 BetterPhoto Member |
Protecting Children Hello, I have just dicovered this site, and joined this evening. I honed in on the coversation about the misuse of the child dancer image being used by the photograher. I would like to know if this site protects the images here, prohibiting copying of images by way of blocking or scrambling in some way? I have noticed many pictures of children that are being posted here and wonder if that is wise, considering images are copied of children and then used in unfavorable situaitons by sick people around the world. Please be careful of images posted. On a lighter note, I have really enjoyed viewing the work of many people here. Good or not so good I love seeing what another person loves to capture and what is important to them. Rebecca
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Irene Troy |
Hi Rebecca and welcome to BP! I think you will find the people here to be, mostly, helpful and friendly. I applaud your concern about the misuse of images of children. My background (I was a clinical social worker for 26 years – mostly working with abused children) gives me a pretty good perspective on the entire issue of exploited children and it is a constant concern of mine. BP does make it very difficult for anyone to copy or download images from this site. I say “difficult” because there will always be hackers who can manage to bypass the security checks that any site has. The images of children that are posted here – at least those I have seen – are appropriate and without any hint of exploitation. Unfortunately, as you point out, a certain segment of the population can find even these innocent images provocative and will, if given the opportunity, misuse them. Again unfortunately, there is no realistic means for preventing these types from accessing images of children online. A casual search of Google brings up thousands of websites featuring images of children in every possible configuration from the most innocent to bordering on the pornographic. If a pedophile wishes to view an image of a child online (or for that matter in real life) there seems to be little that even the best law enforcement agencies can do. I think that any responsible person who photographs children as either a hobby or profession needs to be aware of how those images will be used. I would hope, and suspect it to be true, that most people here fall into the category of being responsible and caring about this issue. However, your concern is certainly valid and an important reminder to everyone here.
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Debbie Del Tejo |
I applaud you answer Ms Irene!
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Again I see the point. But again, you're loosing sight of the kind of pictures you're talking about, and how they're typically done. We're not talking about copying typical standing behind the tree senior portraits. Or the regular little kid in the big hat. The exploitive photos you're worried about are kids who are made, coersed(if that's how you spell it) to pose in such a way. Not copying and reworking the regular portrait types that are so prevalent around here. I know it's a concern, but it's also something that's prone to easily cause paranoia. Even with all the stories on the news, the show Dateline is doing on chat rooms, you really are safe to have your kid's picture in your gallery or website. And some common sense will do a lot to protect you from most of your concerns.
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Slim Brady |
Its not worth the chance just. If its your own kids thats your risk, but pictures of other peoples children should not be used.
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Irene Troy |
Gregory – you are certainly correct in your observation that hysteria leads only to greater problems; however, just so you know: while most of us believe that so-called “normal” images of children are not what the true pedophile is interested in obtaining, this is not the case. Unfortunately, the typical pedophile (if there is anything “typical about this type person) can find even the most innocent image of a child to be attractive and will seek out any means for accessing images of children. This being said, I would not advocate the removal of all child images from the Internet. There is nothing online that is not in general society. The folks here who post images of children – their own or their customers – do so for the same reason I post images of nature: to receive feedback from other photographers and to showcase their abilities. Not only is there nothing wrong with this, I think it is one of the better uses of the Internet. Fear is a funny thing – the more you feed it with half-truths and mis-information the more it grows until it is fear itself that powers us. Knowledge, IMHO, is about the best antidote to fear. The thread about a photographer using an image of someone else’s child really centers more on a parent’s right to control how an image of their child will be used. In that particular case, I don’t suspect pedophilia – I suspect lack of professionalism and lack of sensitivity and perhaps lack of understanding of when a release is required.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
You're preaching to the choir. I understand about how that type a person can seek access to all types of images. In that same way they also seek out all kinds of access to see kids with just being out in public, walking a dog, jogging, sitting on park benches, going to the zoo. Would they possibly seek to copy a regular image like Debby Tabb might take? Yes they might, but that is not the type that is their main desire. And to think it is, is to be naive and overly fearful. And the premiss of this particular thread is the very beginning of letting fear get to great where you think about not even taking your kids to the park or the zoo.
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Irene Troy |
Totally agree – Gregory! If you start worrying that someone is going to misuse a nice innocent image of a child; if you start worrying that child molesters lurk behind every bush in a park or that children cannot be allowed to play in the park; you may as well stop living. The world may be a dangerous place (yes and no), but we have to keep perspective at all times. I think that Rebecca’s concern is admirable; however, as I said, there are many more things to worry about. I hope that you did not think that I am advocating the censorship of images of children on this or any other site. I teach parents and others how to keep children safe from all sorts of threats and one of the most important lessons I teach is that we can own fear or it can own us. Owning fear is to take control and to learn how to keep yourself and your children safe in the real world – not to run away from the world or to limit your exposure to the world. The other thread – about someone continuing to use an image that a parent found objectionable – is a different issue with different ramifications.
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Diane Dupuis |
Hey Rebecca, just know that anyone can right click and copy any pic posted here at BP. So no photo is safe from threat. It can easily be done in Firefox, and I know a grand prize winner who got an e-mail that had been circling the net with her baby's pic in it... I worry about those cute little naked butt little kiddie ones. I for one don't think these things - but we know there are pedophiles out there who do. So I wouldn't post those kind of shots here (or on any internet site for that matter).
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Sharon Day |
No website can make photos of children or anything else safe. Anyone afraid of having images borrowed or stolen online shouldn't put them online. There's always print screen and to my knowledge nothing anyone can do about that. As far as children go, I do not post photos of children on the internet. Period.
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Sharon Day |
Hey Rebecca...welcome!!!
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