Terms & Conditions

By accessing and using the Visual Independence website and associated platforms, you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provisions of this agreement. If you do not agree to abide by these terms, please do not use this website.

Visual Independence ("we," "us," or "our") operates the visualindependence.com website (the "Service"), providing editorial content, curatorial analysis and collector intelligence regarding fine art photography.

Visual Independence provides a specialized editorial platform dedicated to the re-examination of artistic, vernacular, historic and contemporary photography. Our services include:

• Curatorial analysis and photography market intelligence
• Historical research and archival documentation
• Collector guidance and provenance methodology
• Educational content regarding fine art photography
• Links to associated platforms including Collection Bock-Schroeder, Photography Collectors, and related archives

All content provided on this platform is for informational and educational purposes only. We do not provide investment advice, and any valuations or market analyses represent professional opinions based on curatorial expertise, not financial recommendations.

2.1 Content Ownership

All content published on Visual Independence, including but not limited to texts, photographs, graphics, logos, icons, images, audio clips, digital downloads, data compilations, and software, is the property of Visual Independence, Jans Bock-Schroeder, or respective copyright holders and is protected by international copyright laws.

2.2 Photography Archive

The photographic works of Peter Bock-Schroeder (1913–2001) displayed or referenced on this platform are exclusively represented by Collection Bock-Schroeder. Any reproduction, distribution, display, or creation of derivative works based on these photographs requires prior written authorization from Collection Bock-Schroeder.

2.3 Permitted Use

You may view, download for caching purposes only, and print pages from the website for your own personal use, subject to the restrictions set out below and elsewhere in these terms.

You must not:

• Republish material from this website in any other media without attribution
• Sell, rent or sub-license material from the website
• Reproduce, duplicate, copy or otherwise exploit material on our website for commercial purposes
• Edit or otherwise modify any material on the website without authorization
• Redistribute material from this website except for content specifically and expressly made available for redistribution

By using Visual Independence, you warrant that:

• You are at least 18 years of age or accessing the site under parental supervision
• You will use the website only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms
• You will not use the website in any way that causes, or may cause, damage to the website or impairment of the availability or accessibility of the website
• You will not use the website to copy, store, host, transmit, send, use, publish or distribute any material which consists of (or is linked to) any spyware, computer virus, Trojan horse, worm, keystroke logger, rootkit or other malicious computer software

You must not conduct any systematic or automated data collection activities (including without limitation scraping, data mining, data extraction and data harvesting) on or in relation to our website without our express written consent.

Visual Independence includes links to external websites, including but not limited to Collection Bock-Schroeder, Photography Collectors, Soviet Union Dot Com, and institutional collections. These links are provided for your convenience to provide further information.

We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep the information up-to-date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

5.1 Market Information Disclaimer

Any photography valuations, market analyses, or collector guidance provided on Visual Independence represent the professional opinions of Jans Bock-Schroeder based on over 20 years of expertise in the fine art photography market. These opinions do not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations, or guarantees of future value. The photography market involves risks, and past performance does not guarantee future results.

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any dispute arising under these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Berlin, Germany. However, we retain the right to bring proceedings against you for breach of these conditions in your country of residence or any other relevant country.

Nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer under EU law.

We reserve the right to revise these terms of use at any time without notice. By using this website, you are agreeing to be bound by the then current version of these Terms and Conditions.

Material changes to these terms will be notified via a prominent notice on our homepage or by email where appropriate. Continued use of the platform following any changes constitutes acceptance of the modified terms.

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid under any applicable law, such provisions shall be deleted without affecting the remaining provisions herein.

For any questions regarding these Terms, please contact: