I have been wondering for the past few days... Do other forms of media influence you as a photographer? How so? With a photograph you have to have specific elements and usually it is very hard to convey a thought or idea fully within one frame. With video you can progress through a thought in steps and present it fully. I have been inspired by several commercials and tv shows to try out a still of a shot they accomplished in motion. On one hand I feel like this is plagarizing but on the other most draw inspiration from somewhere for their art, don't they? I have to assume that photojournalism is different because you are documenting things as they happen, with less time to be artistic in the setup. Do they still draw some influence from mainstream media though?
@meggageg Ok had to google that add.. I turn the channel when the adds come one.. or Im stuck on Sprout... crazy arsed add that is..
Never really considered TV to be a source of inspiration when it comes to photographs, but will see a show (theater) or art exhibition and think wow I would love to do something like that..
@shadesofgrey . nope not at ALL,,
There was a discussion awhile back about plagiarism and my response is the same today as it was then...
Plagiarism is defined in dictionaries as the "wrongful appropriation," "close imitation," or "purloining and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions," and the representation of them as one's own original work,[1][2] but the notion remains problematic with nebulous boundaries.[3][4][5][6] The modern concept of plagiarism as immoral and originality as an ideal emerged in Europe only in the 18th century, particularly with the Romantic movement, while in the previous centuries authors and artists were encouraged to "copy the masters as closely as possible" and avoid "unnecessary invention."[7][8][9][10][11][12]
The 18th century new morals have been institutionalized and enforced prominently in the sectors of academia and journalism, where plagiarism is now considered academic dishonesty and a breach of journalistic ethics, subject to sanctions like expulsion and other severe career damage. Not so in the arts, which not only have resisted in their long-established tradition of copying as a fundamental practice of the creative process,[12][13][14] but with the boom of the modernist and postmodern movements in the 20th century, this practice has been heightened as the central and representative artistic device.[12][15][16] Plagiarism remains tolerated by 21st century artists.[13][14]
Plagiarism is not a crime but is disapproved more on the grounds of moral offence.[7][17]
If I copy and pasted .. and claimed it as my own ..that is stealing.
If I attempted to re create a photo or piece of art , I believe that it is not plagiarism.
Nothing in this world is original anymore, and even if it is "new" its more than likely based on an idea from the past, just perfected to suit today's society..
@nikkers I remember that discussion and I fully agree. I was curious if anybody else felt the same way I do when see an image in film, tv, art in general. (you summed up my feelings pretty accurately!) I think that is fine to try it out, see if you can get the desired result as long as you don't fully claim the idea was your brain child, just your interpretation of an inspiration.
@shadesofgrey . Exactly..
But here is another twist..
If I live in a small village in the mountains will no WIFI. or other media influences and I make a woven picture of a camel. (years ago someone traveled through my village and showed me a photo of a camel and now I am obsessed with them)
and sell them to the passing tourists now.. Can I claim this idea as my own original idea ..
Or will the desert dwelling nomad who makes woven pictures of camels (family business) be able to claim this idea as his????
The arrogance of my own importance , will dictate that it was my idea first...
@nikkers I say you can claim the idea for both... you have only seen a photo. If he showed you a woven picture and now you are obsessed, well the creative idea of making them may not be solely yours but you decided to make a go of it and sell them to the passing tourists, that is your own. Eventually the woven picture will quit being a copy and start being your own. You will put your own touches and changes on it, intentionally or not. If you change something by 33% (I think) it can be claimed as yours by U.S. patent laws. I don't think that applies though because you aren't mass marketing it. There have been many instances of the same/similar thing being created in several parts of the country almost simultaneoulsy to fulfill a common need. These inventors never met, knew each other or otherwise had anything in common besides meeting a need that wasn't filled previously. So who gets credit? Well until the U.S. decided to create a patent office, they both did. Now it's whoever gets the patent in first! (e.g. A.G. Bell and the telephone)
So short answer: The idea is yours inspired by something you saw somewhere else...you more than likely won't have the same materials so they will become yours alone. In this day and age you will have access to the same materials, but like you said earlier: "Nothing in this world is original anymore, and even if it is "new" its more than likely based on an idea from the past, just perfected to suit today's society"
As for the arrogance....
Nobody can be so amusingly arrogant as a young man who has just discovered an old idea and thinks it is his own. Sydney J. Harris 1917-1986
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
my husband and i LOVE that commercial! esp when she's on the boat....
Never really considered TV to be a source of inspiration when it comes to photographs, but will see a show (theater) or art exhibition and think wow I would love to do something like that..
There was a discussion awhile back about plagiarism and my response is the same today as it was then...
Plagiarism is defined in dictionaries as the "wrongful appropriation," "close imitation," or "purloining and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions," and the representation of them as one's own original work,[1][2] but the notion remains problematic with nebulous boundaries.[3][4][5][6] The modern concept of plagiarism as immoral and originality as an ideal emerged in Europe only in the 18th century, particularly with the Romantic movement, while in the previous centuries authors and artists were encouraged to "copy the masters as closely as possible" and avoid "unnecessary invention."[7][8][9][10][11][12]
The 18th century new morals have been institutionalized and enforced prominently in the sectors of academia and journalism, where plagiarism is now considered academic dishonesty and a breach of journalistic ethics, subject to sanctions like expulsion and other severe career damage. Not so in the arts, which not only have resisted in their long-established tradition of copying as a fundamental practice of the creative process,[12][13][14] but with the boom of the modernist and postmodern movements in the 20th century, this practice has been heightened as the central and representative artistic device.[12][15][16] Plagiarism remains tolerated by 21st century artists.[13][14]
Plagiarism is not a crime but is disapproved more on the grounds of moral offence.[7][17]
If I copy and pasted .. and claimed it as my own ..that is stealing.
If I attempted to re create a photo or piece of art , I believe that it is not plagiarism.
Nothing in this world is original anymore, and even if it is "new" its more than likely based on an idea from the past, just perfected to suit today's society..
But here is another twist..
If I live in a small village in the mountains will no WIFI. or other media influences and I make a woven picture of a camel. (years ago someone traveled through my village and showed me a photo of a camel and now I am obsessed with them)
and sell them to the passing tourists now.. Can I claim this idea as my own original idea ..
Or will the desert dwelling nomad who makes woven pictures of camels (family business) be able to claim this idea as his????
The arrogance of my own importance , will dictate that it was my idea first...
So short answer: The idea is yours inspired by something you saw somewhere else...you more than likely won't have the same materials so they will become yours alone. In this day and age you will have access to the same materials, but like you said earlier: "Nothing in this world is original anymore, and even if it is "new" its more than likely based on an idea from the past, just perfected to suit today's society"
As for the arrogance....
Nobody can be so amusingly arrogant as a young man who has just discovered an old idea and thinks it is his own. Sydney J. Harris 1917-1986
Its very deep is it not.. :)