This past week many competitors were given the opportunity to view the 2015 Southwest District image competition. Isn’t technology a wonderful thing? For two days we could sit in the living room with our feet up and listen in on one of the best educational resources available. Many just listened in while they went about their daily office work – what a convenience! I chose the “feet up” option, myself. 😉
And now that the competition is over and we’re waiting for the final results that include names and scores, because face it – we want to see exactly WHO some of these incredible artists are – we’re excited. And inspired.
Inspiration is groovy as heck. And after watching hundreds of images rotate through the judging panels, sometimes we get on a little bit of overload and find that the inspiration meter needs re-calibrated.
Eh?
Slow down. Think about what you’ve seen. Before you rush off and start calling models and arranging hair and makeup artists and renting cool locations and props – think about what you are doing. And trying to do.
Inspiration is fine. Duplication is not.
Take care with your inspiration. As artists, we want to stretch our creativity and explore new concepts. Putting our own spin on an amazing image is fine, but duplicating someone else’s concept is not.
If you want to get into the nitty-gritty black and white rule portion of it – here’s what the PPA has to say*:
Any entry that has been reproduced from an existing photograph, portrait, graphic or any other artwork produced by another person is a violation of the competition rules and will not be judged, accepted or displayed. If an entry, in the good-faith opinion of the Photographic Exhibition Committee, violates copyright, trademark or any other applicable law, that entry shall be disqualified.
Just bear in mind that in addition to being creative technical storytellers, we should also be ethical. If you ever have any question about whether your image/concept might be violating this rule, ask for help from the PPA or check with a PPA Affiliated Judge.
The fact that you’re wondering may be an indicator that you’re treading onto thin ice and you may just want to proceed with a different concept, instead. Better safe than sorry, right?
Seriously, this is one lesson you do not want to learn the hard way. You and your reputation as a competitor will suffer.
Now, go forth and create!
* from the “Eligibility” section of the 2015 Northeast District rules: http://www.ppa.com/files/pdfs/2015_northeastdistrict_porules.pdf