WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO

Photomontages are fun to do, and I'm not against them. But there are some considerations that must be made in particular now-a-days where it's way too easy to grab images of all sort  from the Internet, including stock photography, and assemble them into a creative photomontage. But there are some issues with that simplistic approach, issues that you should be aware of:

  • Originality, meaning : working with your own photos, is still the best way to go.
  • A portfolio that contains an overtly large number of photos taken from the Internet may send the wrong message to its viewers, the message that its author can and will grab anything from the Internet, regardless of the consequences, whatever those may be.
  • This "grabbing" approach doesn't present a problem if the photomontages are done for non profit or educational purposed. But it can become a mayor problem if it's implemented commercially. I'm not an expert in the legal implications of using photography which is not your own. All i can tell you is: beware.

Slim Boot Jeans by American Eagle Outfitters.

 The reason why I grabbed the Slim Boot Jeans photo because the leg's pose fitted very closely that of the David. That match was essential in making my photomontage work effectively.

Even thought, in the picture here to the left, you may not recognize those particular jeans brand name, nor the web site they came from, my grabbing them from the internet was not the right thing to do.

I may get away with it in this situation because this page was not created for commercial purposes.

 

 

"David wearing jeans", by Giulio Porta 2010.

It's very unlikely that both the city of Florence, and the author of this photograph of Michelangelo' David, will come after me and sue me for copyright infringement. But there more issues and considerations that should be dealt with:

  • If any one can get on the Internet and accidentally use the same photos, wouldn't be embarrassing if that would actually happen. I have actually seen it happen as some folks will al grab the first image they bump into from the very first same site the visit.
  • One more final consideration. When you look at mine "David wearing jeans" photomontage, do you recognize it as something I could have done? Obviously not. What's worse is that it could have been grabbed from the internet in its entirety as it appear here.

Conclusion: it would always be best if your own photography would be routinely used in creating photomontages like the David with wearing jeans. Exactly to what extent it may be used, it depends on the purpose and role of your photomontage.