A word of caution to all pbasers!

[lindarocks]

As you may know, I don't often visit the forum or post messages but I feel compelled to do so today because I have come across an abuse of pbase (and us as photographers).

I got emailed a powerpoint file yesterday by a work colleague who knew I was interested in photography. It was titled 'pics of 2004' and was basically a screenshow of a whole load of photos. When I looked at it I realised I'd seen many of the photos before - all here on pbase. Some I could identify and find easily and others I know I've seen here but I can't remember whose shots they are. I've done a bit of poking around in galleries that I thought might be where they have come from but I still can't find them all.

It's clearly just someone's random collection of photos that they have screen grabbed and loaded into powerpoint - there is clear pixelation in some where the image has been stretched to fit the whole of a screen. I reckon someone has just surfed around pbase picking up pics they like because the quality of the photography in the reel is hugely variable. Some of the photos are truly wonderful and it's clear to anyone with an eye for it photography that at least a couple of the shots are not worthy of the title 'pic of 2004' .....but I'll keep my own counsel on which they are!!!

While the email is not offensive in any way, it clearly breaches the copyright of the photographers.

I have dropped pmails to those folks I can identify and anyone else who'd like to see the email can pmail me with their email address and I'll happily forward it.

Anyway, the point is, I was able to find some people via copyright statements on the photos themselves, rather than the way I display my copyright as a text box underneath. I think it is a lesson for all of us really - if we put copyright onto the pic itself then we are better protected!

So, if you want to see the reel, let me know and don't forget to protect your images with copyrights!

Linda

[gpaai]

Did you receive my message Linda?

[arjunrc]

Linda, does that powerpoint have a web address somewhere inside ?
regds
arjun

[lindarocks]

I can't see one - from the email it has been set up to only show as a slideshow but I've saved the file on my system and then opened it in powerpoint and I can't see anything helpful in properties - the file was created a few days ago and it was created by someone called cam - that's all I can see but someone with more technical know how may be able to get more from it than me - let me know if you want it sent to you so you can have a look.

[1designguy]

I am interested to see this. I assume it is a huge file.

What does the email information say when you "control u" ?

[lindarocks]

the file is 1mb so big but not enormous. If you want to see it I can email it to you. I have identified another photo from it this morning so am getting through them but there are still many I recognise but can't identify.