1909 Gymkhana Club race at Happy Valley

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Sun, 01/08/2023 - 15:32
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1909 Gymkhana Club race at Happy Valley

Gwulo photo ID: EM004

For the story behind this photo, see https://gwulo.com/node/59058

Date picture taken
3 Jul 1909
Shows place(s)
Happy Valley Racecourse [1846- ]
Shows organisation(s)
Hongkong Gymkhana Club [1904-1921]

Comments

Was there a particular photographer or photography company that took the photographs of the Happy Valley race winners? I have a few photos of race finishes 1920-1923 figuring winners that belonged to my grandfather and which he must have bought. I should quite like to put a copyright watermark on these photos if I could learn how, but with whom does the copyright actually lie? I've also read that the copyright watermarks can be removed. David remarks on the lack of spectators in his photo. There is certainly a big difference in the number of race-side spectators in our photos from race to race and I wonder if that had anything to do with the amount of money to be won. Presumably the "W" stands for "Winning Post" does it?

Was there a particular photographer or photography company that took the photographs of the Happy Valley race winners? I have a few photos of race finishes 1920-1923 figuring winners that belonged to my grandfather and which he must have bought.

I'm not sure if there was any official photographer, or if anyone could set up their camera.

I should quite like to put a copyright watermark on these photos if I could learn how,

There are several different tools available - Google the question and try a few different options.

but with whom does the copyright actually lie?

I believe the official copyright has expired, so any watermark you add will be noting your ownership of the originals.

I've also read that the copyright watermarks can be removed.

Think of it like locking the door to your house. A determined thief will still break in, but it deters the casual thief and makes clear a real thief's intentions.

Presumably the "W" stands for "Winning Post" does it?

That's what I guessed - not sure though. 

Thanks for answering my questions, David. My understanding of photographic copyright is that it lies with the photographer (or heirs) until seventy years after the photographer's death, which is tricky to find out.

I suspect (but don't know for certain) that the Jockey Club would have had an official photographer who had permission to set up their tripod at the winning post and perhaps had to pay a fee for this concession. The photographs might have been useful if there was a disputed neck and neck win. In addition the photographer would have been able to charge a fee to owners who wanted to purchase the photos of their winners. These "official" photos are all numbered. Whether it would have been a different photographer taking the photos of the owners leading their ponies away at the end of the race, I don't know. These photos are also numbered. My family bought and kept photos of their winning ponies at both stages. There must have been quite a few copies floating around. For example we possess a copy of a photo of Sir Paul Chater leading his winning pony through a large crowd of people that I have seen published in a volume of Trea Wiltshire's. If one buys a copy of a photo the print no doubt becomes your property, but I'm still not sure if that covers copyright should one want to publish it. It's a fraught area, but helpful if you can calculate that seventy years must have passed since the last possible year until which the photographer could have lived.