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Beyond metadata basics

The fundamental thrust of the metadata topic is to emphasize the importance of the most basic metadata — photographer contact information and copyright — and to encourage all photographers to add this data to all of their files as early in the workflow as possible. Photographic metadata — including keywords, picture licensing information, and image manipulation instructions — is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the photographic process. Photographers who have mastered basic metadata practices will want to be aware of concepts about controlled vocabulary, the PLUS initiative, what exactly IPTC standards are all about, as well as the International Photo Metadata Conference.

Controlled Vocabulary Web site: http://www.controlledvocabulary.com/

Photographer David Riecks is a metadata expert who has been involved in a number of international metadata standards initiatives. He runs the Controlled Vocabulary Web site, where he addresses many aspects of metadata, including historical information, keywording strategies, and numerous links.

PLUS Goes Beyond Basic Metadata: http://www.useplus.com/home.asp

Basic metadata is a powerful key to photographers’ protecting their rights. However, because metadata cannot be “locked” and because it is often stripped out accidentally or intentionally, something beyond basic metadata is needed. This is where the Picture Licensing Universal System (PLUS) initiative comes into play.

Supported by ASMP and broad range of image creators, distributors and clients — players on all sides of the image making and licensing equation — PLUS has developed international rights metadata standards, and is currently developing a non-profit, global registry of rights holders, licenses and images. PLUS will allow anyone in possession of an image to access and understand the rights and ownership information for that image, and to contact the copyright owner for necessary permissions — even if the metadata is long gone.

What is “IPTC” Anyway? http://www.iptc.org/photometadata

The International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC) has long played a leading role in defining standards for photographic metadata, even before it was called metadata.

In 2005, David Riecks authored IPTC Core Schema for XMP for the IPTC. This 22-page, fully illustrated document explains exactly what information goes into each IPTC metadata field. One particularly helpful chart shows how different programs can sometimes call the same metadata fields by different names, and it helps clarify the confusion. In 2007, Riecks updated this list.

Photo Metadata: A Growing International Concern

On June 7, 2007, more than 130 metadata experts from a wide range of industries met in Florence, Italy, for the First International Photo Metadata Conference. The theme discussed was “Working Towards A Seamless Photo Workflow.” Learn what took place, download the IPTC Photo Metadata White Paper 2007 — which outlines metadata challenges facing the photographic community going forward — and join a moderated Yahoo forum on metadata here.

 

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