I attended a local craft show today, several photographers were present (along with jewelry, pottery, fiber arts, painting, paper arts, clothing, gourmet foods, soaps, lotions, etc., etc.) When I see photos I like, especially of gorgeous locations I've not yet visited (France, Tuscany, etc.) I like to know where they were taken because in my wild imagination I could then visit that country or village or cathedral or desert plain and perhaps shoot it for myself. One photographer had a number of beautiful shots from Europe. I found one particular architectural shot especially fantastic, and leaned in to read the tag. It read "Location Not Disclosed." Seriously? Why not?
A little bit of Googling once I got back home and I located the facility with relative ease. It's a spiral stained glass ceiling in a chapel in Dallas, Texas, USA. Here's one shot of it, you can find many more by Googling it yourself:
So the question is, if you were exhibiting/selling your photography, most of which qualified as "destination" or "travel" photography, what would be your rationale for putting "Location Not Disclosed" on one image when all the rest were marked? I didn't ask the photographer, but I found it odd.
Not stating the location doesn't in any way alter the rights issues. If you're selling a photo of a location that doesn't allow commercial photography, withholding where you took it doesn't help if you get sued.
It doesn't look like the chapel, or the park it's in, have any commercial photography restrictions, and Getty, who are usually quite hot on that kind of thing, are selling photos of the same ceiling without a property release.
For me, the most likely reason would be that I forgot where I took it!
Ooh it's gorgeous - wouldn't mind a ceiling like that myself!
Maybe they hoped you'd ask them the question then they could engage you and not let you get away without a purchase...?! They could have done it on all of them though, I suppose...
I don't know how anyone would forget where this was taken as it is so memorable and like nothing I've seen before. Amazing shot but strange that the location has not been given
my guess would be that the photographer is one of those people who doesn't like to share, if they find a great spot to shoot whatever(waterfall, owls, sunset) they like to keep it to themselves so that they have something unique. I'm not saying they are like that, just another possibility unfortunately.
@cheribug@ozziehoffy@rosiekind I agree with Rosie, i can't imagine forgetting where a shot like this was taken...and if I did forget, I could do a bit of Googling and find out! And chances are it would be on a memory card with other images in sequence, so you could narrow it down and figure it out.
@northy@abirkill I agree with Alexis here, especially after finding the chapel and window online. I could see not disclosing the location if it was in your own home -- don't I wish -- but if you're selling your images to the public you darn well better have your ducks in a row as far as copyright issues and model releases, etc. You never know who is going to swing by your booth or shop.
I may head back to the art fair today, there are still some Christmas gifts that could be purchased. If I can, I may play the dumb blonde (an act I have gotten away with in the past) and ask about why the location isn't disclosed, and then ask, "Isn't that the Thanksgiving Chapel in Dallas?" and see what the reaction is. If it's a boot to my posterior, I'll let y'all know! :)
@sjoblues well yeah... 'cos now i'm dying of curiosity ;p
@joannapayne love this answer... specially 'cos one of my biggest fears with street photography is that i will end up with a picture of someone who shouldn't be where they are ;p
There is a possibility that some photographers suffer from the same feelings that some potters have. Some potters don't allow anyone taking pictures of their work. It's because they think that person will go "duplicate" the item. With pottery, that is virtually impossible - far too many variables in the process. I think those that don't allow photographs of their work tend to be self-centered and lack the self-confidence that what they make is so special that no one else could just go reproduce it (which is nearly 100% true). Because of their fear, they are protecting something that does not need protecting.
@cheribug@northy@m9f9l@cameronknowlton@abirkill@ozziehoffy@joannapayne@ellimae@tulipgirl@filsie65@sarie@rosiekind@mgirard@dlaxton@cmc1200 OK, I went back to the crafts fair and approached the photographer's booth that contained the "location not disclosed" image discussed above. The woman in the booth -- not the photographer -- saw me looking at the photo of the spiral stained glass ceiling, and as she approached I asked, "This is gorgeous. Why is the location not disclosed?" She said, "It's in a private location." "Private?" "Yes." I said, "Isn't it in Dallas, in the Chapel in Thanks-Giving Square?" I rendered her speechless. Yes, I gloated and took a bit of secret pleasure in doing so. She stammered a bit, acknowledged I was correct, and said again that as far as she knew it was private. I bluffed and said that was news to me. She then said, "Well, the truth is, a lot of photographers are very competitive."
AHA!!!
I can just imagine the conversation she'd have later with the photographer about it. :)
In the camera club I was in, some, not all photographers would not disclose the location and I think it was for fear you might get a better shot than them, silly really, but good for you for going back and saying it.
Unbelievable! No class...or confidence. Good for you with your follow-up. I checked out that location, and it is amazing. I've never seen anything like it.
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It doesn't look like the chapel, or the park it's in, have any commercial photography restrictions, and Getty, who are usually quite hot on that kind of thing, are selling photos of the same ceiling without a property release.
For me, the most likely reason would be that I forgot where I took it!
Maybe they hoped you'd ask them the question then they could engage you and not let you get away without a purchase...?! They could have done it on all of them though, I suppose...
@northy @abirkill I agree with Alexis here, especially after finding the chapel and window online. I could see not disclosing the location if it was in your own home -- don't I wish -- but if you're selling your images to the public you darn well better have your ducks in a row as far as copyright issues and model releases, etc. You never know who is going to swing by your booth or shop.
I may head back to the art fair today, there are still some Christmas gifts that could be purchased. If I can, I may play the dumb blonde (an act I have gotten away with in the past) and ask about why the location isn't disclosed, and then ask, "Isn't that the Thanksgiving Chapel in Dallas?" and see what the reaction is. If it's a boot to my posterior, I'll let y'all know! :)
@joannapayne love this answer... specially 'cos one of my biggest fears with street photography is that i will end up with a picture of someone who shouldn't be where they are ;p
AHA!!!
I can just imagine the conversation she'd have later with the photographer about it. :)