Our Newsletter

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been testing out a new style newsletter. A few of our subscribers volunteered to receive the new version and give me feedback on it. It’s now very close to coming out of testing and taking the place of the old text based version. In preparation for this there is now a new page on this Blog that you can use to subscribe to it if you aren’t already. If you look to the left you can see the link to that page called “Sign up to our Newsletter”.

From now on you don’t need to be a member of Reflex Camera Club to receive it. Anyone can subscribe, although there may be editions that you won’t receive if your not a club member. You’ll also find that by changing to this new style we will now be complying with Anti-spam laws from various countries around the world.

What’s different? I’ll be able to include lots more pictures, video’s and information. So instead of just reading about it and having to click on a link to see a poster or picture that’s relevant to the writing, you’ll be able to see them right inside the newsletter. When you get the first issue you may find that the pictures aren’t showing and you just have a bit of text instead of a picture, if that happens you need to add the address the newsletter is sent from to your allowed list. In a lot of email programmes, including web based email, you will see something that asks if you want to allow pictures to be shown from our email address. Please click allow, yes or always allow. Whichever of those options it gives you.

The Club Flickr Account and your photographs.

As you know when a picture is needed online and you don't have it in your Flickr 'stream, you can't be bothered to upload it or you don't have a Flickr account then I use the clubs Flickr account to upload your photograph. Some of you sometimes get worried about your pictures being used by other people or want to make sure you get your name mentioned if your picture is used or mentioned anywhere. Well to help you understand what I do when I upload a photo using the clubs account I thought I'd write this and let you know how I try to make sure it's you that get’s the credit and not the club. It's also to let you know in case you suddenly turn around and decide that you’ve suffered amnesia and didn’t know what was going on. So below are the things that I do and why I do them.
When I upload one of your pictures you will see that I always try to give them a title that includes your name and in the description I try and give the reason why I uploaded it. An example can be seen by visiting this picture.
What you don’t see, unless you actually look for it, is the exif (some people call it meta just to be awkward) data that is uploaded along with the photograph. I’m not going to go really in depth here about what it is but I am going to try and explain why I have used certain words and phrases in the exif data. There are several different reasons why image files were designed to also carry this extra information. The one that really concerns us is to prove who the picture belongs to and provide contact details to anyone who would like to use that photograph.
I’ve just updated the exif data that I use when uploading to the clubs Flickr Account and if anyone finds what I have done to it unacceptable then please let me know and I will either change it (if several of you don’t like the updated version) or you can upload your own pictures in future, that way you make sure you use exif data that is specific to you and not the club.
I’m going to list the section titles then inside “” show the wording I’ve decided to use and, if necessary, then explain the reason for using the wording I have chosen;

There’s a section for the address of the photographer. I have, for convenience, put the clubs mailing address and contact phone number as the image creators address. I have also put the club as the creator of the Image and for the creators website I have put the clubs site.

Copyright - “© 2011 Original photographer / Reflex Camera Club”. The first bit should be self explanatory. The reason I’ve added Reflex Camera Club is not so that the club gets any credit nor is the club trying to grab your copyright. It’s easier to do it this way then people treat us as your agents and so attempt to get in touch with us so that we can let you know and then pass on your details to whoever is interested in your photograph. We’re not going to start charging you, asking for a percentage or attempt to claim any rights over your photograph.

Copyright Status - “Copyrighted”. It’s not up to me or the club to decide if you want your work to be copyrighted or not BUT I will also not decide that you do not want to copyright it so by having this as the selection anyone wanting to use your picture has to seek permission from you first. It’s the safest way for the club to operate if we are going to continue showing your pictures online using the Clubs Flickr Account.

Rights Usage Terms - “All Rights Reserved”. Means you reserve the right to refuse any or all use of your pictures for any use whatsoever.

Copyright Info URL - “http://www.flickr.com/people/reflex_camera_club”. Tells people that if they want more info on the copyright of the photograph they should go to that website. If you follow the link you will see that on the PROFILE page of the clubs Flickr Account I explain that they can contact the pictures owner by emailing the club.

