ShipSpotting.com Forum

Shipspotters all over the world => Shipping News and information => Topic started by: Captain Ted on December 08, 2013, 10:38:17 PM

Title: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Captain Ted on December 08, 2013, 10:38:17 PM
I know I may poking into a wasps nest, and I am not attempting to put peoples works and efforts down but when I look over the last month,s of up loaded pictures I wonder if this web site is still about shipspotting (going out and take the pictures in real) or about re-posting from other web sites or libraries or any other sources. I can see that a lot pictures and ships with historical value should be preserved and also have a place to be posted. But doesn,t it get a little much that the majority of pictures are not taken by the posters but somehow reposted be it from collections in private hands or from libraries and other sources.
I also realise that a lot work is put into preserving them, touch them up, post them and so on, but lately I think the focus of this web site getting lost . Not spotting anymore but posting ?
I know there were a lot discussions about it before and also fighting, so please if you read
it and comment on it, discuss it,but not accuse/fight whatever it. THANKS

Am I the only one who see,s it that way ?


 
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Cornelia Klier on December 09, 2013, 02:20:59 PM
Ted, you are indeed raising a valid point and I personally agree with you 100 % there. I have also discussed this with one of the webmaster, and of course the ones who run this site, decide which way it will go.

I personally say, this site is called "shipspotting" and that has not much to do with reposting and also not with scanning photos from libraries.

I once said, that many of these photos are also very important documents of shipping, but their place is more a site like www.shipnostalgia.com or a similar one, of relevant topic, but not on a site that is dedicated to shipspotting.

That is one side.

On the other side, I am also happy to see old photos of a ship I am looking up, and at that moment I do not care, whether it is scanned or reposted, but of course I prefer the ones, that are taken by someone "just so" at sea.

I find it very difficult, with photos for example - someone knows a few seamen who take photo, and is asked to post them here, so that person is posting photos of other people there, but very often interesting photos, which otherwise could not be seen ?

It is a difficult question, I know !

Of course it is interesting, what people here think, because we all are making this forum, what it is :)
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: PWR on December 09, 2013, 02:37:13 PM
I have over a year been submitting old photos taken by Charlie Hill because he cannot do it himself. He is 85years young and has taken photos since 1950 and he asked me to put these on this site so everyone can enjoy them. So I hope I am doing no wrong
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: davidships on December 09, 2013, 03:30:17 PM
Just as a contribution to the debate here and within the management, I think that the ethos of the site would best be maintained if all submissions must be either taken by the submitter, or being submitted at the specific request of the photographer - as in the case of Charlie Hill's photos or the examples given by Cornelia (in all these cases, the photographer could themselves be an activew member of the site if their own circumstances were a little different). 

I too agree that those taking time, skill and dedication to recupoerating many very fine old photographs, whether of antique images from public collections or more recent acquired material, are doing an important job for the shipping researcher and enthusiast.  But, as has been said already, there are other sites and print publications which have a stronger focus on that.

Looking forward to your announcement, Ken, in due course.

David
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Jens Boldt on December 09, 2013, 03:55:39 PM
As long as a photo isn't already in the public domain and can't be found elsewhere on the internet for everyone to enjoy and use, it should be allowed here.
I mean (as PWR gave this example), it would be a pity if such a collection would be fading away in private photo albums...

But I can see no necessity in uploading photos here which are in the public domain already and which can be found on other websites for everyone to enjoy and use as one pleases...

Just my personal opinion.

Cheers,
Jens
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Patrick Hill on December 09, 2013, 07:16:14 PM
I appreciate the comments about collections, but my collection is my photos taken as a ship spotter over the years. Due to circumstances I cannot be as active as I used to be taking photos but I am still and always have been a ship spotter. SN has it's place but the site isn't for me, this site covers my era of photography so why not post? Unless the site owners suddenly need to clear space, where do you draw the line? If you didn't take the photo this day/week/month/year it's not valid? I look forward to the announcement when it comes with baited breath...
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Captain Ted on December 09, 2013, 07:41:34 PM
hi patrick

I think you should re-read my post, I did not talk about pictures which are taken by the photographer itself and I don,t for that matter talk about old pictures. I talk about pictures which coming from other websites or from libraries or any other public domain. This site started as a site where peoples who take pictures of ships can post them,,lately it became a site where you can post any ship with no regard from where the pictures coming and how the real copy right sits or who owns them.
Those picture sure have a place in history of shipping and a lot people doing superb touch up and preservation jobs on them, but somehow they totally replacing the intent of this site, to take pictures of ships and post them. I also have at least another 2-3000 pictures , which I took over the years, and I don,t see a problem why I or in your case you can not post them here.
 
