talsit asked: What do you think about imitating someone's work? Flattery or theft? Or does it depend on whether it's credited or not?
Oof, this is a complex one.
I’m just gonna avoid the normal sayings that go along with this question (you’re thinking them as you read this anyway, yes?), and keep this specific to my work. I think the answer definitely varies depending on the art that’s being imitated, the level to which it’s being imitated (is it imitation, is it straight copying?), the intent in the imitation.
For my work, if someone’s imitating my style, be it technique or actual composition of my shots, that’s just fine. I’m not the first guy to take portraits of beautiful people using natural light, and I’m sure I won’t be the last. I like to think my work has a definite style, but I’d never assume I invented it, or have some patent on it.
I do like to think that it’s not necessarily easy to do what I do, but that actually feeds into me being okay with imitation. I think it’s a perfectly valid means at education to break down how & why someone takes certain pictures, try to replicate that as a way of furthering their own process.
As long as they don’t just go ahead and study the style, use it as their own and never progress beyond imitation. That’s neither fair to the original artist nor is it healthy for the imitator. Each artist’s style, that’s not just art, it’s their point of view, their unique perspective on the world. No person should want to imitate or copy another’s POV. It belittles their own, cheapens personal experience.
Now, credit? That’s a completely different story. I say, no matter what, it never hurts to credit the original artist. Keeps the imitator honest, it does.
SHORT PROGRAMMING NOTE: for those (3 or 4) folks who have sent me messages that are not questions? THANK YOU. Your kind words are much appreciated.
But I won’t be responding to them in public, only questions will be responded to. My narcissism only goes so far. But again, Thank you.
