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Friday, March 11, 2016

Celebrating, 11 March, 2016


11 March, 2016 Celebrate The Small Things

Welcome to this lovely blog hop, started by VikLit, bless her!
Lexa Cain and her two wonderful co-hosts L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge and Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits are presiding.

Check them out and be prepared to smile!

What am I celebrating?  Well, changes, comings and goings. I spoke of Jesse James (my darling old dog) earlier.  He's left quite a hole in my household, but lots of smiles, as well.  And it appears that we may be having a new little presence in a couple months in the form of a puppy.  Jesse's wisdom and humor linger.  We learned a lot from him, and the puppy will benefit from the years we had him.  Meanwhile, we're remembering and smiling.

On another front, I am finishing two stories, a full-length novel set in Paris and a fable that I've mentioned before...  Or, I will be once I start up again in April.  I've been beta-reading (VERY enjoyable!) doing this and that.

And fiddling with things.
Large male saltwater crocodile, Australia

Which brings me to my celebration.  I have a cover nearly finished for the fable.  I've posted a version of it before.  It prominently features a magnificent crocodile that is a major force in the story.  The photo I found was perfect...  It had been printed in a newspaper.  If you are using photographs or other images, you must, if you are honest, verify that they are in the public domain and, if not, secure a license to use them.  As an amateur photographer, I understand what goes into taking what your eye sees and turning it into a work of art.

So, the crocodile.  I searched for the photographer...and I finally found him.  Or, rather, his name.  I looked him up by name and located his website.  At his website, I swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

The man was a superb photographer.  He did work for the National Geographic Society.  He was as good as Galen Rowell (if you know photography, you will know the name).  I couldn't possibly afford him.

But one must ask.  I wrote to him, told him what I wanted the image for, explained how I had tracked him down, and inquired whether I might purchase a license to use the photograph.  Knowing his quality and my budget, I also started looking at stock images...

And I received this response:
Hi Diana
Thanks for your enquiry. I can confirm that the image of the crocodile is one I took in 2005. The Courier Mail published it without my permission (which is far from unheard of). I have full copyright over the image however I preference how I license images depending on the status/capacity of the use, and the user etc.

I would like to provide you use of this image as a courtesy, since I appreciate the demands on writers in bringing their work to completion. I also appreciate the obvious effort you have gone to contact me.

I have attached a higher res version of the image to assist you.

If you are able to publish your work it would be great to receive a copy.
Good luck.

Kind Regards
Kerry
I looked at the image he had attached and reread the note.  The book will be published and he will receive a copy as well as credit for the image.

...and I am celebrating the nearly finalized cover that I can use now that I have cleared permissions:

(Stars are very important in the story)


What are you celebrating?

17 comments:

  1. Diana,
    Your integrity in tracking down the photographer is evident; with the graciousness of the photographer equally gracious. Yes, writers must indeed do what you did.
    As a matter of fact, I always loved a blog masthead by a Canadian poet. So, for my "Nile Conspiracy" I, too, contacted him and asked, with the same beneficial result.
    New puppy, eh? That'll be the best remembrance to Jesse James - for you and for him.

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    1. Your images are always well done, Gracious Lady! And that poet sounds wonderful! (I do hope I'm up for a puppy. All cords and cables are going into PVC tubes ahead of arrival time...)

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  2. What a wonderful response by the photographer! The crocodile looks great on your new cover. Cheers - Ellen

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    1. Thank you, Ellen! I remember watching a movie once (Enchanted April) where a character comments that it is important to allow someone to be kind. I'm glad I pursued the inquiry. And he was very kind!

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  3. Hi Diana - that's impressive he was so generous to you ... and how lovely people are so thoughtful. Still it must have impressed him - you'd done your research ...

    Thanks for the info too on using images ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Thank you, Hilary - in a money-making endeavor, like my book (I do hope *someone* will purchase it when it is published!) it is so very important to make certain your use of an image is correct. I am glad I did not give up on contacting him. And I am looking forward to an acknowledgment in the first pages and a letter to him thanking him and enclosing the book...

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  4. What a lovely response from the photographer and a great cover you've made with the image too.

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    1. Thanks, Kate - I couldn't believe how nice he was.

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  5. That's awesome! I'm so glad your diligence paid off. I've been having some trouble locating the owners of some of the images I used too, but it's still a while before I have to choose the exact cover I'll use. Love your cover - and awesome the guy would like a copy of the book! Win-win! :)

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    1. Hi, Lexa -
      I can't wait to see what the actual final cover for yours will be. They were all wonderful! (And thanks for stopping by!)

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  6. Oh, how awesome about that photograph! I had a similar experience with the cover picture we have on "Old Broads Waxing Poetic." I tracked down the photographer, a fella in Italy, and he most graciously sent me a higher res copy, and his blessing to use it as a cover. I, too, sent him a copy of the book when it was published.

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    1. I loved that cover! (The collection wasn't shabby, either...) what a great story! Now I must read the book again.

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  7. It is lovely to hear that your honesty and courtesy was rewarded by this kind individual and I am sure he will love seeing the cover of your book and his credit in it :) Have a super weekend! Special Teaching at Pempi’s Palace

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  8. I do love that cover and the story behind it. And a puppy! It makes me smile just to think about him, or her.

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    1. If it's a her, she will be Nellie, for Eleanor Roosevelt. That photographer was wonderful.

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  9. Lovely cover. Congratulations on getting the picture

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  10. What a great idea, Diana, and it paid off. The cover looks absolutely fantastic!

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