ausphotos.com - helping photographers find their way.

[owen]

Alrighty guys, time to let the cat out of the bag.

I've created a website http://www.ausphotos.com which has a forum on there. The goal of this forum is to share photographic locations with one another so that a) we can all learn and appreciate our beautiful country even more b) we might find out about locations near us that we never knew about and c) if we're travelling either for a day out or for longer term, we can use this as a resource to find out where we might go to shoot.

At the moment I've added a few posts, just mainly as examples of the format I think works.

I ask you all a favour. Perhaps you could head on over and post your favourite location and a little information about it and maybe some pictures, and help build up the information available to all of us, then feel free to use this whenever you are thinking of travelling or just heading out for a sunday drive.

Either go to http://www.ausphotos.com and then click on the link to 'forum' or go straight to http://www.ausphotos.com/forum

Feel free to let me know of any improvements you think I should make.

Kind regards,
Owen.

[mudder]

Owen,
Terrific idea and thanks for going to the trouble of organising it... I'll go have a play... Have a few sites in mind that I enjoy and sharing these locations is what it's all about...

Thanks again...

[owen]

Cheers mudder. Share as many as you can... I know my area pretty well but when it comes to other places I have no clue, so show us what it's like down there.

Regards,
Owen.

[mudder]

Just registered, I'll go and have a play a little later... Domestics call I'm afraid... sigh...

Terrific idea...

[Glen]

Owen, lets hope this grows to be a great resource. Good idea

[owen]

Thanks Glen. I'll add to it when I can, but I'll need a lot of input from lots of people to make it a useful resource.

Thanks for responding, be sure to check back once in a while for updates.

Owen.

[cyanide]

Either go to http://www.ausphotos.com and then click on the link to 'forum' or go straight to http://www.ausphotos.com/forum.

Minor point, owen, but you need to get rid of the full stop at the end of the forums link, or it won't work....

Will go across to your site and have a look around tonight... sounds like a good idea...

Cheers

[owen]

Thanks cyanide. All fixed now.

Cheers mate.

[Killakoala]

Great idea Owen. As a traveller i will be able to add to your site from all around Oz.

Can you perhaps add an Australian Territories section for parts of Australia not covered by the usual States and Territories. Don't forget the Torres Strait, Lord Howe, Norfolk, MacQuarie and Christmas islands are part of Australia as well.

I will be bookmarking this and i hope it gets off the air for you.

[owen]

Thanks Killa.

I've added another section as requested (I pretty much just copied and pasted your description too! ) and I've also added a forum on there for site improvements, but feel free to comment here or there as I'll be checking both.

I hope this gets off the ground so that we can all find new places to go and shoot. I can't wait for someone to put somewhere nearby that I haven't thought of yet. I hope it will help people plan little trips away as well... I know I certainly will be.

Thanks mate,
Owen.

[Killakoala]

Thanks Owen. I registered but am still awaiting the email to confirm. I fear it may have disappeared into the abyss that is Dept of Defence Email Policy Spam Filter. I lose heaps of legitimate emails because of it. I will persevere for now though.

[owen]

I'm still learning all this forum management stuff, but I think I just made you active... see how it goes anyway.

[redline]

so how do contribute? motorsport wise?
track turns and time of day?

[Killakoala]

I'm still learning all this forum management stuff, but I think I just made you active... see how it goes anyway.

It worked, thanks. Now for adding places Hmmm, where to start?

[owen]

so how do contribute? motorsport wise?
track turns and time of day?

Redline, just post with the the location in the title and give details of what is there in the content... I know at the moment it dominated by landscape photo locations, but please don't feel restricted by this. I know a few people who would be interested to know the best photo locations for specific races....

Hmmm... I guess if there is enough interest in the board we can divide up the catagories with landscape, nature, motor, etc... but that'll have to wait until word spreads around a bit more, but feel free to post your info anyway.

[thaddeus]

Hi owen,

I don't mean to be rude, but does the world really need yet another forum? As a user I have already registered here and if I post about a great place there are already over a thousand people here who will read it. Why would I register and post there when I could do so here? If the volume here got too great, they could very simply add another forum area to the board.

One reason could be if you used a completely different way of displaying the data. For example, what about integrating it with Google maps? People could see a little map of where they are, then icons around it with votes on how good a place is. You could double-click the icon to get a photo, etc. Scroll around to see what great spots are nearby.

