Late war Bf 109 pictures source

[Mark Proulx]

Sorry...one other point....

As to unscrupulous sellers copying photos from the 'net for sale; E-bay's responsibility? Yes! Are they going to do anything about it? No!

IMHO...

I sincerely believe that they don't care, especially given the numbers of e-bay sellers and the small area of interest of "our" historical subject matter. In addition, if that seller is banned due to continued negative feedback, they are just going to continue under a new identity. This had already shown to be the case.

Mark

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Originally Posted by Mark Proulx

Marc:

I am not familiar with the mechanics of Flickr, but is it possible to dis-able the "right-click" feature?

Also, if I may I suggest, place your watermarks strategically, toned or faded down. To place the watermarks in a corner of the image allows for easy cropping and elimination of the watermark, defeating the whole point of the exercise.

Good luck with your task ahead. I am sure that it will take some time...

Mark Proulx

Mark,

Yes you can; this will not save you from screenshots though And agreed, I will place the watermark on the airframe. As for time, it sure will; it took me already 8 years to build-up this visual reference too...

As for eBay responsibility, I'm just back from the 21st UNESCO session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation (ICPRCP), held in Paris; we heard from the eBay representative that they were cooperating with law enforcement bodies in this matter. We will certainly have the possibility to check this in the next few years. But I concur: for our "niche", it'll possibly remain as you say...and depend on our reaction.

Cheers
Marc



Cheers
Marc

[Mark Proulx]

Sadly, me being a pessimist at heart, the seller probably has all the photos he/she uses stored on their hard drive w/o watermarks!

Mark Proulx

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Originally Posted by Mark Proulx

Sadly, me being a pessimist at heart, the seller probably has all the photos he/she uses stored on their hard drive w/o watermarks!

Mark Proulx

You're certainly correct; if they will try to market them again, especially with the given captions, this will be obvious again, and we will be able to react.

Cheers
Marc

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Here two quick trials:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/28092068@N03/41618845765
https://www.flickr.com/photos/280920...n/photostream/

Any advice ?

Cheers
Marc

[Mark Proulx]

Marc:

Well...they certainly works....

What I try and do, when sending out my photos to our color profiler for WOTBC, is to place watermarks in such a way that they are obvious, but don't detract from the overall image. For example, the watermarks I place will go thru the top of the rudder only, or thru the gear legs and tail wheel only, not through the center of the fuselage obliterating markings. That ruins the photo. If that to happen, then they may as well be taken off the 'net completely. I try and place the watermark where it is difficult to use Photoshops program to obliterate it w/o harming the subject matter, but enough to try and maintain its overall integrity. Try and think like a thief...is that watermark placed in such a way as to make my effort at removing worth my while or even possible.

Another consideration for placement is thru areas where there are a number of multiple colors. For example, a watermark thru grass and capturing the wheels at the same time a great option. I avoid watermarks in the sky of photos. To easy to remove.

You could also consider multiple watermarks around the subject. I have done that for EE and the decal sheet instructions I created with my photos. Again, I try and avoid obliterating the main subject matter, but place numerous watermarks around it.

Sadly, that is what this has come to now!

I hope this helps and I am very sympathetic to your cause.

Mark Proulx

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Originally Posted by Mark Proulx

Marc:

Well...they certainly works....

What I try and do, when sending out my photos to our color profiler for WOTBC, is to place watermarks in such a way that they are obvious, but don't detract from the overall image. For example, the watermarks I place will go thru the top of the rudder only, or thru the gear legs and tail wheel only, not through the center of the fuselage obliterating markings. That ruins the photo. If that to happen, then they may as well be taken off the 'net completely. I try and place the watermark where it is difficult to use Photoshops program to obliterate it w/o harming the subject matter, but enough to try and maintain its overall integrity. Try and think like a thief...is that watermark placed in such a way as to make my effort at removing worth my while or even possible.

Another consideration for placement is thru areas where there are a number of multiple colors. For example, a watermark thru grass and capturing the wheels at the same time a great option. I avoid watermarks in the sky of photos. To easy to remove.

You could also consider multiple watermarks around the subject. I have done that for EE and the decal sheet instructions I created with my photos. Again, I try and avoid obliterating the main subject matter, but place numerous watermarks around it.

Sadly, that is what this has come to now!

I hope this helps and I am very sympathetic to your cause.

Mark Proulx

Thanks for you support and guidance, Mark.

Sincerely
Marc

[D.B. Andrus]

Marc


Is there a way to share access to your 'Private" collection to those deemed trustworthy? It seems a shame to collectively punish both those who would abuse the permissions and those who would not . Especially, persons who have shared images with you to post on your site.


Best Regards,


D.B.

[Marc-André Haldimann]

D.B.,

I fully understand your feeling. Alas, there will be at first the fastidious watermarking process before the photos will be made public again...

Check just now eBay for 109's, and there you see the problem is way not over: another "player" is lifting again photos and slightly modified captions for offering them at 3.99 Euros:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Messerschmitt...kAAOSw-VtbEyHc

Marc

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Hi there, Gang,

Here some fresh images wich do need some additional research:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/FOTO-FLUGZEUG...AAAOSwVMlbhYB1

http://www.ebay.de/itm/FOTO-FLUGZEUG...4AAOSw8b9bhYAv

Said to be JG 54 at Strausberg, Winter 1944 - 1945.

Both machines to be seen are from JG 77 as clearly shown by their red heart emblem. The first picture shows a G-14: "Weisse 1", is from I./JG 77 which was equipped from August 1944 onwards with Bf 109 G-14's before relinquishing them early 1945 for the Bf 109 K-4's. Possible location could be Dortmund as Stab and I./JG 77 were stationed there between October 44 and 18 January 1945.

The second photo is clearly a Bf 109 G-6 with short antenna mast and D/F loop. As this type was definitely withdrawn by I./JG 77 at the end of September 1944 by then fully equipped with new G-14's, it can't be a late 1944 photo as the trees framing the machine are leafless. Hence the possibility this shot being taken in Italy, before April 1944.

Any possible confirmation for the location or any other details in relation with this rare portfolio ?

Cheers
Marc