Watermark Your Images!

Add your name and contact details to all your images. If you have a web site use your web site address, it’s extra advertising after all! You could use your email address or a facebook page, but whatever you use it needs to be something that isn’t going to change anytime soon. Add the text over your image using any photo editing software. There are lots of them around, some free, some paid, and some online, like http://picmarkr.com. So if people love your work and choose to share your images across the internet, they’ll have your name and a way to find you on the photo. Think of it like an electronic business card. It can bring new readers to your web site.

Here’s how it might look…

Add Metadata

Metadata is the hidden stuff that comes with every photo. It holds information like the date taken, the camera used and so on. You can also add your copyright, author, contact and web site details to all your photos before you upload them online. Some photo editing software will let you do this, but you’ll need to do some research to find out which ones. Some operating systems will let you do it too, under the photo properties. However, some social networking sites strip the metadata out of photos when they are uploaded.

Dealing With The Dark Side

Watermarking (and to a certain extent metadata) can help you when people are just sharing your images because they like what you do. But what if people are deliberately trying to steal your images to use them for their own commercial gain? This does happen and has happened to several of our members. Unfortunately there’s no easy solution to this. Watermarks can be either cropped out or retouched and metadata can be stripped out.

Resizing Your Images

One way to help protect yourself from this kind of theft is to use small images online. A 400/500 pixel jpeg is fine for online use but it’s hard to get good quality prints from an image that size.

These days mobile phones have excellent cameras that take good quality images at large sizes. If you take a photo of your painting on your phone and then upload it to your web site you could be uploading a 3000 pixel image. Your web site may display it as a small image but if somebody downloads it they’ll get the full size image! Good enough to make mugs, prints, t-shirts etc. So ALWAYS resize important images before you put them online. Sadly nothing will stop those people who are determined to take your work and use it for themselves.

Preparing Images For Online Use

1. First make a copy of your image,
2. then resize it to the size you need for your web site.
3. Add your watermark text in your photo editor
4. Add any metadata if you’re using it
5. Save the image as a jpeg
6. Upload it to your site.

 

Don’t give thieves high resolution images!

For more information

You can sign the petition here to stop the theft of copyrighted works under the act…

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/49422

You can find out more about the act here…

http://www.newstatesman.com/technology/2013/04/instagram-act-under-fire-treatment-copyrighted-works

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22337406

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/05/03/instagram_act_explained/

Five ways to protect yourself…

http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/copyright-law-5-ways-to-protect-authorship/s2/a552845/

Another excellent article about image theft on the skinny artist web site gives some great examples and talks the methods people use to try and stop thieves.

http://skinnyartist.com/stop-stealing-my-images/

Artists Beware–Scammers At Work

The scammers are doing the rounds in email this week so please be careful! Several members have received this one from Tracy Holmberg of California. It’s a ‘moving home’ scam. If you get an email like this just delete it.
It’s a scam.

This is what it looks like…

1st email

Hi, I’m Tracy Holmberg from California. I hope this message finds you well.I was going through some of your works and my eyes caught this particular piece,I want to purchase it as I am moving to a new apartment this month.Please let me know if you still have the piece available, if yes let me know and it’s final price and more information about it. I will be waiting to read from you. Regards, Tracy. (323) 835-1260

2nd email

Thanks for your prompt reply. Unfortunately, I’m on my way to France on an official trip(I’m a marketing Executive) and wont be back for another two weeks. If you’d like to know, I’m relocating to South Africa soon and I’m trying to gather some good stuff for my new abode. I’m buying yours amongst others,quickly! before someone else grabs it.So, I’ll arrange to send you payment ASAP. However, I’ll have to notify my shipper who’s helping me move my stuff to get set for the pick up of the piece from your place as I MIGHT be delayed depending on how things goes. PS: In the mean time, kindly get back to me with your contact address and phone# so I can get a check prepared and have it mailed out to you right away.

This is how it works…

1. The scammer wants to make a significant purchase
2. They are either moving to or located in a foreign country
3. They are using their own shipping company
4. They will be paying via cheque or credit card. If you offer an alternative payment method like PayPal they’ll have some story as to why they can’t use it.
5. They send you a cheque or pay via credit card but the amount is MORE than the cost of the paintings.
6. They ask you to pay the shippers fee via Western Union with the extra money. They’ll have a story ready about why they can’t pay it and why it has to be via Western Union. This is the POINT of the scam. The shipping company doesn’t exist, it’s the scammer you’ll really be sending money to.
7. You pay Western Union and a few days later the cheque or credit card payment bounces. It’s a FAKE.
8. You have just been scammed for the Western Union payment. It can’t be reclaimed, it’s like handing over cash. Or worse, you’ve ALSO shipped off the paintings and you’ve been scammed for both.

 

There are many more scams listed on this excellent web site Stop Art Scams by Kathleen McMahon and reading through the different emails on this site will help you spot the scammers.

Another interesting web site is Max Magnus Norman who gives a detailed look at some of the scams and how they work.

Royal West of England Academy Show

The Royal West of England Academy in Bristol has an exhibition of paintings of cats and dogs called Reigning Cats and Dogs. Not to be confused with last years Stockbridge Gallery show of the same name! This isn’t a S.O.F.A. show but well worth visiting if you are anywhere near Bristol.

Reigning Cats and Dogs features both historical and contemporary images, sometimes imbued with satirical and sentimental intent. Curator Peter Ford RE RWA has brought together an international collection of paintings, printmaking, photography, sculpture, artists’ books, book illustration, postcards and ephemera united under this theme.

