Before I get to the images, I want to rant just a little bit. In two weeks, the annual Stribling Art Extravaganza will be held at the barracks buildings at Fort Concho, here in San Angelo, Texas. It is open to all artists living in the San Angelo and Tom Green County area. It will feature all genres including photography, but most of the entrants are paint artists. It is a show and sale benefiting the West Texas Rehab Center. As I usually do each year, I am entering two pieces of my work, framed 12x16s.
Hawk in Tree
Great Blue Heron
The above are two framed photographs that I am entering. I am usually lucky enough to sell one, or sometimes two images at these shows. Anyway, my rant is about something else that happened, related to the show.
I couple of weeks ago a lady that wants to enter a painting called and asked me if she could paint one of my photos. The subject in the photo is an old trading post that I had photographed several years ago. She had seen other photos of that building, but she really liked the composition of mine. Now here’s the rub, she wanted to copy it exactly.
What the heck is going on with some of these so-called “artists”. I always felt that being an artist, is someone that is creative. A true artist looks at a scene and paints his or her interpretation of it; not using another’s composition and claiming it as his or her own. Copying other person’s works is not creative in my book. At least she was nice enough to ask, and I, of course, turned down her request.
Now on the other side of the coin are people like Syl Lobato. She has purchased the rights to some of my bird images. She does use them, but she creates masterpieces by incorporating the images onto rocks, using the patterns in the rocks and her fantastic painting talents to make the beautiful backgrounds. I do not consider her among of the people that I described above.
Now forget the rant and have a look at some new photos that I was able to get yesterday. The Cinnamon Teal, (Anas cyanoptera) is one of the most beautiful ducks. Until now, I hadn’t gotten any great photos of one. Usually, they were too far away to get decent close-ups. Yesterday, though these were in a small pond and I was able to drive up closer. I still had to use my 500mm lens and 1.4 tele-converter on my Canon EOS 7D.
Cinnamon Teal – female and male.
Cinnamon Teal
Click on any image to see an enlargement.
Wow, those Cinnamon Teals seem unreal. Almost like they were painted in the scene. I’m on your side about that artist.
Hey, that’s quite a compliment, Bella. I appreciate it. 🙂
Thanks for continuing to share your beautiful works.
You’re welcome, Annie. I am glad you enjoy my photos. 🙂
When I used to sell my photography (often hand-painted or digitally enhanced) at outdoor art shows, I had a lady take a photograph of one of my pieces. I asked her not to do that, and she brazenly (or thoughtlessly) said “But I can’t afford to buy it.” The prints were $15 and I know good and damn well she could. I asked her if she thought I paid $200 to rent the booth just to give my work away. Some people…
I know what you mean. I could write a book about my experiences doing those shows. It is amazing how rude or unthinking the general public can be. Thanks for the comment, Cindy.
Glad you got that rant out! That is one of those times a, “Why thank you, but no” comes in handy. The photos for the art extravaganza are great but that kestrel is my favorite!! You may just have to tweak photos ’til you figure out how you did it! hugs
That Kestrel is my favorite, too. As I told Alison, below, I will someday stumble across it again. Thanks for your warm compliments, Beth. I sincerely appreciate them.
I hope it does not sound strange if I say that I enjoyed your rant. 😉 It prompted a good discussion I think. I absolutely believe good photography is art and your two pieces are prime examples. I noticed the 3d effect with the Kestrel. Wish you could tell how you did that. The ducks are beautys well captured. Hope the show goes well for you Bob.
Alison, oh Alison, I, too, wish I could remember how I got that 3D effect. Somewhere in post processing I am sure I overdid one of my actions, over-sharpening, over-contrasts, etc, I just don’t remember. I was just playing around and there it was. If I figure it out, I will patent it. :-). In the meantime, thank you so much for your kind compliments. I really appreciate them. 🙂
Sounds like a cool show and I wish you all the best at selling those photos! I don’t doubt they’ll sell. What do you sell your photos for (feel free to email if you don’t want to disclose on here :))? Thinking about purchasing a print! I can’t believe that painter woman! Glad you turned her down lol but, you are right, at least she asked! Hope you are doing well Bob! I love these duck photos too… I just photographed a duck while on an engagement shoot 🙂 ill prob post it to Facebook 🙂
Hi Polly, always nice to hear from you. Thanks so much for your kind words. I will send you an e-mail. 🙂
Super pics of that teal.
Thanks, Phil. We don’t get too many Cinnamon Teals around here and this is the best that I have ever gotten. 🙂
I have noticed your blog in the reader blog section via a search as i love photography,, and very much a amateur at that, so i thought i would take a look today, and Oh boy what amazing and beautiful photos you have,, they are a delight to look at…
Thank you so much, Debbie. I really appreciate your kind words and I hope you will visit again. 🙂
i sure will, I love photos.. especially nature and wildlife
Bob, I have been admiring your new header for the past couple of days, by the way. Lovely.
