I post every Sunday Links to photographers who inspire me. I started this because my gut told me it was a good idea, Sources of inspiration to share with my readers. Sometimes - when my gut feeling is running ahead - my head starts thinking about my behavior at some point and I get the chance to question my behavior. What am I actually doing with my camera?
I keep discovering fascinating images and think about why they fascinate me. I try to decipher the image according to its magical content in order to be able to take better pictures myself. And the next time I photograph a similar image, I always ask myself: "Was that inspiration and was that theft of ideas?“ I have that at this ring picture already addressed, albeit too briefly.
“Stolen” is happening all the time. Not just in photography. Do you know the wonderful series “Everything is a remix“? For example, with comments on Tarantino or Matrix. But was it really stolen or did the templates serve as inspiration? Don’t we all constantly inspire each other? Does it really still exist? new idea in photography?
The other day I saw the picture of Philippe Halsman from a jumping couple – how many wedding photographers have ever photographed jumping couples? Yes, me too 🙂
The Image by Philippe Halsman is from 1959.
I am firmly convinced that it was all there before! There is nothing new in photography anymore. Or at least not much new anymore…
What there are are photographers who push an idea to such perfection that you think they invented it. At mine first Sunday link (yes, the idea is stolen) I told you Keith Loutit presented, which creates miniature worlds thanks to tilt/shift lenses. What sets him apart is that he has brought this type of imagery to a level of perfection that is magnificent. But is it also his idea? Did you know that david levinthal with toy figures (not only) War scenes has recreated? So exactly the opposite case. And that was in the mid-1970s...
Or let's take it Ryan Brenizer and his couple panoramas. This type of photography has existed before - I know of some Ripke shots that were taken this way, even if it isn't mentioned anywhere in the pictures, but if you only have a limited number of megapixels in your camera, you have to print in large format , you also have to know how to help yourself.
Ryan Brenizer has perfected his way of creating these images, accelerated it and, above all, shared it. I talked to him about the question of “inspiration or idea theft” when I with my lover in front of his camera He turned the question around and said: "If you don't share it, it will be stolen from you - based on your own feelings."
And that's exactly true! It's not for nothing that the couple's panoramas from Brenizer Panos spoken. Because he shared it. If he had kept it for himself, every time he saw such a panorama he would feel like it had been stolen from him.
Without being able to put it all that neatly, Ryan's approach is basically what motivates me to run this blog. I like to share. I'm happy to hear any questions. I'm happy if I can help further. And about the question of Benjaminwhether the one shown on the Knackscharf Tour Idea the Ring flash images from me Stolen I could really smile.
Two other important points in the question “Inspiration or idea theft” are, in my opinion, Jasmine Star, successful Wedding photographer from California. If you are copied, you have been an inspiration to someone. You should see this as an award. But what is even more important is that the copy gives the person being copied a push to become better. Only if you evolve will the copy continue to be just a copy, but you will be the original. If you stop and the copy overtakes you, no one will remember your original.
Great article!
Thank you!
Probably true Stefan…. where can I sign? 😉
No seriously, even the great masters of painting copied each other and how often the Beatles were copied.
Instead of “copying”, I would feel it as confirmation or satisfaction that I have created something that others also “want to have”. 😀
But explain to me how you got the Titanic (chimneys) in the background of a really cool photo. ;-)))
greetings Frank
Well written, I can share it just like that!
The last paragraph in particular shows you that it's not about copying, but about learning from each other. Anyone who stops there has only themselves to blame. 🙂
I also remember the “cult” film Blowup
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blow_Up
a. I read something like this somewhere:
Who inspired Thomas, the unnamed fashion photographer in the film, and from which photographer did he copy a way of working? Or did the actor inspire other – real – photographers with his – acted – work/photography style? They then simply imitated Thomas from Blowup, copied...
RJ
Oh, the good Antonioni 🙂
A nice article Stefan. I think everything has already existed anyway. There's a saying: If you want to play the guitar, you should first imitate the Beatles before you produce something of your own. Even the panoramas with shallow depth of field existed before Brenyzer, he just made them known. I think it's much worse than copying something to stand up and claim that you had this idea and then claim ownership of it.
