Offer/Request to allow my photo to be published in an international research group

Raj_55555 · May 29, 2014

I got this a message today in my flickr:

[COLOR=#363636!important]Greetings Raj,

My name is Robert Mendyk, and I am the editor in chief of Biawak, an international research journal of monitor lizard biology. The publication is open-access and free to anyone with an internet connection, and can be accessed at International Varanid Interest Group -.

I recently came across a stunning photograph of yours depicting what appears to be a pair of yellow monitors (Varanus flavescens), and was wondering if you would allow us to include this photo in the upcoming June issue of our journal? This species is rarely photographed and would be of much interest to the researchers and enthusiasts that read this publication. You would of course be credited for your photo.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Please let me know if this interests you.

Best regards,

Robert W. Mendyk
Editor in Chief
BIAWAK- Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry
Website: International Varanid Interest Group -[/COLOR]

Well, just wanted to know your thoughts on this. Should I let him use it? I have seen the website, and all the research work is available for free, including the membership. I mean I wasn't really planning to sell it anyway (even though the buyers are lining up

).

This is the image he was talking about:

I'm off to get some sleep, would love to know what you guys think.

sm4him · May 29, 2014

You'll likely get a lot of varying viewpoints on this, but I'd say, If it was MY photo, and if I'd determined that this was a legitimate research journal:
Yes, I would absolutely allow them to use as long as they give photo credit.
I'd consider this to be about more than just "publicity," "getting your name out there," that kind of thing. This is more of an educational purpose, and I'd have no problem allowing its use.

It's also an excellent photo, by the way.

The_Traveler · May 29, 2014

There is, unfortunately, a huge number of predatory, open access journals.
They will publish any kind of scientific paper, without peer review, as long as they get paid.
That journal is not on the list but the field is exploding. LIST OF PUBLISHERS | Scholarly Open Access
You might want to query the author at the link above and see how to evaluate whether you want to support that Journal.

[h=3][/h]

tirediron · May 29, 2014

I agree (Mostly with Sharon). IF you are satisfied with the requester's bona fides and that everything presented is as-seen, then yes, I would definitely allow publication, BUT... I would certainly turn over every possible stone in order to ensure that the offer was legit.

TheNevadanStig · May 29, 2014

Yep, if it is indeed an educational publication in which they aren't making a profit in using, then why not, specially with full credit? Then you can say you're published! Now if this was going into a book or something that would be FOR SALE with a profit potential for the publisher, it would be a completely different story. Not bashing you at all Raj I love your work, but it's not like this is your best photo or it's something that has the potential of making a large sum over. At most you might make a few bucks selling it as a microstock. Plus if you are retaining rights, you can still do whatever you feel like with it in the future.

paigew · May 29, 2014

I would do it. I love getting my work published or featured on the web. Just make sure you watermark it

Congrats!

vintagesnaps · May 29, 2014

I'm not sure about this one. I noticed it appears legit but it isn't apparently a published journal. I don't get what it is, I haven't seen anything like this in my field.

The person who sent the email showed up in a quick search as a research associate at the Smithsonian; with it being international and not remotely my field the only other thing at all familiar to me was someone listed as being from Temple University. Maybe start looking up some of the names listed on the site.

To me it seems like a do-it-yourself website, almost like a blog?? I don't see a publisher or any info. about it being connected to a nonprofit organization. (Guess I'll go read Lew's link, this seems odd to me.) It's not a published journal from what I can tell so I'd think allowing usage would be questionable- it doesn't look like a scientific research journal to me.

paigew · May 29, 2014

I would also ask him if he can put a link to your website under the photo. That would drive traffic directly to your site.

vintagesnaps · May 29, 2014

This isn't necessarily getting published, this is getting a photo on somebody's website. I don't see much advantage to allowing usage as a photographer, it's going to be seen by lizard lovers I guess!? hobbyists maybe?? and that's about it.

Just because it looks like a journal doesn't mean it is, it seems more like a website that's done by someone as a hobby I guess?? I didn't see any publisher listed.

I'd ask for more information before making a decision. Will there be a contract for usage?? If not how would you manage how the photo would be used?

paigew · May 29, 2014

Well IMO the benefit would be site traffic + getting your name "out there" in the googleverse.

snerd · May 29, 2014

If they check out as legitimate, and list you with credit for the image, I would definitely go for it! And congrats!!

vintagesnaps · May 29, 2014

Good grief Lew, where have I been?? I haven't run across this before, but skimming thru that list I don't see any of the apparently phony publications being in my field so maybe that's why.

Uh-oh, something isn't right here. The person listed as editor has an address at a science and learning center on Long Island - I found him listed as doing research at the Smithsonian. (Did somebody move the Smithsonian to Long Island??). His email address doesn't make sense either. And look at the Resources page - a list of supposed published articles but every one is just a pdf - not one is listed as having actually been published.

Something's wrong here, might be better to ignore the email and block the sender. Or if you really want to check it out, you could try contacting the science center at Tanglewood on Long Island and see if he's actually on staff there. Center For Science Teaching and Learning | 1 Tanglewood Rd, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 | 516-764-0045 - it's also listed on Nassau County's website.

I suspect the site you heard from is fake.

paigew · May 29, 2014

vintagesnaps said:
Good grief Lew, where have I been?? I haven't run across this before, but skimming thru that list I don't see any of the apparently phony publications being in my field so maybe that's why.

Uh-oh, something isn't right here. The person listed as editor has an address at a science and learning center on Long Island - I found him listed as doing research at the Smithsonian. (Did somebody move the Smithsonian to Long Island??). His email address doesn't make sense either. And look at the Resources page - a list of supposed published articles but every one is just a pdf - not one is listed as having actually been published.

Something's wrong here, might be better to ignore the email and block the sender. Or if you really want to check it out, you could try contacting the science center at Tanglewood on Long Island and see if he's actually on staff there. Center For Science Teaching and Learning | 1 Tanglewood Rd, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 | 516-764-0045 - it's also listed on Nassau County's website.

I suspect the site you heard from is fake.

Yeah I would definitely make sure the site is legit! There seems to be a lot of work put into it for it to be any sort of scam though...Idk, not really my area of expertise.

The_Traveler · May 29, 2014

There is a plague of for-profit, non peer review 'journals that will publish anything if the author pays a page-fee.
They are quite happy to use names of people on their masthead without the actual person knowing about it.
The authors use the 'publications' in their cv but there's usually not much other traffic.

Being associated with one of these journals in any way is not a plus, imo.

I get 'retraction watch', a blog that tracks retraction of scientific articles and that also follows this issue.