Mirjam Letsch Photography

Plagiarizing my work

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:53:35 +0000

The number of ‘artists’ copying my work, without permission, without payment, without any reference to me as the photographer and owner of the image, is growing. The concept of intellectual property doesn’t seem to be present in the minds of these artists and I really wonder what I can do about this. Roos van Velsen, for instance, painted the photo below and indirectly even claims she photographed ‘many interesting people’ with ‘mysterious eyes’ during her ‘many foreign trips’. Her paintings are sold, published on the internet and shown during exhibitions.

Plagiarism Roos van Velsen | roosvanvelsen.exto.nl

Roos van Velsen has a fascinating fantasy… She claims the lady below is a ‘female fighter in a country in conflict’…. whereas in real, it’s the same Indian woman as the woman above and again my work, not hers.

Also Margreet Sleeuwenhoek stole my photo (below) and I am sure the ‘Academy’ in Vlaardingen where she studied art, taught her about copyright and plagiarism.

Karen Scheffers opens her ‘Exto Art Page‘ with a painted version of my image, without mentioning me, without permission.

And also she indirectly claims to take her own photos: [...] ‘The eyes are the mirrors to the soal’. When photographing, you notice the personality, but when painting you are are very much busy building the whole image [...] the canvas becomes alive and the face becomes a person with character and a soul.

I mean, so much fuss and bother about describing art is interesting in itself, but she is stealing my work! Not once does she mention she used my photo as a reference! She should have stated, of course, that this photo taken by photographer Mirjam Letsch inspired her so much, that she asked permission to paint it (assuming I would grant that permission…). In her case, it’s the more surprising since she claims to be a professional freelance photographer herself. She should know!

Another one, from Nathalie Buzaré from France:

Plagiarism Nathalie Buzaré | France

It’s really frustrating that you need the internet ‘to be seen’, to show your work, but on the other hand there are so many people out there who steal my photos, who completely ignore my copyright and even watermarking my images has no effect. Here, I only showed a few paintings, but I could add many instances of publications where they stole from my website, from Flickr, even from agencies who represent me. I find my photos in international newspapers (!), in the folders of travel agents, on websites (of travel agents) …

For now, I will end this blog by quoting Steve McCurry: The concept of intellectual property should be a no-brainer, but I guess there will always be people who use the work of others to promote their own companies or careers. I appreciate the folks around the world who let me know when they see my work being pirated or plagiarized and let us know. [source: Steve McCurry's blog]

TO BE CONTINUED

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Foto-actie online (Dutch)

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:54:28 +0000

Speciale foto-actie ter ondersteuning van het werk van Stichting Duniya in India en Vietnam!

VERSPREIDEN VAN DIT BERICHT – BIJVOORBEELD VIA TWITTER HIERNAAST – WORDT ZEER GEWAARDEERD!

Duniya is voor haar werk in India en Vietnam volledig afhankelijk van donaties. En soms moet je dan iets bedenken om mensen over de streep te trekken. Zodat we straks een twee wasmachines en een gasoven kunnen kopen voor het revalidatiecentrum in Vietnam (kosten: € 2000,-), of door kunnen gaan met het gratis onderwijs verzorgen voor 85 kinderen uit de krottenwijk Nagwa in India, of Andjoe kunnen blijven betalen die dagelijks een warme maaltijd bereidt voor diezelfde 85 kinderen, vaak de enige warme maaltijd op een dag. Of een 10-maanden cursus kunnen financieren voor blinde Anita die dan een vak kan leren, of sparen voor het zo broodnodige medische noodfonds.

Ik zet mijn fotografie in om te zorgen dat we kunnen blijven draaien, vandaar deze actie.

HOE WERKT HET?

Voor een bedrag van € 50, kun je uit onderstaande beelden een foto uitkiezen die, vergroot op posterformaat 40 x 60 cm, in een stevige koker naar je wordt verzonden. Vergeet fotonummer (bijvoorbeeld duniya-actie-10) en je adres niet in te vullen onderaan!
Maak € 50,- over op de rekening van Stichting Duniya (details hier) o.v.v. het bestelnummer.
Maximaal 10 dagen na ontvangst van je betaling (!) heb je de foto in huis.
Als je meer overmaakt (€100,-, €150,- etc.) mag je uiteraard meer foto’s bestellen.
Zoek je een speciaal beeld dat je hier niet vindt? Mail me! Ik ben bereid beelden toe te voegen op verzoek.

Als je hieronder op de eerste foto klikt (hem dus opent), kun je door de beelden ‘bladeren’ door op he beeld te klikken (ga met je muis op het beeld staan). Je kunt uiteraard ook individuele foto’s aanklikken.

BESTELLEN? VERGEET NIET HET FORMULIER ONDER DE FOTO’S IN TE VULLEN!