Thank you, Jane. I decided to make a change, and just happened to pick that one. It is an old image. Glad you like it.
I love cinnamon teals and find it a rarity to see them, so appreciate your shots.I used to paint and would use photos as an inspiration but not copy even my own photos(they weren’t that good anyway). I switched to photography because I like the instant gratification and I got hooked. Some painters are trained to copy off of photos which may be okay the first couple of times but to sell them or show them is just not cool-it is copying. Personally I prefer “en plein air.”At least this woman asked your permission.
I love your comment, Jane. I know a lot of artists that do use photos to work from, usually their own photos, and they use them as guides. That’s perfectly alright with me. Also, there is an argument that debates whether photography is an art or isn’t. The local art club here doesn’t allow photography in their art shows, except on a limited basis, in “everything goes”. types of shows. I could go on and on about that, and maybe I will in another blog post. BTW, I would say that a lot of artists don’t know what is meant by “en plein air”. 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous photos, Bob. I agree with you and everyone else about the creativity thing and could expand upon it but I’ll spare you! Best of luck selling your work at the show. The Kestrel image is amazing.
Thanks you so very much, Lisa, for your kind comment. We could have a long debate about that creativity thing, if we wanted. I got lucky with that Kestrel. I don’t know what I did during post processing, but all of a sudden I had a 3D effect. Again, thanks, Lisa. 🙂
True art!
Like I said, I got lucky. I wish I could remember how I did it. 🙂
Your definition of an artist is spot on, Bob. We encounter this problem so many times. Those cinnamon teal are gorgeous! Love their red eyes, too.
Thanks, Jo. Your comment is very welcome. Glad you love the Cinnamon Teal images.
P.S. I should have mention another great artist by the name of Colin, too. 🙂
You say these are not great photos but for me are very good pictures, ducks are elusive. We have Cinnamon teals in South America as well and I´ve taken a bit photos some years ago, but not as nice as yours
Thank you very much, Hernan, for such a nice compliment. I appreciate it.
Excellent photos, good luck at the show. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and your “problem” is that you are such a good photographer that others of the artistic bent wish to copy what you are able to see and capture.
As to the woman who called you, at least she called to ask. In today’s world, many people would have just copied your photo without permission, or letting any one know whose work they had copied.
You didn’t say, but I would have asked how much experience she had as an artist, maybe she’s just a beginner.
I also would have asked why she wanted to work from a photo rather than visiting the trading post herself, could be that she’s disabled or otherwise not able to get there. Depending on the circumstances, I may have cut her some slack. But if she were an “established” artist in any way, I would have turned her down flat as well.
However, in seeing some of the blogs out there, copying photos seems to be a growing trend among some so called artists. I would be ticked off if some one did a painted copy of one of my photos and sold the painting, when the market for photographs is as poor as it is. Like you said, artists are supposed to be artistic, why the trend towards copying photos I wonder?
Another trend I see that ticks me off are the bloggers who are posting other people’s photos, even if they put in their blog where the photos come from. It’s a dog eat dog world out there, and I fell like I’m wearing milkbone underwear at times.
Thanks for your comment, Jerry. The lady is actually a fine artist, pays a lot of attention to detail, etc. She had visited the trading post in earlier years, and had seen many photos. I think she could have painted what she wanted from any photo, and put her twist on it. Incidentally she is (or was) a friend of mine. 🙂
Well, then her only excuse is to try to achieve your level of artistic greatness!
Thanks 🙂
Also, imagine the embarrassment there would have been, if I had seen my photo dupiicated in paint at this show.
Omg believe it or not I had a hawk as pet when I was 11. I think it was a sparrow hawk. Looks a lot like the one in your photo. Just brought back memories of him..or she.
Thanks for the comment, Owl. This is an American Kestrel, often called the sparrow hawk. Glad I could bring back some memories for you. 🙂
Love the rant and the Cinnamon Teal!!
Thanks so very much, Rob.
Bob thank you for your comments..the copy realism has become a way of life in the art market. Even my flat work is original in thought and mind. I really appreciated your comment. Now your photos that you are entering, are beautiful ..that little hawk is absolutely marvelous. Your photos of the Cinnamon Teals are just gorgeous and the colors so rich. I hope you sell both of your photos..God Bless and have a terrific, tremendous Tuesday!!
Thank you so much, Syl. Please know that I think you are one of favorite true artists. I hope you have a super day, too. 🙂