Capturing someone elses art in a photograph ??

There's a local "Photograph" contest in town .... I have a photograph of some "Street Art" that was captured in the same town. I don't know the artist, but would it seem improper to take a photo of his painted art on an alley door, and submit that in a photo competition ? It would include the wall, as well as the door with the art on it. I just feel funny about doing that, but is it any different than capturing grafitti ?? - Just need a little input..

tks

I think there's a line that you don't want to cross here. If the main subject is someone else's artwork, then I would suggest skipping the idea. If the main subject is something else and someone else's artwork just happens to be in the scene, then I would consider that as OK.

Just think about how you would feel if you took an amazing pictured, Had it printed and hanged your wall.

Then someone comes along with their iphone snaps a picture and enters it into a contest.

maverick75 wrote in post #15203340
Just think about how you would feel if you took an amazing pictured, Had it printed and hanged your wall.

Then someone comes along with their iphone snaps a picture and enters it into a contest.

My photograph is copywrited, is "Street Art" ?? Is Grafitti ? - I have already decided not to enter this photo, but it really brings up a question !! - I understand that an individual took a photograph of a L.V. Casino at night - the Casino sued and lost because he took the photograph "from" the street - in public view.

I guess I would ask what was different about your photo or the way you were portraying that artwork than the original artwork? If nothing, then do you think it would really do well in a competition?

ejenner wrote in post #15204228
I guess I would ask what was different about your photo or the way you were portraying that artwork than the original artwork? If nothing, then do you think it would really do well in a competition?

I think that's a great way to look at it. If the strength of the photo is primarily derived from someone else's artwork, then I think you have crossed the line and your work is really not your own (at least in the greater sense)

ottor wrote in post #15203850
My photograph is copywrited, is "Street Art" ?? Is Grafitti ? -

To answer the question simply, absolutely. The creator of the art work holds just as much ownership of that work as you do of your photograph. Things get a little fuzzier if the "street art" was created illegally while trespassing or defacing someone else's property.

jra wrote in post #15204477
I think that's a great way to look at it. If the strength of the photo is primarily derived from someone else's artwork, then I think you have crossed the line and your work is really not your own (at least in the greater sense)

Yeah, I agree too, it it's just the graffiti on its own, count it as a snapshot for personal use... It is public art after all. But if you actually want to claim it as something that you did instead of just pressing a shutter, then you'd have to be more creative like having some people posing in the shot or something else that doesn't have to do with just the graffiti.

I shoot other people's art professionally for a living, so I can't even show more than a small crop lest I get angry calls later if the artist finds out.

All the key issues have been covered here.
The art is copyright of its creator and simply submitting a photo of their creativity isn't demonstrating any of your creativity.
It would be less problematic if your resulting image was transformative - You created something more than just a documentary copy of the existing art.

Lastly regardless of the legal issues, you are entering a photo competition. Do you think the judges will really be impressed with a photo of someone else's creative work?

Graffiti is public art. Once the artist does it, he may own the concept, but the physical art belongs to the property owner (probably waiting with a bucket of paint to cover the "art").

You do no harm to the artist by making an image of it. The artist might even appreciate a good print or digital copy for him or herself. Your technique is probably what the teacher will be judging, but if you can find a way to make your own art of the art, you may impress teacher.