Christian Photographers Community

This past weekend, my husband (the man in the photo with our dog, Reese) took me shooting.   The wind was blowing the snow across the surface of the frozen water and it was bitter cold. Praise the Lord for hand warmers!  It was a queer sight with the water level so low and then, frozen, to boot.  I have some shots of the water closer up and it's all cracked.

I'm playing with copyright options since I do intend to sell my prints in the near future and want to have them protected as much as possible.  I like that this copyright is there, but it doesn't detract from the viewing of the photo.    

I toyed with the idea of cloning out the flare, but I decided I like the effect.  I don't like to do too much to my photos,either.  I like them to be as I see them.

I welcome your comments.  My skin is thinner than I want it to be, so I'm sure this will help.  I take things too personally and am trying not to, since I know to make it in this business, I need to be confident and love my own work.

Blessings, Kathleen

kathleen I think you photo is beautiful just the way it is.

Might I ask if you had a filter on your lens during this shot?  (Personally, I find lens flare rarely adds a desirable effect to a photo of this type).  Avoiding the lens flare would certainly be favorable to cloning it out.

Hello. Since you asked....

First I want to say I like this photograph. I can imagine just how beautiful it was there when you took it.

Sometimes flare works but most of the time it is not desirable.  My personal opinion.
Unless your subject is partly to do with heat the sun or low sun disc ...then it works.
In this case I personally would try to avoid.  Use your hat a book whatever to shade the lens.

Having said that it is not a detractor, It actually enhanced the orientation of the light in the photograph.
That is one hard thing to remember when you are peering through that finder. It is not so noticable then.

Some filtering might make a big difference in this type of situation.  I see faint cloud detail that might pop a bit more and would also enhance the water a bit.

And sometimes you just have to push the button and take what you get...........................

Enjoyed looking at it......

Thanks for the comments!    I do appreciate them all.

mrlucas-I agree that most of the time flare is not desirable.  I did have both a UV filter and a polarizing filter on my lens.  That may be why the flare in the first place.  I remember covering the lens for some shots, but obviously not this one.  I think this was the only one with my husband and dog in it for scale and I may have other shots without any flare.  I will have to look at them again.  

ohenry-Thanks for the comment about the horizon.  In my haste to just get it done and posted, I don't think I even noticed.  I will have to fix that.      You probably saw my answer regarding the filters in my response to mrlucas, so I'll not repeat it.

Thanks for giving the good comments as well as the "constructive criticism."  I knew I could count on you all.    Hey, do you think my skin just got thicker?

I agree with the comments above.  I really like the photo a lot.

But copyright text does bother me a little--especially if the files are the size they are on this site and most sites.  No one could steal them and print them larger than maybe a wallet size photo.  They need massive files to make a difference.

But that's just me.

I'm really enjoying viewing your work a lot.  The photo here has a "vastness" about it that I never noticed till I saw your husband so wee!

I also have enjoyed this photo.  I found the copyright a little distracting and found my eyes drawn to it a little although I can understand you wanting to have it there.

Sadly, you're correct.  People steal your photo and post them as they wish all the time.  I have recently begun converting all of my photos to include a copyright watermark and all future ones posted will have one...I don't like that it is necessary, but it is.  The key is to make it visible, yet not overpowering that prevents viewing the image. In this print you've posted, your copyright is placed well, is identifiable, yet doesn't overpower.  Obviously, the watermark is only used on web posts or proofs and not on the prints. 

Thanks, ohenry!  I did find out how to use the protection so people can't print or alter the files.  I am trying that, as far as the printing issue is concerned.  The PDF files can be used on the internet (haven't checked about this particular website, though) and they are password protected so they cannot be opened in a photo editing program, including Photoshop without the password.  Have you tried doing that?  I guess it doesn't help for other people using your pictures on their own websites, though, hu? 

Anyway, I will continue to use the larger copyright and try to make them so they are not overpowering, like I've done so far.  I appreciate your replies.

Kathleen

I'd be interested in more information on this, Kathleen.   If you have a website, a tutorial, or a file on this, could you email it to me? 

Hi Carl!

I don't have a tutorial on this or anything, but I'll tell you that I read about them in my CS2 manual.  It tells how to make a PDF Presentation for e-mailing photos to clients and you can put the security into action and they will not be able to print it themselves or change the file in any way.  You can even set them up to automatically open as a slide show with a black background around the pictures.  I have also read about this file type for online use, but it didn't specify if it was just for documents or if photos would work, too.  

I just am still unsure about using these types of files for actually viewing pictures on the web.  I used "save as" in my CS2 and set up a picture as PDF with the security and everything.  I have someone trying to post one for me, hopefully today, so we will see if it works.

I'll let you know!

Thanks very much Kathleen for this information.

I compress my files for showing on the web so much that they sure wouldn't be worth looking at if printed.

But I understand your concern.

When you find out more, please feel free to open a topic in our General Photography area (I'm sure that Carl can direct you or move it) so that others will learn as well.