Sharing Your Photos on EO

[ATeam]

Some of you may have noticed that I am sharing more photos on EO than I used to. That is because I stumbled across a neat little program that makes it a breeze to resize digital photos for easy posting here.

The program is called Resizer. You can download it free at:
http://www.virtualzone.de/resizer/

I like that I can set my camera on a high resolution setting for all photos I take. With Resizer, it is easy to resize the .jpg files as appropriate to the need. You can choose any size you want, down to postage stamp size and even smaller. The "Smart Resizing" feature is great for resizing photos for EO use. Set it at 480 pixels. Resizer will automatically determine which is the larger side of the photo and resize that side to 480. While 480 works well here in the Open Forum, you can choose any size you wish in a variety of ways (percentage of original size, user-defined height and width, etc.). You can overwrite the original photo to the new size or save the resized photo as a different file in a different place, preserving the original.

To add photos to your Open Forum posts, see the "Attachment" section of the form you use to post a message. Resize your photos to 480 on the widest side, click "Click here to choose your file" and follow the directions.

Three photo samples are below, sized at 480, 300 and 100. The original photo was 3008x2000, file size 1.20 MB.

 

[ATeam]

Here is the same photo in the recommended avatar size of 48. Notice that the avatar image in this post is distorted. That is because I used the 100 pixel size in that. Below is the avatar sized to 48.

 

[greg334]

Phil,
Thanks for the link.

It is helpful to find a program that is easy to use like this one.

Just wondering about what you think about posting photos of trucks you don't own. Not to start anything here about your posts, which I thank you for because it has given me a couple ideas, but anyway I was talking to another EO member last night and we both wondered if there is any real rules for being a 'Trucking Paparazzi'. Neither of us own a camera (or don't want to admit to it). What I mean is just taking pictures of a truck is nice and most of the time welcomed but in our opinion there is somewhat of a fine line that needs to be followed when taking unsolicited photographs and posting them on line.

Your thoughts Phil?

 

[ATeam]

Photo with fixed avatar. This one is sized to 48 on the largest side of the photo. Avatar is no longer distorted.

 

[ATeam]

Well now! That went over like a fart in church. I thought I finally had the avatar thing figured out but, nope. My custom avatar looks terrible. Any tips?

 

[terryandrene]

Greg:

I think the fine line you mention would be if the truck paparazzi used the photos for commercial or financial gain such as in a paid advertisement on EO.

 

[ATeam]

No privacy rights, copyrights or ethics are violated by people who post pictures of trucks they see on the road. A truck out on the road is a public event. It is no different than taking pictures of a rock star at a concert and posting the photos you took. If you used the truck's or rock star's image, or the image of the corporate logo on the truck for commercial purposes, that would be a different matter. But posting a photo you took of a public event is fair use.

Yesterday I read in the newspaper about thousands of people who posed nude in a public square in Mexico for a world-renowned artist that organizes such events (how do you get a job like that?). Some of the women complained that the men were taking cell phone camera shots of them. When those photos start showing up on the internet, will they have a privacy case against the photographer? I rather doubt it. They were out in public, nude on purpose, with no expectation of privacy. Had someone photographed them through cracked curtains in their bathroom window it would be a different matter.

Even if I copyrighted the graphic design on our truck, I very much doubt that any court would grant me rights for compensation if people photographed the truck on the road and posted the pictures online without my knowledge or consent. If they were using the photo in a way that constitued libel, that would be another matter but then the issue would be libel, not copyright violation. If they stole a copyrighted design for unauthorized use, there would be a copyright case to be made. But simply photographing the truck and posting the picture is fair use, I believe.

With cell-phone cameras and regular cameras, people are taking pictures of our truck all the time without asking first. I know of two cases where such photos have been posted online. I was both flattered by that and taken aback.

It is a little creepy to know that with all the digital and cell phone cameras that are out there, photos of you and your truck can be taken at any time. It is wise to always park between the lines, never tailgate, always stay out of truck-restricted lanes and off no-trucks routes. In other words, mind your Ps and Qs. People are not only watching, they are taking pictures.

 

[pelicn]

Phil, There is distortion in your picture because the picture itself isn't perfectly square. You can get rid of your distortion by making the avatar 48 by 32 I think.

 

[Dunbar87]

In almost all cases, something that can be seen and photgraphed from a public space is fair game to the photographer.

There are a lot of legal variations involved in the release issue.

But generally, consider this rule of thumb.

You may photograph anything/anyone you see in public.

You may NOT SELL anything or anyone you photograph in public withough their permission.

Now, the legal definition of SELL or PROFIT BY is another issue. But that's why there are lawyers.


Phil: you'll need to adjust your avatars height/width. Resizer works fine in auto, but you'll need to tweak H X W

 

[ATeam]

Thank you Dunbar and Pelican. I'll keep trying until I get it right.

