Most bloggers are aware of Yahoo's membership-driven photographic archive, Flickr. I have dipped into the its reserves on countless occasions for suitable pictures to illustrate articles here and at my other sites, Salut! Sunderland and the embryonic Salut! Live.
As I understand the way Flickr works, and the guidance it publishes, it is entirely permissible to select members' photographs for such purposes. Unless the subscriber opts out, each of his or her pictures actually carries a "Blog This" option. Anyone who feels I have got that wrong is invited to say so.
The courteous blogger nevertheless alerts the Flickr photographer when an image has been used. In my case, I unfailingly credit the photographer (even if, as often happens, I have to change the caption) and offer to withdraw the picture if the person objects to my use of it.
Philippe Tarbouriech, who took the superb photograph of cows, not only consented to its appearance on Salut! but was moved to add his comment, disagreeing with my interpretation of Sarko's words.
Necessarily, the photographs are posted first, permission sought afterwards. This is simply because the need
arises immediately, and since most people do not sit all day in front of computers, the reply would often come too late - in other words, I would no longer need to use the picture.
Even so, on only one occasion has a Flickr member reacted other than positively, the consent ranging from a simple "that's fine" to genuine pleasure that further exposure has been found for the photograph.
I was writing about the two-way human traffic between France and the UK - young French people seeking work there, Brits moving here - and needed contrasting images. For France, I chose one of my own pictures, a glass of rosé on the table outside my home. And for Britain, I came across an excellent view of Oxford Street in the rain.
Off went the usual e-mail. And back came the reply: "Hi. Yes, remove my photo from your blog immediately. if you had asked first I would let you use it."
I congratulated him on being the first person ever to respond in this way, but could not stop myself adding the advice that he should remove the "Blog This" invitation that accompanied each example of his work and reflected - I suggested - "the spirit of Flickr though not your wishes".
Although his response struck me as pompous, I suspect that he acted within his rights (I have not studied Flickr's rules closely enough to know for sure) and I naturally complied.
Oddly enough, the picture I used in its place was taken by a professional photographer who sensibly stipulates on his Flickr profile that he should be paid for his work (while, in practice, allowing bloggers to use it for free, provided it is properly credited to him).
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