You are here: Home > Online Surgery > Flickr as a Source of Free-to-Use Images
Online Surgery Session
Flickr as a Source of Free-to-Use Images
Session date:
This session includes Antony Theobald's short screencast on using Flickr to find images that are available for re-use under Creative Commons licences.
Flickr as a Source of Free-to-Use Images from JISC Digital Media on Vimeo.
Topics covered during the session
Topics covered included: podcasting with GarageBand; permissions/consent requirements when photographing people; photography in public places; sources of free images for use in education
URLs referred to in the session
http://vimeo.com/7662380
http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/documents/ip_photography.htm#3.1
http://www.flickr.com/commons/
http://copyrightfriendly.wikispaces.com/
http://www.flickr.com/commons/usage/
http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=868884
http://www.annaminton.com/Ground_Control.htm
http://www.sirimo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ukphotographersrights-v2.pdf (PDF)
http://www.vads.ac.uk/
http://www.jisc-collections.ac.uk/
http://imagesforeducation.org.uk/
Transcript of questions and answers
---------------------
Celia: Okay - following a course I took with you about podcasting (using Reaper) I have made my very first podcast - but I used Garage Band which came installed on my Mac. I have some questions about things in Garage Band
---------------------
Joel (JDM): Hi Celia, it's Joel from the workshop! What would you like to know about Garageband?
---------------------
Celia: Hi Joel - thanks for the course; I discovered you taught lots of transferable skills! First: I've made an enhanced podcast, and for the Episode Artwork I've imported (by dragging and dropping) some ppt slides. They look fine when I put them in Garageband but when I export them to itunes they go all fuzzy. It doesn't make any difference having larger pitch in the ppt. What am I doing wrong?
---------------------
Celia: Second: I have two computers. How do I get the contents of my Garageband between computers so that I have the same on each?
---------------------
Celia: Third: I'm not happy with the fade-in/fade-out I'm achieving between my opening jingle and my Intro. Doesn't seem to be working properly.
---------------------
Celia: Sorry to bombard you!
---------------------
Moderator: @celia, that's fine. Everybody else don't forget you can also ask questions
---------------------
Joel (JDM): Hi Celia, not a problem! in answer to your second point, Garageband needs two sets of information to recreate a project. The project file and the media contained within. It's good practice to save both the project file, the recorded audio and to copy any extra media, i.e. ppt slides all to the same directory, i.e folder. This can then be transferred across to another mac via either a mem stick or a dropbox
---------------------
Celia: I use dropbox - but wouldn't I need to reassemble all the bits on the second computer?
---------------------
Theo K: Thanks Ant - very interested as area I do a lot of work in - all sectors ed
---------------------
Joel (JDM): About the fade in-out section. have you placed each region on separate tracks? to get a decent blending effect its advisable to have one region fading in whilst the other is fading out
---------------------
Celia: Yes
---------------------
Moderator: @celia, i use dropbox and as long as everything you need is there, you can use multiple machines
---------------------
Joel (JDM): what's the problem you're having exactly then?
---------------------
Joel (JDM): no, if they are saved in a single folder the first time around then then garageband on the second computer will know where to look
---------------------
Celia: Let me go check both the drop box thing and the fade in/out thing now. How about the fuzzy images - that's my biggest issue right now.
---------------------
Joel (JDM): ... within the folder
---------------------
Ant (JISC Digital Media): We are about to show the screencast it will appear in a web window and you can press play
---------------------
Joel (JDM): With regards to your first point about exporting to itunes, this stems somewhere from your export settings. After this session, I'd be happy to talk directly with you on that as it's difficult to know/look into here!
---------------------
Joel (JDM): @celia. the other issues which can hinder blending audio regions is correctly setting levels of each track, and correct alignment in the time domain. This is often a trial and error task. But if you'd like to send me a copy of the audio file, I'd be more than happy to offer some tips
---------------------
Theo K: Hi Ant - well produced screencast clearly lays out the issues
---------------------
Emily: I had a question recently about academics taking pictures of people on field trips and would they have to get their consent to do this
---------------------
Emily: I wasn't really sure but the guidelines at http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/documents/ip_photography.htm#3.1 are really helpful if anyone is taking pics of people
---------------------
Theo K: My main issue with Creative Commons search on Flickr is that it is not always easy (for new users) to find in (advanced search) IMHO it should be a button/link on home page - what do others think?