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: davidships on December 09, 2013, 08:55:39 PM
I do hope, Derek, that this is being considered on a broader basis that just the narrow copyright question (important though that is).  Capt Ted's opener is really about what the site should be used for, rather than what might be legal.  As it happens, my own preference would remove all copright doubts at one fell swoop.
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Captain Ted on December 09, 2013, 09:08:42 PM
hi derek and ken

I have no problems whatsoever with pictures uploaded for someone or the clear copyright/ok ,stated.Like someone stated here the one who owns it is already 85 and not able to do it.
And surely no problems with guys like Patrick who posts pictures which he made years back,, I will most probably one of the guys who have the same problems in years hopefully to come.

But I have more and more problems with pictures which are not own and/or clearly visible not own but from public domains. There are places elsewhere they fit right in and the efforts to do so is not small either, but somehow I feel that all the peoples who go week in and week out to some places, sometimes travel considerable time to get there are really pushed out of this site

All what I meant is that the site loosing the focus. I know a whole bunch of people like me
who really only posting own pictures and reading past statements and those now here, I think I have a good valid point about the focus. With no word I diminish the importence of old pictures and also the ones of Patrick,,I mean it does not matter if I post pictures from 3 years or 5 years or more back if they are mine. Ok it is not spotting in the sense of when the ship is there, but at least I was the photographer.
My whole point is more about loosing the direction.
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: steve55 on December 09, 2013, 09:09:14 PM
My thanks to Charlie Hill and PWR for the Humber,Goole pictures of many many coasters of which i sailed on,back then a camera did not seem an important piece of gear to carry around with you,guess we thought those days would never end or something,great memories. These pics are a valuable part of this site and what makes it so special.regards Steve55
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Richard Paton on December 09, 2013, 09:45:13 PM
Personally as a youngster (although tomorrow i turn 38 eek!) i enjoy looking at the old photos that are posted from a by gone era when i was not around.

The line in the sand should be it must be the posters own photo/owned copyright, or posted with permission from the photo's original copyright holder. Photos outside this simple criteria should be excluded from the site.

Otherwise rename site ShipArchive.com and leave it at that!... :P

Richard
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Alan Green on December 09, 2013, 10:24:55 PM
How I agree with Steve55: If I knew then what I know now !
The shipping photos and memories I would have captured from the places I have worked.

Given the comments that are being raised in this current thread could I ask what could be considered an associated question:

Photographer A waits to get a clear shot of a vessel so that it is not obscured by yachts, obstructions, etc. - sometimes to the extent that they actually miss the shot, the light changes, etc. but at least they have the " true " image.

Photographer B is standing next to Photographer A but only takes one shot of the vessel with no regard to the same yachts, obstructions, etc. goes home, loads up Photoshop or an equivalent editing suite and gets to work on manipulating the image, resulting in an " untrue " image.

What are fellow contributors thoughts ?
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: sandygates on December 09, 2013, 10:29:59 PM
I find myself 100 percent with Capt. Ted on this one.
I have no quibble with members posting oldie photos that they have inherited because the original photographer has passed away or is unable to post themselves. I do not, however, go along with pictures (no matter how interesting) from long-dead photographers that have been trawled from museum collections around the world. Most these photos can anyway be downloaded by anyone, direct and at high-resolution, from the museum sites if they care to make the effort.
BTW: the Shipsnostalgia site would not accept most of these "trawled" photos on this site that I (and Cornelia) refer to.
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Captain Ted on December 09, 2013, 10:46:12 PM
@ Alan Green

then you can also ask if photographer A goes out in rain and sleet
and Photographer B goes not but takes a picture from the net somewhere
and he posts it just because he "wanted" to go and take the picture but
weather prevented him.
Taking things in the forefront out of the pictures,, I don,t see a reason why not when it does not affect the shape/form of the ship and the site guide lines ,intended to post.

brgds
capt ted
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Jens Boldt on December 09, 2013, 10:50:19 PM
Hi Allen,

with regard to your associated question, I can give an example. As it turned out I seem to have forgotten to delete the original (true) photo:-))
So in this case I'm Photographer A AND B, I think...

