Inspired By Someone - Street Artists vs. Street Art Photographers

Hmm.  Interesting situation here.

Awhile ago, street artist Casio hit the sidewalks with a stencil saying 'Inspire Someone'.

Some time later, a photographer came along and took a photo of Casio's 'Inspire Someone' piece while wearing red shoes . . . aaaand standing right over Casio's name.

Then, the photographer printed out an 8.5x11 color print of the image, and at the bottom of the print are advertisements for the photographer's services, and a quote that is less about inspiring someone else as it is what inspired the photographer saying "When people ask what equipment I use, I tell them my eyes".

Eh, there has been a lot of recent tension recently concerning street art vs. street art photography.  After all, if a street art photographer takes a pic of a street art piece, who owns the rights, the artist or the photographer?

It's a tricky question with no clear answers.  For many, it may determine the side you are on if you are a street artist, or a street art photographer.

After spending so much time on the streets taking pictures, M&F's professional opinion is that if the photo is just a close up picture of the art, then the rights should probably belong to the street artist.  But if a street art photographer takes a picture that captures a scene, that is, adding more elements to the photo than any specific art piece itself, then those rights should belong to the street art photographer.  Once again, that's just our opinion, which is probably worth what was just paid for it.

As for this piece, it was a disappointment.  When it popped out, the image looked like art, with some inspiration added in.  But there is nothing inspiring about this advertisement.  As a street art lover, its disappointing to see a street art photographer take credit for a street artist's creation, and the ultimate unfortunate irony is that the photographer is doing so while standing over the actual artist's name.  Give credit where credit is due.  One is out there truly inspiring, and the other one is attempting to make money off of that inspiration.

Have respect.  And to all street artists and street art photographers, stay up!

Street Art Photographers

Bankrupt Slut used to like street art until meeting street art photographers.

Lol.

Riding on Melrose in front of a giant advertisement.  However, it is worth noting that the ad is hang painted, not a printed piece of work.  Impressive, because it is so realistic that it looks almost too perfect to be hand painted--yet it is.

Photographers Selling Street Art Photography

M&F has been covering a host of ongoing stories recently pertaining to street art getting stolen, and often resold, almost always without compensating the original street artist.

Well, here is a website just sent in by a M&F follower.  The website is selling photography of street art pieces.

Street artists, and we tend to agree with this mode of thought, believe that it is inherently wrong to take photos of street art and then sell those photos.  It would seem that the main art is not in the act of the photo, but in the subject art of the photo itself.

On the other hand, street artists, and perhaps street libertarians would argue that once an image goes up on the streets, it is fair game.

As far as legal finesse goes, it would seem that if a street art were to copyright their image, one would have legal recourse against someone blatantly selling photos of your artwork, like this site here.  However, in the real world of the streets, anything you put out there can be treated however the photographer decides to treat it.

Wonder if this will have the most effect on the fine art mural genre of street art?

What do folks in the community think?  Right? or Wrong?  Or is it a gray area?



***Big thanks to Thrashbird for scoping this story and sending it in***

Can You Identify This Bird?

This bird gets up all over Los Angeles.

And thanks to the pic from LA's venerable Art Queen, who says that she has also seen this bird migrate around Los Angeles.

Can anyone identify the artist name of this bird?

Downtown LA on Melrose

Another photograph from Kaid Ashton on Melrose.

Think this shot is taken from downtown Los Angeles, and downtown LA made its way up to Melrose.

Dig it~

More Photographers than Artists

The Cobrasnake Gets Trashed

Actually, even though The Cobrasnake is the original and top party photographer in the game, he doesn't get trashed to do it.

The Cobrasnake doesn't have to drink to party, he simply brings the party, like to this little spot here~

(Also notice the De La Barracuda sticker on the Range Rover in the background)