Flattery: Imitation

To all the critics: ever heard of the cover version of a song? Or Elvis imitators?

Original shot: Gaze will never be the same.
Good intent!.

This is a very good photo and it matches greatly the philosophy of the contest: "Good artists copy. Great artists steal."
I can't understand what is all the fuss about it. And most of all I can't understand why all those who attack you have never posted a single photo at a dpreview contest. Maybe they are afraid that someone will steal their masterpieces... hahaha

Great job elfving73

I'm going to copy your portfolio photos, summit them at a contest in Malaysia and get the buzz for it.

An then I'm going to copy all your answers in your Ph.D. final exam because is an honor and a learning experience to imitate you.
LOL...!!

Please I'm just philosophizing...I really like your copy!
" You are a winner "
Ps. Be prepare to take the heat, because heat is a sign that you have something special!

I think I may have been the first one to make a comment on your pic, and I stand by it.
You do not have to explain yourself, as you did what was asked of you and ...YOU WON!
Ha.Ha.Ha. to all the critics.

A very thoughtful reply Mattias. That should put the harassment to sleep ;-)

Congrats on a fine win.
--
AEH
http://aehass.zenfolio.com/
Question: What do you do all week?
Answer: Mon to Fri. Nothing, Sat & Sun I rest!

I find the picture ironic more than anything. The old picture was taken in afghanistan in a time far from now. A time when women and girls were under control of a society which forbid them from wearing makeup or looking seductive and now this replica shows a slightly older girl with make up and looking a little seductivly into the camera. It may be a replica but also with the times taken into consideration.

Allrighty then! First of all, I'd like to assure you guys, that I don't feel any need what so ever to explain or excuse myself. I don't feel bad, and I don't get upset at all, reading all this harsh "criticism" and ranting. Yet, I'd like to say (write) a few words.
The idea of doing this plagiarise was just a sudden whim. My friend Johanna stopped by at my place one day, for a casual photosession. We fired away, but soon we ran out of inspiration, it was just one of thouse days. I told Johanna that sure, casually shooting away from pure improvisation time to time yields good pictures, but having some sort of basic "idea" what you want to achieve is the way to go if you want really great pictures.
I told her that before next photosession, look in magazines, get inspired, borrow some, or even "steal" ideas. I grabbed a bunch of magazines I had laying around, we sat down and thumbed them through. In the bunch, I had an issue of Geographic's "Greatest Photos". As we caught site of the picture of Sharbat Gula, I got this, in lack of anything better to do, idea of plagiarise "The Afghan Girl". So we did. And it was never meant more seriously than just for the fun and challenge of it, and I never had a plan to post this picture anywhere. Yet, later on, I felt that I wanted to put it on one of my photo sites. But I didn't feel quite good about it, so before I did, I wrote a mail to Steve McCurry, with the picture attached, asking humbly for his promission, and told him that if it wasn't okay with him, I would discard the picture. It didn't take long before I got a reply, not from Steve, but from his secretary. She told me that Steve had seen the picture, and that he was okay with it. So, I posted it on my photo site, and eventually here, in this challenge.

I hear what you say, and I do respect your opinion, but I have my own values, and I do what I do, based upon that!

Regards / Mattias

What was the title of the challenge again?

There was no attempt to hide the fact that this was an imitation. There i really no problem here. In fact, what mitigates this entry even more is that, while the photo captures the 'look' of the original, no attempt was made, or even possible, to capture the fear and anguish, not to mention the age, of the Afghan Girl.

As an artist I would like to be remembered as the 1st place winner by original work.
As a serious photographer there comes the time when we have to draw the line. That why I din't enter this contest... is not creative.
Please don't get me wrong I love this copy!

> the challenge is about imitating the shot that inspires you, True indeed that plagiarism is not good for us photographers...but if it is what the challenge requires and in the process makes you more skillful then why not?

That still does not make it right. This 'challenge' should never have happened in the first place.

pla·gia·rism [pley-juh-riz-uh m, -jee-uh-riz-]
-noun
1. the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work.
2. something used and represented in this manner.
Origin: 1615–25; plagiar(y) + -ism

dp review should be pushing for creativity and originality.
It on thing to draw inspiration from others .... another to copy.
I'm sure all who entered this contest did so with the best intentions.
I've been in business over 20 years if another photographer copied one of my works I wouldn't be flattered rather the opposite.

Wrong like pasting Britney Spears or Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber into the Mona Lisa's face.

Wrong like what one of the photo magazines did several years ago by removing all the wrinkles and doing a PS beauty makeover to the Migrant Farm Mother in Dorothea Lange's famous Depression era photo. Or Turner Networks' colorizing of Casablanca. Some things should just not be tampered with.

Are the eyes of the model re-colored?

She is neither Afghan nor Girl, Emotions in original picture are priceless. Steve McCurry do not capture pose or background, he captures Life.

If we see both original and this picture side by side, you have done excellent work to replicate. Although I have voted this Image as best in this challenge but my Original vote will go for Original Photographer.

For you "Excellent work!".

... and that, my friends, is the point of this challenge. Do you have the skills to re-create a great work of art? There is no plagiarism as no one is passing off another person's work as their own. There is no copyright "theft" as this image is not the original (and would likely be covered under fair use even if it was).

That quote, by the way, is a paraphrasing of one of the 20th century's most prolific, and profitable, artists.

It's also worth noting that all creative work is derivative ... and this excellent video does a nice job of illustrating that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcvd5JZkUXY

Not commenting on the merits of the shot itself ( I did not vote for this challenge), but when it is stated in the rules:

"Show us your best effort recreating a great image."

why all this hatemail. I do not see the winner trying to sell the image with the intent of "stealing" someones intellectual property. And he/she states clearly this is intended "plagiarising".

Cheers

Indeed an imitation. But in honour of... The photographer does not make a secret of that. It reminds us of history, and of the history of photography. The portrait itself is technically very well made. It is a symbol and not a copy of the original: the major difference is that the agony is missing. Regards, Filip.

Really; some people take intellectual property seriously; like Steve McCurry and Magnum.

not even it lacks all the spirit of original image, but it also really is STEALING somebody elses work. I wouldn't allow to publish photos like this on photowebite.
Sorry, but it really made me mad when I saw this photo.

This image grabed an early lead in the voting, and it's no wonder. Awesome re-creation of one of National Geographics' most famous covers. A well-deserved first place finish.

the challenge is about imitating the shot that inspires you, True indeed that plagiarism is not good for us photographers...but if it is what the challenge requires and in the process makes you more skillful then why not?

Plagiarism. Akin to using tripod holes of other photographers. Like using someone's else imagination!

Or like copying a great painting: would one win a first place for doing so? I don't think so.

Thank you very much, Bruce! :)

Thanx! :O)

The backdrop was solid green, and I positioned the model ca 4 meters from the backdrop. Then in post process, I painted the dark stripes and made them blurry with Gaussian blur, hence the illusion of backdrop OOF.

dopey question from a noob: how is the backdrop out of focus if this picture was taken at F14 ? I'm gradually improving my photography and thought you need a wide-open aperture to get that effect.

impressive !!

'The IKEA Girl' emoticon - grin

'The IKEA Girl' :D