One sometimes stumbles across an image used on some site, i.e. an anti-war or other homegrown non-news site which can have some powerful images. The problem is that the use of the images is in the gray zone and often don't include credits or source.
I know that many news and other organizations can embed data in images so as to more easily track usage down, but as with many things on the Net, it's kind of a wild world out there.
Below is one such image that I have used in a mock-up short effects render that I sometimes show a few people but is not published in a public way on the Net (security coded works-in-progress studio drafts page, if you will).
Q: Is there any realistic way to track down such an image
A Case in Ethical Hesitation
I'm probably up a creek without a paddle on this particular image for I can't even find the place I first found it on using the image's then title, "Iraqi_child6.jpg".
I'm considering using it anyway as part of a "let's stop all of this insanity of war" still artwork (not for profit or affiliated with any organization). Were the original photographer or source contacts me, I'd actually welcome it so I could give him/her credit.
The image will be part of a limited collage of images woven around the central figure, taking up perhaps only a 1/8th or less footprint of the total artwork.
Considering the borderline "educational" and non-commercial use of it, I doubt I would be sued over it.
However that with or not withstanding...
---- I am frankly torn on the ethics of doing that because it would at the very least be published on a photographers-models portfolio and networking site, and if well done enough, it could perhaps take on a life of its own (get shared around on the Net).
In the latter case, I would have no control over giving the source credit even if I knew who took the image after the fact.
I'd welcome your input on this dilemma.
I know that many news and other organizations can embed data in images so as to more easily track usage down, but as with many things on the Net, it's kind of a wild world out there.
Below is one such image that I have used in a mock-up short effects render that I sometimes show a few people but is not published in a public way on the Net (security coded works-in-progress studio drafts page, if you will).
Q: Is there any realistic way to track down such an image
A Case in Ethical Hesitation
I'm probably up a creek without a paddle on this particular image for I can't even find the place I first found it on using the image's then title, "Iraqi_child6.jpg".
I'm considering using it anyway as part of a "let's stop all of this insanity of war" still artwork (not for profit or affiliated with any organization). Were the original photographer or source contacts me, I'd actually welcome it so I could give him/her credit.
The image will be part of a limited collage of images woven around the central figure, taking up perhaps only a 1/8th or less footprint of the total artwork.
Considering the borderline "educational" and non-commercial use of it, I doubt I would be sued over it.
However that with or not withstanding...
---- I am frankly torn on the ethics of doing that because it would at the very least be published on a photographers-models portfolio and networking site, and if well done enough, it could perhaps take on a life of its own (get shared around on the Net).
In the latter case, I would have no control over giving the source credit even if I knew who took the image after the fact.
I'd welcome your input on this dilemma.