This can all be done. For example, here is a Google Earth file of a well-known photographer's Geocaching finds: http://geocaching.com.au/xml/cacher/Leek.kml
This is a static file. You can also have dynamic files. Here is a dynamic file of all the geocaches in Australia. http://geocaching.com.au/xml/googleearth/geocaches.kml Scroll around a bit, then stop and you'll see it querying the database and popping up caches.

If you were able to geocode photographs and put them on a map in this way, with searchable descriptions and stuff, I'd be over in a flash!

[big pix]

...... Owen I like your idea, but have you looked at the copyright side of things of the images being shown.....

[owen]

Thaddeus: Cheers mate... I realise that if you post here many people will read it, however, doesn't the post then got lost after the final person has commented on it? With my idea, the posts may get pushed down the board but if you wanted to see what was around sydney, all you'd have to do is search for sydney in the subject and the results will speak for themselves.

edit: I originally had my posts linked to the location on whereis.com.au, however I found that after two days the link died so I'll definitely give what you suggested a try. Thanks.

I know that the search function here works a treat, but you will have to filter through posts that aren't specifically about image locations.

bigpix: you mean the images that I have taken? I'm not sure what other kind of images you could mean.

[big pix]

Some things like the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and many many more cannot be used for promotion or advertising unless a fee is paid. When I worked as a commercial Advertising Photographer in Sydney this was the case, but you could use icons as backgrounds to shots I believe, doesn't quite make sense. Streetshooter may have more information or Chris, as things might have changed as it has been a while or just might relate to images being sold.

[owen]

Thanks for clarifying mate. I know that in my area, you only have to pay the council a fee if the images are being used for commercial purposes... which ausphotos.com isn't. I do however thankyou for bringing the copyright issue to my attention, as I will need to add something into the guide regarding that.

Cheers mate,
Owen.

[birddog114]

Some things like the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and many many more cannot be used for promotion or advertising unless a fee is paid. When I worked as a commercial Advertising Photographer in Sydney this was the case, but you could use icons as backgrounds to shots I believe, doesn't quite make sense. Streetshooter may have more information or Chris, as things might have changed as it has been a while or just might relate to images being sold.

You're right big pix, the rules & regulation are still the same, any land marks could not use as a promotion and advertising without paying a fees, a big fees and within limited time, required renewal fees after the issued license expired, all of those pics of landmarks can be only use as personal, no commercial purpose, even promoting them on your personal website.
We had more discussion abouth this issue on this board before.

[birddog114]

I will need to add something into the guide regarding that.

Cheers mate,
Owen.

The Authorities won't accept your wording without paying the fees to them, and only use for personal purposes. They do not allow you to use the pics for promoting the landmark without their consent.

[owen]

Hi Birdie. I actually meant regarding copyright in general, not this specific nature that we're talking about. However I will send an email out today to whichever sydney council looks after these issues and see what kind of reply I get.

Thanks for alerting me.

Owen.

[birddog114]

Hi Birdie. I actually meant regarding copyright in general, not this specific nature that we're talking about. However I will send an email out today to whichever sydney council looks after these issues and see what kind of reply I get.

Thanks for alerting me.

Owen.

Owen,
I had a few jobs with POLAIR and same as with NRMA Careflight, I learned all these from them, even POLAIR and NRMA requested the permit to use on their internal affairs.
Worth to do a check around.

[big pix]

Hi Birdie. I actually meant regarding copyright in general, not this specific nature that we're talking about. However I will send an email out today to whichever sydney council looks after these issues and see what kind of reply I get.

Thanks for alerting me.

Owen.

owen if can keep us all posted re copyright would be great, or if there is some sort of guide on the net or booklet re this issue......

[owen]

Well I have sent a message off to City of Sydney council or whatever they are called, and I will update here when I find out about it.

[birddog114]

Well I have sent a message off to City of Sydney council or whatever they are called, and I will update here when I find out about it.

Owen,
Great to hear more from you soon, we will learn btw.

[gstark]

Russell,

I don't mean to be rude, but does the world really need yet another forum?

While I understand your point, where would we be, today, had I said "we already have DPReview, why should I start another forum?".

The real issue is for Owen to start his forum and see how people react to it and if they want it or not; it's not really up to us to judge.

[owen]

The issue to me was to decide how would be the best way to have this information available, and also have people contribute to it easily, and the answer is to do it in a forum format. So far people seem to have been interested in the idea, now it is just a matter of building up the information that is there, and linking it to a map... (Got my wife working on that for us)

[thaddeus]

... it's not really up to us to judge.

Why not? He's asking for our opinion.

[Marvin]

I think it is a great idea and would certainly use it if I were visiting a place for the first time. I don't think that it's always feasible to search for posts and people often don't put too much information with their pictures. I hope it's successful Owen.