Funny that you already took the ring flash pictures. For example, I got it here:
Oh see, I didn't even know the link. And interesting that he came up with the idea of combining fisheye with ring flash at the same time. But I sacrificed the sun visor of my 10,5 for this 😉
Thanks for this great article! There is nothing to add.
I wouldn't even talk about "stealing ideas". Ideas spread when there are people who like them. Or as Heine says: "We don't seize an idea, the idea seizes us."
Great article Stefan. Nothing more to add. I believe that only those who 'share' get ahead in life. At least in the world of 2011.
I learn this every day in my job and enjoy it in my hobby.
Thanks everyone for the positive comments!
Can only agree. There are really ugly plagiarisms. But following role models should also be seen as a compliment to the original.
You are absolutely right! Wonderful article.
When your own idea is copied, you are initially annoyed. Happened to myself. Days before the event (a cruise ship crossing the Ems) I went and looked for a place from which I could perfectly photograph the ship when it was traveling over the Emstunnel while the cars below were driving into the tunnel. The picture worked and became the lead on the first page. Six months later, a colleague from another newspaper also took this picture. From the same place I had been looking for for a long time.
At first upset, I said to myself afterwards: if someone copied you, then your idea couldn't have been that bad.
A nice plea for sharing.
Ryan Brenizer also said that nowadays you can't keep knowledge secret anyway and that it is therefore more useful if you actively share it.
This is also my motivation when blogging or writing books. And not everyone sees it that way, even if there are only positive comments here.
Very beautifully written, that's how art has always worked. Constantly wanting something special can also drive you crazy. It's much nicer to please someone with a good photo, regardless of whether someone has already taken a similar one at some point. With photos there is always exactly one short moment and it belongs to those involved!
It's sad that there are people who insult others, saying they're just copying and not creating something of their own 🙁
I think it depends on the subject. There are plenty of people who think they can take creative photographs simply because they copy other ideas.
For example, it would never occur to me to photograph a wedding couple jumping. I find the motif trite and for me this scene, for example, has no real connection to the wedding.
I have another one. But please forgive me if I have confused great musicians/composers/geniuses. Apparently someone once criticized Beethoven for copying passage x from Johann Sebastian Bach. Beethoven's dry answer: "Who else would you have copied from..." One genius certainly appreciated the other genius.
RJ
I came across your blog by chance and find it very inspiring 😉
Funnily enough, I've been thinking about this topic recently. From the photographer's point of view, it's usually the case that we see a picture and ask ourselves: "How did he do that?" And if we're lucky, two ideas that haven't been combined before will meet in our heads. Unfortunately, very few people are that lucky...
I also think it's good and important to share ideas. But for the inspired photographer, what he does with the idea is also important.
Copying an image 1:1 should ideally be the start of new ideas. The original idea is changed, optimized and tailored to itself. Work with the idea and then share it again. This is how I imagine good inspiration. That doesn't always work... I know. :O)
However, as a photographer you should aim not to copy images 1:1 (as Ralf mentioned above). That wouldn't do anything for my self-esteem. But, as I said, the basic idea counts.
Personally, I don't like the Brenizer method and have the feeling that I'm pretty much on my own with it. Well... they just don't give me the kick and seem too fake to me. To the eye – my eye – strange. I can't quite describe it.
Lieber Stefan,
First of all: A great article!
And now my two cents: I don't think I would have been able to learn to play bass if I hadn't listened to, practiced and played back all the great bass lines of my favourite bassists on records and cassettes... (Back then there was no internet and YouTube and things like that...) Not to play like "..." or "...", but to expand my musical and technical spectrum.
As a photographer it's the same: photos inspire just like bass lines - and for some I want to understand how they were created or edited. And with some I try to achieve a similar result in order to expand my photographic and technical horizons. To put it poetically: I add a new color to the color palette I paint with! (And sometimes also light or shadow or a PS layer :- )
I think copying is not at all reprehensible, but rather a legitimate means if you want to get ahead. The only important thing is: move forward.
To put it musically: Who needs a second Mark King (bassist from Level 42) when he already exists??? But understanding what he's doing is good...
And, Stefan, ring lightning ashes over my head... But if I could put a smile on your lips, I'm happy 🙂
bassiest,
Benjamin