The period after the war was arguably the first time that ordinary citizens had the means to own a good quality, affordable camera and take an interest in photography. The more committed would have used slide film for better quality ( Kodachrome slides are still often superb) and so that they could share their pictures with family and friends using a projector. Many of these photographers have died or are in old age. Their collections are bulky and awkward to store, of no particular financial value, and generally not wanted by the family. Many of these collections literally end up in landfill or at best in auctions. Auctioneers generally do not concern themselves with copyright matters so these collections are sold on. The slides become Orphan Works, are split up and and any connection with the photographer's family is lost
Copyright lasts for 70 years after the creator's death. Much important material is being lost for ever. The government has an Orphan Works system which can be used, for example, by a museum looking for permission to publish an Orphan Work in a specifc publication but this does not help a person such as myself who simply wants to digitise the best of these old slides for the future. I am a freelance stock photographer and when lockdown started I began to collect old slide collections - always with written copyright transfer - and to publish them on my website and through stock photo agencies. Often I have to do some detective work to loctae the family and ask permission - unfortunately they can be suspicious or unhelpful. Though more often than not the famiy is delighted that I am taking an interest and that the photography of their relative is having a new life.
I am writing this firstly to raise the general issue and to touch on some of the copyright issues and perhaps start some discussion. Also in the hope that some members might be interested to see some of the images I have been working on.
https://www.geographyphotos.com/gallery-collection/Old-Film-Slide-Collections/C0000S3ijXnOmzNA
Ian Murray
Replies
Good day, Ian. Just seeing this old post, but happy I came across it - it is not common to hear discussions on the power of Slide Film as, in my opinion, quinessential archival method in preserving "family". I am about to view the images you have saved from the trash bin, as it were and will comment latrer. But, first, from an article I wrote a couple of years ago, a short verse on Slide Film presentations: hope you enjoy.
"It has always been my standpoint, one of the most effective means of enjoying the prolong sense of time is to capture and then regularly view photos with family and friends, together stimulating memories and experiencing the emotional journeys that result. “The thrill found in a photograph comes from the onrush of memory” (John Berger – Keeping a Rendezvous – Vintage 1992)".
"We still plan family events where I pull out the old slide projector – and more recently scanned slides presented off a 47-inch TV screen, as opposed to yesterday’s projections onto a silver screen. But whatever the method, watching each photographic image flash by, and with it a small piece of our history, never failed to bring incredible enjoyment. When these “slide shows” are shared with close friends and extended family the experience is – well, like living the event all over. We spend sometimes a quarter of an hour on a series of just three or four slides as the whole clan gets caught up in the details. Each participant is engaged in photo-elicitation: extracting specific memories and comments from each projected image - smells, taste and light are relived creating a wonderful experience sometimes provoking extreme laughter or tears of sorrow". (Excessive-Compulsive Shutterbugs: is photography replacing reality? - Lewin Sep 15th 2019)
Many thanks for your comment Lance.
I have written several brief biographies on my blog about the photographer - provided by the family. They are generally delighted to know that grandad's oldslides have found a home and have been publishedon the internet.
https://geographyphotos.blog/
Ian
It is truely wonderful you have given a New Life to otherwise lost or discarded photographs. I still can not believe some families
actually discard family photographs (or slides) - that can actually end up for sale or at Auction - it is mind-blowing to me. Anyway,
your work is greatly appreciated by many - I am sure this manifests great joy for you. I enjoyed brousing your website. Thank you, Ian.
Interesting collection!
I enjoy the Anonymous Project collection which I assume has potential issues but wonder if they just publish and wait to 'be damned'? Perhaps contact Lee Shulman? https://www.anonymous-project.com/en
Interesting too as I've got a slide collection of my dad's - hadn't thought about offering them as stock images but I'd have to do some more work first as earlyscans were very much experimental!
Thanks Ruth,
I am sorry that it has taken me so long to see your comment. Co-incidentally I have written a recent blog post about the Anonymous project. My concern is over copyright!
https://geographyphotos.blog/2025/03/31/anonymous-email/