How *you* see things. Hand a camera to two different photographers to photograph a flower, I bet you they look completely different.
So what’s wrong with recreating (or ‘copying’) someone elses work?
Nothing at all.
Even if you use the same props, you’ll end up doing it different.
Below is a page from a fashion magazine that caught my eye while on a plane and wanted to try out (It’s a Calvin Klein ad) for this blog post.
There was a tree nearby and a model I could borrow for 5 minutes to try this out at a recent photo shoot I was on. As you can tell I had grossly different results. Why? Eye, talent, and above all — planning. These shoots take days, maybe even weeks to plan how they will come out. Under 5 minutes? Expect what you put in.
Grab a magazine that has photos in it that interest you and recreate one. Put a little bit of planning into it other than when you “just show up to a location”.
Post em somewhere public, the shot you were inspired by and your polished photo. Put a link in the comments to it.
Calvin Klein Ad I wanted to recreate
My image
I tried to recreate a Calvin Klein ad also… It was originally with Eva Mendez… I had two gorgeous models– but the pose that was my favorite came out completely different and resembled nothing of the original… same concept.- just different. (beautiful people in thier underwear in intimate poses)
I feel:
Inspiration vs Imitation is the key to become better at what we do.
Replicating, infringing copyrights is against the law in the USA and most of the countries.
Corey, I feel you were not copying either. That sounds like a “can of worms” for mis-interpretations.
You got inspired from another creation.
I agree with Ara’s comment that Corey you were “inspired” which is completely different then copying. You even stated the source of inspiration…I am inspired by everything around me and I will completely admit that other photographer’s work inspires me too but I recreate it in a manner that speaks more profoundly to me then ‘I held down the shutter button for that’.
It was my fault for including the word “copying”. A lot of people feel they are “copying” another persons work if they see a girl with a guitar on train tracks, the sun is behind her and she’s wearing ray-bans.. and they want to shoot the same exact setting,time, and props.
Yes, Ara is completely right that I was inspired to recreate that scene — copying is more of a ‘I take your photo and sell it with my name on it’ right?
Since you really can’t “copy” any photography due to everyone implementing different — or am I wrong?
Due to the subjective nature of photography, imitation vs. inspiration is open to interpretation and opinion. Vanilla Ice ripped off Queen and David Bowie when he sampled Under Pressure and recorded Ice Ice Baby if you ask me. But the music was arguably different, albeit slightly, by the addition of one note in the distinctive sequence of notes. The production of a rap song with other very different characteristics makes it undeniably an original piece.
This process of taking something and reproducing it with alterations, additions, or other modifications is called acquisition art. Although I don’t know all the verbiage and formalities, but the reproduction of works with a required minimum amount of modification for the purpose of art (not commercial) production is actually legal and protected by our right to free speech. The eye on my website and fan page incorporates a photo of the Earth that I most certainly didn’t take. Still the piece is original in every respect other than the image which I borrowed due to my lack of a space flight vehicle.
One of my classes at UNF was premised on reproducing classic, iconic Hollywood portraits for the purpose of learning the techniques employed to produce those images. Our assignments were to recreate the classic portraits of our choosing to the best of our ability and then produce additional images using the techniques that we learned. The closer we got to a perfect recreation of the image the better the grade. And the better we did with our own additional images the better the grade. The point of this was not to rip off the original artists but to learn from them and build upon those lessons. I posted a small gallery on my facebook fan page as an example.
As for photographers who we might be inclined to label “copycats” due to their repetitive tendencies to take other people’s works and ideas and label them as their own, well I say shame on them. Get your own ideas pal!
Stephanie, I am glad you understand were I was coming from and the RELEVANCE of this subject to me.
Corey, like I told Stephanie (Marie):
Marie, I am thankful you post a subject like the “Copying and suppose to feel good about it….” It is the subject of COPYING Vs INSPIRATION what has RELEVANCE to me and many on ANY creative field.
Many try to COPY my inspirations too and have the nerve to ask HOW DO I DO THAT! People constantly ask me the same questions and want to do the same.
Which I do not mind. as long as it is inspiration from my work to do something different. That humbles me, it is flattering.
It is a problem when it is beyond getting inspired with my work.
Some even copy not only the subject and composition, but also the procedures of my editing the clouds to print on canvas and sell at other galleries and or shows.
That really bothers me…. Good or bad work!… attempts to replicate…. See what I mean?
Others literally copy my images “online” and use them as wallpaper for themselves and relatives without asking me. Yes! with watermark and all.
And the worst I’ve seen is those who clearly read the “C” and my name stating: All rights reserved and still print and frame with a cheap Joan’s frame on sale!
… after this lines I felt like a “stranger” and expressed myself as such to Marie. Maybe I am not a stranger after all….
Bottom line, we all rock on the same boat and have to guard our work despite of whomever and/or whatever is a source of inspiration for others.
That is something hard to do for me, since I have to show what I do on a monitor screen.
Any ideas?
Corey,
I feel, the “Copying” is literally an attempt to “replicate” with no implementations or inspirations of the author to make it unique and different.
You stated:
Copying is more of a ‘I take your photo and sell it with my name on it’ right?
You mean you are not leaving a watermark on the images you produce?
No matter what pictures you take of whom, those are your creations, your copyrights.
I understand that a Model Release is needed when selling it (producing income for yourself) your “Photographer’s Release” is also needed for the person stated in your “Photographer’s Release” including the model. Therefore that person can print at any common lab like Wal-Mart.
You have to make sure the model agrees w/ it in writing ahead of time. Unless, it is an event in which the organizer is responsible of his participants, and invites or hires you to come shoot for him.
Displaying the photograph you took, as long as you are not selling it and the person was in public view is different than selling it and it is still your picture, your work.
In other words, problems arise when the parties involved profit from it (even among friends) and the profits are not shared, especially without the proper documentation.
Am I misinformed or mistaken?
@ara I meant the “i take your photo and sell it” as … physically copying your photo from finding it online and selling it with my name on it… not taking your photo with my camera and selling it, sorry for the confusion
@mario If you ever get your hands on a space flight vehicle, let me know, I’ll use it too..