 

Reigning Cats and Dogs

Friday 11 January – Friday 15 March 2013
Admission; Adult Gift aid admission £4.50, Concessions £3.
Royal West of England Academy
Queen’s Road
Clifton,
Bristol BS8 1PX
http://rwa.org.uk/

Croydon artist draws paw for a cause

Croydon-based artist Celia Pike has shown her support for unwanted moggies and donated her ‘paw print’ to raise money for the UK’s leading feline welfare charity, Cats Protection.

Celia, who lives in Woodside, is most famously recognised for her lifelike cat portraits on Hudson & Middleton fine bone china mugs, and she has contributed a unique work of art after being asked to draw around her hand, sign it and style it in her own unique way.

It will then be auctioned on eBay in early December – along with the paws of 15 other celebrities and artists. Bidding starts on Thursday 29 November at 8pm.

Now in its sixth year, Cats Protection’s Celebrity Paws Auction raises much needed funds for the charity, which helps over 235,000 cats and kittens a year. The auction attracts a host of celebrities and artists who are keen to lend a hand to help Cats Protection continue its vital feline welfare work in the UK.

“We’re so grateful for these wonderful drawings that these busy celebrities and artists have kindly contributed,” said Kate Bunting, spokesperson for Cats Protection. “Each one is unique and would make a really unusual Christmas present.”

‘Paws’ are available from other celebrities including Downton Abbey stars, Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Phyllis Logan, former newsreader Jan Leeming, TV presenter and newsreader Sonali Shah, actor Sophie Turner, artists Simon Drew, Susan Bower, Celia Pike, Martin Leman, Beth Wilson, Sarah Morris and illustrators Jim Field and Spike Gerrell.

For the chance to get your hands on these works of art and to find out who else has donated their paw print to Cats Protection, please visit www.cats.org.uk/celebrity-paws

To make a donation to help the charity continue its cat welfare work, please call Cats Protection’s national Helpline on 03000 12 12 12

Pollyanna Pickering accepts the AFC Simon Combes Conservation award in Canada

Pollyanna Pickering has received the most prestigious International Award in the field of Wildlife Art – the Artists for Conservation’s Simon Combes Conservation award for 2012, in recognition of her support for conservation through her artistic talents.

The award is the highest honour presented by the AFC to an artist who has shown artistic excellence and extraordinary contributions to the conservation cause, exemplifying the same qualities as the award’s namesake, Simon Combes, director of the Rhino Rescue Trust. In 2004 Simon was tragically killed by a charging Cape buffalo while hiking near his home in Kenya. This annual award commemorates his dedication to both art and conservation.

AFC President and Founder, Jeff Whiting commented "We are very proud to honour Pollyanna for her long-term dedication and contributions to conservation causes around the world. Pollyanna has shown extraordinary leadership in giving back to the subjects she depicts so passionately in her paintings."

"I am most honoured to receive this prestigious award from the AFC. I think it is wonderful that the AFC formally recognises the unique and valuable role which wildlife art plays in the world of conservation. I believe that I have been very fortunate to able to use my artwork to both fundraise for and raise awareness of the plight of endangered species around the world, and I feel humbled to be given this award for following my passion and vocation." says Pollyanna.

Pollyanna travelled to Vancouver to receive her award in front of an invited audience of VIP’s at a glittering Gala dinner held during the AFC’s annual Festival.  During the event Pollyanna also gave two keynote lectures, and presented her first ever artist’s workshop! She also appeared live on Canadian Breakfast Television to chat about her award, and the work of the AFC.

Pollyanna is passionate about the well-being of the wildlife she paints as much as she is about accurately interpreting her subjects. She is a tireless campaigner for the welfare of endangered, sick and vulnerable creatures. For fifteen years Pollyanna ran her own wildlife sanctuary, ‘Brookvale Bird Rescue’ – funded entirely by her painting. Also she is the Founder of the Pollyanna Pickering Foundation which raises funds for the protection and rescue of wildlife, endangered species and the environment as well as emergency disaster relief.

In March 2007, Pollyanna Pickering was the recipient of AFC Flag Expedition grant and became the first western artist to comprehensively document Bhutan’s wildlife and habitat in a series of paintings. The journey served to support the conservation of the rare and unique flora and fauna of the remote Himalayan country.

National Black Cat Day

Join Cats Protection in our national celebration of black cats.

Black cats and kittens are often overlooked when looking for new homes, and can be last to be selected by prospective new owners.  Why should this be?  the reason often given is that black cats are unlucky, but in most cultures it is quite the opposite.  In fact, it is said that to have a black cat cross your path will bring you good luck! Black cats can have just as lovely personalities, are just as affectionate as other colours, and make just as great pets. 

Cats Protection is celebrating all things black cats on 25 October 2012, and we are hoping this will raise awareness of what people are missing in passing them by.

On average black cats take a week longer to rehome. Let’s make it a day to remember and here’s to getting those 1,400 black cats currently in Cats Protection’s care a loving new home.
www.cats.org.uk/black-cats

Reigning Cats & Dogs Exhibition Photos

Photos from the exhibition at the Stockbridge Gallery in Hampshire. The Reigning Cats & Dogs Exhibition opened on Saturday. It’s a wonderful show with work from many different artists, a festival of dogs and cats! Here are some of the photos from the show.

 

The exhibition is open until Saturday 3rd November. If you feel inspired by the photos do go along and have a look at the wonderful art on display.

Reigning Cats and Dogs Exhibition
Stockbridge Gallery in Hampshire
Saturday 13th October to Saturday 3rd November
www.dogsinart.com