RobertMaxey

I have a theory: we have always been restricted. Some laws have always been on the books and we have always had regulations in place as well as rules that do not allow us to do some things. Property owners do have rights that extend to the use of private property.

Now, everyone is a photographer; there is a camera in every cell phone and everyone seems to own and use a digital camera. Some people decide they can turn pro and they are not familiar with the rules nor do they care to investigate. They are accustomed to a free and open Internet and they start thinking that they have rights that they in fact, do not have.

When someone is prevented from taking photographs, they scream censorship and word spreads. Discussions take place and very few participating in these discussions have ever read the law. They assume and they are often wrong and this upsets them because they just did not bother to read the laws that directly apply to their work.

I say something and I am hammered by people hell bent on asserting "rights" they do not have and have never had. I support Metallica's rights (as did they) to not have their music freely traded and so-called "fans" raise holy heck. Metallica discussions turn to talk of the MPA/RIAA and those groups--all doing exactly what they are supposed to do--are painted as greedy and selfish bustardos.

They post stuff on YouTube citing "Fair Use" and they are wrong because Fair Use (in their case) is not part of the law. Everyone gets mad for no good reason.

They think the web is free and everything on the web is free or they think it should be free. Often ignoring the current Copyright laws. They are mad because they are told "No, you cannot do that." They want open source software and freely accessible music, forgetting that they have software and music because there are laws to prevent theft in place. Assert those constitutional rights, and you are evil and greedy.

WxGuesser Loc: Portland OR

What?!?! Copyright prevents unauthorized copying. No one is making a copy of the Space Needle! In fact if some one had the money he could make a complete an exact copy of the Space needle and the owners couldn't say boo! The unfortunate fact of life is that when someone has deep pockets and a bunch of lawyers it often doesn't matter what rights the photographer has, Mr. Deep Pockets can destroy him.

Beowulf Loc: Aquidneck Island, RI

Two methods of finding out magazines' photo needs:

-Go to the mag's website for info on their photog's/writer's guidelines for submission. Sometimes the guidelines are on the website itself; if not, use the contact info to request the guidelines.

-Obtain a copy of Photographer's Market, published by Writer's Digest. It will contain helpful articles on all aspects of photographing for media, as well as listings of most published magazines, trade journals, etc., and their photographic wants and needs. Pay scales are often listed.

Good luck.