in the spirit of the creative commons
A few weeks ago, I took the day off and went to the Huntington Library with my wife. While I was there, I took this picture of the bridge in the Japanese garden, which I'm quite fond of (the picture and the garden.)
Today at Flickr, I saw that user vertigo25 took advantage of my Creative Commons License to use my photo as the subject in his own fake miniature photography that I first saw on boingboing back in January.
I mention this because the "miniature" photo is really, really cool, and I wanted to share it with the Intertubes, and because it's a good example of why the Creative Commons license is so cool and useful. The "miniature" photo was done exactly in the spirit of the Commons: "Here, I made this thing. Why don't you make something cool with it?"
vertigo25's "miniature" is released under the same Creative Commons license. Why don't you make something cool with it?
That is completely in the spirit of not only creative commons, but just good photoshop community sharing and ettiquette...and skills. :)
Unfortunately what usually happens to my husband, who's a skinner, is that they'll just completely rip off the work, and upload it somewhere else with their name on it.
There was even a software developer who did that for use with his own software. He even posted a page stating why it was ok to steal it (his defence was, we're in different countries and they've admitted they can't fight it, so if it's not that important to them, I can just take it).
That was just one lunatic, but the sad thing was he had people defending him in teh great forum wars. It ended in him taking it down, but there are still others, and complaing to their web hosts does squat nothing.
However creative commons or not, if someone comes along and emails "Hey, I did this with your work, what do you think?" My husband either gives permission happily right off, or helps them make it something nice to give permission to post. :)
Posted by: Plainsong | October 19, 2006 at 04:47 PM
That was done with your picture? It's not a real miniature?
Posted by: VeronicaRobinson | October 19, 2006 at 05:46 PM
Thanks for the plug, Wil.
I've been a big fan of the Commons and Lessig and that crowd for quite awhile, but I'm guilty of not letting enough of my stuff into the wild. I should do it a lot more.
I think the scenario Plainsong talks about is common amongst creatives on the web. I think most people would be both complimented and amiable when people ask to use their work. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen that often. It's so easy to "swipe" things off of a site, too many people don't even think about what they're doing.
That's why the CC symbols are so important. They give an immediate notice that says, "Sure, you can use this image. Just follow a few simple rules."
It's funny, because I think you get this unintended second benefit that people *do* contact you about using you stuff when you've put it under the Commons. I guess it gives them pause; makes them a bit grateful.
At any rate...
You're aces for sharing all of your stuff Wil. Just so you know, this has encouraged me to open up more of my stuff.
Posted by: andy | October 19, 2006 at 06:45 PM
The miniature is down right impressive. I had to take a double, and triple take just to make sure that it was really a miniature. My hats off to the miniature maker!
Posted by: ncamp | October 19, 2006 at 07:10 PM
Wow...that's quite impressive. I could never have the patience or creativity for that type of work. That's astounding.
Posted by: Rachel | October 19, 2006 at 07:27 PM
I thought that that pic as well severl of the others from your trip to the "library" were great. However, this rendition was quite cool, as well as your willingness to share with it others, allowing them the opportunity to use their techniques, and us to appreciate them. Congratulations to all involved, since it wouldn't have occurred without the original picture-taker. Keep up the great work!
GDI
Posted by: GDISTORM | October 19, 2006 at 07:58 PM
That is SO incredibly cool. I am so amazed at the talent that we get to see thanks to the internet.
Posted by: jhankins | October 20, 2006 at 08:36 AM
Wow, vertigo25 really pi$$ed you off, didn't he?
Posted by: oedipuscomplextrekfannumbertenmillion | October 20, 2006 at 08:41 AM
Wow, vertigo25 really pi$$ed you off, didn't he?
Uh, no. Why do you say that?
Posted by: Wil | October 20, 2006 at 09:09 AM
The detail scares me and makes my jaw drop with awe!!
Fabulous
Posted by: Nita | October 20, 2006 at 09:14 AM
Okay, for those of you who think these are actual miniatures, and unless I'm missing something massive: they aren't. They're photographs snapped with a technique that fools the eye into thinking they're miniatures. I have no idea how it works, but it's one of the most amazing things I've seen in a loooong time.
The version of Wil's pic was, if I understand correctly, a digital process applied to the photo which mimics the photographic trick used in the guy's other pics.
I suggest following the links. There's some amazing work.
Posted by: Wedgeski | October 20, 2006 at 11:37 AM
This is so awesome! I totally want to try it now. I would never have known about all this tilt-shift business without this post--thanks Wil!
Posted by: R | October 20, 2006 at 11:42 AM
I wonder what this technique would look like if applied to another random type of photography like I don't know, hmm, let me pick a random genre...pornography.
Posted by: Mrhaines | October 20, 2006 at 01:49 PM
That was so cool. I saw his other work, it was amazing. He made a scoccer field full of real players look like minitures.
Posted by: Kornham | October 20, 2006 at 07:30 PM
Wow, vertigo25 really pi$$ed you off, didn't he?
Uh, no. Why do you say that?
Posted by: Wil | October 20, 2006 at 09:09 AM
It just sounded to me like you were annoyed with him. Thinking about it, I guess it was the use of emphasis in the last line of your post. Oh well, hazards of the written medium -- can't see facial features of hear tones of voice.
Amazing that people get as much right as they do when using the written medium only. I guess I got some exercise anyway, jumping to a conclusion...
Posted by: oedipuscomplextrekfannumbertenmillion | October 20, 2006 at 08:13 PM
I read it as friendly. But then I've been thinking for a while that one of those library pics would make a good painting. Usually I use my own digital photos to paint from but since wil is sharing....i like that bridge. The one I'm doing now is a grape covered bridge in Davis over the the water. This bridge just seemed like a good compliment.
Posted by: amber | October 21, 2006 at 12:25 AM
Wil,
I noticed some of your most recent album picks. I recently picked up a copy of Sting's latest: Songs from the Labyrinth. It's really worth listening to. Oh yeah: TOOL's 10K Days is on my list as well.
Posted by: LTHeath | October 21, 2006 at 08:29 PM
Wil,
Thank you for giving me more great art, with so little time.
FG
Posted by: FABIAN | October 21, 2006 at 09:37 PM
The Huntington gardens are so cool. When I lived in LA, I visited a few times on their monthly free day to photograph the grounds.
Here's a link to a
fake model tutorial for anyone interested. I've tried it a few times, but I love the results vertigo25 got here. Great job!
Posted by: claire | October 22, 2006 at 09:56 PM
If you are ever on the East Coast, visit Brookgreen Gardens in Litchfield, SC. It was started by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. Archer was the son (or was it nephew?) of Henry Huntington who is responsible for this library. Brookgreen is amazingly beautiful as well.
Posted by: Stacy | October 23, 2006 at 05:05 AM
So cool! I am a HUGE Paint Shop fanatic and I loved this photo when I first saw it. Since you offered, I think I will "play" and see what I can come up with - nothing as gorgeous as this, I am sure :)
Posted by: cryssyer | October 24, 2006 at 02:34 PM