Imagery and copyright

Jo Zebedee

Jo Zebedee

Aliens vs Belfast.
Supporter
Joined
Oct 5, 2011
Messages
19,507
Location
blah - flags. So many flags.
image.jpg
I'm starting the process of considering sp a certain Belfast based alien invasion novel (confirmation in a month or so) and I'm thinking about covers and obviously want something that is very Belfast.

One of the iconic images of Belfast (well, two...) are two cranes that were part of the Harland and Wolf shipyard called Samson and Goliath. Most pictures of the city have them, they're part of the skyline. The cranes now, as far as I know, belong to the city.

Any issues with having them on the cover? I can't find any but perhaps some if the legal-ese chaps would know. I know eg @Glitch is good at that sort of thing.
 
Except for being yellow, it reminds me of the port of Oakland, California near where I live. Interesting! I would have expected something very different such as green grassy hills. I've never been to the isles, though.

If you take a photograph of a scene that is in the public view, the photograph belongs to you.

If you go to the internet and search for images of this public landmark, then you'll need to check if the image is labeled for the public domain, free use, or something like that. Be careful about clicking willy-nilly and downloading whatever you see because you run into some trouble. If you find an image on the internet that belongs to an artist or a photographer, then you could contact them directly as see if they would sell you that image either for a one-time use or to exclusively own it. There are also quite a lot of websites that sell stock images, and you could probably find some for cheap.
 
So I need to find a good photographer in the vicinity. I'll ask around.

Thanks!

(There are green hills around Belfast but it's a typical port city - if a little more battered than many :D- but, in general, the north is more industrial than the traditional view of Irish bucolic beauty...)
 
We have similar landmark imagery here in Hull - a lot of it is being used on covers, not just books, but music and comic imagery too. 'Dead Bod' goes as far as Mexico now hitting t-shirts. There are several cranes of industrial age which often feature in crime covers. Shipping lines make for romance - sometimes.
 
It's not for me to say but that on your front cover?

It will look like a guide book unless you had an Alien ship over it which would look better, maybe at dust as well. Bit like Independence day. IMO
 
Take your own photo. Or if you are getting someone to take it, then you need to get them to sign all rights as just a contractor for you as Producer & Director otherwise the random person still could claim they own the copyright (as is the default if they take it).

@Jo Zebedee
But as Gary says you'd need a cleverer view for you book cover. Possibly from a footbridge to the park (Victoria Park?) over what used to be Sydnam Bypass. Is it M3 now?
Then edit in/out some stuff.

Or Photo Edit a tank on to the Lawn of RBAI at the Black Man beside the Tech (Maybe it's not a Tech, used to be a 2nd lawn when RBAI was just BAI).

Or a whole bunch of stuff on the lawns in front of Stormont. Take a photo from gates at Dundonald Rd.

Pity you didn't say when I made visit to Bangor a couple of weeks ago! But I was taking turns driving someone else's car, so perhaps not.
 
Gary Compton said:
It's not for me to say but that on your front cover?

It will look like a guide book unless you had an Alien ship over it which would look better, maybe at dust as well. Bit like Independence day. IMO
Click to expand...

No, no, it was just an image I copied to show what the cranes were. What I was thinking of was the cranes, the Cave Hill (which overlooks Belfast) which is part of an early integral scene, and some sort of alien ship coming up over the Cave Hill. :) Or, possibly, a destroyed peace wall, or a mural changed to reflect the alien invasion. The cranes were just an eg to know where I stood (although are likely to be part of it as so iconically Belfast.)

@raymccarthy - I didn't know a couple of weeks ago! I'll see if I can drum up some help. :)
 
With digital you can marry up several images.

For example Abendau's Heir has 6 pictures used and colours have been changed as well.

If you have a decent camera you can get the base image yourself which with AH was the stars and then layered on top. Get a good first image and if you want a ship in it get the horizon about middle. Making daylight nightime is easy :)

Like I said I will help you :)
 
I'd need to try to find the copyright for it, though - it was just stuff I pulled together. But something like that could work.

I'll have a muse and an explore in the next week or two, or maybe even put out a facebook appeal - I'm followed by a fair few local people.
 
If you drive around long and often enough you'll probably find someone attacking a Peace Wall (ironically named ?).

Take a look around the Serpentine road (Shore Road > Whitewell Rd > Serpentine (with Peace Wall and views) > Antrim Rd, > Bellvue / Zoo ) take some snaps. Pity the White City is all gone.
I can have a go at mashing them up for you.

Some industrial buildings at night at funny angles can look like alien space ships. Esp. after a bit of processing. Our cement works here looks like a spaceport at night.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread starter Similar threads Forum Replies Date
Pyan Lord of the Rings fan fiction writer tries to sue Amazon for infringing his(!) copyright.. JRR Tolkien 12
Phyrebrat A question on copyright for referencing someone else’s work. General Film Discussion 7
Ladymage Redemptive Themes: Religious Imagery in Tolkien JRR Tolkien 22
Fishbowl Helmet Surreal imagery Book Discussion 8
juelz4sure imagery issues Writing Discussion 8

Similar threads


Back
Top