I'd like to have a bit of a rant. A photo of one of my designs ended up on a very popular blog that I read regularly. She is a professional blogger and has a large following. This blogger used my image and didn't even bother to give me credit. Nothing. Luckily, in this post-Pinterest internet world I have been watermarking everything. So the image at least had that, if someone really wanted to type my name into google they could and would find me. But this is an issue that has been grating my nerves since I entered the blog world. Everyone deserves proper credit. I said proper: with a name/description and a link to the original source and direct source.
I was so happy looking at the comments of this particular post, that someone else had voiced their dissatisfaction that the sources were not present. Thank you Giulia!
So let me tell you what is not proper credit, using the image quote above.
1. unknown - um, don't use the image or track down the original source. Stop spreading this around.
2. img via Pinterest - Pinterest (or tumblr, or the like) is not a source, track down original source.
3. via - a little more description would be nice (i.e. via Famous on devianART)
4. via A Curated Lifestyle (or any blog) - unless the blog is the original and direct source they do not deserve the credit (but in some occasions it is nice.)
If everyone would do a little more due diligence in crediting then it would be less trouble to actually find the original source. So what is proper credit?
A direct link (to the image if possible) to the original source of the photo.
You want to make this super-easy for people if they like what they see to track it down. Even if you are only a blog reader, stand up and let bloggers know that everyone deserves credit and you want original sources.
I do my absolute best on this blog to always credit sources - often times spending up to a hour tracking down the original source. Its not easy - a lot of use of google image search and clicking through blogs and reading to see if the source is to be found. This includes images that I use in a larger context or design board. If I can do it, everyone should do it. So let's just do it. Do it.
Thoughts?
PS - I sent Giulia a note thanking her for speaking up and she wrote a similar post she shared with me.
I agree with what your saying. I have to be honest and say that there are times that I have put via pinterest. I think people who are really in to blogging recognize a lot of pictures that we see over and over again. It is frustrating when you see an image that you really like and click on it hoping to be taken directly to the source and you get nothing.
ReplyDeleteRant is right. I read this blog you referred to and recognized the image as yours. No biggie.
ReplyDeletelove the painting!<3
ReplyDeleteI always put "source" as a hyperlink to the website. It's what I would want.
ReplyDelete