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I almost never use my photography blog as a political tool, I like to keep it controversy free and all about taking pretty pictures of stuff that SL residents create, and generally having a good time… but there is a disease in the SL Photography Community, its name is Copyright Infringement and it’s making me sick.
If you create “morphed” images – photoshopping the face of an SL avatar onto another artists’ works – you are very likely violating copyright unless you have the express permission of the original artist. If you do it for payment, you are even more likely breaking the law. EVERYTHING that you find on the web belongs to someone; some artists allow for others to use their work as a foundation for a new work, and some don’t. If you are not 100% sure that the image you are working with is not restricted, don’t use it. Even work that is available for use may have some guidelines, such as crediting and/or linking to the original.
Some people don’t see anything wrong with manipulating the work of others and calling it their own, and if you feel that way I probably can not convince you otherwise… but it is an INSULT to the original artists as well as an insult to SL photographers who really do create their scenes in world, or who purchase legitimate stock images with the correct licensing. Not only that… it’s the law.
I have created this image as a visual response to this sickness, my use of the background image, created by Luis Royo, is covered by fair use, please see the information below that explains how I have the rights to use the image in this way. (should Mr. Royo request that his work not be used this way, I would of course comply with his wishes, even though I am covered under fair use)
credits:
Dreams painting/illustration, book cover by Luis Royo
www.luisroyo.com/index.php
permissible by reason of fair use:
- Transformative quality: I have literally changed the meaning of the artwork, in this case to create a commentary about the “cut and paste” copyright infringement that is running rampant.
- Non-commercial use: while this argument alone does not constitute fair use, it does help to push it, legally, in that direction.
- The amount of the image used: “Parodies, for example, may need to make extensive use of an original work to get the point across.”
The above information was paraphrased from the following web site:
www.teachingcopyright.org/handout/fair-use-faq
scotch tape by Special-K-001 on Deviant Art:
http://special-k-001.deviantart.com/art/TAPE-BRUSH-IMAGE-PACK-76482873
I am not allowing comments on this post, because this is purely my way of expressing myself and I am not looking to provide a space for discussion. There is plenty of that already happening on plurk and flickr. You can also find about more at the new blog Flickr Wall Of Shame.
You all probably know at least one SL resident whose style just makes you want to kneel at their feet and take notes while they dress. For me, it’s Thalia Jie, which is interesting because my look isnt anything like hers, and I don’t aspire to have a look like hers. Thalia is an AMAZING stylist, and though our style is very different the items that she selects never fail to make me think.. “oh man, Thalia finds the best stuff!!! *pout*”
So Thalia posted this photo to her flickr stream and I actually felt anger when I saw the eyepatch, lol… how dare she find an accessory this cool, it was just not fair. I was not the only one feeling this way, so Thalia posted the outfit details with the following conditions:
“Okay, I’ve listed all the details of the outfit, but there’s a payoff! I want to see pictures of how you style the eyepatch … it’s a gorgeous thing. So I’m throwing down the gauntlet … show us your pictures!”
Soon after that she and Valena Glushenko set up the Style It! – SL Style Challenge flickr group and turned it into a full out competition. How could I refuse when Thalia threatened, urm I mean, asked me very nicely to participate.
The eyepatch from Baiastice just SCREAMED glam to me with its color change gems and metals… not “glamorous” glam but hard and dirty glam and I started to have visions of hip hop videos and over the top sexiness. I have to admit, I was a little intimidated… sure my photos kick ass but I’m nowhere near the stylist that Thalia and Valena are. In the end though, when I started to shoot the photos I thought “oh yeah… I got something good here”
I often get questioned about how I get my AV to look so smooth and integrated into the background… and I’ll tell you my trick… I shoot on the backgrounds you see in my shots. The purple and blue background in these pics? That is an SL sky with custom windlight settings. The white designs behind me and under my feet are textures with the circle/ray design in white on a transparent background set on a prim. It’s much easier for me to set it up in world than to try to make this in Photoshop.
If you have an idea of how to style and shoot the Baiastice eyepatch give it a go and post it to the Style It! – SL Style Challenge flickr group. If you are selected as the winner, you get to pick an accessory for the next challenge!
Baiastice_eye patch diamonds 1
..::MAI::.. Mia Midnight Skin (Bald) Vol.10
(PixelDolls) Jewelled Top
WWI Coochie Cutters Purple Wash
Magika Hair – Connect – Dark Purple
Dark Eden Belly Chain RFL
*EMJ* Platinum Multi-Gemmed Choker
eyes by LL – purple morning – medium
**Irresistible Look Eyelashes**-Crissy Designs
**CC** Cole’s Corner – Fleur Machina (ring)
!Negko Design Tattoo 70b: butterflies and leaves purple
Stiletto Moody Slouch Boot
There is so much goodness in this first shot, that I hardly know where to begin. I laugh when I think this all started with me standing naked on my beach wondering what to photograph with the BAX Ankle boots. I found a few things hmm? I just knew ‘red patent leather” was bound to be fun.
