Once we have our photographs, and have edited them we will be looking at how to use them, last week we looked at getting them used in magazines. This week we want to look at framing images and making them available under certain conditions for use by others without charge.

Today we have the choice of printing images and putting them into a frame or using an electronic frame. We have articles looking at both options.

• Digital Photo Frames vary in size from small low cost items up to large frames that Can hang on any wall. In this article we look at the range, how to compare one with another, and have a buyers guide comparing different sources, sizes and prices.

• Overview of framing and mounting, looks at the whole process of putting together a frame and mounting the images. This article is an overview so we are not getting into too much detail on any aspects but giving an outline of the options and enough information to know where to look next.

We often look at the potential to sell images or create an income, this week we are looking at another way to allow your images to be used.

The problem often is that although we are happy for limited use to be made of our work, and for our images to be used for educational use and for illustrating websites, we don't want to make them completely available and allow them to become public domain images, and in many cases don't want them used for commercial uses unless we get rewarded.

This need can be met with Creative Commons licensing, and you may have spotted more and more images having a small button by them that has CC on it, ether followed by some letters or symbols or both like  or . To use these images under the licence conditions or to make your images available in this way involves no cost.

We have been watching this for some time, and even had an article written some time ago, but didn't run it as there was some uncertainty, that was holding up our involvement. This has been developing over recent time and quite a few major users are involved already. In the UK we were a little held up as there were two different groups putting together UK versions, and we had been watching what was happening.  Within the last couple of weeks this has been resolved, and there is no longer any reason for us to hold back.  This week we are taking a major look at Creative Commons, both at how it works, what the badges or buttons mean and where you can find images.

• Creative Commons - Making your work available without fees, but reserving some rights.

• A key to Creative Commons licenses for photographers.

• Copies of graphic artwork you can download for the buttons etc.

We have decided to use creative commons licensing ourselves and have looked to making our images available for others to use. We have chosen three levels, each of the options we have chosen are explained on pages that the buttons link to, why not take a look at these.

• A page that explains the  buttons on our images on this website, other peoples images are, where possible, linked back to the site we got it from or the photographers reference page somewhere.  Click here to see it.

• CC+ two in one, free images for many plus the commercial option when required. A page we have that explains the creative commons application of CC+, the option we are using widely ourselves, this page links from the buttons you see throughout this website and saves us putting so much information on each page. The link on the button will put it in the normal page, in other places we throw this page into a new browser window. Click here to see this.

• Not really Creative Commons, Public Domain images are those we decide we are happy to release for others to use as they like. This in our case is likely to be older images shot on film or with earlier digital cameras before we had the Nikon DSLR's.  This page is reached normally by clicking on the  button you see throughout this website. Click here to see it.

There is an ancient ceremony which takes place in July each year on the River Thames called 'Swan Upping'. This involves the Queen's Swan Marker and the population of Mute Swans that live on the River, where an annual census and health check takes place on a 70 mile stretch of the river, on behalf of the Queen who owns them. A colourful spectacle worth photographing if you can. Read more here ......

Swan Upping came about back in the 12th Century, when back then the Swan was eaten and was served up at banquets and feasts. Back then there were a number of Swannery's around the UK where swans were breed for this reason. Today of course we wouldn't dream of eating them and in fact we have come to admire them and protect them. There is only one Swannery left in the UK at Abbotsbury in Dorset, but they do not farm them to eat it is now merely a sanctuary and breeding colony for the Mute. Our location guide gives details on what you can see and do there. As part of this feature we have given you guidance on the 3 main wild breeds found in the UK, Mute, Bewick's and Whooper as well as putting together a list of locations where you might get to see them including location guides for more of the WWT centres around the UK.

Locations Featured This Week

Abbotsbury Swannery, Dorset. The oldest and only Swannery left in the UK, where at its peak over 600 birds come to feed, nest, hatch and free fly each year. Over 100 nests and around 600 new cygnets born most years. These swans are so used to visitors you can get up close and personal even to the point, if you're lucky of seeing cygnets hatch in front of you if you go during the breeding system.

Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire. The Headquarters of the WWT and first centre established in the UK 60 years ago. A large and spectacular site, with 15 hides. Large numbers of Bewicks visit here over winter. Amongst their captive breeds from around the world you will see the Black Swan. This gives you the base information, but I do hope to add more details and pictures soon.

Welney WWT, nr Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. The Ouse and Nene washes give a fenland feel to this wetland centre. During the winter months Whoopers and Bewicks visit.

London Wetland Centre, Barnes, London. An inland wetland haven in the centre of our Capital city. As well as birds there is also other wildlife including foxes who visit.

Caerlaverock WWT, Dumfries, Scotland. Very large numbers of Whooper Swans make it down as far as Dumfries for the winter. From October large numbers of Barnacle Geese also over winter here. Since 1940 when a population of 500 were counted more than 25,000 visit today.

Arundel WWT, Arundel, West Sussex. Bewick's roost at this site during their winter stop over.

Martin Mere, Lancashire. Where you can see Whooper, Bewick's and Mutes as well as their resident Black Necked Swan.