US library of congress on flickr

Woman aircraft worker, Vega Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, Calif. Shown checking electrical assemblies (LOC)
Originally uploaded by The Library of Congress

The national library of the US has uploaded more than 3000 photos to flickr, encouraging people to tag and comment. That's a great and rather simple way to construct and facilitate national narratives and history. Additionally, some of the photos are absolutely beautiful. Thanks to Stig at Underskog for posting an entry about this project (members only).

digital annoyance

A couple of weeks ago I dropped my camera while photographing. It, surprise, did not survive the fall. I should get it repaired of course. But you know the problem: fixing digital cameras seem to cost more than buying a new one. I really hate that about digital stuff. Argh. Maybe I should buy an approachable and user-friendly SLR-camera? And still get my other camera repaired?

edit: The service-guy at foto & video looked at me as if I were from the moon when I asked whether my camera could be repaired. At least I tried to do the right thing. I bought a Nikon D40x. Now I just have to learn how to use it.

can I take and publish your photo, please?

For early in the history of photography, there was a series of judicial decisions that could well have changed the course of photography substantially. Courts were asked whether the photographer, amateur or professional, required permission before he could capture and print whatever image he wanted. Their answer was no (Lawrence Lessig: Free Culture: 33).

Pretty interesting, right? Especially considering how digital network technology changes what we do with our photographs. I might not have to ask for permission to take somebody's photograph, yet in principle I have to ask for permission before I publish it online. According to the Norwegian Data Inspectorate I don't have to ask for permission for publishing "situation photographs", that is, photographs where the actual situation or activity is the primary content of the photo (such as concerts, sports events). However, if I take a photo of somebody particular, I need to ask if it's ok before I upload it to the web.

Usually I don't. I do take care not to publish compromising photos of course.