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
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!