Paksyet, artwork ko yun demmet!

 

Hindi ko naman talaga yan favorite mura, much less Pinakamalutong ko. At hindi yan galing sa aking bibig. Mula yan sa nakilala kong batikang photographer din. With emphasis dun sa word na “din”.

 Ikaw? what would you say if you find one of your works in the net? with another person in the by line claiming the works as theirs?

 After kase na nag fade ng kunti ang kalibugan ko at ang pagsusulat ng blog, I fell in love with photography much that i embraced its soul. Kung meron mang kaluluwa ang sining, kung sining mang matatawag ang pagiging voyeur, i mean hobbyist photographer.

 Malamang, katulad ni Azrael, hindi lang ilang libong shots na ang kinunan ko… at kukunan pa. I took pictures of anything i came accross with. It might be an insignificant ant finding its way to my lap going to somewhere I dare it should not go. Sabi nila (lalo na nung lagi kong nililibre ng snacks) I made extraordinary photos out of the ordinary. Kahit daw yung simpleng cottonbud na itinapon sa sidewalk, pag nakunan ng aking mahiwagang 400D with 50mm prime lens ay nagkakaroon ng storya. Well, sabi nila yun, in between bites of a juicy burger.

Pero sa maniwala kayo’t sa hindi. magkaiba ang tingin namin sa sitwasyon. If it happen to me, again, which had happened many times na rin. Yes, marami na ding kumuha ng gawa ko and claiming that its theirs. Hindi ko naman susunugin ang buong barangay if it happen again. Though, mga stories ko ang madalas na inaangkin… by this time I am talking about Photographs. Piktyurs.

Eto ang isang comment ko sa isang forum, ang pinag usapan namin, hindi yung pagdating ni gabby concepcion kundi yung mga nagnanakaw ng piktyurs sa net ng hindi man lang binigyan ng credit or na inform ang may-ari. At dahil mas mahal pa ng mga photographers ang mga piktyurs nila kesa sa mga alaga nilang aso, mag kaka-nightmare ka sa tindi ng mga komentaryo ng mga members ng forum na yun tungkol sa ganitong isyu. At dahil hindi ko naman personal blog yung forum medyo tunog kagalang galang muna tayo:

 I really tend to believe that pictures that are posted in the net are prone to be use by others and more likely, they will remove watermarks and claim it as their own. hindi na bago yung ganito na problema.

Pero tingin ko, mas mabuti kung tanggap natin na nangyayari ito. its not really a question why they are grabbing pictures that are painstakingly conceptualized by others. its just the wonder or amazement or fun or anger of finding someone using your work. we can rant all we want, but I believe there are moves that are proper for this paradigm, the net. and best way I supposed, is to tell them that you are aware that they took your picture and a proper credit is enough.

We can call the person who “rob” our work any names we can imagine and categorize them with the lowest life form… but this, will not do any good.

In one way or another we also have our share of “grabbing” something in the net, it might be songs, concepts, movies, articles, softwares… ehem.. plugins.. and for whatever reasons for a photographer, pictures too!

and here is a thing in pictures, if we put larger than life watermarks to be sure whoever grabs our shots took our name with it, defeats the purpose of showing the picture… unless we are showcasing how remarkable our watermarks looks in those photographs.

So for me, I still upload my pictures. and hopes that one day, I will find someone who will grab it. And it will be my day if I will send an email or a comment in the comment box that goes something like,

“Sir, I believe it’s my work that is posted in your blog/site, how about a proper credit and a return link to my site?”

I don’t know with anybody here, but for me, having those words, makes me feel like i’m a jedi in the field.

 

 Oo na, mukhang ang layo sa personalidad ko ang magsalita ng ganun. Pero ako yan, at iniisip ko na speech ko yan sa G7 summit habang sinusulat ko yan. At Oo din, merong nag react. at Oo din, hindi pwedeng hindi ako mag reply.

 Sawn, its not a question if your watermark defeats the purpose of showing your

photo. if people on the net really wants to see your photo with out your so called

larger than life watermarks then perhaps theyll ask your permission to see it

or atleast ask you if they can use it to some other means…

 

 

Baka nasaktan lang ito, dahil baka din, parang hindi siya nag pakita ng pictures kundi ang kagandahan ng kanyang watermarks. Nag reply ako, at tunog kagalang galang pa rin.

 It’s always a question if your watermarks defeat the purpose of showing your photo. It’s making you posting something without purpose. Hence, why post anyway?

For security reasons, we might not upload our best photos. But if we upload something, I cannot find appropriate reason than for others to see it. To put it more accurately, to flaunt it… for everyone to know that hey! I can take photos like this one! i hope it is safe to assume that having our photos stolen or copied without our permission is not part of our idea of uploading our photos to the net.

