The Masters And Watermarks

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Kip Praslowicz:

Idle thought today while at work was how it seems like many amateur photographs spend more time putting elaborate watermarks on their images than they do making images worth stealing. This led to a second thought that I don’t really recall ever seeing the photographs of famous art photographers with a gaudy watermark. This in turn led to one more thought…

Amen!

This isn’t targeted at anyone in particular, but I’m sure I’ll offend someone. When I see watermarks on photos - those of weather in particular for my field - I cry inside (and curse audibly). Copyright notices and watermarks are unnecessary, presumptuous, and ugly as sin. Their conspicuous presence guarantees that the original message and beauty conveyed by the photo is muted. The soul’s hope to fully absorb the wonder contained in one fleeting moment in time dies a horrible death.

Is that overstated? Probably. But then again, so is that watermark.