Lately there has been a lot of comment and additions to the article at PDN regarding the similarities of a several photographers work. I have chimed in previously on this with a post about my thoughts on the subject. I decide to do a little bit more research on the subject and it has some varied viewpoints by those commenting and authors.
When you consider copyright law and the possibility of a rights violation, it just doesn’t apply. None of the photographers are using previous works as their own. If you look at some of the images in question, you see similarities but then again each is unique. There is a question about the possibility that it may be plagiarism. I again don’t see any legal standing from my lay viewpoint since I am a photographer.
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First off if you look at things from a viewpoint of when Monet and Renoir sat side-by-side painting the same scene with very different results. Yes if you look at the paintings, they are similar but the colors are different. I can be seen how each artist or in this case a photographer (sorry not all are artists) definitely has a different eye for the scene than other photographers.
I find it sad that outside of, learning or influencing a photographer’s voice and artistic eye that they would use a similar work (that is similar to another photographers publish or displayed work). I find that is shows a lack of creativity and originality. If that means taking it to the next level as it should be, then why not do it? Instead, it seems being lazy is the way to go.
You can read more at Photo Ramblings, The Online Photographer or Chris Combs . I want to thank Jörg Colberg and his attention on the subject at his blog Conscientious.