Free Photos

After reading a my classmate's blog Life Changing Moments in which she talks about a reunion with memorable people she met in Cambodia, I decided to post a few photos from my own Cambodia trip. My trip wasn't quite as philanthropic as hers (I went on vacation while she helped to teach kids English) but it did produce some great photos.

I took the pictures with my little point and shoot digital camera, but still. Trees were overgrowing temples, and the city of Angkor Wat (spelled differently depending on who you ask) was absolutely gorgeous. The problem is that I really like those photos, and I'd like to continue owning them.

It was the thought of posting my Cambodia photos online that finally got me to read Blogger's usage agreement. I've been meaning to read it for a while, but the photos I've posted thus far aren't really fabulous. They're nice, but they're not fabulous. The Cambodia photos may not be fabulous either, but they're closer to it, and they're worth me finally acting like a responsible journalism student and reading the terms and conditions of use.

So here it is, Blogger, and Google's, little paragraph on the things we upload.

"When you upload or otherwise submit content to our Services, you give Google (and those we work with) a worldwide license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes we make so that your content works better with our Services), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content. The rights you grant in this license are for the limited purpose of operating, promoting, and improving our Services, and to develop new ones. This license continues even if you stop using our Services."

Not only do we give all our content to Google, we give it to their undisclosed, uh, who are they, again? Not partners, even, just "those we work with". Obviously I'm going to sleep better tonight knowing my information is in good hands.

Fellow bloggers (if anyone besides classmates is reading this), take a look at Google's Terms of Service agreement. You know, the one you've probably already agreed to.

For those who are interested, Facebook has a similar policy. The first paragraph of their Terms of Use is below.

"For content that is covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos (IP content), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook (IP License). This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it."

It actually looks like Facebook gives users more leeway than Google in that the deal ends when you cut Facebook out of your like. That actually does help me sleep better. 

Apple's Ubiquity

As a minor break from the monotony of my favorite subject, photography, I've decided the inspiration for this week's blog should be one of our reading assignment for class.

The article, What Apple’s iPad Means for Journalism Design, Multimedia & Business, talks mostly about how the ipad is going to affect newspapers, magazines, and other media that is traditionally available in hard copy. It mentions that Apple is becoming a middle man with power over the information we can consume on Apple devices, via Apple apps.

I don't have strong opinions on how the ipad itself will change journalism, but I do have an opinion on Apple and its technology. Since Apple's resurgence and reemergence with top of the line computers, phones, mp3 players, etc., it has become ubiquitous. Everyone, literally everyone, I know has some type of Apple device. Apple has taken over technology and invaded our pockets and purses. Internet is the same way.  Everyone is connected via ipad, blackberry, or the laptop they carry around in their backpacks.

Which means that article I was talking about applies to just about everyone, all the time. Even when they're underground riding a subway.

That article probably applies to you. Unfortunately it doesn't apply directly to me. Not yet, anyway. I am the only person I know (including many friends who are in debt from college loans and a few bad decisions) who does not shell out money every month to pay for my smartphone's internet. Why? Because I don't have a smartphone. Or an ipad, itouch, Apple anything, or a computer that I carry around in my backpack. Compared to most people in the modern world, I am digitally cut off from everything. I don't even have wireless internet at home.

That little fact makes me feel a bit behind the times. I would love an ipad, if only to check up on National Geographic's latest Visions of Earth while I'm on the bus to work, but that's not going to happen until I have a solid job with a solid, livable income. In the meantime, I'll say what a lot of people have been saying for years: I can live without internet on my phone, or checking my twitter feeds whenever I have two seconds to spare. So can you.

But if you don't care that you can survive without internet or the convenient devices Apple feeds you (because let's be honest, you don't care; mobile internet is fabulous), at least try to branch out. Let's not let Apple be the driving force, the gatekeeper of the information we receive via apps. Apple isn't the only one selling tablets or 4G phones. Try buying from someone else, and join me in my little microcosm where the only apples around are Fuji or Granny Smith.

Photostories and sidewalk art

To those who commented on my last post, be it for a class assignment or not, thank you for your input. I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds the college girl compelling, but there was also a great point about the ubiquity of hard-working college students just trying to get by. If my professor had made that point I might have conceded the argument. He made other valid points, of course, and he's open-minded enough to let me try working on a project that might not turn out so well. I appreciate his flexibility, and his candor.

As promised, I got over myself and called the old lady, asking if she would be willing to participate in the project. Fortunately or unfortunately, she's not. She's going into surgery this Thursday (nothing serious, she will be completely fine) and will be out of commission for two or three weeks. She's not comfortable being photographed during or in the weeks after, her surgery.

So I'll do my best to convince everyone, especially my professor, that my project on the college girl is worth it. I believe everyone has a story to tell, most people just choose not to tell it to the world.

Because that's all I really have to post today, and it's not particularly interesting, I thought I'd share another type of art form. Photography is how I've chosen to express myself, which leads to my discussions of photoshop and class projects, but I've always admired those with the talent to create works of art without the use of technology. Attached are some photos from a Denver chalk festival. Photo credits go to my mother, Wonderful Wanda, who loves these as much as I do.