Comments HERE on the pinned thread of Photography Group members websites

[Celebration]

It looks like I will not be able to edit a pinned and locked thread, but I can easily unpin it and post another so that is not a big deal. I expect that I might have to have to add some more websites this week, but would like to get your feedback on what I have thus far. If anyone has any particular suggestions, let me know.

About Wednesday if there are any additions I will make them, and incorporate any suggestions that people have.

Once we give it some time for a more complete list, I will post a thread in GD, and I hope you all will kick and recommend it--we might be able to get some people interested in the photography group. I felt like that was one of the main goals of the contests, and we just have not had that capability.

[CC]

1. You're doing great

and looks like we get to see some people's photos that don't normally post. Might just be a good way to grow the group.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

2. In the other locked thread,

and I didn't check to see if the link worked, my DU name contains a syntax error. I'm dyed as opposed to died.............etc I don't want to rush things!

[Celebration]

3. OK, thanks!!

hehehe, that's pretty BAD of me. I am going to try something to see if it works.

[Celebration]

4. ok, it worked

I had to unlock it for a minute, and then I could edit it! Thanks. I'm prone to making these kinds of errors, unfortunately. Everyone needs to watch me carefully!

[Celebration]

5. Ok, a gardening person saw this

and sent me his gardening blog, which really had tons of photos on it...VERY photo oriented. I told him that I was reluctant to put blogs that weren't about photography in the thread. I told him that if he got a separate photo website for his photos that I would put that in the thread. If there was a way that could in turn be linked to his gardening blog that would be okay.

I further told him that if the gardening group wanted to get together and do something similar in their group, that we could each link to each other, and that would be fun.

I also said I would open this up for discussion here. If anyone has any comments on this I would appreciate hearing them.

[Alameda]

6. A strange thing I've noticed

my photo gallery has had over 25 thousand visits, but nobody ever says anything. They download things and never say anything. I am happy to share, but gee, would it kill people to say thank you when they download my photos?

My objective in having the galleries is to share. You know a beautiful sunset, or whatever is much more beautiful when it's shared, but sometimes it feels like spitting in the wind.

Also, I notice some here have a signature in their photos, how do you do that?

Maybe I'm feeling particularly touchy today as I have a fever and had the flu for days. I can't lay down because I don't want the congestion to settle in my chest...so I'm not getting much rest.

[Celebration]

7. Alameda

You lost me after the "download things." You are certainly generous! I went through my whole SmugMug gallery and turned off the download function. I also am an amateur and, up to a point, wouldn't mind sharing a few things. But the issue with leaving the download function on is that the images can be outright stolen and resold. That possibility really gives me the creeps! Also, I want the pros to be able to make money, and I don't want free photos to compete with theirs.

As for comments, well, I certainly understand that you want a thank you if people download pictures. I have to say that I personally am not much of a comment type person. I also have a Flickr account, and I never really got into the commenting thing there. The way to be noticed on that site is to do lots of commenting on each other's photos. I guess I am just the quiet type. I have to say that I found a really favorite photographer from my hometown that way, when he commented on one of my photos. That is a good way to get noticed. Flickr is a good place for commenting, but you kind of have to be more aggressive than I am. Someone here compared it to Facebook, LOL. I do really like the couple of comments I got on my new blog!

The signature is a watermark, and IMHO you DEFINITELY should have one if you are allowing people to download photos. It should have something recognizable on it, such as your name or initials, and a copyright symbol. You need the capability of making it on a clear background and then it is layered on the photos. Some photo sites, given the symbol, will put it on all the photos for you. I decided against it because it looked like a bit of trouble, since I would have to use software that I have no familiarity with. Also I don't have the download function activated so I didn't think it was necessary. But maybe I am wrong. I think you can also buy specific software for doing that. Some of the free photo processing software can make watermarks though.

If we are thinking about things to put in a couple of pinned threads here, copyright issues, photo sites, and watermarks might be a decent topic! When you feel better (get well soon!) you can research how to make a watermark. I also suggest that you look into limiting the size of the photos that you allow people to download. It is one thing if people want to use it for the background of their own personal computer, and quite another if they want to steal it and resell it for prints.

And we do miss you and your photos around here. Take care of yourself.

[Alameda]

8. I don't see any way to turn off downloading on Webshots....

looked all over the site. I sent an email, maybe I'll get an answer. I use a little program called Thumbsplus to organize my photos. You can't do a lot with it but somethings. I've been using it for years. Idon't have Photoshop, too damn expensive IMHO....so how do people do watermarks? IOW what programs do they use?

Argh....still feel yucky. Going to see my acupuncturist later. However it's raining here and I'm not looking forward to walking in the rain.

[Celebration]

9. apparently GIMP has the capability to watermark

http://www.gimp.org/

Now, I haven't done it, because I turned off the ability to download and didn't think it was necessary. (Probably doing both is the way to go, though). There seem to be tuturials all over YouTube on watermarking photos with that software.

Get well!

[Celebration]

10. okay, I started a separate thread on these subjects

to try to get some interest going in the subject. I am far from an expert on these subjects, and feel uncomfortable being the only person answering here.