A watermark is a small transparent or small image or text that is added to an image. Its one of the few things you can do to protect your photos that you upload online. Watermarks are by no means a full proof method as someone that is skilled in Photoshop would be able to remove it. Once you have uploaded a picture online its there for anyone to take and use.
While conducting my research on photos being stolen online I came across the story of Paul Green. Paul was contacted by a stranger he had never talked to before. This stranger turned out to be one of 20 young women that had been duped into believing this online stranger who had stolen Paul's pictures. After much research and luck the perpetrator was discovered top be a 66 married man living in Spain. Its almost chilling to think that anyone online can take over my identity and pretend to be me. Especially in today's world where online evidence is becoming increasingly more common in the courtroom.
I came across this free photo editing software called PhotoScape. I found it surprisingly easy add a watermark to my picture. It you notice my background picture is a photo I took at Zion National Park in Utah. So I experimented with using different fonts and colors before settling on the final product. The goal was to give myself credit for the photo, without the watermark being big and bulky.
On a final note I wanted to leave this article written by Robert K Baggs. It's is a comprehensive article on the subject of plagiarism and theft in photography. I found this article incredibly interesting as the author was prompted to write it after coming across a unique situation. Another author had recreated his photograph and not stolen it which counts as idea theft. There is some really good information in the article on how to keep your photographs protected.
While conducting my research on photos being stolen online I came across the story of Paul Green. Paul was contacted by a stranger he had never talked to before. This stranger turned out to be one of 20 young women that had been duped into believing this online stranger who had stolen Paul's pictures. After much research and luck the perpetrator was discovered top be a 66 married man living in Spain. Its almost chilling to think that anyone online can take over my identity and pretend to be me. Especially in today's world where online evidence is becoming increasingly more common in the courtroom.
I came across this free photo editing software called PhotoScape. I found it surprisingly easy add a watermark to my picture. It you notice my background picture is a photo I took at Zion National Park in Utah. So I experimented with using different fonts and colors before settling on the final product. The goal was to give myself credit for the photo, without the watermark being big and bulky.
On a final note I wanted to leave this article written by Robert K Baggs. It's is a comprehensive article on the subject of plagiarism and theft in photography. I found this article incredibly interesting as the author was prompted to write it after coming across a unique situation. Another author had recreated his photograph and not stolen it which counts as idea theft. There is some really good information in the article on how to keep your photographs protected.
That is so great. My wife is starting to ask me what all of the new programs on her laptop are. I like this one. I love photographing flowers and nature.
ReplyDeleteI am also starting to get quite the collection of new software on my work computer. The best part of this one is that its free and pretty easy to use.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteGreat photo, Zions is such a beautiful place. I have never thought about some of these issues before. I have just always thought if I put a picture online, people are going to have access to it. I loved how you did your watermark, it looks professional and inconspicuous. I love to take pictures, it is so fun!!!
Thanks for all your kind words Nicole. I to like to take pictures, but I've never spent the money to get a good camera. I think after my move to Germany I may splurge.
DeleteHey Cory,
ReplyDeleteI like taking pictures of scenery and wildlife (mostly my two boys). I don’t know if any of my pictures are have any value and I think I have some good ones too. This would be a great way to share them and not let anyone steal them and use them for profit. I could use watermarks to prove that I have ownership as I share them on the internet. Thanks for the tip.
Hey T.J. I think that your pictures have value to those that are in them. My parents got divorced when I was about 12. I noticed I have a ton of photos from before the divorce and almost none until I started to take photos once smart phones became a thing. As I'm getting older I do miss having pictures from that decade of my life. Keep on snapping those photos.
DeleteI just have to say that this is a beautiful picture, and that is what caught my eye. After the first time I read your post, I looked into PhotoScape. Thank you for this free resource. I am an avid hiker and have been wanting to go to Zion's National Park. I am planning a trip this summer and it will be my first time there.
ReplyDelete