A photographer captured a dramatic explosion in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk. While filming the aftermath of a series of car bombs, another blast happens nearby, knocking the photographer to the ground. (Feb. 9)
Posts Tagged 'AP'
AP Photographer Captures Bomb in Real Time
Published February 10, 2011 Photojournalism 1 CommentTags: AP, bomb, conflict photography, Iraq, Kirkuk
AP Reporter Slammed for Collapsed Pol Shots
Published May 14, 2010 Photographers' Rights , Security Guard Harassment Leave a CommentTags: AP, Erik Schelzig, general assembly, Kent Williams, speaker collapsed, Tennessee
Photo by Erik Schelzig
UPDATE: Tennessee Report is reporting that Speaker Kent Williams will not support the measure to strip Erik Schelzig of his press credentials and Rep. Joe Towns has withdrawn it. Williams said, “He was just doing his job.”
When Tennessee House Speaker Kent Williams collapsed on the floor of the general assembly on Thursday, AP reporter Erik Schelzig did his job and took photos of the incident with his cell phone. But that irked other members of the assembly who called it “despicable” and “distasteful” behavior — because they apparently felt that a journalist shouldn’t cover breaking news but should instead…I don’t know, say a prayer?
Well, yeah. As the Bristol Herald Courier reported, while Williams was getting medical attention the other state senators actually gathered for an “impromptu prayer.”
Some members even tried to prevent Schelzig from doing his job by blocking his shots. Then some state troopers came to threaten him with removal if he didn’t stop taking photos. Even though Schelzig agreed to leave, at least one legislator wants to strip him of his press credentials for the rest of the legislative session.
As the Tennessee/Kentucky/Mississippi AP bureau chief said in a statement:
“…Erik Schelzig was doing his job covering breaking news at the General Assembly when House Speaker Kent Williams collapsed. The legislative sessions are open to the public, and members of the news media routinely record what happens there in words, photographs, audio and video. Though we believe Schelzig had the right to continue his reporting, he complied immediately with officials’ order to leave the chamber.”
Really — what a bunch of self-important blowhards. These people are public figures in a public building. Are they really that naive? I can’t stand this self-righteous faux dignity that comes from politicians, as if they should only be covered for certain things at certain times but not for others. You are a public servant. Deal with it.
And quit with the praying on taxpayers’ time.
Article from the Knoxville News Sentinel
Copyright Infringement vs. Artistic Freedom
Published March 12, 2009 Photographers' Rights Leave a CommentTags: AP, copyright infringement, intellectual property, Obama Hope poster, Shepard Fairey
In this clip, Shepard Fairey, artist of “Hope” poster fame, defends himself against the AP’s allegations that he stole the image on which the obsequious illustration was based. (For background, you can see our post from early February.)
Fairey, who seems to have never met a copyright he didn’t want to infringe, claims these type of lawsuits will hinder artistic expression. While he believes in intellectual property, he says, “Is it really fair for the AP to send a ripple of fear out to that entire community [of politically themed artists] that they will not make art for fear of having, you know, congress coming after them for copyright law? … This is something that I need to fight just for the sake of artists in general, not just for me.”
I am torn. On the one hand, the photographer deserves his due. But the AP asking for damages seems excessive – can’t they prove their point with him paying the original licensing fee? It’s a slippery slope, as they say. If the AP doesn’t defend its copyrights, especially in such a high-profile case, then does everyone have free reign to take photos and manipulate them as they see fit?
Does it matter?
boywithgrenade.org 