|
Forums >
General Industry >
Are all 'famous' photographers this catty???
The strangest thing just happened to me. A well known photographer just called my cell phone. Not too long ago I posted a blog giving all sorts of props to a very well known photographer and I refered people to his website. There was a short list of links directing people to specific areas of his site. In an effort to be helpful, I used this list of about 15 or so links to refer people to the specific areas of his site. They were just links. Thats it. Not the actual content they were referring to. Keep in mind that I get several thousand visitors to my blog each week. I'm sure because of this, he got a little bit of traffic from me. To my surprise, I got a personal phone call from this photographer to my cell phone this morning: "Hi Tony. My name is ___________ the photographer. You probably recognize my name. ..." I was pretty pleasantly surprised to get a call from such a great photographer, but then to my astonishiment he went on to completely rip me a new a-hole about my blog referring traffic to his site. I couldn't believe it. This guy went through all the trouble of reading through the content of my MySpace profile (he quoted parts of it) and then must have put in a serious bit of effort to research who I was and find my cell phone number to personally call me and bitch me out. And for what? For complimenting him and referring traffic to his website. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????? To be fair, his argument was that I was infringing on his copyright by posting the links for his site and I didn't have the right to do it. However, I pointed out that they were just links to his content and not the content. It was barely 15 or so links. Regardless, I sincerely apologized to him and said that I would immediately modify the blog or remove it alltogether and again I mentioned that I was just trying to give him props and refer him traffic. He went on to imply all sorts of threats to me, including shutting down my site and so on and so forth. I did what I could to apologize and I immediately modified my blog. Wow. I'm flabbergasted. I'm just little 'ol me. To have someone of this stature read through all my stuff, and painstakingly research me to find my cell phone number and then call me personally to rip on me - for publically giving him props and referring traffic to his site??? What was that all about??? That's probably the only and last time I will publically give props to a well known photographer. Geeeeeez. Aug 23 06 09:39 am Link I dont know, I can kinda see it, no offense. A guy gets into an enviable position, has some cachet value, is a player. I'm not sure he necessarily wants to associate with people at another level on a myspace page, again no offense to you. I'd think its remotely related to a model who wants to trade up in their associations and caliber of work -- when you've reached a certain level you want to project and protect that image and continue working towards a higher level. Its kind of a step back to appear as if you're connected to someone whose work isnt at your level. His approach sounded snotty but maybe he's had prior experience and felt he had to come on strong to be taken seriously. Or maybe he's just a dick. Could go either way. Aug 23 06 09:44 am Link please, the worst are fashion photographers. little prissies all. closet dwellers all. but , come on, this business is EGO and vanity.. what do you expect ? Aug 23 06 09:44 am Link UnoMundo Photography wrote: Maybe just good manners? Aug 23 06 09:48 am Link I have had an experience with a WELL known artist out of L.A. (figures).... Let's just say after a phone conversation of this guy speaking about himself in the 3rd person along with making numerous arrogant statements I decided not to. On the other hand, I worked with Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell who are far from arrogant and catty. It depends but if they live in Los Angeles ....  Aug 23 06 09:48 am Link DarioImpiniPhotography wrote: Dario, what you say makes sense to a degree. But come on, if you have someone complimenting your work that's all it is. So this photographer took the time to hunt down one of his "fans" because he didn't like his work? Nah, personally I think he was just a dick. Aug 23 06 09:48 am Link Sounds to me like the guy is a legend...................in his own mind. Aug 23 06 09:54 am Link Yeah he was a dick, but did he want a bunch of people from myspace comin by? Aug 23 06 09:55 am Link Colford Studios wrote: I agree. I think your analysis was as insightful and in-depth as it needs to be. Aug 23 06 09:56 am Link no, most famous photographers are cool....if they feel like you are approaching them at their level. The worst in my experience are the ones who have tasted fame but do not and never will have the ability to truly 'make it' to whereever they want to go. But then again, I am a legend in my own mind and self absorbed, so I tend to be oblivious to these things. Aug 23 06 09:59 am Link Consider that since you are also a (lesser known) photographer, he may have felt that through your linking to his site you were inadvertantly trying to coat-tail and make people assume affiliations that don't exist. You should always ask first. Aug 23 06 09:59 am Link Justin N Lane wrote: Justin, will you shoot me naked? Just asking. Aug 23 06 10:00 am Link I see. MySpace makes some people jerks.  