flickr

Thanks to Squidoo's flickr module, you can add flickr photos to your lenses right here on Squidoo. It's fairly straightforward, you can either let the flickr module decide which photos to display for you, or choose the photos manually. Either you:

A) enter photo tags -- tags are essentially keywords with spaces between words removed, and they're commonly used in our "Web 2.0" world to better label your content, just as you used tags to label your lenses here on Squidoo. Same idea: tag the types of photos you want flickr to select for display and leave it in flickr's capable hands.

B) copy and paste photo URLs -- copy the URL addresses of the photos you want to feature on your page, one by one, and paste them into the text field in the flickr module. You can find a photo's URL on Flickr by clicking on the photo and then copying its address from your web browser's address bar up top.

I don't really know, but I assume that Squidoo and flickr have some sort of arrangement that lets us legally display flickr photos on Squidoo via the flickr module.

Most flickr photographers accept the reality that their thumbnails are being plastered all over the web via the flickr API, but most aren't so crazy about their larger photos being used outside of flickr without permission, and unless a photo is explicitly licensed out using Creative Commons, unsanctioned usage represents a rights violation. Read "Photo Rights" below for more.

Many flickr photos are shared under a Creative Commons license, giving the viewer (eg you the lensmaster) limited rights to distribute the work beyond flickr. The rest of the photos are by default "all rights reserved" although professionals will generallly watermark their works and offer their work only in smaller sizes to be triply safe.

Be wary of using a photo from flickr outside of the flickr module here on Squidoo without first understanding its license. Ask yourself:

A) Does it have Creative Commons' license?
-- If not, you need to get the photographer's permission.
-- If so, proceed to "B"

B) Does the license allow me to use it as I wish (for instance on a commercial website)?
-- If not, you need to get the photographer's permission.
-- If so, proceed to "C"

C) Are there people in the photo?
-- If not, you are clear to use it. Just be careful of using a photo that might be perceived as a national security threat in any way. I'll leave it at that.
-- If so, proceed to "D"

D) Are all the people in the photo celebrities?
-- If so, you are clear to use it. Celebrities are considered "newsworthy" at all times and therefore do not require releases.
-- If not, proceed to "E"

E) Are any of the people in the photo children?
-- If so, you need a release signed by the legal guardian(s).
-- If not, proceed to "F"

F) Do I need a release for all the rest of the people in the picture?
-- Basically, yes, to be safe.

There are ambiguities to the law here revolving around what constitutes newsworthy or editorial content and what doesn't (newsworthy photos being the sort that don't need releases). I don't want to delve into that. Not being an attorney, my very non-legal advice would be to follow the step-by-step above and C.Y.A.

I know street photographers and journalists may adhere to a different set of rules, but those I've spoken with on flickr are happy to share their process, and it most often goes something like this:

1) Approach subject(s) and ask permission
2) Take photos
3) Show subject(s) their photos to see which are OK to use
4) Get written release if necessary

Other folks shoot first, then ask. Film photographers often ask, shoot, then leave a URL with the subject(s) where they may come to review the photos and make sure they're OK.

The reality is: all photographers deal differently. Lensmaster emptor.