The recent Farey Obama Hope poster controversy is a bit overblown, The Associated Press trying to profit on a photo they didn't much care about before its popularity. I don't want to think about how illustrators and designers like me will be effected should they succeed against him. In art school we were taught to be very careful about using reference photos we didn't take ourselves. And if we did, to change it enough so that it becomes our own entirely. I think Farey did that. And I'm glad I got to see the actual artwork for myself during my most recent visit to DC. I also had the privilege of being among the great happy horde standing on the mall (by the Washington Monument, freezing) on inauguration day. Anyway, up close the original poster is really impressive, with a lot of surface detail not seen in copies. 
interesting surface detail...(click for a closer look)
I also took this photo of Martin Schoeller's work in the exhibition "Portraiture Now" though I wasn't supposed to. Hope I don't get in trouble for it.
interesting surface detail...(click for a closer look)
I also took this photo of Martin Schoeller's work in the exhibition "Portraiture Now" though I wasn't supposed to. Hope I don't get in trouble for it.
Lesson learned: I want my work to end up in the Smithsonian one day too.
In short: create fearlessly. It's worth it.
Yes, create fearlessly! Absolutely! Thanks for showing the detail of the poster. I love all the versions of the photo and I agree the AP is a little late in making a fuss over the photo use.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome - I agree. Good luck!
ReplyDelete