Have a look at the first and the third photo here
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/search.php?search_imo=7811484&search_uid=19589

Cheers,
Jens
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Sinisa Aljinovic on December 10, 2013, 09:17:41 AM
I think photos of Charlie Hill uploaded by member PWR are quite OK.At least someone could learn how to make a nice photos.Well done both of you. ;)Interesting nobody complaining about uploading 30, 40 or more photos of the same vessel by the same photographer?!
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Captain Ted on December 10, 2013, 01:13:32 PM
@ Sinisa
very easy, read the title, this has nothing to do with your point brought in.
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: ventuari on December 10, 2013, 02:53:52 PM
Hi guys.

With all my respect to you all, I totally agree with the comments made by my colleague Captain Ted.

Third party collections,libreries, etc...must be uploaded, but, I suggest ???, in a different place in shipspotting main page. May be a different box, apart from the shots taken by shipspotters, for the most viewed third party or collections, libreries, etc...

Another considerations since I have been member since 2006:
Spotters uploading 3 or 4 or 5 shots in 1 minute. How they can do it...?  :-X ::)
Why no limit the maximun shots allowed to be uploaded per member in 24 hours.?
To much quantity ( 50-60-70 shots uploaded in 24 hours ).

By the way, since yesterday, here in La Palma, we are in bad weather alert. Winds more than 100 kms/h, rain, and so on...for the next 2-3 days at least.

But last night, trying to take night shots of Oriana, a gust of wind sent mi camara ( my old Nikon D40) and tripode to the hell ( 150 meters free fall down and my D40 M.I.A.) so now I need to buy a new one  >:( >:(  This is an example of the let
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Fred Wilkinson on December 10, 2013, 07:47:33 PM
I agree with Captain Ted, why would you want to post photographs of a vessel that you had not taken yourself. Let's leave the photographs as they were taken and not use other means to enhance them. As a sailor I was reasonable, as a photographer I'm rubbish, at least they are all my own work.
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: lappino on December 10, 2013, 08:57:22 PM
...
Spotters uploading 3 or 4 or 5 shots in 1 minute. How they can do it...?  :-X ::)
Why no limit the maximun shots allowed to be uploaded per member in 24 hours.?
To much quantity ( 50-60-70 shots uploaded in 24 hours ).

...

The trick of fast uploading multiple photos of the same vessel is going "Back" with your browser after the first picture's upload, so that you only change the file name and location, with all other info staying the same. So it's only up to the internet provider's upload speed, and with smaller photos I guess it is really possible to upload, say, 3 photos per minute.

Limiting max. number of uploads will limit clicks for the site. Clicks = money = survival. Therefore, it won't happen.

I do not upload multiple photos of the same vessel (except for the known series of newbuildings, but usually over some period of time, and very different construction phases/views), but I see no issue with somebody wishing to upload 50+ photos of different vessels per day, all original author's work. It just means that the person in question has a lot of free time, which I can only envy. :)

As for the subject question, I agree with Capt. Ted, and would definitely like to see more "real" shipspotting photos, and less library scans.

Just my 0.02 $.

Rgds

Vlad
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Captain Ted on December 11, 2013, 12:32:31 AM
hi lappino

thanks post,,and thanks info,,interesting
and yes,, same line,not the posting per day,, if I sit 24 hrs in front of the pc,,why I should be limited of vessels I post,,makes no sense to me

brgds
capt ted
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: ventuari on December 11, 2013, 01:41:47 AM

The trick of fast uploading multiple photos of the same vessel is going "Back" with your browser after the first picture's upload, so that you only change the file name and location, with all other info staying the same. So it's only up to the internet provider's upload speed, and with smaller photos I guess it is really possible to upload, say, 3 photos per minute.

Limiting max. number of uploads will limit clicks for the site. Clicks = money = survival. Therefore, it won't happen.

I do not upload multiple photos of the same vessel (except for the known series of newbuildings, but usually over some period of time, and very different construction phases/views), but I see no issue with somebody wishing to upload 50+ photos of different vessels per day, all original author's work. It just means that the person in question has a lot of free time, which I can only envy. :)

As for the subject question, I agree with Capt. Ted, and would definitely like to see more "real" shipspotting photos, and less library scans.

Just my 0.02 $.

Rgds

Vlad

Hi lappino and Captain Ted.

