Blocking Exif Data? Why?

[Geaux]

Why do some photographers want to block this info, either on flickr or here. I understand not allowing large images (due to people stealing them), but why the fuss over what settings were used?

 

[Robin Usagani]

Because they dont want people to know they are using a kit lens LOL.. JK.. I dont know. Keeping it a secret so people wont do the same thing?

 

[Geaux]

True, I understand the idea of keeping people from doing the same thing, but there are so many other factors in a shot. You could have the settings exact, but if your lighting isn't set up the same or the sun isn't at the same position ... it won't be the same shot.

I dunno, just seems silly to block that. Maybe MO will know, since he blocks his lol

 

[Robin Usagani]

If Mo blocked his.. then I will unblock mine!!! You can now see my exif on my usagani.zenfolio.com

 

[MohaimenK]

i dont' know why but mine is just blocked on its own? also it depends on where you upload the images. i know images on FB won't show exif data.

 

[epp_b]

It's not that they block it; they strip it. Sometimes, the websites on which you host images will strip EXIF automatically.

EXIF contains not only the exposure settings and so forth (honestly, pros could care less about you knowing what shutter speed they used), but it can also contain the camera's serial number, GPS data and other information that's worth keeping private.

 

[pbelarge]

A lot of photographers have more than just the image info in the exif. They have their names and addresses as well. They remove it depending on where it is headed to keep this info private.


Also, maybe they are paid by Canon and used Nikon....:lmao:

 

[Josh66]

I think some people are using default settings in whatever program they use that end up stripping the exif.

Other people are paranoid.

Some websites strip exif by default...

Most of my stuff is scanned film these days, so unless I add it in (which I almost never do) it isn't there.

A lot of photographers have more than just the image info in the exif. They have their names and addresses as well. They remove it depending on where it is headed to keep this info private.

I always had my full name in mine. But, if I didn't want people to know that, I wouldn't have put it in there. If you don't want people to know your personal information, don't add that crap in the exif.

 

[OrionsByte]

I use Piscasa (mostly for convenience) and it knows the EXIF information and will display it in a sidebar when you view the photo on the site, but the actual photo they display (both on the site itself and via links) doesn't retain any of that information. I'm not sure why they do that, but it bugs me. Other people may be in the same boat, either because of the hosting service they use, or the method they used to upload their photos.

 

[pbelarge]

A lot of photographers have more than just the image info in the exif. They have their names and addresses as well. They remove it depending on where it is headed to keep this info private.

I always had my full name in mine. But, if I didn't want people to know that, I wouldn't have put it in there. If you don't want people to know your personal information, don't add that crap in the exif.

When they post it to public locations, they do not want everyone to find their personal info, yet for other applications, they do want their names applied.

 

[Josh66]

I guess it's just me, but when I know the picture will be in public locations where I can't control who sees it - that's when I WANT my personal info in the exif.

Who knows - maybe someone will see it and like it. If my contact information is in the exif, they have somewhere to start.

 

[AprilEye]

I notice thats some of mine lose it if I have uploaded an edited or cropped photo. Hmmm...:x

 

[Buckster]

I used to strip it out to make the files just a bit leaner, but since most everyone these days is on a high speed connection, I don't bother to do that anymore (I also went from 700px to 800px to now 900px on the longest side, and will post up to 300kb for file size).

So now I leave it in, except when I'm working with someone else's photo as an edit to try to help them with something, then I turn off the "Include all EXIF", which includes a copyright notice and contact info for me. Then, old guy that I am, I sometimes forget to turn it back on when I go back to my own photos.

Ah well, not that big a deal, from my POV. If anyone wants to know about one where I left the EXIF off, they can always ask and I'm happy to share the info.

Besides, even though the EXIF can be interesting, I don't really think it's all that helpful, since the light, sensor, lens, focal length, subject, distance, angle of view and so much more play into the final image just as much as shutter speed, aperture and ISO. And that's not even mentioning what all might have taken place in post, which might make the EXIF completely useless without the person looking at it even knowing.

 

[Geaux]

So it seems it's not done purposely, unless personal info is shared, and usually done automatically by the program they use lol.

It was just a question that pops in my head from time to time while going through flickr