---------------------
Ant (JISC Digital Media): @Emily - thanks for sharing the link earlier
---------------------
Theo K: Has anyone used Flickr Commons http://www.flickr.com/commons/
---------------------
Emily: @TheoK I agree, it would be easier if there was a button to send you straight to CC images only
---------------------
Ant (JISC Digital Media): Flickr Commons is also a very useful source of images with 'no known copyright restrictions'
---------------------
Theo K: Thousands of images from collections & museums world wide, with CC or no known copyright restrictions
---------------------
Ant (JISC Digital Media): we have used Flickr Commons images for illustrating some of our blog posts and advice docs
---------------------
Emily: ooh that sounds good, can they definitely be used in education without copyright infringement?
---------------------
Theo K: @Emily -yes
---------------------
Emily: I'm always on the lookout for sites holding images with little or no copyright restrictions
---------------------
Emily: This is quite a nice list: http://copyrightfriendly.wikispaces.com/
---------------------
Ant (JISC Digital Media): @Emily @Theo - Well in theory - but you should always check the wording by clicking through to each institution's rights statement - you can find this with each image
---------------------
Emily: I agree, but it's difficult sometimes to teach everyone to do that, particularly as technology makes it so easy just to copy and paste images from anywhere now
---------------------
Dave K: @emily. Regarding your earlier question basically, anyone photographed under the age of 18 needs parental/guardian consent. Over 18 you should ideally have a signed model release for each person in the image (tedious I know)
---------------------
Theo K: Agree Ant
---------------------
Emily: @DaveK yes I know, but that's where the boundaries between copyright and DP and sensitivity cross
---------------------
Emily: technically, according to those guidelines I tagged, you can photograph anyone in a public place
---------------------
Emily: it's what you then do with that image that's the key
---------------------
Emily: you would only need written consent if you were to use the image for commercial purposes
---------------------
Theo K: @ant agree institution basically devolves their responsibility with "no known copyright restrictions" so it's up to you ... but in practice go for it http://www.flickr.com/commons/usage/
---------------------
Ant (JISC Digital Media): @emily or if the image is used for purposes they have not consented to
---------------------
Joel (JDM): @emily. Yes, that's true... although believe it or not some people get funny in the street when you start pointing a camera at them!
---------------------
Ant (JISC Digital Media): e.g. if the image is used to endorse a product or opinion
---------------------
Emily: @Joel lol yes I agree, it would probably be courteous to ask their permission, but what I mean is you don't have to get signed consent from everyone you take a picture of if you just use it for non-commercial purposes
---------------------
Celia: I use video images of people in my research (conversation analysis) and get people to sign releases (approved by ethics boards) giving me/my research team the right to post video recordings of them on the internet. If anyone wants copies of the release form I'm happy to share
---------------------
Emily: @celia it's different with film because there they have performance rights
---------------------
Theo K: Joel (JDM) [street] agree - can result in confrontation - some places contexts can be dangerous
---------------------
Dave K: As I understand it the law applies across the board (commercial or not) unless in a public gathering. It's more important when images are commercial due to more people seeing it and money changing hands
---------------------
Joel (JDM): @emily & theo. Exactly. Interestingly this topic came up in the media not long ago where members of the public were having the cameras confiscated and/or photos deleted by security guards of public areas such as shopping malls... although the act was perfectly legal
---------------------
Emily: @Joel interesting, I didn't know that. In which country, UK?
---------------------
Emily: In the main it's about privacy and peoples' right to the use and exploitation of their own image
---------------------
Emily: it's nothing to do with copyright - that resides with the photographer
---------------------
Moderator: @emily I have the URL to Joel's story, will dig it out... http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=868884
---------------------
Emily: @Moderator thanks
---------------------
Joel (JDM): @emily. yes, in Bristol amongst other places
---------------------
Emily: @Joel lol it looks like their concern is for terrorism and covering their own backs in terms of liability
---------------------
Emily: not to do with privacy etc
---------------------
Ant (JISC Digital Media): @emily - that's where consent come in - if the image is unposed in a public place there's nothing to stop you taking the picture (apart from a hoity security guard perhaps ;-) ), but if the image is then used to endorse a product or opinion you need the subjects' permission
---------------------
Emily: @Ant agree with you there
[For more on getting subject's permission, see JISC Digital Media's advice on model release.