I am an ex of MySpace. I am free as a bird.  Aug 23 06 10:02 am Link I don't like myspace. There is even a term my friends told me about called myspacery, which refers to the drama surrounding being on there. I, like everyone else on the planet, have a profile there, but I think it has had less than 400 views, which is fine by me. I have to go there and read some blogs and respond to some friend requests though, but I keep putting it off. Aug 23 06 10:04 am Link I could be wrong and not up to technology today, but doesn't it cost something for bandwidth? And maybe his servers got glutted up with the extraneous traffic? Or maybe he just felt the type of traffic he was getting wasn't going to do him any good, anyway. Aug 23 06 10:04 am Link Hadyn Lassiter wrote: I have hundreds of models and photogrphers in my network there. This guy is trying to sell his books. So my answer to you would be "Sure. They are potential buyers." Aug 23 06 10:05 am Link If you wanna find out how "catty" some of the pros really can be...buy the new American Photo magazine and read the section on "Assistants" and their horror stories working for the pros, including, Annie Liebovitz. Now I know why I will "never" be an assistant. Aug 23 06 10:07 am Link Lapis wrote: Of course I'll shoot you naked, what a silly question Aug 23 06 10:08 am Link Hadyn Lassiter wrote: If he didn't, too friggin' bad. It's the Internet, not a gallery showing where the door guy can decide who gets in and who stays on the sidewalk. If he wants to control who accesses his website, password protect the content and only give the password to your Cool Friends Club. Aug 23 06 10:08 am Link he sounds like an idiot. Stephen Eastwood http://www.Photographersportfolio.com http://www.StephenEastwood.com http://www.NYPhotographics.com 718 591 1218 Aug 23 06 10:08 am Link It's the whole Myspace stigma. A lot of people don't think highly of Myspace. I'm sure if it was a blog on your personal website or even here on MM, it would be different, cause then you aren't associating anyone with Myspace. You didn't do anything wrong. Posting links to his site is not copyright infringement. And you took them all down, so he has no argument. Aug 23 06 10:09 am Link i know i am always pleased to find someone attempting to elevate their own reputation by usurping my work or the cache associated with having done what i've done. i'm doubly thrilled to be exposed to the theft-happy, coddled and totally irrelevant audience myspace would afford. but mostly, i like to be kissed first. Aug 23 06 10:09 am Link Is posting a link a copyright infringement? Really? If I'm walking down the street and I overhear two people say they are looking for a good martini, should I go ask my favorite barkeep if it's OK to send them his way? Agree with the myspace comment, heck, look at mine http://www.myspace.com/chipmorton but really, maybe this guy should have a members only site. Eff him. Aug 23 06 10:10 am Link NYPHOTOGRAPHICS wrote: Is this permission for us to blog about you on Myspace? Cause, I'll totally do it, yo. Aug 23 06 10:10 am Link UnoMundo Photography wrote: That's not a valid statement. Aug 23 06 10:10 am Link weirdo..... Aug 23 06 10:12 am Link Howard Garcia wrote: He didn't mean you- he meant fashion photographers. Aug 23 06 10:13 am Link Mayanlee wrote: I think he just didn't like the "quality" of the traffic he was getting from the links on MySpace. Bandwidth for the most part is cheap and and if he is THAT well known, his servers can handle it. Sounds like "egotistical dickhead" sums it up best. Aug 23 06 10:15 am Link Thermogenic Photography wrote: You can give props to me. Aug 23 06 10:15 am Link DigitalCMH wrote: That was brutal. Aug 23 06 10:17 am Link "MySpace stigma"??? That would be the pot calling the kettle black. I have to tell you, I find just as much drama and far more predatory behavior on other networking sites (I dare not say here). Aug 23 06 10:17 am Link Model Sarah wrote:
Aug 23 06 10:17 am Link Lapis wrote: You want to see some myspacery? Try dating someone in your top 8 and then changing their position for one reason or another...the torrent of bullshit that ensues is amazing! Aug 23 06 10:19 am Link DawnElizabeth Moderator wrote: But a good idea!!! Justin N Lane wrote: Now THAT is a modern problem! Aug 23 06 10:19 am Link Hadyn Lassiter wrote: Who cares where people come from. Isn't it about the money? Aug 23 06 10:21 am Link Hell no. My boyfriend is in a Grammy award winning band, so I spend time with several very well known rock photographers and NONE of those guys would be so petty or even spend the time to track you down. Most of them would be appreciative and flattered. At the VERY least you might get a brief email asking you to "cease and desist." The guy sounds like a total bitch to me. His work is probably the best thing about him. Aug 23 06 10:22 am Link Miss Nicole wrote: Slipknot? Aug 23 06 10:23 am Link Lapis wrote: That is actually funny. Aug 23 06 10:24 am Link Howard Garcia wrote: especially those touchy sensitve NY ego driven photographers. geez what atttitude ! Aug 23 06 10:24 am Link DigitalCMH wrote: EXACTLY! Aug 23 06 10:24 am Link |
