It’s been a hectic couple of months with my mind focussed very much on other things in ‘real life’. I’ve been getting back into Second Life again, and I also discovered three sets of photos that never got put up online. So here’s the first set, taken at Black Kite.

It’s an interesting place of calm – shallow waters and reflections in shades of wonderfully deep blues and greens.

To be honest, I’ve lost some enthusiasm as a result of the new Terms of Service imposed by Linden Labs on those who want to use Second Life. In it, they basically claim the right to use any works produced from within Second Life as they wish, without any payment. As a commercial photographer in real life, this really sticks in the gullet. I’m perfectly aware that anything that goes up on the internet could easily be taken and used by other people, and I am careful what I put up in terms of its potential value. But personal use is one thing; commercial use is another. Linden Labs should be willing to pay a reasonable fee to those who take time, effort and expertise to make photographs, or anything else.

True, Second Life is private property – but it is let out to people on the basis that they create stuff. If it were not for users, there would just be a dull landscape of water and green hills. It does LL no credit to be making a grab for the work of others – and I’ll be charitable and assume that it is lawyers going for the easiest possible route. But lawyers aren’t famed for their creativity, except perhaps for the flourish of zeros at the ends of the bills, and Linden Labs needs to get a grip on what is of value in Second Life. Without creative people they have nothing. They need to be nourished, not discouraged.