Kai Uwe Pel
09-12-2004, 06:17 AM
Photo sharing or stealing: Basic respect
During my studies of Luo Guang Yu's Seven Star Mantis Boxing, I was presented with a full size original photograph of Luo Guang Yu. When some people say 'original' they seem to mean just a physical photograph - not a digital file. But I mean the actual original photograph.
During my teaching years in Germany I used the web domain www.chinwoo.de (1996). This is no longer in my use, the domain is now owned by Nicolai Schild and the content has changed. When I was using it I made a decision to publish some of my materials in order to promote mantis boxing. One of these would be the Luo Guang Yu photograph.
Before putting it online I hesitated. Was I being naive? Would some people take it without permission and use it to promote themselves falsely? Surely they would just be sharing knowledge and be happy to acknowledge the true source?
I decided to alter the photograph digitally and see what happened for myself in the future. I made two alterations, one with the overall size, and one to a detail in the photo.
So, let's look at the photo and the area of alteration.
Luo Guang Yu's Fong Tien Gek Lance photo:
http://www.chinwoomen.com/pics/lgygek.jpg
So, there were originally more dots on the rug but I blacked out all but 5.
Important point: the 5 dots version was ONLY available from my website as I alone made the alteration.
Now. I was never asked for permission to use the photo during the time it was online. But what happened next? Yes, it started popping up on mantis websites that I read from time to time. I have 8 quick links for recent examples of this - but there are more.
Now there are different aspects to this. First, it is normal to share and use knowledge and records to promote the art we all love - I don't mind that and I will publish the full size un-altered original on our website next week for all to see and use freely. As I have done with the Luo Guang Yu Beng Bu photo-set.
Re-using it without asking is just lacking basic manners or respect. But, what really insults me is when people later claim they got it from their own teachers at the same time as displaying the 5 dots version! Those people are telling lies to my face. Or maybe they were told lies by someone else and they just blindly follow without using their mind to think matters through carefully.
I recently enquired of one of my 5 dots versions and was told in a rude and insulting tone that the photo was acquired directly from their own teacher. Lets take a look at the link and see if it matches my own version that was only available through my website ...it does.
Steve Cottrell
http://www.authentickungfu.com/seven_star/sifu/lky.html
http://www.authentickungfu.com/seven_star/sifu/luogek.jpg
I don't appreciate that kind of behaviour. I will publish the original next week to show you my own nature. I would ask all mantis practitioners to use basic codes of respect when sharing information, but most of all - to use their mind for discerning between what they hear and real life experiences.
Kai Uwe Pel
www.chinwoomen.com
During my studies of Luo Guang Yu's Seven Star Mantis Boxing, I was presented with a full size original photograph of Luo Guang Yu. When some people say 'original' they seem to mean just a physical photograph - not a digital file. But I mean the actual original photograph.
During my teaching years in Germany I used the web domain www.chinwoo.de (1996). This is no longer in my use, the domain is now owned by Nicolai Schild and the content has changed. When I was using it I made a decision to publish some of my materials in order to promote mantis boxing. One of these would be the Luo Guang Yu photograph.
Before putting it online I hesitated. Was I being naive? Would some people take it without permission and use it to promote themselves falsely? Surely they would just be sharing knowledge and be happy to acknowledge the true source?
I decided to alter the photograph digitally and see what happened for myself in the future. I made two alterations, one with the overall size, and one to a detail in the photo.
So, let's look at the photo and the area of alteration.
Luo Guang Yu's Fong Tien Gek Lance photo:
http://www.chinwoomen.com/pics/lgygek.jpg
So, there were originally more dots on the rug but I blacked out all but 5.
Important point: the 5 dots version was ONLY available from my website as I alone made the alteration.
Now. I was never asked for permission to use the photo during the time it was online. But what happened next? Yes, it started popping up on mantis websites that I read from time to time. I have 8 quick links for recent examples of this - but there are more.
Now there are different aspects to this. First, it is normal to share and use knowledge and records to promote the art we all love - I don't mind that and I will publish the full size un-altered original on our website next week for all to see and use freely. As I have done with the Luo Guang Yu Beng Bu photo-set.
Re-using it without asking is just lacking basic manners or respect. But, what really insults me is when people later claim they got it from their own teachers at the same time as displaying the 5 dots version! Those people are telling lies to my face. Or maybe they were told lies by someone else and they just blindly follow without using their mind to think matters through carefully.
I recently enquired of one of my 5 dots versions and was told in a rude and insulting tone that the photo was acquired directly from their own teacher. Lets take a look at the link and see if it matches my own version that was only available through my website ...it does.
Steve Cottrell
http://www.authentickungfu.com/seven_star/sifu/lky.html
http://www.authentickungfu.com/seven_star/sifu/luogek.jpg
I don't appreciate that kind of behaviour. I will publish the original next week to show you my own nature. I would ask all mantis practitioners to use basic codes of respect when sharing information, but most of all - to use their mind for discerning between what they hear and real life experiences.
Kai Uwe Pel
www.chinwoomen.com