view on taking a picture that some one else took

on the cover of outdoor photography is the picture of "double falls" in glacier park, well it actually isnt named that in the park there isnt a name for it, its an off trail site, however since i live near glacier, i wanted to go and see this for my self, i was inspired by that picture. so i spent 2 days hikeing up on logan pass, much to my happiness i found place where that picture was taken, now mine are no where near as good as his, but for some reason i feel like a copy cat taking that picture, granted it happens all the time, what are your guys' views on the thought, thanks.

All depends ... if you are a profesional ... then shame on you (if it is an exact copy). Same place but different technique ... who cares ... right.

If you are a not a professional, then go for it. Emulating (a better word than copy) a good photo is a great way to learn. I use to be a photo journalist, when I first started out in the biz a reporter told me that if there is a story I really admired, then sit down and keyboard the sucker out ... copy the story. While typing the story I sorta got into the writer's head and appreciated how he/she took the story and why. When I wrote subsequence stories I remember the techniques and implemented them into mine. Same-o with photography, shoot some green peppers, shoot the 'double-falls', shoot Marines hoisting the flag over a blood soaked island, it's all good.

What is important is that you shoot and that your photographic skills grow. Emulation is a great way for rapid growth. What you learn through emulation should be applied to your individualistic style and work.

I see two things you can do in this case.

1. Attempt to take the same picture so that you can see how it was done. Since the picture impressed you there are things you can learn by trying to take the same photo.

2. Attempt to photograph the same place in a new way. Find a new angle or a new item of interest in the same area. I've done this in places that have been photographed a million times in a million ways. We went to Niagara Falls last month and I already know that photo has been taken so I tried new angles and tried to see new things. And I took some of the same photo as well cause I couldn't resist.

2. Attempt to photograph the same place in a new way. Find a new angle or a new item of interest in the same area. I've done this in places that have been photographed a million times in a million ways. We went to Niagara Falls last month and I already know that photo has been taken so I tried new angles and tried to see new things. And I took some of the same photo as well cause I couldn't resist.[/QUOTE]

thats the way i see it too, i was going to take some other pictures when i was there, however it started raining,damn rain, thats one of the things i dont like about glacier, or didnt till this summer, i allwasy think that every picture in glacier has allready been taken, but i have changed my mind after my two days of wondering around pre sun up off of the trail.
the other aspect of this is that it would be one in a million to try to recreate the same picture, last time i went up there it was a great sun rise, but today it was cold windy and rainy, both mornings were near the same in town 35 miles away...
between diffrent water and snow amounts and the unperdicatalbe weather, it would be near imposable.

and emulate was the word i was going to use, but its been a long cold wet morning, didnt come out right.

I envy you living so close to Glacier. I wish to heck we could move out west.

i was thinking about this picture for along time, it hangs in a few local stores and they sell the poster at the visiters center in the park less than 2 miles from where it was taken,
i knew were to look and it still took me 2 days to find, i asked a slew of park rangers if they knew about this place and none of them had any idea of where it is, i can imagine that only a few hundred people have ever been there with the snow melted, they let you ski there when its snow packed, but when the snow melts they dont "like" people going there.

so yes i agree that i am lucky to live here, i have been thinking about that for the past year or so. the sad part is that a huge amount of people who live here never even get up to glacier, they take it forgranted that we live in such a lovely place.

I wouldnt sweat it... its nobodys waterfall to own, he has only the rights to HIS shot, you, only have yours!

Go shoot it again.... its there for you to enjot!
-zacker-

http://www.photography​-on-the.net …php?p=1719726#p​ost1719726
here is the link to the pictures.

Duplicating is a good way to learn - for your private collection. As long as you don' t take the picture for profit or enter it in a contest, I don't see a problem with it.

well i wasnt trying to duplicate the picture, i was only trying to take my own at the same location. i think i feel bad because there are very few from there, mabye only his that is any good.

even if you do enter it or sell it, the other guy has no exclusive rights to that spot, only that photo.. thats not to say it wouldnt be kinda weired to do that but, there is nothing that can stop him. Just like taking pics at a football game, everyone else, including the pros are also shooting.. Id say go back, camp out and get up before the sun, set up and just wait for that perfect timing when the sun light is really nice and rip off a few shots..
-zacker-

If you are inspired by a shot and want to duplicate it for yourself, go ahead. It maybe a great learning experience. Due to different time/lighting/techniqu​e, I'm sure there will be some difference. While you explore that spot, why not try shooting it with your own style?

I personally like having my own style but some shot do inspire me to get there and shoot the same subject from my own point of view and style.

Long as you are out and shooting, it's all good in my view.

I do this all the time for my personal photographs. If there is a particular shot I like - due to the lighting, the pose of the subject, the atmospheric quality of the shot - I try to figure out how to do the same shot myself. It's a great learning experience.

Mark

Even if he did choose to sell the picture, why would it be his fualt for taking a picture that he took with his skill and his camera.

I am sure that location has been taken NUMEROUS times before and i am sure the other person pictures is not as %100 original as they might like to think.

personally, if i could take a better picture and someone wants mine over their's, not my fault i am a better photographer and someone prefers my item over theres, same if someone took a picture of something i had done, and they got their sold and i didnt.


Kill or be killed.....

He has a copyright to his picture only. You were on public property (weren't you) so you can shoot anything you want. The picture would not be exactly the same anyhow, different day, clouds, trees blowing in the wind differently, water flow different, so it isn't the same. How many pics have you seen of the White House, Capitol, Empire State building, Niagara Falls, Old Faithful, Mt. Rushmore, etc. All the same, but different.

Shoot Away!