Thanks for your informations. Now I know how...and get the point about the...more photos-more traffic and more...for the site. Something you explained very well and clear.

Thanks for your input about.

Back to the main subject,...shipspotting back to the basics, you shot and upload your own photos. I agree with both of you.

Thanks again.

My best regards.
ventuari
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: PHa on December 11, 2013, 08:59:16 AM
It is always the same (and obviously never ending) story of uploading image-files into shipspottings data-base.

And the main rules are as follows:

1. Post a wreck = wreckSpotting
2. Post a casuality = casualitySpotting
3. Post a break up photo from a beach - breakupSpotting
4. Post an E-class newbuilding - E-classSpotting
5. Post a stormpic = stormpicSpotting
6. Post an aerial photo = aerialshipspotting
7. Post a cruiseship photo - paxshipspotting
8. Post a rusty containership - rustyshipspotting
9. Post a ship in heavy swell - swellshipspotting

and finally

10. Post the full ship image file content of a 32 gigabyte memory card, minimum twelve image files for one ship.

And don
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Rexroth on December 11, 2013, 11:07:37 AM
It is always the same (and obviously never ending) story of uploading image-files into shipspottings data-base.

And the main rules are as follows:

1. Post a wreck = wreckSpotting
2. Post a casuality = casualitySpotting
3. Post a break up photo from a beach - breakupSpotting
4. Post an E-class newbuilding - E-classSpotting
5. Post a stormpic = stormpicSpotting
6. Post an aerial photo = aerialshipspotting
7. Post a cruiseship photo - paxshipspotting
8. Post a rusty containership - rustyshipspotting
9. Post a ship in heavy swell - swellshipspotting

and finally

10. Post the full ship image file content of a 32 gigabyte memory card, minimum twelve image files for one ship.

And don
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Cornelia Klier on December 11, 2013, 11:30:19 AM
Impossible to get, what Peter Hartung wants to tell us with his post. Lack of clear words,too much room for all sorts of interpretions if you ask me  :-\ :-\ :-\

I think, the way Ken Smith has now sorted it out, is a GOOD WAY.

I think, it is o.k. if someone does upload photos for someone else, stating Copyright etc., and Name the one who took the photo.

The example of someone who is at sea, taking photos, but no time for uploading himself would be such case, or the 85 years old guy whos mind did not follow modernisation of Computer Technology.

If that still does disturb People then ?

- In that case, I think an idea would be: One Person having two accounts. One for him/herself own photos. Other account for the photos of the Person who does not upload photos. But, perhaps too complicated and one rule here says, only one account per Person.

Greetings,

Cornelia

Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Captain Ted on December 11, 2013, 02:15:00 PM
@ peter

I wondering what your posting is about in the first place. It does not address anything
in the initial post or on the post which Ken did in the other forum section concerned to it. It just gives a list of posting possiblities which also could be expanded
for another 50 and much more cathegories.

1) ship from left
2) ship from right
3) ship from stern
4) ship from front
5) green ship
6) blue ship
7) black ship

and so on bla bla bla

but does not shed any light on how you think it could be solved and/or go about the
whole problem of peoples who posting anything from the net they can get their hands on
and virtually distroying the aim of this site which is and may be should stay posting vessels done by the photographer or in special circumstances posting for someone instead but not flooding the site with net pictures. Even looked at not just old pictures from pubic domains , here are posters on this site they must virtually live in airplanes to get from place to place to take the pictres they posting under their names.

brgds
capt ted




Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: sandygates on December 11, 2013, 06:50:41 PM
Peter Hartung: I think I got the point of your piece of ironic, sarcastic satire but, it would seem, not many others did. Maybe something got lost in translation!
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Northkehdinger on December 11, 2013, 08:29:17 PM
Peter Hartung: I think I got the point of your piece of ironic, sarcastic satire but, it would seem, not many others did. Maybe something got lost in translation!

Hi sandygates
Thanks for your nice comment.It make me looking out for Peters statement.
@ Peter. You nail it. Thanks for making it clear.

brgds
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Robert Smith on December 11, 2013, 10:27:37 PM
Come on folks, Peter Hartung was just adding some humour to the discussion. Can't you laugh anymore once in a while ? All I see in this thread are unbelievably serious comments. This is supposed to be a hobby, something to enjoy, to relax if you like. Give me a break !

Robert.

