Category Archives: Notable Photos

Grabbing Frames from Live Internet Video – Fair Use?

I am having a debate with some friends. If you have an article about a sports event, would one small frame from an internet TV stream be breaking IP/copyright law or would it be fair use?

For example, my friend runs a soccer site from Pakistan, so he uses the internet to watch live football games – if he does a screen grab of a particularly good goal to use in his site, is that breaking the law?

What say you?

No Second Chances

Since I started writing for DSLRBlog.com (all of a few days ago), it got me thinking just how long it’s been since I’ve really been actively into photography, and looking through some of my old archives. It really got me thinking about how every photo is its own moment, and you can’t really go back and capture that same moment ever again. It also hit me that the first pile of photos I took really piss me off when I look at them now.

Thousand Islands at Sunset.

Thousand Islands at Sunset.

Take the photo above for example. It’s one of the very first photos I took with my current camera (a Nikon d70s), taken from the top of a sightseeing tower over-looking the Thousand Islands at sunset while trying not to fall the 300 and some feet and break my neck. It was a fun shot to get, if only for the experience.

I think back to that moment now and realize just how much better a photo I could have taken if I knew then what I know now, and it aggravates me just a little. Still though, it makes for a great reminder about learning from your work.

That photo is essentially a reminder to myself to always take something away from the experience of taking a photo, whether good or bad. I’ve taken horrible photos at times that have taught me an insane amount to improve on for the next time, and I’ve taken great photos that have given me experience in other ways. This shot is far from my best work, but it is probably my biggest inspiration out of my personal archive.

Anyone else have a photo you’ve taken or an experience you’ve had (good or bad) that serves as inspiration for you personally? What about other people’s work? Am I alone in pulling inspiration from a photo that is nowhere near as good it could have been?

Sunset on Mars

sunset-on-mars

Sunsets are a cliche, yes, but not when they are snapped … on Mars …

NASA - NASA Featured Images and GalleriesView more fantastic space photographs from the NASA archives and their “image of the day” here.

Urban Photography With Star Wars Characters


/Film has an article on some clever reality-Star Wars mashup photographs that look really cool, in an extremely geeky way!

French photographer Cedric Delsaux has created a series of photos where he puts Star Wars characters and vehicles and transplants them into modern day urban locations.

I quite like the idea of Jabba and Mr Fett stalking around abandoned warehouses and concrete car parks. Great concept and nicely implemented.

See Cedric’s full collection at his official website.

Fantastic Nature Conservancy Photographs

http://www.nature.org - Popups Natural Light - December, 2007

You have to check out the brilliant photographs in this Nature Conservancy Natural Light Photo Feature

“Natural Light” gives you access to the most arresting photos from The Nature Conservancy’s huge archives. From Tibet to Tanzania, from hissing alligators to quivering zebras, “Natural Light” opens a brilliant window onto our work and the astonishing nature that we at the Conservancy encounter every day.

They have chosen the best pictures from over 11,000 in their collection. Well worth taking a look.

Nature’s Best Photography Awards 2007

Natures Best Photography 2007 Award Winners - AOL Pictures
Nature has posted up their choice of photography from 2007, and they have some excellent examples to be sure.

There are some excellent images, just a shame they are using flash navigation or we could link to them more easily.

As well as being featured in the magazine there will also be a display at the Smithsonians’s Natural History Museum in Washington DC USA.

Check out the Winners here.