What is EXIF Data
EXIF stands for ‘Exchangeable Image File’ data and it is the information that your camera stores within your image files that tells you about the photo. This data is stored when you take images in JPEG and RAW format (or TIFF). Almost all camera manufacturers support EXIF and whether you know it or not your camera is likely to be recording it with your image files.
The data itself can reveal some pretty interesting stuff about your photos. Including shooting aperture, shutter speed, white balance, ISO, focal length, date, time, and various shooting conditions, such as camera model, colour coding, global positioning system (GPS) and etc. See image below for EXIF date references.
Many photographers use EXIF data to help improve technique and to compare images that worked well and with images that don’t. If you’re perplexed as to why one shot looks better than the other then the EXIF data can reveal why.
If you’re new to the technical aspects of photography EXIF data can also teach you a lot, such as the relationship between aperture and depth of field and how badly your camera’s high ISO settings affect image grain.
You can also check EXIF data by using a online EXIF checker like the one below.
EXIF data is also shown on your computer:
MAC
Just click on the photo’s icon press Command-i to bring up the info dialog. When it appears, click on the right-facing triangle beside the words “More info” and the basic EXIF data will appear.
PC
Simply right-click on the image and choose “properties”. In the dialog box that comes up choose the “Details” tab to see the EXIF data.
Screen Print (dumping) images
So when a person decides to take a screen print (dump) of an image the original owner’s copyright of the image is lost
Reasons photographers get frustrated with this is:
1. All the EXIF data is lost
2. The file name is lost
3. No Copyright permission has been given
Just a couple of these issues can cause ongoing issues if someone wants to get hold of your image original. These are:
1. Nobody knows who the original photographer was unless there is a water mark.
2. If the file name is lost and you try to request an image from the photographer this could mean a lot of searching through archives and maybe never being able to locate the original as there is no reference.
There are many more related issues with missing EXIF data and that is why photographers get slightly annoyed when people screen dump. The other big issue with screen dumping or misuse of images is copyright infringement, as there has been no permission given to use the image you could find yourself in breach of a photographer’s copyright law.
Like Stealing an image from a Pro Photographer is as equal to stealing someone’s personal belongings.
I would like to share the below story with you that was shared to me by a fellow photographer. Please take the time to read as this may give you some more insight into what it cost to take photos as a pro photographer.
“This shot is of one of Torquay’s most beautiful landmarks, Thatcher Rock. I make no bones about it, the rock was shot in February last year and the sky during the previous summer. This photograph cost me £12,000 to produce. How? Then just consider this. My Mini Clubman is relatively inexpensive to run but (including depreciation) it probably cost around £10 to make the short return trip to the Rock. I used a camera costing £3500 and a lens costing £1500. My tripod and other accessories added another £1000 to the equipment cost I needed to get a shot of this quality.
Back in the studio I use a MacPro computer with two calibrated Apple Cinema Displays costing almost £4000. Software not only has to be purchased new but upgraded regularly. For a composition like this I used four independent programs which cost from new at least £1500 (and time to learn how to use them proficiently). I have to insure my equipment and pay for broadband access and rental for my online storage and delivery system at www.colincadle.co.uk.
Add this lot up and it comes to almost £12,000 and that doesn’t take into account the time it takes to process the image – oh, and did i mention 40 years experience? What price do you put on that?
So if you’re a magazine, website, corporation, sports team, or advertiser who wishes to use this photo or any other of my work, please don’t come and ask to use it for free, or in exchange for a simple photographer’s credit or “exposure”. You found my photo online so obviously I must have an element of ‘exposure’ already. You have an advertising budget, and this is what it’s for. You obviously don’t expect your writers to work for free, or your secretary, or your boss and no one is going to publish it for free. Just because the picture is digital doesn’t mean it was free to make. As you will of course deduce the Thatcher Rock example didn’t actually cost me £12,000 but if you wanted to create it, from scratch, that is the cost which would be involved. So if it’s stolen this is the amount I consider the replacement value to be, or how much my lawyer will send you a bill for if it’s found being used without my permission.
So, unless you are a charity I support please don’t ask to use my work in exchange for a credit. Try this… next time you’re at dinner in a restaurant, tell your waiter you’ll tell all your friends how good the service was if he gives you dinner for free.”
If you wish to share an image think about the time and money photographers put into producing images and please get in contact with us if you want to share a photo.
Kindest Regards
Tim Nicol Photography