Architecture Photos | Legal Issues Selling Or Using Stock Photos of Buildings Or Landmarks

If you are trying to break into selling your photography as stock photos, or you're a small business who has recently discovered the joy of using low cost stock photography in your print or online publications, there are a variety of legal issues you need to know about. In this article we'll address a specific area of architecture: Buildings and Landmarks.

Not many people know this, but lots of new buildings are copyrighted or trademarked these days. Technically the buildings themselves may not be, but the designs of those buildings are. And if you try to sell stock photography which includes those buildings, you can be sued by the copyright or trademark holder.

The same applies to businesses who try to use those photos for their own advertising and marketing materials. Regardless of where you got the photo - or how much you paid for it - if the original stock photographer did not get a property release, then you are using the photos illegally, and this will usually get you wrapped up in a lawsuit with large amounts of money involved.

Trademarked building designs aren't the only things to worry about though. In almost any city or town across the world, you'll find a variety of statues, monuments, and other public artwork displays... and these are usually covered by copyright protection too. In some cases, statues and monuments are considered public domain because they're a government commissioned display. In other cases however, regardless of who commissioned the work, the original artist holds the copyrights.

Thankfully stock photo agencies do a great job of not allowing photos to be placed in their database if they may violate a copyright or trademark agreement. No one is perfect however, so some things slip in and get put up for licensing even when they shouldn't be. There are many websites around which have comprehensive lists of trademarked buildings and landmarks, and some of them also list those which might be problematic but no one is certain about.

Here's a few examples of common or popular architecture which could be covered by copyright and trademark laws:

- The Eiffel Tower: Only the nighttime light display is copyrighted. Daytime photos of The Eiffel Tower are still allowed to be sold and used for commercial photography purposes.

- The Sears Tower: Photos which feature this building cannot be sold for commercial purposes. In some cases a cityscape which happens to include the tower as a small part of the photo might be acceptable.

- Various Zoos, Theme Parks, and Aquariums: Entry tickets to many of these attraction explicitly state that no commercial photography is allowed.

See Kathy's excellent stock photography at http://www.ElectronicPerceptions.com

©2008, Kathy Burns-Millyard

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Architecture Photos | Are You Looking For Photo Communities Online?

As a photographer I can definitely appreciate and enjoy other people's work when it comes to any kind of art; not just photography. Recently I was searching online for some photography communities that I could get involved in and I found a few really interesting one's. These aren't regular image sites like that of Image Shack or Photo Bucket, but real communities where people can take their photos and post them online to share with other people.

The aim of these sites is it to categorize information in order to present typical impressions of a spot, of its nature, technique and industry, history, architecture and the people who are living there, allowing at the same time for a simple and intuitive access to the true gems of our surrounding world.

These sites are also terrific for the travelers out there because it also allows you to share places you have visited and share places you think other people would enjoy visiting. I signed up for an account and here is how it works. Simply upload any photos you might have (if applicable) and then add some information to the photos such as; category, title, spot, and external links. So it might look something like this:

Photo Image Here
Title Venice At Sunset
User yournamehere
Spot: Venice Italy
Categories: Italy, Rome, Sunset, Venice

Pretty easy stuff. Then, people can vote on your photo, view and even comment the photograph! It's all pretty simple but it really is an incredible site for those of us that really revel in our photography and like to see what everyone else is up to as well. This would be a terrific site to join up with if you were going on a worldly travel tour. You could take pictures like a photo journal of sorts of all the places you visited, ate at, stayed at, etc.

Right now these sites have worldly places listed on the site such as Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle America, Middle East, North America, Oceania and South America. Once you click on these countries you will then be taken to cities, towns and other locales within the country. So if I pick Middle America I can, then choose from Caribbean, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Belize.

Once you pick from those places (I'll pick Costa Rica) you are then brought to a map of the Costa Rican area along with some information about Costa Rica such as description, scenery, lifestyles, architecture, historical background and much more! Plus you will also see people's photos of Costa Rica if they are available. Really these are awesome sites to join up with, and why wouldn't you take advantage of something like this especially if it's free! I really hope you enjoy these sites and start placing your photos on them immediately! Have fun!

This author is a HUGE fan of Free and rapidly growing Photo Community of Our World

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristi_Ambrose

Architecture Photos | Feng Shui For Architecture - Book Review

Feng Shui for Architecture: How to Design, Build and Remodel to Create a Healthy and Serene Home

By Simona F. Mainini, Dr. Arch.

Founder and President of Feng Shui Architecture, Inc. Beverly Hills, CA

Feng Shui for Architecture by Simona Mainini is a handbook for builders, homeowners, professional designers, and architects. There is valuable advice for each group to be found within its covers, not the least of which is her desires to "assist homeowners and professionals in designing houses with 'good' Feng Shui from the start instead of trying to put a bandage on problems or make patchwork corrections after the fact."

Ms. Mainini is a graduate of Milan, Italy's Polytechnic School of Architecture and interned with Eric Lloyd Wright in Los Angeles, CA. She studied with Master Larry Sang founder of the American Feng Shui Institute, where she also became a teacher. This book can be used as a reference for home/office design and furniture or as a check list for those of you who are planning to build or buy.

After an interesting discussion on the history and development of feng shui the subject turns to what feng shui can and cannot do, how to choose a consultant and a short discussion on western styles of feng shui that have become popular of late. The relationship between architect and feng shui practitioner can be fraught with misunderstanding. The author provides some valuable insights on this relationship. After all, both professionals want the same result, a beautiful building that functions well and provides an environment conducive to productivity and health.

In the following chapters the applications of feng shui to architecture are outlined. From the beginning step of selecting the site through designing the interiors, the building energy, customizing the building, to construction and timing are covered. Qi, the basic life force practitioners work with, is often difficult to explain. Here it discussed in terms that are easy to understand and connections are made to other culture and even modern physics. Yin and Yang, the forces that we balance in the environment, and the 5 element transformations, one of the ways we accomplish this balancing and the 8 trigrams/lo shu are also covered.

Concepts presented in the book are illustrated with photos and real case studies. This format makes it easier for the reader to relate to the information. You are not just told to do this or not to do that, but what might happen if you do. After covering topics such as land elevations, soils, plantings, water features, the different types of shas (negative energy), building shapes, doors, square footage, various rooms in the house, and more, Ms. Mainini gives a quick peak into more advanced theories such a 8 mansions, which matches occupants with specific buildings and flying stars, which take into consideration the element of time.

This is a handy and well written book for anyone interested in traditional feng shui and its application. If I had to make a criticism it would be that the black and white photos were not as sharp as I wished for. But that is indeed a very small thing. Go find this book and read it today.

Diane Kern has been trained in the ancient art of Feng Shui in the traditional method. The knowledge has been transmitted through 13 generations from Masters to student via an apprenticeship of extensive study and practical field experience. Ms. Kern was included in a small group of students selected by her Master for advanced training. She is a member of an international team of experts, Alliance Feng Shui, whose resources can be called upon to accomplish your goals.

Ms. Kern assures the privacy and confidentiality of clients. Your name will not be used for advertising or referrals. The culture of integrity, respect and discipline instilled by her Master ensures you a productive working relationship and attention towards successful completion of your goals.

http://dianekern.com

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