[owen]

Thanks Marvin. I haven't had much of a chance to get more info yet, but will do, so keep checking back

[owen]

I received an email back from a council officer and this is what it said:

Hello there Owen,

I have received some advice from our legal department and offer the following information for your consideration.

The basic principles are that copyright vests in a 2-dimensional representation (that is,. paper). Copyright is quite strictly construed. Therefore, the photograph itself, and the negative, attract copyright protection. There is no copyright in the subject of the image portrayed. Copyright acts to protect a "direct" copy of that particular image, not the icon depicted in it.

Ultimately, I recommend you contact IP Australia for professional advice, as I am a Council Officer of the City of Sydney and this is not our area of expertise. Their website also incorporates a helpline - ipaustralia.gov.au.

Interesting response, but I'll email the IP Australia to find out what their take on it is.

[Cyrus]

Sounds like a great idea, pity there is only one entry for great locations in Qld. I'll be sure to add some locations in as I find them.

Cheers
Cyrus

[owen]

Hi Cyrus.

As you can tell, there aren't many entries in any of the states yet, however over the next few weeks please check back as good things are happening and we hope to have a lot of new entries.

Regards,
Owen.

[big pix]

I received an email back from a council officer and this is what it said:

Hello there Owen,

I have received some advice from our legal department and offer the following information for your consideration.

The basic principles are that copyright vests in a 2-dimensional representation (that is,. paper). Copyright is quite strictly construed. Therefore, the photograph itself, and the negative, attract copyright protection. There is no copyright in the subject of the image portrayed. Copyright acts to protect a "direct" copy of that particular image, not the icon depicted in it.

Ultimately, I recommend you contact IP Australia for professional advice, as I am a Council Officer of the City of Sydney and this is not our area of expertise. Their website also incorporates a helpline - ipaustralia.gov.au.

Interesting response, but I'll email the IP Australia to find out what their take on it is.

I would say this is not a real answer to copyright use of icons......When I get home I will check with a copyright Lawer mate of mine in Sydney.....

[big pix]

opps I am one jump ahead of myself....... I have sent an email to My copyright lawer asking for information or a web sit re copyright on Australian Icons and the use of said icons as Photo prints for sale and Web sites. Hopefully I will get an answer by Monday. Will post his reply.....

[owen]

Cool big pix, look forward to hearing what you find out.

Cheers,
Owen.

[big pix]

this makes a good read....... if you are a lawer..... found on the web....

http://www.murdoch.edu.au/elaw/issues/v4n4/pendle44.txt

[owen]

Just an update guys. There's a bit more info available now so head on over and take a look, you might learn some new spots

Cheers,
Owen.

[owen]

If you were able to geocode photographs and put them on a map in this way, with searchable descriptions and stuff, I'd be over in a flash!

I think I'm on the right track mate. Check out the NSW forum and the google earth link. Is this what would make you come over in a flash?

Or did you want the location of specific photographs and not locations? I think specific photographs may be a little bit harder...

[owen]

Hi guys.

Just letting you know that I've added announcements to each forum that have a link to a google earth file. These files contain the locations of everything in the state forums.

Feel free to check it out.

Cheers,
Owen.

[owen]

Just another bump to let you guys know that we know have even more locations and chit chat, so feel free to check it out and hopefully learn some new and interesting locations.

Cheers,
Owen.

[Killakoala]

THe site is starting to take off Owen. Looking good with 80 users.

[owen]

Hi everyone. I kinda need some input... I'm thinking about re-arranging the layout of the site and would like you to have a read of what I'm thinking and let me know, either here or on the site.

http://www.ausphotos.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=152

I anticipate your feedback.

Regards,
Owen.

[yeocsa]

Hi Owen,

Well done, mate. Fantastic.

regards,

Arthur

[owen]

Thanks Arthur.

Any opinions about the proposed re-structure?

Cheers,
Owen.

[owen]

Hi everyone. Just a reminder that there is quite a few updated photographic locations if you want to head on over and check it out.

http://www.ausphotos.com/forum

[Willigan]

Excellent idea Owen. My productivity will slip another notch

[owen]

Hey guys. Sorry to resurrect an old thread.

Due to allowances by my ISP (namely going from being allowed 1 sql database to 50, and 100MB space to 10GB) I have restored the old forum. Usernames and passwords will still work if you can remember them, and there's still a lot of good info in there.

A lot of linked images seem to have been deleted, but I guess that's something that happens over time.

Cheers,
Owen.

http://www.ausphotos.com/forum