Now, if we intend to let others know how “good” we are in this field, that they have to give us a ring, send us email, ask our services… ask our permission for use of the photos, is it not imperative to showcase atleast some of your best cards? And would it be worth a second glance to your photos if your watermark is dominating the whole space?

There are people that ask permission and there are quite a number also that do not. And these are irrespective of how small or huge your watermarks would be. And if we are too afraid that people are just stealing our works in the net, and put noticeable if not annoying watermarks, then we cannot stretch our message across, that is, that we do quality photographs in case of a photographer.

I didn’t say that we will not put watermarks, without it might be read as not being proud of your work that you are not itching your name in it. As what others are posting in this thread, we can put it artistically, that it somehow blend beautifully with the artwork or photos for that matter.

And about the sending emails thing… and that you are saying that its a bit late, its for those people who dont give a thought of asking permission. It is also imperative to let them feel that what they have done is lame. Just by asking them to put credit on a stolen work, puts them on shame in the highest possible terms. It will never be late bro. As much as possible constantly reminding them that they committed a grave error. That their name will be tainted forever.

Imitation is a highest form of flattery, something to that effect. we are flattered partly if someone gets or copying our works with permission or not. Yes, we get annoyed sometimes, no, most of the time, if our works are taken without our knowledge.

It doesn’t take a good strategist to know that showcasing “some” of your best works in the net - despite and inspite of the possibility of getting it and use it by lame robbers - will return to you blessing all in good and huge numbers.

peace.

 

Pero hindi ko na pinatulan ang mga sumunod pang angst nitong nag re reply sakin. I said my piece. and I can always sleep soundly at night.

 

Grin or Smile

mix emotions lang. browsing ulit… daming nagbago. at madami ding bago.

nakakatuwa pa din yung mga comments dito. Meron pa ding nag tyaga talagang mag iwan ng comments, nakaka taba naman ng hart. Sige lang, malay natin, maisipan ko ulit mag sulat.

I miss every bit that i am during the peak times with this blog.

at oo nga pala, pa minsan minsan… kung hindi man madalas, nag bubukas pa din ako ng ym ko. at tengs sa mga nag iinvite! at sa mga sms. San sakong salamat sa mga walang sawang nagpaparamdam. 

My Trip to Heaven

No. I’m not dead, yet. I’m just dreaming. And ang mabigat dito, conscious ako na nananaginip lang ako. And with the looks of it, passing the same path when I got the chance to have a glimpse of what hell really looked like, I am bit excited than afraid. Yes, before this seem to be trip to heaven, I already made a trip to hell. I pass this path also, so it’s quite familiar. I reached the end of the line and face the old man with a long beard of shining white color. It was awesome. What makes it splendid is the fact that I was not conscious then, I really thought that I died in some freak accident or simply died in my sleep. But that’s another story and been posted here in my blog. Just dig it.

Along with a long queue of souls (or whatever is left when one dies), I was dumbfounded of the multitude of people dying every single day. Now, like me, walking in one line going to that bright light, with walls of steel in immeasurable heights. I kept myself busy by gazing the emotions and expressions of these souls. I couldn’t help but grinned. I saw hundreds, no millions of troubled souls. Teary eyed. Yes, when you get there, it is still possible to cry. Along with other feelings too. Believe me, I’ve been there. I grinned because I knew why they acted as such, or felt as such. They know they will be going to hell. And that’s foreseeable. If they only knew what lies in hell…

With just ten souls in front, I could clearly see the old guy. In few more minutes I will be facing him again. While getting closer and closer, I set my eyes in any direction but his.

“Your name?”

“Sawn…”

“Cause of dea…” he looked at me for seem eternity and with puckered brow. “Hmm. You’re seem familiar. Dumaan ka na dito natatandaan ko. Bakit ka nandito ulit?”

“Hindi ko po alam bossing…”

Just as he was about to say something, nag ring ang cellphone nya. He picked it up and listen to the other line. Tango lang sya ng tango. Opo, meron na ring cellphone dun. High tech na din sila kasabay ng pagtanda ng mundo.

“Hmmm. Bisita ka pala ngayon Sawn. Pambihirang karanasan to para sayo. Ginawa kang bisita kase, by accident eh napunta ka sa impyerno nun. Eh di ka pa pala patay. Manual pa kase ang recording sa book of life noon. At dahil sa pagkakamaling yun, nag setup na ng database networking dito sa afterlife para maiwasan ang mga pagkakamali.”

“Sa hell po ba ako ulit mapunta? Bossing?”

“Ows, kunwari ka pa. Pinuntahan ka ni Angel Gabriel para sabihin sayo kung bakit ka guest of honor sa langit diba? Meaning sa langit hindi sa impyerno. Tanga.”

“Bakit nga po pala? bossing?”

And there it was. This guy narrated for a whole day the reason why I was called to be the guest of honor in heaven. And this was at the expense of millions, no trillions of souls waiting in line for the grand interview. Congested na nga dahil sa kinausap pa ako ng gate keeper. Sabi nya, kailangang maibalik ang balance. Kung anong balance ang pinagsasabi n’ya, hindi ko na alam.

“You have experienced a life in hell, though by accident, it’s an experience nonetheless. Kaya dapat maranasan mo din kung ano ang buhay sa heaven. As what I am saying… to restore the balance.”

Nung bata pa ako. I imagined heaven as a place of endless joy. Parang hindi uso dun ang malungkot. At wala sa dictionary ng mga lifeform dun and salitang boredom, pagkabagot, galit, at mura. Lahat ng papasok sa heaven, bibigyan ng bagong katawan. Kung gaano kabusilak ang puso mo noong nasa earth ka pa, ganun din ka ganda ( I termed it seductive wala din kase ang word na ‘to sa dictionary sa heaven) ang magiging katawan mo dun. Tapos, madaming tao. Lahat mababait, lahat nakangiti. They greet each other with hugs and kisses. Every single hour. What a life.

Before I entered the gates of heaven, I looked around. Walang ka tao tao. Wala man lang akong kasunod. Samantalang sa di kalayuan, sa gates of hell, ang daming nakapila! Well, dumaan na din ako dun before. I pushed the gate and bright light is vibrantly showing the whole place. I cover my eyes for the moment adjusting the brightness condition of the place called heaven. Ang gaganda ng mga bahay, sparking gold! Ganda ng mga garden. Habang ang inaapakan eh clouds. Ang bango pa sa langit. Maaliwalas. Masarap ang simoy ng hangin, nakakagaan ng feeling. Kay hitik sa mga bunga ang ibat-ibang klase ng namumungang puno. Napaka solemn. Napakatahimik. Walang tao.

Nag ikot ikot ako. I’m thinking, maybe I arrived during a prayer moment where all of the inhabitants are perhaps praying, worshipping in some church or something. Syempre heaven, may mga prayer time talaga yan. Well, just what I thought. But hours passed by wala pa rin akong makitang tao. I crossed a breathtaking hanging bridge. There I saw, what I thought could be an angel. Ang ganda. Ang puti. Ang kinis ng balat, ang amo ng mukha. With long straight hair. Babae. In white 100% pure cotton dress.

“Angel?”

She heard me. Lumingon sya. Huminto sa pamumulot ng nalalaglag na mga mababangong bulaklak. Lumapit sa akin. Ngumiti. Oh god, ngumiti sya sa akin.

“Paano mo nalaman name ko?”

“You mean your name is angel? Pero di ka anghel?”

“Yup. I’m angel. Resident ako dito mga 3 years na.”

She explained to me everything I want to know about heaven. Crash course Heaven 101. Dahil daw sa higpit ng pamantayan sa heaven. Bibihira talaga ang makapasok dito. You must be free of sin to enter heaven. At ayaw daw talagang mag-compromise ang bigboss. Kaya instead na masaya sa heaven, malungkot na yung ambiance. At dahil daw sa bibihira ang makakapasok dito, ayun at siya na tagalinis ng buong heaven. Pati daw pinagkakainan ng mga angels sya na din ang naghuhugas. Ang tuwa nga nya daw at for 3 years niyang stay dito eh ngayon pa lang siya nakakita ng lalakeng Earthling. At kahit di naman ako papasa bilang sex symbol, bah, gwapo ako sa paningin nya. That’s one of the perks of nothing to compare.

We talked as if there’s no tomorrow. She smiled at me. I smiled back. She hug me. And kiss me sa cheeks. I almost forgot, ganun pala ang batian dito sa heaven. At dahil bisita lang naman ako dito, iba yung pakiramdam ko sa hug nya. At sa kiss nya. Ang ganda naman kase. Nasa dictionary kaya dito sa heaven yung word na libog? Before I could think of something nasty, trumpets are blowing, announcing that my visit is finally over. I held her hand for the last time. Pressed it a bit. Sending electronic impulse to her brain that given the short span of time we were with each other, I felt heavenly. I thought I saw loneliness drawn in her angelic face when I bade goodbye.

“When you decided you had enough in your complicated world sawn, will you be with me here in heaven?”

“I dunno angel… life is uncertain.”

The gates are opened, and angel accompanied me to it. bade goodbye. I wonder how lonely she could be in heaven. I just made a tour in heaven. Saw its wonder. Talk to an angel. But apart from that, I saw the loneliness, the serenity, the beauty that lost its essence if you have no one to share it with. I smiled. It’s nothing close to hell.

(author’s note: kung curious kayo na buksan yung entry ko about my trip to hell, kung curious lang naman, paunawa, medyo, malibog ang tema nun. hindi wholesome. And oh by the way, this entry was first posted sa Sawariko.)