Tabi basa & greetings everyone. Today I’d like to share about a photographer’s watermark, how important it is and ethics in using it.
For those who didn’t know, watermark is basically a logo, piece of text or signature superimposed onto a photograph. For example, © Claudius Weson Photography. Some people also included their phone number in it & their social media so that potential clients know how to contact them.
WHY PUT WATERMARK?
A lot of photographers, especially aspiring one, took pride of their watermark. In the sea of photographs being shared as soc-med daily, it is one way for peoples to recognise their work/pictures before their obtain their signature look.
By putting watermark, they also can prevent others from using their work without their permission.
Regarding copyright, as soon as the photo is taken, copyright comes into effect. Watermark only makes it more obvious to whom the copyright belongs to.
HARDSHIP IN CREATING ARTWORK
Each artwork are not easy to be made. It requires a lot of work, from talent/model, make-up artist (MUA) & photographer to make it happen. While MUA parts usually came before the shoot, some will stay on and ensure make-up are in well-maintained throughout the shoot. Talent / model has to stay in their best shape & state of mind (since it shows in their expression), putting in effort to pose etc, while photographer arranges lighting, adjust as required.
After the photoshoot ends, that’s just the beginning for photographers. They will spend countless hours facing the screen of their monitor to retouch, edit (including placing watermark) and ensure the picture / artwork is good before they share it on soc-med.
WATERMARK DON’T STOP THEM
However, despite having watermark, it doesn’t stop some peoples from using those pictures without permission. Worse, the watermark are being cropped out.
Usually, when photographers share their picture at Facebook, they doesn’t mind if people use “Share” button to share those pictures because others still can trace it back to the said photographer.
What they don’t want is someone save it from their social media, crop the picture & use it as if they are the one who produces that picture. That is a breach of copyright law already.
WHAT YOU CAN DO?
Since you are the owner of the photo, you can do the following:
1.You can ask them to stop using your photo
2.You have the right to sue.
3.You can report the image (if it’s used on social media).
THE RIGHT WAY:
The best way is to ask for permission before you use someone else’s artwork. Please respect their hardwork, especially when you are doing a collaboration.
If you use their picture without permission, you know that they knew about it but there was nothing happened (yet), most likely they think it is such a hassle to take action against you. However, they already decided to blacklist you and wouldn’t want to collaborate with in the future. Worse, they will tell their friends about it and don’t be surprised if nobody wants to collaborate with you.
Word of mouth’s power shouldn’t be underestimated.
Hope this sharing helps you from getting into troubles with photographer / photographer groups in the future. Give credit where it’s due.
ISU TERA AIR
Tabi basa & selamat sejahtera semua. Pada hari ini, saya ingin berkongsi berkenaan dengan tera air (watermark). Tera air merupakan logo, cebisan ayat mahupun tandatangan yang diletakkan di atas gambar / hasil karya bagi menunjukkan empunya karya tersebut.
Tera air ini digunakan bagi melindungi hak cipta jurugambar bagi mengelakkan gambar mereka daripada digunakan tanpa kebenaran.
Namun begitu, ianya tidak menghalang pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab daripada menggunakan gambar. Lebih buruk lagi, gambar itu telah disunting (crop) bagi membuang tera air tesebut, dan jurugambar itu tidak diberikan penghargaan (credit).
Susah payah orang ambil gambar, edit gambar sampai berjam-jam, senang-senang pula si polan / si anu pakai gambar. Dahlah watermark kena “crop”, nama pun tidak kena “tag” di Facebook.
Sebagai empunya gambar tesebut, anda berhak untuk menyuruh mereka untuk berhenti menggunakan gambar tersebut, atau menyaman mereka.
Ada juga jurugambar yang merasakan bahawa adalah agak leceh bagi mereka untuk melakukan perkara di atas, dan mengabaikan isu tersebut. Tapi, mereka sudah menyenaraihitamkan (blacklist) pihak / individu berkenaan dan memberitahu rakan-rakan jurugambar yang lain agar tidak bekerja dengan orang itu agar nasib yang sama tidak menimpa mereka.
Oleh itu, sekiranya anda ingin menggunakan hasil karya orang lain, minta izin terlebih dahulu.
Diharap agar perkongsian ini sedikit sebanyak membuka minda anda berkenaan etika penggunaan hasil karya dan tera air sang jurugambar.
“Tukang Rantek” means photographer in Bidayuh Serian.
