STEAL THIS POST
I think it all started a week or so ago, when the hip Australian art
magazine - Lifelounge - published a spread of my USER photos.
They also put up a gallery from USER on their web site. Then, next thing
I know, my hits are going thru the roof.
A quick check of my web stats shows me that Trendhunter.com picked
up that portfolio and, from there, it turned into a Web 2.0 free-for-all.
All kinds of sites are throwing up whole bunches of USER pix.
Here’s a sampling of some of the sites I’ve found that are using USER.
(Click to enlarge these images, if you need/want to.)
Okay, where does that leave us?
First of all, let me say that I use other photographer’s images, from
time to time, here on drool. Always, though, within the context of
comment, description, comparison. (See below). I would never,
wholesale, lift a body of work and just plunk it down here. What
these sites are doing is taking my photos, copying them over to
their domain and placing them (in some cases) next to advertising.
Exploiting my work
But I don’t care. I want people to see these photos and if that’s what
it takes…..so be it. (For instance, the last time I looked at my stuff
on Trendhunter there had been over 6,000 gallery views.)
I’m also aware of an irony here. And that is: I’ve been accused of
exploiting the subjects in USER. To me that’s a non-issue; every
photographer who shoots people has to “exploit” his/her subjects.
That’s a given. And now, in turn, the people running these sites
are taking a whole body of my work and using it for their own ends.
(The difference is that all the people I photograph, in all my projects,
whether they be addicts, passers-by or people I bump in to on my
travels, are asked if they would like to participate. They are shown
samples of my work and, typically, a long conversation precedes the
actual photography. In a way, to paraphrase Alec Soth, I believe the
art of what I do is in my encounter with the subject. The photograph
is merely a document of that encounter.)
Edwin, Memphis, Tennessee
Now where was I? Oh yeah: Exploitation. And theft.
I exploit my subjects for personal gain. Others steal and exploit my
work for personal gain.
Welcome to Planet-Mother-Fucking-Earth.
(one of the) PLACES I’M COMING FROM (for example)
displaced person by Walker Evans
protester by Diane Arbus
coal miner by Richard Avedon
Khymer Rouge mug shot by anonymous
soccer star by Martin Schoeller
crack addict by Tony Fouhse
I put this column of photos here not to put myself in the company of
these great photographers. No, today’s post is about theft.
When it comes to creative endeavors, well…..these days just about
nothing is new. We all have to/get to borrow from history. That’s a
fact. But, what separates the pros from the cons (as in professionals
from the con artists) is industry, effort, intent, brains and talent.
There’s a big difference between just ripping someone off and using
bits and pieces of what you know and what you’ve experienced to
produce work.
If you’re interested in certain things, if you work hard at uncovering
how and why and what you feel/think about those things, well…..that’s
the process that leads to progress. Theft is always going to be a part
of that process. Just make sure that, in the end, you make it your own.
On January 18, 2009 @ 12:27 pm,
d. lawn said:
I’m not sure these other sites are “stealing” from you or “ripping you off”. If you got paid for the Lifelounge publish in the book and then on their site then you are good. The rest is blogger blow back of the likes you are guilty of every Sunday.
I can see you perhaps being upset of not getting paid for the other “publishes” and of the crappy image quality but maybe its worth it. Lotsa hits on the old site.
On January 18, 2009 @ 1:03 pm,
tony said:
I’m not upset about this happening…..like I said in the post: “I don’t care”.
And, in terms of “blogger blow back” and being “guilty”, well, I touch on that in the post as well.
I was thinking about writing more in the post (tho I’m often leery of droning on and on) about the difference between creating and compiling.
I do agree with you about the crappy image quality. But, as a commercial photographer who’s work is, from time to time, butchered by bad cropping, reproduction and so on, I’m kinda used to it.
In the end…..the point of this post is stealing is inevitable. And, to quote Bob Dylan: ” Good artists borrow, great artists steal” (not that I’m putting myself it the “great” category). Hence, the last sentence in the post: Just make sure that, in the end, you make it your own.
Tony
On January 19, 2009 @ 2:15 am,
Rob said:
I understand what you are saying. I am certainly not someone who worries about internet thieves. My photos are only interesting to me and sometimes to my parents. : )
I actually found you because I was at Lifelounge and saw your portfolio. I now have bookmarked your site, or more specifically your blog. But does that make their theft or the other sites’ thefts less of a crime? Chances are they are doing this to benefit their audience. The ad revenue is a bonus.
I teach photography at an Edmonton Public school and I constantly looking for [photographic] insight to pass onto my students. If I can’t make it my own, I promise to credit you.
http://blistr.aminus3.com/
On January 22, 2009 @ 11:06 am,
peripheral vision blog » Blog Archive » photography, homelessness and postpartum depression said:
[...] Last weekend, Tony Fouhse touched on the subject of exploitation, and give a few nuggets of his process, how he works with the people he shoots: “I believe the art of what I do is in my encounter with the subject. The photograph is merely a document of that encounter.” [...]