Creative Photo Designs

Happy Holidays

Converging Verticals

With the popularity of digital cameras and the explosion of images on the internet the perspective distortion of "converging verticals" is almost becoming the norm. Structures contain parallel lines and parallel lines do not converge. Depending on the length of the lines (or planes) they do give the impression of converging but that is far off in the distance, railroad tracks are a good example. We have all seen it, buildings and houses slanting in from the sides to a central point, or light poles curving into the scene. The images above on the left shows the distortion while the image on the right is the corrected version. Click here for the rest of the story.....

Weighing In - Copyright Issues

We have been following the Lane Hartwell vs. Richter Scales situation involving the use of one of her images for a music video without the photographer’s (Lane) permission. While many may think that images found on the internet are "fair use", they are not, in most cases they belong to who ever took the picture. While some images may not carry any restrictions, these usually have a Creative Commons license; all other images carry the copyright of the photographer, even though the photographer may not realize it. Also, depending on how the image is used, editorially or commercially, there may be some legal issues involved. All of the photographers in our network feel that they should be fairly compensated for their work. Photographers make their living by selling images and with the photo industry changing on a daily basis this is becoming increasingly more difficult. If you find an image on the internet, or in print for that matter (scanning), take the time to contact the photographer a professional will welcome the inquiry. You may wind up paying a fee for the image but would you rather pay the creator or a lawyer. For an update on the situation check out Lane Hartwell's blog Fetching.net or this article on CNET News.com.

Happy Holidays

CPDupdate.com would like to wish all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. As you can see our mascot Timber certaintly had a Merry Christmas himself.

Weighing in on the Fonz

"Aaay" in reading the flurry of articles and comments on the possibility of a Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli statue, lets get a grip. Chicago has Bob Newhart, New York/Ralph Kramden, Salem, MA/Samantha Stephens (Bewitched), Minneapolis/Mary Tyler Moore, Raleigh/Andy Griffith, and Honolulu has a Elvis Presley statue, so why not Milwaukee. Happy Days was one of the most popular TV sitcoms of the time and was set in Milwaukee. The show made numerous references to Milwaukee and was fairly accurate of the lifestyle in the area at the time.

I think the planned location on the plaza south of E. Wisconsin Ave. and west of N. Water St. is appropriate. Also appropriate is that no tax dollars are being used to fund the sculpture. Will anyone plan a trip to Milwaukee just to see it, I doubt it, but I am sure that when tourists are here for some other reason many will stop by for a look. The unveiling will also bring some national press and media coverage to the city. Will it be more popular that the "Gertie the Duck" statue, only time will tell. We give the project a "thumbs up" and please visit the "Bronze the Fonz" web site for additional information.