Wild Angle: Free Photos?

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Free Photos?

If you've got an account on Flickr or on any other large photo-sharing site, you'll probably have been contacted by people asking to use a photo of yours for nothing. Thomas Hawk blogs about it here: Should You Give Away Your Photos For Nothing To People Who Can Pay?

I totally agree with his post. Here are some examples of mine:

Eurostar: wanted it for nothing, didn't even reply when I enquired what they would pay
Watford Museum: as this is non-profit, and I live in Watford, I agreed. This led to work from Watford Council. Watford Museum were absolutely brilliant to deal with.
Construct Ireland: didn't offer to pay but when I brought the subject up, agreed to it without a problem.
Numerous wildlife charities and research organisations: These all get them for nothing.

I urge you - even if you're agreeing to give it away - to make clear the terms of your license. If they have asked for it for a leaflet, make it clear that you are granting a license just for that one usage.

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UK Masters

Bryan & Cherry Alexander - Arctic & Antarctic pictures, images & stock photographs by Bryan & Cherry Alexander Photography

Doug Allan - Freelance wildlife and documentary cameraman who films both topside and underwater, in all film and video formats.

Heather Angel - Wildlife photographer, lecturer, author

Pete Atkinson - Underwater photographer, writer, marine zoologist.

Niall Benvie - Images from the Edge, from Northern and Baltic Europe.

Steve Bloom - Evocative images of the natural world.

Peter Cairns - Northshots - Images of Northern Nature.

Laurie Campbell - Scottish Natural History Photographer

Guy Edwardes - Landscape and wildlife photographer based in SW England.

Nick Garbutt - Madagascar and Africa Wildlife photographer, image library

John Gardner - Wildscenes - wildlife & landscape photography by John Gardner ARPS

Roy Glen - Bird photography,wildlife photography and nature photography.

Chris Gomersall - Photographer of Birds, Nature, Wildlife and the Environment. Spent 14 years as RSPB staff photographer.

Danny Green - UK Wildlife specialist, local to the Charnwood Forest.

Mark Hamblin - Wild lands, wild nature, wildlife.

Malcolm Hey - Award winning photographer, writer and tour leader specialising in the underwater enviroment.

Mike Hill - Natural and conceptual photography

Rob Jordan - Photographer and writer.

Mike Lane - UK specialist in birds and mammals, author of "Where to Photograph Wildlife in Britain"

Chris Mattison - Wildlife and nature photographer.

George McCarthy - Multi-award winning veteran wildlife photographer.

Neil McIntyre - Wildlife and landscape photographer based in Aviemore, Scotland.

Brian Phipps: Wildlife Photographer - Concentrates on Great Britain, has a huge library. Owl and Deer photography are a particular passion.

Andy Rouse - UK Wildlife photographer. Excellent blog on his site.

Ann & Steve Toon - Specialise in photographing and writing about the wildlife of Southern Africa and the natural history of the UK.

Colin Varndell - Prolific Dorset based photographer, distributed (I think) by Woodfall Wild Images

Chris Weston - Wildlife and landscape photographer.

Dave Woodfall - Woodfall Wild Images - Wildlife, Landscape & the Environment.

Days Out

Speyside Wildlife - Bird watching Holidays, Wildlife Holidays and Whale and Mammal watching Holidays in Scotland.

Gigrin Farm - Red Kite Feeding Station

British Wildlife Centre - Home to one of the finest collections of native wildlife in Britain.

Wildshots - Photography Holidays in the Highlands of Scotland

Wild Arena - A unique centre for photographic & wildlife workshops, training and tours

Guideliner Hebridean Wildlife Cruises - The specialists in wildlife cruises in western Scottish waters.

Glenlivet Wildlife - wildlife safaris around the Glenlivet Estate, Scotland, including specific trips for Mountain Hare.

Recommended Reading

Steve Bloom: Untamed - Huge book with stunning photography taken over a ten year period.

Chris Gomersall: Photographing Wild Birds - Former RSPB staff photographer, either Chris Gomershall is the British Arthur Morris, or perhaps it's the other way around. In any case he is a master photographer and this book includes several excellent case studies.

Cathy and Gordon Illg: Dynamic Wildlife Photography: Techniques for Creating Captivating Images - This is an excellent book and explains a lot of techniques useful when trying to capture behavioural shots.

Frans Lanting: Life - A glorious book full of fantastic photos. An absolute masterwork by a brilliant photographer, this book illustrates life on Earth using many years of Lanting's photography.

Arthur Morris: The Art of Bird Photography: The Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques - Arthur Morris is the master: just take a look at this book.

Moose Peterson: Guide to Wildlife Photography: Conventional and Digital Techniques - Moose Peterson is his own man, and is a one-off. He has a radical approach to wildlife photography and is very good at communicating his techniques.

Andy Rouse: Photographing Animals in the Wild (Photographic Hints & Tips) - Excellent case studies of badgers and deer which are worth the price on their own, and there's plenty of other very useful information. Like Moose Peterson, Andy Rouse has his own way of doing things and is a born communicator.

Andy Rouse: Wildlife Photography - Another excellent book from Andy Rouse, in a small format. Packed with very good advice.

John Shaw: Closeups in Nature - Although this book was first published in 1987, the techniques in it are still valid today. It's one of the best ever books on nature macro photography and is well worth getting even if macro is only a small part of your photography.

Steve and Ann Toon: Wildlife Photography Workshops - A great book. Very practical advice that is useful, and although quite film-centric, valid for digital users as well. These two are hard to match, technically - their images are always spot-on.