 >:(
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Captain Ted on December 11, 2013, 11:52:21 PM
@ robert

sorry,,but I don,t see the humorous side in that comment at all,, not even when I try the sarcastic look. I have btw high regards for Peter,,because he supplied a lot of real good data,s and info and wondered often where he get all those infos and how much time in puts into it, however I was totally surprised that he posted something like that in the first place.
I still believe and think that this site is about ships fotos taken by the photographer and posted here by the very same photographer (old is not the point, I have still pics from the 80,s and in 20 years may have 1000th which I never posted and by then may be 50 years old)  and not about any photo taken from anyhwhere and to post here.
It,s a hobby as stated,,what kind of hobby ? Going out and make the pics or sit in a chair and rove internet sites for pics , the latter seems to be by now more popular.

and yes,,may be I am all wrong, but then I might as well leave my camera home when I go back to the job
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Timsen on December 12, 2013, 08:43:22 AM
I think I also got what Peter meent - don't take all this stuff too serious, don't get bloody fingers by uploading photo heaps no one will ever have the time to watch to get the "likes", keep cool. And don't take yourself too serious as photographer. That's the message, and it seems to be the same with photo sites everywhere, there are guys with cameras like guns, taking photos and photos and photos, and wishing to be loved for that...And in this regard, for me it is indeed all the same, who took a photo, is it "pure" without "disturbing" other stuff on the pic, is it historic and where does it come from, the main thing is, is it interesting as a photo.
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: victor radio74 on December 12, 2013, 10:00:53 AM
I wish to give my opinion,only for statiscals purposes.
For me the great value of Shipspotting.com,the ideal aim,is a "wiki" of ships,so that you could find any single ship in history.
Let me say that 300 hundred pics of Noah
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Andreas Schlatterer on December 12, 2013, 11:12:29 AM
Hello guys

Please do not loose the focus - This is shipspotting that means in my opinion take pics of ships, load this one on this website and be happy if other people like it. But that means for me pics that I make myself and didn
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: ianwatson on February 14, 2014, 03:37:32 PM
Good for you I say,
Got anymore of the mv Beijerland, I worked for he agents 1969-1971
great old vessel, called at Goole and Grimsby from Rotterdam and Harlingen :)
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Dave Forbes on February 19, 2014, 12:05:20 PM
Although some of the older B&W ships photos are interesting indeed but how do the posters know that their posts are 'copywrite expired' and just posting willy-nilly. Wasn't the whole idea of Shipspotting was to 'spot' a vessel and take a picture then post it on the site as your own copywritten work. You could , with express permission from the photographer (ie a family member) , submit an image , as long as you accredit it to the photographer but somehow , I don't think this happening. Are members passing some images as their own work? and how can you prove or disprove it?
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Brent on February 20, 2014, 06:34:38 AM
Just looking at CapnTed's top shots of MSC Santhya floating on something other than water highlights what the site is all about, great ship photoes. My thoughts are that the poster should be the photographer or authorised such as Charlie Hill/PWR and presume Chris Howell/Trevor Jones a similar relationship. But I really enjoy the archive pics such as those from Paul Wille/Walter Frost, I can see many contributors to this columns point but wouldn't want these oldies totally disqualified as they look great mingling with the new stuff.

Agree the modern posters of old pictures are not in true spirit we want of members, but could there be a separate "gallery" section called "museum shots" where such postings are allowed with the appropriate recognitions. After all we don't know if the old photographers wouldn't have wanted their pics going online if they knew oneday there would be a great shipspotting.com site. Museum staff hardly likely to post so maybe the landlubber posters have their place.

I hope Ken's review will work out a happy medium, I have little time for certain categories so believe the old pics have more rights.

Cheers

Brent
Title: Re: Loosing focus ?, Shipspotting or post anything from anywhere
Post by: Jarrod David on February 20, 2014, 07:19:16 AM
I have to agree with Captain Ted on this issue and the old saying quality not quantity has always been the rule here.They have set a standard and we should follow it, however some of the old photos do have a role to play here where their is no photo available of a certain ship from  the past.Regardless of whether we recognize it or not SHIPSPOTTING is also a growing database of all the worlds vessels.The Media,Shipping Companies and Private citizens realize that and look to this site to find a favorite ship or one in the news.I was a big contributor to this site a few years ago and got extremely frustrated with the bickering and complaints from members, but that has not stopped me from coming back and enjoying good quality shots of the ships.I cant help not coming back I love ships and enjoy my hobby and you should too!!