le Cirque Volant : e-Magazine

And so the test and profile of a sister e-magazine to eDIGImag™ takes place. In order to prove the concept of multiple contributor built digial publications, we have used the aviation photographers journal, le Cirque Volant©, as a test bed. Having gone through four issues, with the last issue being a definitive layout, we can say it has been successful.

Judging from the number of downloads over the past four months and a steady contribution stream, the e-magzine has certainly leapt into this niche ‘market’; with worldwide ‘viewership’. Statistically, a total of 1200 e-magazine downloads have taken place, spread over the four issues. Issue #4, October 2007, peaked at 431 within 7 days of posting to the website http://www.lecirquevolant.co.za. This is a subscription service and has a current membership of 3000+, so far.

The images contributed are brillaint, and articles are casual, and informative - of couse from the aviation phoptographer’s point of view. The editor also gleans image series from a number of websites, with Flickr© groups being the dominant contributor.

Seen It? Please comment if you have.

 

Copyright, Protection and Recovery

Today we live in a society filled with the wonders of technology. We are able to bring to light so many new images and methods for producing those images… that it boggles the mind. Yet, at the same time, we - as a people - have not learned the basic fundamentals of privacy and rights of the individual. We fail to recognize that what another person creates is their property and only their property.

If I have my rights violated, I scream to high-heaven and so do you. But if you have an image I want to use and it’s been placed on a FREE Internet site - there seems to be an immediate disconnect about who owns that image. Far too many people today have the totally unfounded and errant viewpoint, that…

 

“IF it’s on the Internet, it’s free to use. No questions asked.”

Well, if you’re of that mindset, then I only have one thing to say to you …

 

Stay away from my work or the work of anyone I know … ’cause I’ll sue your sorry ass from one end of the earth to the other!”

Now that those parameters have been set … here’s why I make that very blazen statement and warning.

1) Digital Rights belong to the creator of any item deemed in the ‘creative realm’; image, audio, video, text .. in whatever media/medium available at the given time.

2) Public display does not abrogate the property rights given under a Copyright, Trademark, Servicemark or Registration mark registration, laws or statutes.

3) You, nor I, have permission to use or access to any ‘creative work’ without the EXPRESS WRITTEN permission of the rightful owner of said creative work. Implications or perceptions are NOT part of the process.

4) Protect Thyself!! You really cannot rely soley upon the legal system to protect your property rights to creative works. You really should know the legal rights and ramifications of your creative works; anywhere you place them; their distribution and hosting online. Know and understand your rights under-the-law and your limitations under-the-law; don’t wait for someone to tell you what they are.

5) Take every precaution possible to protect your work, but don’t worry about trying to save it from getting scratched. Know the limits to which you can afford to protect your work, then take the steps to insure that such protection is consistant and sensible.

We recently came across a young lady photographer from England, who displays her photographic art on the Flickr community site and is going through a very difficult time right now. She recently found out one of her photos was stolen and is being used for the covershot on a repackaged Porno DVD. She is understandably upset.

She tracked down the purveyors of the DVD and asked them to remove the image. But her naivite was met with extremely unkind remarks and complete denial of any use or intent. When she told them the photo of her was taken when she was 14 years old they only laughed at her and then ridiculed her. But still, they didn’t remove the image.

She then sought solicitors (lawyers) in her country of England to help; no takers. She sought help from lawyers in the U.S., but again no takers. She was told she would need at least £50,000 to ‘…take on…’ such an action.

This young lady is only 17 years old. Her repuation is at stake, not just the illegal use of an image, and still no one is willing to help.

Remember what I said earlier in Point #4, Protect Thyself. This is the reality of the old adage, ‘… an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.’

Her troubles are not over, but she has finally procured legal help; according to her recent comments. She is being given some helpful advice, some not so helpful advice and some really lousey advice in her Flickr site’s comments.  I hope she is getting good legal council advice !

The bottom line to this young ladies situtation is this … she is not likely to win a copyright violation suit; it’s unlikely she will be successful in prosecuting for use of an underaged child in a pornographic product … but it is highly likely, that in the court of public opinion, she may see some justice measured out. The story’s ending is yet to be written.  We’ll let you know how it ends.

Read my comments in the Dilemma of Lara Jade, on her site: Lara Jade: Flickr

So .. Be smart. Be alert. Be aware. Be ready to take action to protect your creative rights. Because if you don’t … it’s not likely anyone else will either.

 

eDITOR@eDIGImag

 

New Flickr Group: Altered Images

DIGImag’s flickr account now has a new Group called:

Altered Images

The Altered Images Group has a very simple set of RULES for acceptance in this Group.

• Maximum image size: 1000 pixels wide x locked vertical
• 72 ppi resolution
• JPEG file format

However, Altered Images is not going to be easy to get into. We invite photographers and graphic artists from the flickr community to submit images to the Group.

Each image will be reviewed by the eDIGImag owners and moved into the Altered Images Group, flickr stream based upon image quality and the process (interest, difficulty, uniqueness and originality) by which each image is created.

