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11/27/2017 01:21:14 AM · #1
Question, how do "we" as voters judge/score images that we have seen before out in the public domain, that have been "copied" (for lack of a better word) and entered into challenges?
Obviously not everyone has seen all pictures "out there", but if you have seen an image pretty much identical to the one in a challenge? How do you feel about that?
Personally I don't like it, it makes me angry and shows a lack of imagination (often a great deal of skill I may add, because some images are not that easy to copy IMO).

I have no problem with someone getting ideas for an image and adding their own flair / stamp on it, but copying it???

What do you feel? Am I just being over sensitive?
11/27/2017 03:14:47 AM · #2
Doesn't bother me and I give the benefit of the doubt that they may not have seen it. Many things you see out there are not original either. That said, vote how you want. If you want to punish them for what you perceive as plagiarism, then go ahead and slam a 1 down on their ass. But at least be courteous enough to leave a comment telling them why. :)
11/27/2017 09:12:48 AM · #3
My opinion: it's impossible to copy a photograph exactly by shooting another photo. Reality doesn't repeat itself. Curiously, it's also difficult to shoot a photo that's never been done before. It's impossible to know what the intent of the photographer was by looking at the photo. To make a judgement of copying, or any judgement at all, does not represent the best use of my time, so I don't.
11/27/2017 11:37:31 AM · #4
I have mixed feelings about this.

In the beginning, I thought that all ideas had to come from completely inside of myself. It was cheating looking for other ideas.

But that's kind of silly. Our ideas are conglomerates of our experiences and what we've seen/heard/felt/etc. So I started searching for ideas. Over the years, I've tried harder and harder to put my own spin on things.

However...

In the beginning, I greatly appreciated the opportunity of just copying something. So many times it wasn't the idea that was so incredible, it was the lighting, the technique, that was so impressive. I learned a HUGE amount by trying to accomplish it.

Water drops, wine glasses, etc., the skill is in the technique.

So now when I look for ideas, and then see someone here doing a direct copy of something I see in my searches, I think two things:

1. I wish they would have made it more their own.
2. Maybe they're in it for the experiment and the learning. And sometimes that, in itself, can be overwhelming enough on it's own. Trying to add a whole extra layer on top can get too difficult.

So while they might not get top points, for creativity, I don't squash the desire to learn and experiment.

That being said: I've also come up an idea and then seen the same exact thing when searching. And it feels awful that I think I have to change what was (or I thought was) an original idea because someone might vote it down.
11/27/2017 11:54:44 AM · #5
What Wendy said.

Also, we encourage voters to score based on the merits of the image their judging, in the context of the challenge.
11/27/2017 12:35:19 PM · #6
Originally posted by vawendy:

I've also come up an idea and then seen the same exact thing when searching. And it feels awful that I think I have to change what was (or I thought was) an original idea because someone might vote it down.

If you made your picture before seeing the other is is still completely "original" with you. That someone else had the same idea independently should in no way diminish its originality, though timing can make a difference if you're racing your competitor to the patent office.
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