ChangoLanzao

That's kind of what I thought. Most of the releases I've seen in DZ waivers are not assignable, so I don't think they would be very useful to a photographer who wants to sell one of those photos to a publisher for the types of publications that would require a model release. If the release is not assignable, it also wouldn't permit the DZO to assign it to anyone else. My point is that in this situation, the photographer is not permitted (by the student or the instructor) to use the images for commercial purposes. So there really is no need for the DZO to have the photographers relinquish all of the rights if what they're trying to do is limit "commercial uses."

Our tandem waiver also includes a photography waiver. Is it a release that allows anyone to use the images, or is it one that allows the DZ/concession to use photos?

You're most probably wrong making that assumption. If they are using popular music tracks, the chances are very good that they are doing just that - making money utilizing other people's work without permission. They get away with it because they basically have a low profile.

Very few "popular" bands offer royalty free tracks. That doesn't mean the you can't find great stuff. You just have to spend some time sampling. It's out there. Of course, it will be a matter of your own taste in music. Remember, it's not about the music in the end; if people don't like the music you use, they can just turn the volume down and play whatever music they prefer as they watch your video. Concentrate on the video part of it ... you need to learn how to fly, shoot, and edit the visual. In the end, your video should be good enough that it doesn't matter what music you put it to.

Yup ... that's a very common misconception. CLICKY Jamendo.com is my favorite. If I made that link correctly, it is the result of a search for music that you are free to sync to your video's and sell. For video's that you are not going to sell, the selection is much larger because all you need is the license to sync the music and freely distribute it. Jamendo uses Creative Commons licensing; you can read about it on the Creative Commons site. There are many other sources too. Just search this forum for royalty free music. It's been discussed at length here.

I would also recommend that you develop a library of royalty free music tracks that you can legally sync to your videos in the future. While it's nice that you credited Royal Bliss for the music, it's still not a legal use. My guess is that the band or their label might be particularly sensitive based on the fact that they even limit the length of the tracks on Napster to 30 seconds

If we're talking about tandems, it isn't necessary for the DZ to do anything in order to preclude the photographer from using images of people or property for commercial purposes. The photographer must have model releases signed by both the tandem instructor and the tandem student in order to use their images for commercial purposes (non-editorial or not art). If there is identifiable property then property releases from the property owners are necessary also. Most waivers include a model release for the DZ, but not the photographers.

Try to hire yourself out as a independent contractor photographer doing product shots for ads. Note ... I said I wouldn't do it for a DZ. Besides, I'd think that doing product shots pays a bit more than shooting Tandems. Can't argue with that. But, shooting tandems for a tandem-factory DZ is not the most fun I can have with my cameras skydiving. So, I wouldn't do it if it meant giving up the rights of the photos/vidis I take. ETA: I realize that DSE was speaking from the DZ's POV, so I really don't have any argument with what he said in that regard. I just think that considering how little most vidiots get paid, it's a bit over the top to grab all their rights even if there is "an unspoken agreement that phographers can use these shots for themselves, so long as it's not commercial work." The photographers aren't left with much to work with for themselves, "legally," if they sign their rights away in a WFH contract.

I shoot for a fee, as an independent contractor. I would never sign the rights away to my photos to a DZ. What DSE describes, might be good for the DZ, but to the photographer it's a rights grab. I might consider selling the rights, if I worked full-time for the DZ/concession and they paid me a reasonable wage, provided all of the equipment, plus a good health benefits package

It's not a good idea, for me, because my photos, taken with equipment that I pay for, are worth far more than the price of a slot!

I think your answer to the OP pretty much sums it up. There's really not much that one can do initially besides politely requesting that the content be taken down. Taking further action really wouldn't be worth it unless one can prove a significant amout ( $$ ) in damages has occured to make legal action worthwhile. As far as friends asking for images for free, I'm very satisfied with the solution that I've come up with. I ask them to sign a model release as payment. The model release allows me to sell their photo as stock and the royalties, over time will add up. It's not a way to make a living, but at least I get some money to defray the costs of my equipment. I'm happy, and my "models" are happy.

THIS was my first solution. As dragon2 pointed out, it was not ideal. My second solution was to sell the D70 and buy a D70s with the wired remote ;-)

Well, I've been reading this thread and I am puzzled by the notion that a jumper - especially an instructor - should feel safe in assuming that they can rely on the AAD to be on and working on any jump just because it was on the last time they checked it that day. Fun jumpers should not rely at all on the AAD saving them. I think it's most prudent for any jumper to turn on the AAD themselves each jumping day and watch it do its self checks. If you simply look at an AAD's control unit screen and see that it's on, how do you know that it didn't do something really strange during the self-check sequence??? In the case of the instructor, I understand that there is that added issue of liability. This is why it's even more important for the instructor to actually turn on the AAD himself and verify that it checks out. As far as educating users, I would stress two habits: 1. Always turn your AAD on yourself each day and WATCH it do it's checks. 2. Turn it off every day at the end of the day. If it's already on before the first jump and you're not the one who turned it on the same day, the turn it off first and go to step 1.! You think this is not the most convenient approach? Fine, but don't blame the manufacturer (especially if you haven't read the manual.)

Hmmm .... thanks. Not sure what you mean by "huge". Sounds kind of subjective. I wonder if you could point me at some techie data. Terrible aberration would certainly bother me, but again I don't know what you would consider terrible Are you saying that the aberration was caused by the mod, or is it that the Raynox glass is terrible compared to the Century Optics glass?

[URL "http://tinyurl.com/devu5q"]CLICKY[/URL]

I was tempted ... but now I'm thinking of doing THIS to my Raynox 3032. Anyone tried it? How would it compare to the baby death? Cost/Benefit.

In the advanced search, check the boxes that say, "Find content I can use for commercial purposes," and "Find content I can modify, adapt, or build upon." (see attached) Remember also that if you want to sync music to a video that you are not planning to sell, then all you need is the second box checked to find music you can sync ... in that case you'll find a much larger selection of great music!

XnView works great right out of the box ;-) It's free. CLICKY The scripts XnView uses to generate albums can also be customized if you feel like tinkering. Otherwise, the defaults work nicely. It doesn't require that you be a programmer or a database administrator in order to implement it either ;-)

Absolutely. If the list grows much larger it won't be practical to message every rigger on the list to find out who's close.

Four ;-)

I'm fine with the 100 jump minimum. Jump numbers don't mean that much anyway ... e.g. how many of the jumps are hop 'n pops or solo freefly? Pretty worthless experience when it comes to teaching group freefall skills. Going through the coach course at least provides a basic understanding and evaluation of teaching skills.

N/A

I'll plant a tree for every jump I make. How's that sound?

I've used one of THESE (before I got my riggers ticket), with excellent results.

They didn't get it from iStock. They got it from Insight NYC, according to the byline, who may or may not have got it legally. They could have got a legal copy for less than $1. It was just interesting to find one of my photos used in an article that disparages our sport