 

[ATeam]

Here it is resized to 48x32. Pretty tiny.

 

[Moot]

You may need to have your truck framed stretched and lowered.

 

[greg334]

Phil,
Thanks for your thoughts but you raised something else and I must again say I am raising this so not to beat up on you or your posts.

First, I should have been clear I am not talking about posting pictures for profit or any commercial purpose, but talking about privacy and safety. Copyrights and celebrities also aside, the fine line we both wondered about is taking pictures of people’s property and some cases the people themselves, should you be allowed to or not allowed to post them on an open forum without permission?

I know that there are limitations on what you can photograph in our profession (seeing we are not ‘journalist’) and further more seeing that there are measures taken by professional photographers for releases and such to prevent any violation of privacy when dealing with a private individual or company and I also know that there are limitations for websites on what is legal to post and cases decided already on that issue.

To say driving a vehicle is a public event is akin to saying having an open second floor bedroom window is a public event to me. There is something about claiming it as a public event that seems to be wrong, maybe I think of public events as organized events or events that include public figures.

The two issues I mentioned, privacy and safety come down to the world we live in today and nothing else. I think that the nature of some of the work we do in providing solutions to customers with sensitive material to be moved speaks to the need to be discreet all the time and use non-descript equipment so not to raise the public’s awareness for the safety of that shipment and to respect the customer who uses that type of service. The privacy issue could be to some more to do with not wanting to see one’s property posted to begin with or more to the issue of safety and the idea that they could become a target knowing details of one’s truck, etc…

After all, maybe this is a non-issue anyways.

Oh, do like the program.

 

[Dunbar87]

Unfortunatly Phil, the forums avatar is set to Portrait. The Pic you shot is in Landscape.

To meet the forums dimensions requirments:

Maybe?

Lovin' the pics you've shown. If you've got more....post'um !!!
You are guaranteed the right to take photographs
You are guaranteed the right to express yourself through photography, and you have the freedom to publish the photos you take.Our freedom guarantees your right to take photographs of anything.

 

[RichM]

To go along with Greg's thoughts you may eventually run into some one who has had a tough week and will come charging out of the truck poed and demand to know why you are taking photographs of his truck. It could get nasty,if a guy doesn't want his location known for whatever reason. He could have sensitive cargo onboard etc, hiding from the ex wife due to lack of child support etc. Also I believe a truck stop parking lot would be considered private property and the T/S management could complain about the photo activities.

 

[Dunbar87]

The Ray Bradbury,Stephen King,George Lucas,Gene Roddenberry spin.

1. To go along with Greg's thoughts you may eventually run into
some one who has had a tough week and will come charging out
of the truck poed and demand to know why you are taking
photographs of his truck.

2. It could get nasty,if a guy doesn't want his location known for whatever reason.

3. He could have sensitive cargo onboard etc, hiding from the ex
wife due to lack of child support etc.

4. Also I believe a truck stop parking lot would be considered private property and the T/S management could complain about the photo activities.


Reality.

1. Most likely would be extremly flattered and asked to pose next to his vehicle. Completes 4 wardrobe changes and combs hair repeatably, insisting it's important for the money shot. Decides after 20 minutes he likes the idea of being phtographed and calls a local talent agency. Two months later featured on the cover of Landline Magazine.

2. Nasty is, what nasty does. Turns out the truck in question and it's driver, have been the subject of a National Manhunt featured on numerous television shows. Collect $25,000.00 reward

3. Mrs. Gloria Thomas and her five children got an early Christmas this year. Thanks to the camera wielding prowness of an over-the-road truck driver, the family from Padukah can finally bring a dead beat dad to justice. Photographs of John Thomes emerged in an underground trucking magazine, leading officals to make a speedy arrest for years of back child support.

4. And who would actually risk a pair of good driving shoes getting that shot ?

 

[kempers_gramp]

Quick take all the photos you can before the government takes away your right to shoot anything. First it will be guns, then cameras who knows where it will end.

 

[cheri1122]

Will we have to change the motto for good citizenship in parks: "Take only pictures, leave only footprints"?

 

[Dreamer]

I think within reason, taking pics of nice trucks and posting them is not a prob. Obviously due to Homeland Security concerns, you should not run around taking pics of hazmat placarded trucks, tankers etc.

I take a lot of pics myself, and if in doubt, a quick "Hey, cool truck, mind if I take a pic for my blog?" (or whatever) will ease your mind. I've never been refused a pic, and most people are flattered that you liked their truck.



Dreamer
Forums Administrator


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[davekc]

'Trucking Paparazzi'.
Now that is pretty funny. I can't say I have heard that phrase before.






Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator