THE WATERMARK.....

Recent postings of my work contain "the watermark" as my attempt to protect myself, the models, and everyone involved from the misuse of the work. At first I didn't want to do "the watermark" but over the years I have seen more and more of my work and my fellow photography friends work slattered on websites and other paraphanalia that misrepresents myself and the models. As the use and misuse of the internet becomes more popular, I felt some effort of protection on my part is necessary.

I came up with a watermark that looks more like magazine credits to not take away from the work as art.

Today I saw a series of images I shot of a particular model who opt'd against using "the watermark" images on his facebook, myspace, modelmayhem and other internet pages. As I was resizing a set of images and adding the watermark I explained to him the importance of using "the watermark" versions. He totally disregarded my request and use larger non-watermark versions ...telling me that he was about the art and felt it was more artistic without "the watermark". He felt like my watermarking the images made them look like advertising and he want the shots to look like art. As my mom would say " he must think my name sammy sausage-head." i gave him the non-watermark versions so he could print them. His art belongs on his walls not on myspace and facebook. Who goes to myspace and facebook to look at art?

True enough if someone wants to steal the images bad enough they can remove the watermark off the images but if someone wants to steal your car or break into your house bad enough, they can pick the lock. What's the point of locking your door? Its always good to take some measure of precaution.

Allura Pulliam - one of the original girls I worked with in Memphis...

One of the models I shot told me he wished I had done "the watermarks" sooner because he saw images of himself plastered on gay event flyers during his last trip to Atlanta. I know I have seen images of other models on club flyers on the street here in New York.

This situation with this model and the experience has made me implement a series of new practices when working with people in reference posting images I have shot on the internet. Understand that I do see my work as art and value it as such but I definitely don't like being out and about and see my photographs on club flyers or surfing thru other people's blogs and websites and see my work in a misrepresentative manner.

Despite this one model's blatant disregard and lack of respect, I hope that the rest of the models I have worked with and work with in the future respect and adhere to posting "the watermark" versions on the internet....

Because this model has put myself and my work in a vulnerable state, I will never work with him again. He gets the middle finger from me.