I am sitting on a moon that I purchased from a RFL vendor at the clothing fair. It’s actually an attachment, so you can ride it around anywhere, and is color change too (red, blue, yellow). The pose above plays when you wear the moon, but of course, you can rez it and pose on it however you like. It’s no longer a RFL item, but you can still get one, see credits at the end.
The star of this post, however, should be the wings. These 2009 RFL Black Angel Wings (I tinted them red) were designed by Kala Bijou especially for RFL, and are also available in white, light grey, pastel pink and pastel blue. Like all Material Squirrel wings, a hud is included that lets you control size and flapping; you can even give someone a hug 
With so much going on I wanted clothing that would be smooth and simple; The bodysuit from Armidi/Intimizzio contributed to the look without competing for attention with red patent leather boots, red wings, big hair and a crystal staff. *pausing to laugh at myself* ahh I love this place.
One last thing before I go… if you have been experiencing the SL photogrpahy bug that creates seams in your water, please check out this flickr page. I figured a workaround, it’s not perfect but it’s something. I’m curious if anyone else has success with the method.
Material Squirrel 2009 RFL Black Angel Wings (tinted red)
BAX Ankle Boots Red Patent
wearable moon from “La mer et ailes” by oborotuki Obolensky
[Intimizzio] Chiara di Luna – Sangria
*Bish*Haley-Black
Winged Staff (OxidizedSilver)
[]::Tuli::[] Kalista tan 16
Negko: Tattoo 45 body: viola’s sorrow
*EMJ* Elegance Thin Bangles (xstreet only)
poses top to bottom:
included with moon
Deisel Works (pulled from the posing chair)
*D* Boudoir Rouge – Sensuality – Coltish
CreamPie – Hot and I know it
I spent a lot of time yesterday working on commercial projects, but when I had done enough work to get ahead of my deadlines I decided I needed a little “me” time. I wandered around the grid a bit, checking out stores and locations I’ve been meaning to visit. I have no idea how I ended up at League, but there I was looking at the fat pack of denim booty shorts. I have looked at this fat pack a half dozen times at least… and I always have this “one color vs fatpack” debate in my head… do I really need 6 colors? Well, tonight I decided the answer to that was yes, so I went for it.
I was not disappointed, the texture is great, and the color options offer a lot of variety: black, dirty and dirty blue which have a terrific super-worn look to them, light blue, purple and a paint splattered pair. I love how the pockets stick out longer than the actual shorts, but it’s the cut and shading of the ass that make these my new favorite shorts.
I figured the cut/torn booty shorts deserved a top that was just as worn so I ran over to Worldwide Industries and picked up the Torn Tank, another item on my “I’ll buy it when I’m ready to wear it” list. Yes, it’s quite see through, but if you are more modest, it does come on all layers so you can layer up for less transparency. Oh but let’s face it, even totally opaque, neither of these items is for the modest AV!
My wandering also brought me to AM Radio’s the refuge and expansion, which has some of the best spots on the grid for grabbing photos. I want to thank Ms. Vixie Rayna for mentioning him the other day and bringing this place to the front of my mind. Even if you don’t end up incorporating much of the scenery into the shots, the textures are great for photo backdrops. Not only do AM Radio’s builds provide great sets for photography, you can also rez objects there making photography for a control freak like me a much smoother process!
Philotic Energy: Teagan Rich Chocolate
[]::Tuli::[] Natalie (sunkissed) 08b
League Booty-Shorts~Dirty
-TESLA- Kensington *chocolate* Boots
Wworlwide Industries Torn Tank Brown 2
poses in this series from the Torridwear Wallflower set.
RunoRuno is one of those places in SL where even a resident on a budget can go on a little shopping spree and come home with lots of mix and matchable high quality clothing with sculpted parts and tons of options on every possible layer. I sent El to pick up the Simple Skirts and knit stockings, but as she turned to leave she spotted the Odd Overall. The color of the overalls is the same as the denim skirt, so El was able to make a fantastic dress with the pieces. The overalls come with 3 types of top layer, as well as some upper body attachments that El is not wearing. There are leg attachments for the shorts of the overalls too, but El really got too attached to the sculpted skirt to even think about the shorts.
Like many of you, we have a love/hate relationship with sculpted clothing. It aids in the illusion that we are covered in fabric, not just textures–but it takes on a shape of it’s own sometimes, hiding our unique lines and curves. RunoRuno does a great job of trying to achieve the first without hiding who we are underneath. It can be a photographers dream, but it can be our nightmare too. You’ve got two choices with clothing like this… find the perfect pose, or Photoshop the bits that don’t work in world! There is a combination of both here with the skirt.