Creator Job Title - “Member of Reflex Camera Club”. Well you are and it was the best & easiest thing I could think of
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Instructions - “Do not reproduce in any form without prior written permission. All images remain the property and © copyright of the original photographer. If you wish to use an image then please get in touch and we will pass on your contact details to the original photographer.” Pretty long but I hope it gets across that the images are not the clubs but belong to whoever took the original photograph. Also it should be obvious to anyone reading it that they need to get in touch with the club so that we can put them in touch with you.

Creditline - “Reflex Camera Club – www. reflexcc.org.uk” If you’ve ever been asked if a magazine or somewhere could use your picture you’ve probably heard the words “we can’t pay you but we can give you a credit”. Apart from replying “credits don’t buy me food fool!” you should also give them your name and website so that they can publish that next to your picture, after they’ve paid you of course. This is what would be printed next to your picture if the club gave permission for it to be used. Of course we won’t ever give permission. That’s for you to do and so you can tell them what you want printed next to your picture.

Source - “Reflex Camera Club”.  Where the picture has come from. If it was you uploading it then it would be your name. But remember your only reading this because you didn’t upload the picture yourself!

Keywords - “Reflex Camera Club, Photography Group, Photography Society, Photography, Taken by member of Reflex Camera Club, All Rights Reserved, ©, Do not reproduce without written consent, Copyright remains with the original photographer.” These are automatically added to every picture that gets uploaded by the clubs Flickr account. If you look at a picture on Flickr you will see a section called “TAGS” that’s what Flickr calls keywords. They are the words that people search for to find your, or any, picture.


If you don’t agree to me using these phrases and words when I upload YOUR  pictures to the clubs Flickr account you need to let me know as I will be using this format from now on. If you decide you don’t like it and we cannot come up with replacement wording that is acceptable to everyone then you will have to upload your own pictures. Just remember if you don’t want me to use this and you don’t upload your own pictures you will never see your work displayed on the Blog, website or Flickr group.

If you’d like to find out more about exif (meta) data that’s contained in virtually every digital photograph then go take a look at the Photo Meta Data website.
Feel free to leave comments here or at the Flickr Group

Here we go.......

It's that time of year when thoughts turn to "just how cold can it get in the meeting room?". We kick off with a meet & greet evening. Bring along your pictures or digital files so that everyone can see what you've been photographing over the break. Will there be more strange people staring out the windows of a pub or will the elusive Indiana Spiers put in an appearance. If your wondering just what on earth I'm talking about, then sign up to Flickr and join in the wonderful, if a little strange, goings on in the Reflex Camera Club Group.

Rosie stepped down at the end of the last season and I'm sure you'll all want to join me in thanking her for the work she put in during her time as Chairperson. So the new season also brings a new person at the helm and I'm sure your eager to make sure he gets a warm welcome to the job. Rotting fruit can be had at the back doors of most supermarkets at very cheap rates. Allegedly.

Last year was fantastic for the club and we want to build on that and give everyone the opportunity to get more involved. There's lots of idea's bubbling under the surface, some need a little work and others are ready to go. Don't worry though. No one's going to feel pushed or forced to do anything. By now I hope your all eager to find out what's planned. Well you'll just have to wait and see. Some things will be introduced early in the season and others will gradually trickle in over time and you may not even realise they've been implemented. There have already been a few changes the most obvious of them is the new website. We've also made changes to how emails are sent out and a lot more of the things you don't see, that happen behind the scene's, have changed.

So put the date in your diary 2nd September 19:30 at the Langton. Don't be shy, bring along pictures or digital files to show. Most importantly though, bring yourselves along, catch up with your friends and have a great time.

One last thing. Hopefully you've enjoyed having the regular emails and updates during the break. If you haven't then speak up. If you think it should be done differently or have any suggestions. Tell me. I won't be offended. Constructive criticism is always welcome.