Copyright?

The other day I had a short Twitter conversation with that amazing Tasmanian long exposure photographer Alex Wise. Alex was expressing his frustration at how someone had asked him about where he took his photos and then proceeded to visit the sites the make the same photo.

I responded by saying that you cannot copyright a location, otherwise all photographers should give up now for risk of copying another photographer. Alex countered by saying that people should at least bring their own creativity to the location instead of trying to make an exact copy. It’s true and I agree with that too.

Indeed, it was Alex’s photos of Cape DeSlacs that caused my visits to this location and recently another photographer I know recently took a photo in the exact same spot as my photo of Strickland Falls.

However, I hope as was the case for me, that seeing other people’s photos and going to the location is due to inspiration and not replication. I think it all comes down to the intention of the photo you are taking.

Is it unethical to rip off a location if you have asked the photographer where they took the photo and you attempt to repeat it in an attempt to sell it? Most definitely. But if you just want a happy snap, or some art for your wall I really cannot see the harm in it. You’ll never repeat the photo taken by the photographer, because you weren’t at that spot at the same time.

However by ripping off a photo you are only ripping off yourself. As Alex says, be creative with your photo. It’ll mean more to you knowing it is yours.