~*RunoRuno*~ Simple Skirt Denim (skirt prim only)
~*RunoRuno*~ Odd Overall (shirt ad pants layer
~*RunoRuno*~ Knit Stockings Brown
:GP: Lumine-Monarch
Magika Hair – Riddle – Brown (oops don’t remember which one!)
(Miriel Everyday) Bauble II Earrings and Bauble Necklace
[Decoy] Jully Boots – Cocoa
~*RunoRuno*~ Simple Skirt Wine
~*RunoRuno*~ Knit Tank
~*RunoRuno*~ Knit Stockings Black
:GP: Lumine-Gold Foil
Magika Hair – Riddle – Red E
-EARTHTONES- Butterfly Frolic bracelets, necklace and earrings
[Decoy] Jully Boots – Onyx
The most exciting day of my SLife was not winning a photography contest, it wasn’t landing a big job, it wasn’t either of the two times I was proposed to, or even the time I got SL married… the most exciting day of my SLife was yesterday (or maybe its still today? it’s 4:30 am), when Photographing SL was mentioned on Fashion Victim, in a blog post written by Swirly Cyclone.
It was brought to my attention via Plurk (damn you vixie and hp for getting me hooked) that Swirly would be posting her homage to another blogger and I was looking forward to see who she chose to mock/honor. When the post went up and I saw the page, I instantly messaged Feles screaming OMG she got Gogo and AnaLu so perfectly OMFG look at these pics hahahaha….
I hadn’t even scrolled down yet to see her perfect rendition of my dear sister and the most fabulous compliments wrapped inside the quintessential condescending-but-not-really-but-yeah-maybe style that is Swirly.
Thank you Swirly, for even knowing we exist!
in this shot, El is wearing one of the blowpop skins customized by Swirly for the HoL fundraiser
other details:
Cami Tank from Worldwide Industries
skirt and socks from Amerie’s Naughty
Gem hair from Magika
on me:
Shelter in green from Bijou
Gilly hair from Philotic Energy
Tuli Meredith skin, suntanned tone, Smokey Seduction
I just got a notice from League that they have released the stocking and garters from the Ella dress as a separate item and I jumped up and said “oh shit El, I never blogged those Ella dress pics!” This dress was so much fun to play with that we went overboard with the options and the photos, but really, we couldn’t resist.
The full outfit comes with the white cropped shirt, corset with fantastic attachments on the straps, glitch pants and skirt in 4 colors, stockings in 6 colors and the necklace. Details like sewn up rips in the stockings and the corset’s shoulder straps show that a lot of thought went into this design and that goes a long way with us.
The leather of the corser and heavy knit look of the stockings are… rich isn’t the word because they are so worn, but… thick and warm and soft. I have to admit that all too often thick knit thigh highs seem like an urban/neko/grunge thing, and it’s great to see them here presented differently.
Hah I am sitting here thinking of what else to write, and I know there are some out there who say blogging is more than just pretty pictures and I usually agree… there are just too many ways to wear this not to show you a couple more just for fun.
I told El no bewbs in this post so she said “fine, I’ll turn around”
see the full photo set here
details:
*League* Ella Outfit
:GP: Luster-Russet
(LunaViola) Basic Boot
all hair from Magika
It was late into the wee hours…. well past my bed time (aw heck I never sleep so its always past my bedtime) but I was in the mood to shoot. I wanted something tough, but hella sexy and thought to myself “I haven’ t checked out DE Designs in a couple of weeks let me head over there..”
As soon as the Last Crusades outfit on the “new” wall rezzed for me I was hit with some very important questions “Black or brown?” and “where can I go to shoot that?”. The question of “Do I want/need that?” didn’t even enter my mind, it was understood.
As I have come to expect from DoC Eldritch’s offerings, Last Crusades has wonderfully detailed textures and sculpted parts, but one of the things I find most impressive is the attention to detail on the finishing. Clean edges can say so much about a designer… there are many creative artists out there but when it gets down to the detail there are few clothing lines out there that impress me as much as DE Designs.
I love the option of thigh highs and panties…and these are some special panties! Look how they stay up without connecting at the sides, I love SL!
I mentioned above that my big dilemma with this was selecting a color…black or brown? My first instinct is usually to go right for the black but this time I stopped to think. Many of the sims I have been visiting lately have a natural or rustic feel to theme and I never seem to have the right thing to wear. What sealed the deal for me though was the idea of wearing this skin with it, Tuli Meredith (suntanned) captivating copper. I’ve been so in love with her Kalista skins that the Merediths in my inventory have gone neglected but the lips on this have been calling out to me”…find something spectacular to wear me with…” and I think I did.
