So, where exactly did the communist graphics inspired artist Shepard Fairey get the image of Obama for his ubiquitous "Hope" poster featuring a confident, young Obama intently staring off into the distance for glorious leader's future, anyway? Turns out the celebrated artist stole it from an Associated Press freelance photographer and never bothered to acknowledge where he got it in the first place. I guess the word "ethics" didn't fit as easily on that iconic Fairey poster, eh?
At least one Old Media photographer was curious about the source photo that the poster was based on. Philadelphia Inquirer photog Tom Gralish wondered aloud on his phillynews.com blog about just where the heck that original photo came from? Apparently among the shooter set in the Old Media the question had become a nagging one and Gralish decided to put on his sleuthing cap to track down the original source. After a short time at the task he discovered the original, uncredited photo used by Fairey to make the wildly successful poster that made him bundles of cash.
The original photo was snapped by Associated Press freelancer Mannie Garcia who took the iconic image as he covered a press conference in 2006.
The photo was made by freelance photographer Mannie Garcia who was on assignment for the AP in April of 2006, where a National Press Club news advisory alerted the media that, "Academy Award Winner George Clooney will address National Press Club on his recent visit to war-torn Darfur and will release video footage from his trip to Sudan. Clooney will be joined by U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), co-sponsors of S. 1462, The Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, and co-sponsors of amendments to increase funding for peacekeeping operations in Sudan."
As it turns out, Obama wasn't contemplating how to save the planet when the image stolen by Fairey was originally taken, he was listening to conservative Senator Sam Brownback speak at the press conference!
So, the main question here is, will the communist inspired arteest Shepard Fairey share the wealth from the photo that made him famous with the actual photographer that took it? Will Fairey follow his Obammessiah and "spread the wealth" a little to the poor, struggling, work-a-day photographer that unwittingly made Fairey a household name in many circles?
Or will they have to settle this sticky philosophical point in the place where those many greedy, mean-spirited capitalists that Fairey is so disdainful of go to solve their problems: the courts?
Either way, the whole thing gave me a laugh.
(Hope poster image credit: Wikipedia/ Original AP photo credit: phillynews.com)





















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Obama's 'Cult of Personality
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 05:00 ET by Retired GeekBarack Obama gazes upwards, towards Heaven, to tell us that he is a spiritual visionary who is above mundane earthly concerns.
Ultimately, Liberals cannot admire Barack Obama, they must worship him.
"... a light will shine through that window, a beam of light will come down upon you, you will experience an epiphany ... and you will suddenly realize that you must go to the polls and vote for Obama" - Barack Obama Lebanon, New Hampshire.
January 7, 2008.
“It is absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal.” Barack Obama
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"...Barack Obama isn't really one of us. Not in the normal way, anyway.
...A Lightworker -- An Attuned Being with Powerful Luminosity and High-Vibration Integrity who will actually help usher in a New Way of Being"
Mark Morford San Francisco Chronicle, Friday, June 06, 2008
Liberals believe that having negative emotions about Barack Obama is a "defect" that needs to be fixed.
Liberals will attack viciously anyone who does 'NOT FEEL' that Obama is 'The One'.
Well, I'm sure
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 07:34 ET by motherbeltWell, I'm sure then-candidate Obama knew nothing about it. Or at least didn't ask.
And we have Eric Holder and Tim Geithner. What's a little ethics problem when we "need" those people so badly to fix things? After all, it's not like they are pro-life evangelicals!
Ethics? Now an outdated concept, apparently.
Cue Beavie laugh...
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 08:45 ET by Roger the ShrubberIs that a real name? Shepherd Fairey?
Does he have a brother named Harry?
He also
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 08:54 ET by Warner Todd HustonHe also has a crazy uncle named Freakin.
But I don't think there is a Fairey God Mother.
Frankly, that poster always
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 08:47 ET by SeashellFrankly, that poster always gave me the creeps. Funny that Obama was so intently listening to Brownback.
Appearances
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 16:52 ET by nkviking75Seashell, I suspect he only looked like he was listening intently to Brownback.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Contest...Make your Own "O" Sign...
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 09:32 ET by CapeCodScottHere is Mine...LINK the inspiration for this is from the term used to describe someone without mad gaming skills... post your own here...
DISCLOSURE: I COPIED THE ORIGINAL COPIED IMAGE AND CHANGED IT
www.ScottOnCapeCod.com
"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation"... until they get fed-up enough to finally say something about it!
Just use the Obama / Democrat Excuse Picker...
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 09:31 ET by CapeCodScottHere's My List:
Just Pick One or ues them all...
www.ScottOnCapeCod.com
"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation"... until they get fed-up enough to finally say something about it!
ETHICS? WHAT ARE ETHICS?
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 09:40 ET by WorriedDemocrats don't know what ethics are. Just ask Charles Rangel.
Bad little Fairey - you
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 09:53 ET by SickofLibsBad little Fairey - you stole someone else's copyrighted image.
Will AP or Garcia come after you for royalties or worse?
The original manipulator of photographs, Andy Warhol, always shot his own scrap.
Maybe the Smithsonian...
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 11:31 ET by...will give the Portrait the proper credit in the National Portrait Gallery.
...
"What I think is so fascinating is the ubiquitous nature," said
Carolyn Carr, deputy director of the Portrait Gallery. "When people
think of a portrait of Obama, they think of this image."
Gallery officials would not reveal how much they paid Fairey for the
five-foot tall, mixed-media stenciled collage. Art collectors Heather
and Tony Podesta of Washington donated money for the Smithsonian to
purchase the work.
Typically, the gallery acquires official portraits of presidents as
they are leaving office, and an official Obama portrait will be added
later. A portrait of President George W. Bush was unveiled at the
gallery in December."
Odd Job
These were being sold for $100 each??!!
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 11:48 ET by JTPAutographed ones were selling for $500??!! I got to get me a box of crayolas quick and use some of those official "Whitehouse photog only" pictures and dress them up a bit. This Obambi guy is a MIRACLE worker! Hope and Change! Hope and Change! Hope and Change! Hope and Change! Hope and Change! Hope and Change!
"I need more cowbell!" SNL
Art
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 17:21 ET by NorthCoasterIf I had used a copied photgraph in Art Class without proper attribution to the originator, I would have recieved an F.
"F" for no photograph attribution Fairey!
It's the AP's money, not the photographer
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 16:56 ET by nkviking75Since the photo was taken for the AP, I suspect the photog isn't entitled to anything more than his usual fee. The AP probably owns the copyright.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
AHAAA!
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 19:46 ET by jdubyaJust goes to prove an age old point:
Liberal scum never orginate an original idea. They steal others works, clean it up a bit, then repackage it with their own brading and, VOILA!
Now, know that this crook is an "artiste", it would be interesting to find out if he received some sort of "government assistance" in fueling his "investment".
If the photags photo is copyrighted by the photag or the paper that may have bought the photo from him, then this Fairy-guy may be the loser. Well, stealing someones original to make money still makes you a loser.
I wonder if World War II
Sat, 01/24/2009 - 05:38 ET by RR GOPI wonder if World War II GIs had flashbacks of themselves clearing the streets of Anzio seeing very similar posters pasted all over the walls?
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.