Did They Try and Imitate my Photo?

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Did They Try and Imitate my Photo?

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Started 3 years ago by alphanikonrex
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alphanikonrex

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So back in December '08 I got this photo on earthshots.org:

http://www.earthshots.org/2008/12/dahlia-by-arman-bilge/

Anyway, I know that earthshots.org is run by the two Burrard-Lucas brothers based on the fact that they had the first two photos on the website as well as in this post on their blog their camera strap has earthshots.org written on it: http://blog.burrard-lucas.com/2009/10/mountain-gorillas-of-rwanda/ .

So the other day I was looking through their blog when I noticed this photo:

http://blog.burrard-lucas.com/2009/07/hasseblad-h3dii-39-and-flower-photography/

These guys take amazing photos, and I have enjoyed looking at their work, but did they actually try and imitate ME? I mean these guys are pros, and they're using the "composition" of a 13-year-old? I'm not angry or anything, just mostly surprised.

Posted 3 years ago #
bernard

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One cannot say they "copied" your photo, but they sure tried to use your idea and get something better.

Personally I find that they failed miserably. Your image is a lot better composed: Natural background, nice bokeh, the small flower kind of "looking" at the big one, the water droplet, etc… Everything is nice while these guys' shot is very artificial and poorly composed.

Posted 3 years ago #
Demisthene Akatsuki

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yeah i like you shot way better too, rex.

Posted 3 years ago #
Gentoo

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I agree with the others alpha. Your shot is much better.

The thing about the term "pro" is that it has nothing to do with skill level as others on here have said.

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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I prefer yours, too, alpha.

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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agree with gentoo - for me "pro" means that the person is getting money for this, nothing less, nothing more, Your shot rulez

Posted 3 years ago #
Jessi

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Your shot is remarkable. I am not surprised that they wanted to give it a try...they failed, but still really flattering for you, eh? :)

Posted 3 years ago #
mb

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Professional photography is actually a trade of clichés; trade is all about predictable and repetitive results and they usually do not have time or will to make something creative and innovative, and many professionals have lost the curiosity to play with new things.
It is up to amateur photographers to experiment, break and explore new frontiers as you have done so well.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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I though this thread was long forgotten!

You guys really think that mine is better? I suppose so, when I think about it... :^)

Mostly I think it's the way Jessi put it:

Jessi said:
but still really flattering for you, eh? :)

I think what made me most suspicious is the description which says "To make this photograph of a dahlia a bit more interesting I included one of the buds."

Thanks for the responses everyone, you really brightened my day :^) I hope I never become one of the "pros."

Posted 3 years ago #
shutterdancer

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alpha.....If they did....they got it wrong!!

Posted 3 years ago #
poster

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So they included a little bulb in the composition, and that merits in your mind that they copied you. It's quite obvious that only composition is similar in the fact that the bulb is included.

In this case I am guilty of copying you too, don't sue me though.

PS- I like your picture.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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poster said:
So they included a little bulb in the composition, and that merits in your mind that they copied you. It's quite obvious that only composition is similar in the fact that the bulb is included.

Not true: They used the SAME TYPE OF FLOWER with ALMOST SAME COMPOSITION (Flower on left, bulb on right). Come on, isn't that obvious too?

poster said:
PS- I like your picture.

Thanks—yours is quite nice too :^)

Posted 3 years ago #
poster

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Isn't Dahlia one of most common garden flowers?

Yes I think you are onto something here, they should have put the bulb on the left side of the flower to avoid raising suspicions. Those bastards. How dare they.

I must warn you, you mustn't run a search query for "dahlia flower" on flickr, there's tons more of copy cats.

No need to capitalize, I am not deaf nor blind.

Edit:

On other hand you should just sue them.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Ok, ok, I'm sorry, I feel that I pissed you off.

It's just these people run the site where my photo was published.

Also, it's not the first time I see them "copying." Someone submitted a startrails photo, and pretty soon they started making them too.

Posted 3 years ago #
poster

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I am not pissed off, it's just there is a lot of people doing very similar type of composition. Doesn't mean that they are copying you or anybody else.

In any case you can feel better about the fact that people like your photo more.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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You're right. So long as mine is better :^)

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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I kinda agree with poster. You can't copyright a "pose" unfortunately :^(

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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I'm not trying to copyright anything! I'm just surprised that a couple "pros" would create a photo so similar to mine.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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I didn't say you were copyrighting anything. I just said that unfortunately a similar pose can't be (usually) considered copying. How many car shots have you seen in magazines/tv that are all very similar models and angles? Just saying as an example

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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I know you didn't, it's just everybody's talking about how I should sue them and all. But you're right there're a lot of identical shots out there.

I suppose in this case they could have been influenced by another shot (or maybe they were actually creative), but my hunch is that they were influenced by mine.

Posted 3 years ago #
Gentoo

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In the US, here's how copyright lasw work. Sense the US has agreements with many other countried, it covers a big part of the world.

http://www.pdimages.com/law/10.htm

Posted 3 years ago #
poster

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alphanikonrex said:
I know you didn't, it's just everybody's talking about how I should sue them and all.

I wasn't serious when saying that.

Hey Gentoo while we are on the subject of suing and what not. I hereby call you out for photographing the same bird as I did. I was the "first" person to photograph a Red Cardinal flying, and the next day you dared to copy me by taking a picture of a Red Cardinal in flight as well.
It is clearly evident that you were copying my picture. I am going to sue you and all of the people on this forum are my witnesses to your crime of infringing on my creative juices and my art. You shall pay dearly for this treacherous act. My lawyer will call your lawyer soon.

=]

Posted 3 years ago #
Gentoo

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Poster you're nuts LOL!

I've never photographed a Cardinal LOL

Posted 3 years ago #
poster

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Gentoo said:
Poster you're nuts LOL!

I've never photographed a Cardinal LOL

Tell that to my lawyer Jackie Chiles.

Soon I will be rich muahhahaha

Posted 3 years ago #
monty11

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I think that you are being a bit paranoid. I'm sure that a lot of people have taken a similar shot of the same type of flower with a similar composition.
I for one like the shot with the black background better, when it is viewed with a white border and bigger than posted here then it is a totally different photograph.

The only correct reaction in this case could be (unless you are Platon, Jan Saudek, etc): look they've got a photo similar to mine and I'm glad as it was done by a couple of skilled photographers. Sorry if this sounds rude, but at the moment it comes out as if you were claiming that you are the first person to capture a dhalia in that composition.

Posted 3 years ago #