DE Last Crusades – Brown
[]::Tuli::[] Meredith (suntanned) captivating copper
* 0 Style *Dana*(Chestnut)
all pics shot at Golgothica using a modified version of the awesome Torley windlight setting Slips Through Walls 3. Usually I use one of my own custom WL settings but I decided to do a “close my eyes and pick a setting” game with myself… and what I got was perfect. You can download Torley’s Windlight settings here.
Early this summer, I was introduced to the work of Tekelili Tantalus when I was asked to incorporate some of his jewelry into one of my mermaid shots for Second Style magazine. After visiting his shop, I fell so in love with the items there, that I added a shot to my series in order to photograph one of his AV designs for the magazine. (I’ll post that shot soon)
Tekelili’s latest releases, Loremaster and Voidcaller, are inspired by the writing of HP Lovecraft, and his famous character Cthulhu. more below*
This photo series shows parts of the Voidcaller costume. I admit, I am too attached to my shape and my face to go through with the full AV, but the parts of this set are just exquisite on their own, so much so that he also sells them apart form the full AV set that includes skin, shape, and head. Today and tomorrow, all items created by Tekelili are 31% discounted at his main shop.
Almost everything you see in these shots comes with the AV and costume: skirt, cape, sandals, arm bracers, staff, book, wings and the totally amazing collar. The AV and costume are meant for males, so I had to do a bit of modifying, but unlike some other designs with lots of parts, these items scale down very easily. I also added something to cover my breasts; they may be magic too, but it’s not necessary to bare them for spell casting!
There are hundreds of costume and AV designers on the grid, lots of very talented people creating something out of nothing; it’s all pixels and prims and sculpt maps until someone like Tekelili starts to bring it to life. Sometimes the result is really good, and sometimes, it’s magic. And magic this is, every single piece of this costume is perfection. The shapes, the textures, the idea, the flow of the fabric. For me, who has never read Lovecraft and knows nothing about the character this was fashioned after, I still feel that Tekelili has created something just for me. It’s purple! It has stars! and crystals! and a cape! and and and…. OMG the staff! OK, I know I have to hand over my geek membership card, I am sorry, at heart, yeah, purple crystal stars are what makes me smile.
After my shoot, I was chatting with Tekelili about the costume and he passed to me this must have Starry Magician’s hat, which is for a very limited time available for 1L at his main shop. After thanking him I quietly cursed at him under my breath… there was no way I was blogging this costume without a shot of the hat. It’s color change (leather, metal and crystals all change) and, well, it has stars, and crystals, and.. and… crystal stars and… and I can make it purple. Like I said, this stuff is perfection.
Star Spawn Void Avatar (costume only) by Tekeli-li - Purple
Magika Hair – Omfg – White B
*sUmi* /starry/4fr sunkissed /purple/
poses from Torridwear & Maitreya
shot at Templum ex Obscurum
*I asked Tekelili to explain the characters that inspired the AV:
“They’re inspired by the writing of HP Lovecraft, and his famous character Cthulhu. In his stories, the Star Spawn are supposedly his much smaller minions, or possibly children, that look a lot like him. These became the inspiration for the mindflayers of Dungeons and Dragons fame in turn- but those didn’t have wings. The star and tentacle theme came from the Cthulhu stories- supposedly, they’re from space, and, Cthulhu and his “Star Spawn” came and built a city called “R’lyeh”, which then sunk, and Cthulhu’s supposedly still there “not dead, but dreaming”. It’s very much a cult classic. And thus, the stars, and the watery-tentacle theme, what with the squid heads and all.”
You’ll have to go check out his shop to see the full AV, tentacle face and all!
The 3rd shot of 6 created for Second Style magazine’s mermaid themed feature is a little less unexpected than the others. Underwater, blue, magical; it’s where you expect a mermaid to be. I came across The Secrets of Atlantis sim while swimming around the grid looking for inspiration. Although there is a considerable amount of processing here, the build really does glow. It feels like a place where people merfolk should be congregating, so when you are there alone it feels empty.
That sense of emptiness, and knowing that Thalia had this costume waiting in her inventory for me to shoot, started a story in my mind. I’m not as good at telling stories with words as I am with photos, plus, I like for people to imagine their own stories…
I always spend a ton of time putting poses in just the right spot, down to a ridiculous level of attention to composition and how elements of the avatar and props are arranged. Thanks to Thalia for her patience as I moved and rotated her the tiniest bit for what must have felt like forever!
Thalia Jie wears:
Mer Betta: Pasithea
Skin: MMS Zero_Fair-makeup7
Hair: SiniStyle ‘Elena’ Hair – lightning
MADesigns SOUL eyes Pale Pink
The Secrets of Atlantis