Plus a Long-billed Curlew and a Horned Lark from yesterday morning on Antelope Island.
First, yesterday’s birds.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning on the island was fairly unproductive but I did get quite a few reasonably good photos of two Long-billed Curlews. They’ve only returned to the island recently and this was only the second time I’ve seen them this year. This one was foraging in typical habitat for them and I was happy to get close to the bird in good light without disturbing it.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Recently I lamented the fact that Horned Larks spend most of their time on unattractive bare ground and rarely perch on plants so it was fun to catch this one perched on an old mullein stalk. In this shot he was rousing before he took off. By this time it was fairly late in the morning so the light was a little harsh but I enjoy the novelty of catching him on a perch like this.
Ok, on to an unrelated subject. Three days ago I posted about a Black-billed Magpie image of mine that had been used on the website of Earthfire Institute without my permission. They’d even attributed the image to another photographer (Christopher Martin) even though my copyright logo was still on the image. I stated my intention to send a DMCA takedown notice to Earthfire Institute early this week and quite a few readers asked me to provide an update when there were any developments.
This is that update.
Early yesterday afternoon when I was preparing to send them the takedown notice my image had already been deleted from their website, as had several others that had also been attributed to Christopher Martin (who knows who the real photographers were). Photos from other photographers have now been substituted for them. Here’s what that page on the Earthfire Institute website looks like now.
They were likely motivated to remove my image by two of my blog followers who outed them by commenting on their page and pointing out that the magpie photo belonged to me and not to Christopher Martin. Those two comments are still there at the bottom of the page. I imagine that Earthfire Institute has now seen my original post and didn’t much enjoy the public chastisement. I also suspect they’re trying to avoid a DMCA takedown notice being sent to their webhost. Hosting entities don’t appreciate such things…
This is a screenshot of my magpie photo as it appeared on their page before it was removed. Here my “© RD” copyright watermark isn’t visible in the upper right hand corner because I had scrolled the image a little too far upwards before I clicked on “print screen”. But it was there, as many of my blog readers know from following the original link in my previous post.
At this point I’ve decided to not pursue this any further. My image has been removed and presumably Earthfire Institute has learned their lesson.
But I’m glad I have the screenshots, the RAW file of my magpie photo and my original post as evidence in case I need them down the road.
Ron
A tad late, just wanted to congratulate you and thanks to two of your friends/fans who made the overture to Earthfire Institute. Glad it worked out for you, and doubly glad you kept a record. I’m not very optimistic about people/Institutes that act like they did.
BTW – like both shots, but really love the Horned Lark, neat image.
I can’t tell from their website what “Earthfire Institute” actually does in the real world. It’s just pictures of people hugging cougars and wolves. What a scam. I’m glad it’s worked out for you. I love your pictures.
EARTHFIRE..EARTH FIRE….Sounds like HELL ON EARTH to me….I wouldn’t trut them any farther than I could throw them…They’re on my you-know-what list!!! (Very nice curlew,,,like the composition…
I am glad that your Magnificent Magpie is no longer wrongly attributed but they (and Chris Martin) escaped v lightly. I doubt a lesson has been learned.
Hopefully they will leave your photos alone at any rate.
Love the long-beaked curlew and how very nice of the Horned Lark to co-operate. Not an avian trait.
I hope you’re right about them steering away from my photos, EC. I’ll be watching…
It would be interesting to know who Christopher Martin really is.
It would, Shelley. There are several Chris or Christopher Martin nature photographers online.
The Curlew is such a stately bird. Gotta wonder about the upper mandible overhang. Nice look at the Horned Lark.
You would think Earthfire would explain themselves for their behavior. Somebody screwed up or was unethical. They appear too satisfied with themselves or too arrogant to bother with a mea culpa.
Lyle, maybe they’re hoping it will all just go away quickly so they can get back to their typical ways after the spotlight isn’t on them anymore.
I’m waiting for the Curlew to doff his chapeau as he’s out for his morning constitutional. 😉 Love the Lark’s rouse with the horns up as well. I enjoy watching birds rouse — especially for the little “tail waggle” that almost always comes at the end.
Glad the site took down the photos, but not convinced they’ve learned their lesson, unfortunately. That still is one remarkable Magpie shot!
I’m not convinced they’ve learned anything either, Marty. Had to look up chapeau, though in context it was fairly obvious.
We are at the age where we have finally learned to pick our battles. Limited time left in which to romp and play. Horned larks, now, are a fascinating species. Around here they are extremely rare – one mated pair seen in 20 years. .they seemed to be contemplating nesting on a patch of bare earth surrounded by grasses.
“We are at the age where we have finally learned to pick our battles”
Exactly, Martha. It took me a while to learn that lesson.
Gorgeous Snipe and Horned Lark photos!!
So glad you were able to get them to remove the photo.
Thank you, Joanne.
Love those curlew legs! Re the stolen image…I’m personally disappointed that a site that purports to be spiritually aware did not address the issue other than taking the image down. They owe you an apology and a link back to your site. Admitting they did wrong would go miles in my book. I’m really rather disgusted now that I think about it. BAH
Don’t hold your breath, Arwen. At this point it’s highly unlikely to happen.
Ron, two very nice new photos and good news on the Magpie theft. As you, I appreciate the research Dave Brooks did regarding the Earthfire site. Thanks too to your two followers who outed them. Irresponsible publishing on their part.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Thank you, Everett.
I looked up a couple of Earthfire’s other attributed photographers on the link you provided. One is a pay per image subscription format and who knows who took those images. C Martin has some quality owl images but no magpies. Another could be Czech based. Seems like its a game of mix and match for Earthfire, they just grab photos and put anyone’s name on them. What a rotten way to do things, shameful.
Thanks for the insight on this front.
Love the rousing start to the day.
I should do a little research like that myself, Dave. If that’s what they’re doing I hope someone sues the hell out of them! I don’t think it’ll be me, at this point I don’t need the stress.
Love your photos today, Ron. It might have been a slow day but these 2 images are a great reward. Now – I’m glad Earthfire Institute changed the photo but now I’ll wonder about them in the future. I can’t accept that it was an innocent mistake because your copyright logo was right there!!! I clicked on the link you gave us to check it out & decided to read their “About Us”. It’s really sad since the reason for their blog & website seems good. However, for myself & your other followers I would never use their site since I doubt their ethics. They could have gone further and contacted you to apologize. I guess that’s expecting too much!!
“They could have gone further and contacted you to apologize”
Ya think! Ethics ain’t what they used to be… Thanks, Jo Ann.
Wow! One has to be ever-vigilant. Lovely images.
We sure do, Tina. Thankfully one of my blog followers spotted this infringement and notified me.
Great shots Ron! So sad there are photo thiefs!
Charlotte
Me too, Charlotte. Thanks.
The Horned Lark photo IS neat – fluffed up trying to balance on that perch. Curlew is a fine specimen – wonderful shot, Ron. YES! Got someone’s attention and, hopefully they will be more careful in the future! To bad the jerk who was attributed the photo’s finds “his” work not so welcome there or elsewhere! 😉
Thanks, Judy. Actually, Christopher Martin may have been innocent in all this. He may know nothing about it and it’s even possible that there’s no such bird photographer as Christopher Martin.
Shame that you had to do this, but glad it worked out in the end.
Thanks, Zaph. Me too.