For the love of Pete!!!!

Here lately, possibly from all the hubbub about the new Orphan Works bill being presented before congress and perhaps a great deal by kids "stealing" people's pieces and telling thier friends they shot it, I've seen more and more DA watermarks on images. I have no qualms about placing your copyright notice on an image, hell, it's the sensible thing to do, but to use the watermark provided by DA to basically destroy the piece your trying to protect just seems totally foolish in every aspect.

Here's the scenario.
I see a great thumbnail of a piece I'd love to get a better look at, so, I do what everyone does and click the thumb. What do I see...A damn watermark. Not unobtrusive or casually placed to one side or the other, but right down the center of what "could" have been a great image.

Now, here's the thing. I understand why some people would place the watermark as stated previously, but what I believe they fail to realise is, if a person who intends on actually infringing on thier copyright and tries to sell it as thier own, will 9 times out of 10, be able to lift the watermark using a photo editing program. Thereby, making the usage of it pretty senseless. Sure, it'll take a few hours to reconstruct the image using various tools, even if it took a week, wouldn't matter as they know they are going to get paid for it. And all the worrying about protecting your work is for naught.

Seen a lot of people bitching about "rippers" taking their images and posting it on Flikr or the like and then telling thier buddies they took the pictures bringing them accolades and admiration from thier friends. Copyright infringement, nah, not to me, why, cause they aren't making money off of it as they are just trying to raise their self esteem by being popular. Is it right, nope, do I condone it, Hell no, but that's still no reason in my eyes to ruin what it is you were trying to protect in the first place.

There are plenty of examples of how to copyright your images without destroying the image (which is what the watermark is doing). I could show example after example of just how it should be done, just by browsing other's galleries. As I've not contacted anyone specifically about it, I won't post any thumbnails of what I believe is the perfect way to protect your work. But all you have to do is browse the galleries of some of the more well known photographers and you will see very clearly.

Each and every photograph I've posted is copyrighted, as are all the pieces put forth by everyone here. Can that change in time and legislation, sure, but that's still no reason to, as I've said, RUIN your work for the sake of saving it.

Each piece I upload has my copyright on it, go ahead, look for it, you won't see it, but if it ever came down to it I could easily prove it was mine. Plenty of ways to protect yourself from those intending to abuse your rights without taking away what might have been a truly glorious image.

Just some food for thought. Consider the options and do yourself, and all of your admirers a favor and just don't use the watermark. Put your notice on it in a tasteful and unobtrusive way. Your only hurting yourself.