DIGImag is looking for the best of such Altered Images on flickr.

Each member of the Altered Images Group is allowed to upload two (2) photos per WEEK.

We want participation, but at the same time all images that make it to the eDIGImag Groups must earn their inclusion.

So hone up your Altered Images technique and send us your best images.

eDITOR@eDIGImag

 

Step One … or was that One Stumble?

We have begun.

Our current mindset tells me that this is a pronouncement. But, I’m sure there are those who could also say it’s just as easily our epitat.

I’m not that desperate - nor negative. But I will recognize and admit to the possibility. If for no other reason than being on prime alert status.

Despite the hard work, sleepless nights and BS&T that will certainly make up much of our future - for those of us involved in the building of eDIGImag™ - I am excited!

VERY EXCITED…

The first step was getting the idea ‘off-the-ground’ and that happened several days ago. It all began with a conversation about my artwork technique called, eLithography™. That conversation was between me (Les Booth) and my co-producer of eDIGImag (Paul Lindenberg).

Paul and I met on the photographic community, Flickr. Conducting a search of Flickrs who were into fly-fishing, I came across a group that focused on the development of a piece of software called - appropriately - FlyFish. FlyFish is a database that allows one to develop a collection of images, locations, tid-bits, fishing journals and contacts - and a whole lot more. I liked what I saw, sent the author an email … and as so many stories say at this point: “The rest is history.“

Paul and I shared Flickr-mail messages until we go tired of the ineffeciency and jumped over to use our respective Gmail accounts. Before long we were GTalking in real-time. No big news here in technology, but it sure was interesting to be talking - LIVE! - with Paul. You see, I live in Hoosierville (aka, Indiana, USA) and Paul lives in Jberg (aka, Johannesberg, South Africa).

Just a ‘wee-bit’ of a distance. Actually, 8,630 miles, “as the crow flys” (13,888 km or 7499 nautical miles).

We began talking photography.

Paul is a photographer. Paul like airplanes. Paul works in technology. Paul is an outdoorsman. Paul wanted to produce a publication: online and offline.

I am a photographer. I know nothing about airplanes, but like to fly. I work in technology. I am an outdoorsman and am member of the major Outdoor Communicators organization in North America. I have worked on publications; been around a lot of publications; am working on developing publications and want to do more.

eDIGImag was born in a landslide of comments, comentaries and ‘What if…?” statements.

Suddenly, we were talking about a publication: online, with off-line potential.

Thus … Step One has been taken. We discussed the possibilities and are pursuing the answers.

More to come …

eDitor@eDigimag

 

Flickr

This is a test post from the eDIGImag account on … testing the blog-from-Flickr function.

 

eDIGImag is a Domain

eDIGImag is now a domain: eDIGImag.com . But not just .com, we also have acquired the .net and .info domains as well. Our plan is to develop the .com first and point the .net and .info to the .com

 

eDIGImag … we’re here

Even Superman would be amazed at the pace which technology continues to accelerate and the force it exudes upon society. At times, it does seem too, much. Then suddenly we see how a new, emerging technology, will work. How it will benefit the Digital Community and humanity as well.

How do we keep up? How can we be prepared for what is already here… let alone what is coming?

This is why we created eDIGImag™.

eDIGImag™ is an online electronic magazine (eMag) that deals with the world of Digital Communications - in all of its forms.

• Digital Photography
• Digital Graphics
• New Media
• Digital Video
• Digital Communications

to mention but a few!

There will be more in the near future. So much so, that what we talk about today will be outmoded a year from now.

That’s why we - the users, purveyors, creators and marketers of digital technology - really need a resource that will put usable, important information in front of us.

It doesn’t matter what category of digital technology we occupy - developer, marketer, or a user only - digital technology is changing our lives and how we live.

We - who now use and those who will come ‘online’ shortly - need access, in a timely fashion, to all the twists and turns of this rapidly evolving technology and we need that information immediately. But, it must be in an easy-to-understand, minimal learning curve, as possible bites.

Add just what does all this digital technology ramping get us? Besides, a confused look, hopefully, digital technology will provide us a more productive environment. We have already seen the first wave of these benefits from several years now:

• computing devices become ever smaller
• communications accessible to more and more of the world
• access is available on an anytime basis
• access is less and less expensive per use
• applications and results we could only dream of just a few short years earlier

Few would doubt we now live in a far more productive era, in our fast paced, technologically enhanced world! As well we also know the need to be more in tune with the available digital tools and techniques. Otherwise the chaos from misplaced efforts will negate the advantages we seek.

Come join us. Take eDIGITmag™ for a spin. Let us guide you through the faced paced world of digital technology advancement. Don’t be shy. We value your input; it’s necessary to help us grow eDIGITmag™ into a leaner, more intuitive online magazine that serves YOU - our readers.

We look forward to upcoming conversations.

Participate and enjoy…

eDitor@eDIGImag