There is no © symbol on a photographic work - does that mean it is not copyright and anyone can copy and use it without permission? Why/Why not?

Answer: The symbol © signifies copyright protected images and is fair warning or disclaimer to the person viewing that who owns and the image may or may not be used. However if any image lacks the symbol it does mean the image maybe used and may not be used. The symbol signifies the copyrighting but not in any way the lack of symbol takes away the ownership rights and the image is under the rights of the owner. If the owner has no issue of open use of the image and is up for download and redistribution than there is no offence but if the owner later claims copyright and asks for compensation or taking down of his pictures. Some images may be subjected to fair use. Fair use is not same as free use and has certain conditions. Bottom line is the symbol signifies and acts as a disclaimer for copyrights but the absence of the symbol doesn’t affect the ownership rights and claim of ownership. The usage of photograph depends on the discretion of owner.