I have been enjoying looking at the thread of flickr photos on here.
Can someone explain how flickr works please ?
I'll give it a shot, if I can. It's basically a great big photo hosting and display site, that allows you to store quite a lot of photos for free, or, lots more for a few quid. It's part "community" where there are different groups that you can post in - say, if you're into cats, there's a few (million) cat groups to share your pictures with like minded people. Ditto if you want to look at stuff taken by a particular camera you were considering buying, look in that camera's groups for the kind of pictures you take, and see how good a job (or otherwise) the camera can do. It's not perfect by any means, but its probably the best one out there at the moment - though, it's been through a rough time with previous owners not understanding it either... hopefully the latest in a long line will "get it" and keep it on an upward curve.
So far ( not far at all ), I understand that once you join flickr you can upload your photos for others to see.
That's true - or, you can set them as private, and keep them as a private online gallery. It's up to you really.
I have read the terms and conditions, which unfortunately to me are so confusing.
That's why they write them like that, to keep the Solicitors in nice BMW's and Mercedes's. Main thing is, Flickr DOESN'T OWN anything you upload, all the rest is flim-flam.
Is it for comments and advice ?
It CAN be, some groups are particularly active in that respect, but most are more "nice picture" ego boosts but of no real aide in improving - fortunately, this forums available for comments and advice, and you can easily link from Flickr's storage to here, and ask any questions you want, and get (often) helpful critique on your imagery as well if you ask for it. In return, all we ask is that you listen and don't just throw a hissy-fit if someone says something isn't quite perfect.
I've had people approach me asking for a full size print of some images I've got on there in the past, though I don't really think that is the core of the business or the real intention. If you're out to sell your picures there's probably many better options.
Does flickr use them themselves ?
I think they probably have some clause in the terms to allow them to use certain images in their own promotional materials, though I'm pretty sure that they would limit use to images marked as being Public Domain, to save them getting a bill for royalties...
Do you still own the photos ?
Yes, most emphatically. Unless of course you're a blithering idiot and expressly give away rights to it by putting it in the Public Domain - I'd strongly suggest setting up your account so that by default everything is marked as Copyright - All rights reserved.
Can the photos be " used " without permission, or taken ?
If they're on the internet, anywhere, they CAN and probably will be taken. But, if they're marked as all rights reserved, you can use various services to go after the people using them and recover usage rights payments - i've probably made more money that way than I have in selling the images as mentioned above, if i'm honest. Just don't expect it to work with China as they have an "interesting" interpretation of copyright - as in, they just ignore it, rip you off and the government backs them...
Seems a silly thing to ask, but I a may be interested in joining.
Thank you
Sand
The only silly question, is the one left unasked.
Hopefully this has been some small amount of use...