As well as copyright, the photographer also has moral rights, which includes the right not to have his or her work subjected to 'derogatory' treatment - see our advice on copyright for more on this]
---------------------
arrib: there are a few interesting considerations about photography restrictions in several places across the UK on Anna Minton book Ground Control...
---------------------
Emily: I didn't realise the security on the streets is now akin to Heathrow :-s
---------------------
Emily: @arrib thanks - it sounds like an interesting book! I'm guessing there are a few places where it would be in breach of national security
---------------------
arrib: the problem is that large parts of UK's cities are now privately owned
---------------------
Theo K: As far as I remember Home office told Police to back off a few months ago - can't find link at moment tho
---------------------
arrib: therefore with special rules...
---------------------
Emily: @arrib ah that would explain a lot - I'm in Reading and the Oracle does not allow filming on its premises unless it vets it first
---------------------
arrib: there you go!
---------------------
Emily: @arrib I think it fears misrepresentation though, or unlawful films which put it in a bad light
---------------------
Emily: to say it's illegal is going too far though, because the law doesn't say it's illegal
---------------------
Emily: it may not be permitted
---------------------
arrib: here is the link for the book quoted above: http://www.annaminton.com/Ground_Control.htm
---------------------
Emily: I think it's a big problem in this day and age when public and private are almost indistinguishable
---------------------
arrib: indeed
---------------------
Emily: Technically, as long as you're not trespassing, you are allowed to take pictures of whatever you want to
---------------------
arrib: technically...
---------------------
arrib: but that technically has a very broad meaning nowadays...
---------------------
Emily: @arrib or narrow, depending on how you look at it!
---------------------
arrib: and the terrorism act brought out lots of limitations in terms of image capturing in public...
---------------------
arrib: yes you are right
--------------------
Emily: @arrib this is what starts getting so confusing, when several different pieces of legislation conflict with one another
---------------------
Emily: all of a sudden you're not just a copyright officer, you have to know the DP Act, the FOI Act, the Terrorism Act, etc, etc
---------------------
Ant (JISC Digital Media): We've got about 5 mins left in this session - does anyone have any other questions?
---------------------
Theo K: Think this may be of interest http://www.sirimo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ukphotographersrights-v2.pdf
---------------------
Emily: Does anyone know of any good copyright-free / copyright friendly image resource sites for educational use?
---------------------
Ant (JISC Digital Media): thanks @Theo - that looks useful
---------------------
Theo K: Internet Archive; NASA; Wellcome Trust images
---------------------
Emily: @Theo K thanks for that link, I'll have a read later
---------------------
VickyB: Emily - do you know about VADS? http://www.vads.ac.uk/
---------------------
Ant (JISC Digital Media): there's also some useful links to resources at JISC Collections- note some require institutional subscription http://www.jisc-collections.ac.uk/
---------------------
Emily: Also, I'm delivering some training on images and copyright to staff in January, any suggestions on how best I can promote it? and how I can best engage them?
---------------------
Emily: @VickyB yes I do, thanks!
---------------------
Emily: @Ant thanks, I know JISC are working on an educational images archive, am I right?
---------------------
Ant (JISC Digital Media): @emily yes there are many already in JISC Collections
---------------------
Emily: @Ant I thought JISC were pulling them altogether into one huge image resource bank?
---------------------
Ant (JISC Digital Media): yes that's right the JISC Collections Digital Images for Education initiative http://imagesforeducation.org.uk/
---------------------
arrib: Well guys i'm off. Great session. See you soon. Thanks to JISC once more.
---------------------
Theo K: Finally thanks to Ant & all at JISC Digital Media for session
---------------------
Ant (JISC Digital Media): thanks to all for joining in today. Email if you have more questions: Helpdesk: http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/helpdesk/
