Hey baby que paso? Augie Meyers still kickin

[Lefty Ray]

Here's Augie of Sir Douglas Quintet and Texas Tornados fame. This was at the Tex Mex Fest in Corpus Christi.

Before someone jumps on the ugly watermarks, I have related before how thievery is rampant in my music genre and unfortunately this is what I must do. Case in point, I am in Texas but someone holding a New Years Eve dance in Arizona used one of my images in their poster promoting their dance last month. Once I was alerted, I contacted the promoter and had a check for $500 overnighted to me. It was that or take down every poster they printed.

[pttenn]

Good shot, and i understand about the watermarks. That's why I don't post the exif data in my shots. :)
Karen

[DwightMcCann]

Lefty, those are ugly watermarks, Dude, and it will take me a long time to PS them out for my poster! I leave EXIF and IPTC data in all my images as it helps protect me. Love it when you catch 'em with theirs hands in the cookie jar! :lol:

[DDCSD]

At least they sent the check out, I guess. Looks good Lefty.

Karen, why not leave the EXIF intact? I would think it would be best to leave it in?

[René Damkot]

Actually, I'm more bothered by the 'star filter' in the BG.
Not my thing I guess.

Apart from that, nice image (as far as I can see through the watermarks :p)

I also don't see what stripping EXIF has to do with stealing of images.

[Riff Raff]

Good lord. I guess that might be good enough if you're just showing a proof to someone online, but it seems pointless posting an image with that level of watermarking in a photo sharing forum. Hell, even his eye is watermarked.

[DwightMcCann]

Good lord. I guess that might be good enough if you're just showing a proof to someone online, but it seems pointless posting an image with that level of watermarking in a photo sharing forum. Hell, even his eye is watermarked.

Without even getting Lefty involved, consider that he is probably hosting the image on his website, not specifically for here, and that he has had several images used without permission (as have I) and that if you want potential clients to see what you do there is very little choice. It is not the same as showing pictures of wives, models, girlfriends, ducks, pets, etc., as the people Lefty shoots are well known (even if not by you) and venues are always trying to use his images for free by simply not telling him they are using them. And Lefty posts a lot of images without these watermarks when they are not as likely to be appropriated. So how about giving Lefty the benefit of the doubt that he knows what he is doing and doesn't just have a huge ego ... I mean, yes, he does have a huge ego, but that's because he does such amazing work.

[Riff Raff]

Oh I'm familiar with Augie Meyers, alright. It's impossible to grow up in San Antonio and not be familiar with him. :lol: I understand the reasoning, and am fortunate that I don't have to worry about it (i.e. people only really borrow my photos to put on their MySpace/LiveJournal/whatever profiles). I'm just saying that it seems like an odd duck in a photo sharing forum, since the photo isn't really being "shared" much.

[johnstoy]

Hey Lefty... too bad they are stealing that occasional pic... You gotta do, what you gotta do...

This image is basically pleasant to the eye and makes for a nice promo shot...

The fake star lights are kind of tacky from a photographer's perspective... As for poster art, it's not too bad...

Regarding photo sharing... Riff Raff makes a valid point... It's past the point of *IMAGE EDITING OK*... But you are sharing it with us to enjoy... You get no argument's from me...

The house should be rockin'... Rock on!

[Lefty Ray]

Dwight is right, a majority of what I post here comes from my website so rather than duplicate another version of an image I just go with the watermarked one. My website is pretty popular in this genre so that is where the thefts originate. I even have a offer to reward people if the spot an unauthorized image of mine. This works very well as I was alerted to the Arizona case I mentioned above by someone familiar with my policy. I ended up $500 richer and they were rewarded too.

I used to place a single copyright notice down in one of the corners, but most thieves just crop it off. This happened last year when the state of Texas used one of my shots on the State Fair of Texas website.

Another example is when I visited a popular DJ in Corpus. He had a lot of Tejano music memoribilia in his office and on his walls including deskjet printer prints of a lot of my work which had the full page watermarks on it. The prints were crappy (600x400 pixels) but he had them plastered all over. I just shook my head and made a mental note to not include him in future dealings.

As far as myspace, websites, etc, I sell images to bands so this is a profitable avenue and should not be ignored. If you value your work, do NOT give it away. At least trade for something.

The star lights are not fake. Ocassionally I use a Hoya Star 8 filter and this is one instance of its use. The sound and light people are friends of mine and possible future clients as they like to showcase their capabilities to other venues and promoters. Here is another example from the Las vegas stop of this tour. Same light and sound crew.
http://www.leftyray.com/images/Tex-Mex-Fest__4817StageB.jpg

[DwightMcCann]

Yeah, well, when I come to San Antonio you are going to have to take me to some concerts!

[Lefty Ray]

bring your koozie, cowboy hat, and silencer (aka lens hood)

[DwightMcCann]

bring your koozie, cowboy hat, and silencer (aka lens hood)

If I get out there I'll get your help to get the right outfit! I already have the equipment! :-)

[ktcmojo]

youll love san antonio dwight..............im from austin
lefty those are some tight shots of augie..........i went to school in san marcos and used to see him at the too bitter on the square all the time back in about 76 or so!
wish i could be there with you guys cuz i know that could turn into a lethal combination..........lol
put your bail money in your boot-

:lol: