This is just a quick video to show you what is possible to create in Adobe Photoshop. This video that I created also shows what I have learned so far. My ability to create is quickly growing and outgrowing my current computer system. I am looking forward to upgrading my equipment and expanding my ability to create amazing videos in Adobe Photoshop.

The lawsuit in this case is most definitely complicated. Kruger did use a photograph from public domain that was created by someone else and made a profit from it. Kruger also claimed the work by signing it and gave no reference to the original creator. Despite the technicality of time lapse in copyright laws, this still feels like Kruger stole the work and committed copyright infringement.

When art is submitted to the public domain it still has a creator who should always be given credit for the work. Many artists submit their work into a public domain with a copyright clause that states weather or not their work can be used with or without reference to them and weather or not the art can be altered in any way. While it may be possible to use other people’s work for profit, I do not feel it should ever be done without express permission from the artist. The line for me is drawn when the owner of the art is excluded from recognition and profit.

Parallels to this case can be seen in AI created work when AI uses images without permission. These images are then spread across the internet via social media and claimed as original work without any credit to the original owners or even to the AI that modified the work. When it comes to social media and AI copyright infringement is truly out of control.

Photo manipulation can be a very powerful way to portray art, make statements or even manipulate people. When photo manipulation is done for the right reasons, it is like using a digital art brush to “paint” a picture. One of my favorite things to do in Adobe Photoshop is to manipulate photographs by replacing backgrounds or adding objects in a way that makes the photograph more interesting. I do it for art and to show what is possible.

There are plenty of examples out there of unethical photo manipulation found on social media. Has anyone seen the photoshopped mushroom in the aurora photograph that was being passed off as a natural phenomenon? Or the photoshopped red jelly fish in the night sky? These photographs were accompanied by long convincing statements of “authenticity” and thousands of people were in complete awe. They were fooled by the content. My opinion is that is unethical as it pretended to be educational.