[contact-form]

Foto-actie! [Dutch only!]

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:34:33 +0000

actieflyer

SPECIALE FOTO-ACTIE VOOR STICHTING DUNIYA

Doneer een bedrag van € 50,- aan Stichting Duniya >>> en ontvang een foto naar keuze op posterformaat (40 x 60 cm) kado! Thuisgestuurd in stevige koker.

LET OP: Deze actie gaat pas op zaterdag 4 september in! Je kunt dan online kiezen uit maar liefst 50 foto’s. Geen extra kosten en uitleg volgt volgende week.

Inmiddels is de actie online, klik hier >>>

Je kunt je hieronder aanmelden, dan ontvang je meteen bericht als de beelden online staan (afmelden gaat net zo makkelijk, geen spam!). Kijk anders volgende week weer op de website.

Een Bhopa meisje uit de Indiase Thar woestijn (Rajasthan).

Photo of the Month: August

admin — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:51:15 +0000

Plural this time, for I want to show you more than just one photo. We (Dong An, our Hanoi based Vietnamese counterpart, our surgeons and Duniya Foundation) are planning the surgery of another 100 children by the end of November. Preparations are already being made and local health workers try to list and organize the handicapped children in their remote villages in the mountains, to call them for a medical screening early September. As a member of Duniya Foundation ánd photographer, I want to show you in what state we often find the children. And how they too can be helped. More about this project on Duniya’s website soon.

Burned | Lai Chau, Vietnam | 2009

During surgery | Sin Ho, Vietnam | 2009

Patient for Dr. Hung, orthopedic surgeon | Lai Chau, Vietnam | 2009

Preparing for surgery | Sin Ho, Vietnam | 2009

Preparing for surgery | Lai Chau, Vietnam | 2009

Before surgery | Lai Chau, Vietnam | 2009

Patient for Dr. Dao, plastic surgeon | Lai Chau, Vietnam | 2009

Burned in cooking fire | Lai Chau, Vietnam | 2010

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Goodgoods products available at festivals

admin — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:31:45 +0000

Soon, I will be present at two festivals with my Goodgoods (fairtrade) selection. There will be products from Vietnam (handmade by ethnic minority women) and products from the Indian Thar desert (handmade by village women from remote settlements), as well as unique posters! I will soon show you more products and tell you more about the background, but if you are interested, please note down the following festivals:

AUGUST 28 & 29 2010
LEVENSKUNST BEURS (see website >>>) – Driebergen (The Netherlands)

SEPTEMBER 11, 2010
2015 FESTIVAL (see website >>>) – IJlst (Friesland, The Netherlands)

Not only Goodgoods, but also Duniya Decoration will sell lots of beautiful, handmade, fairtrade products!

Handmade cushions from Vietnam | Goodgoods.nl

Would you like to be informed when the products are online? Please register below (don’t worry, unsubscribing is as easy!):

First poster proof in Mumbai

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:45:47 +0000

photography © The Good Earth Company | design © Krsna Mehta

Today, I got the news that the first poster proof was ready. The first viewers in Mumbai were very positive about the samples. I hope to receive the final posters soon. The Good Earth Company will donate 50% of the proceeds to Duniya Foundation, you can read more and see the other poster designs here >>> If you would like to be among the first to know when the posters are available in The Netherlands, please subscribe to my blog below. Don’t worry, you can unsubscribe at any moment if you want.

India: Goodearth posters

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:55:54 +0000

I started an inspiring and stimulating cooperation with The Goodearth Company in India: on the basis of my photos, their designer Krsna Mehta created the posters below. And that is not all! Goodearth decided that 50% of the proceeds will go to Duniya Foundation, in support of our education programmes in Varanasi. This information is printed on the posters to promote Duniya Education. Soon, I will have a limited edition of these posters available for sales in The Netherlands (size: 24 x 34 inch, 60,96 x 86,36 cm). Details on price and order options will follow. Will you be in India? The posters will soon be available from Goodearth shops.

Below, you can see the posters as well as the original images. Will the model profit? Yes! I have supported her over the years with a percentage of every image of her which has been sold and will do so this time. Moreover, she sells portcards given by me for free, and started her own small shop.

Would you like to be informed when the posters are available? Please register and you will be among the first to know.

Cambodia: Duch found guilty

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:22:22 +0000

In the news today:

Former Khmer Rouge prison chief Duch has been found guilty of crimes against humanity by Cambodia’s UN-backed war crimes tribunal. Duch, 67, whose full name is Kaing Guek Eav, was sentenced to 35 years in prison. However Duch will not serve the full 35 allotted years as judges reduced the sentence by five years because he had been held illegally and reduced it by a further 11 years for time already served behind bars. [...] He had admitted overseeing the torture and execution of thousands of men, women and children at the notorious Tuol Sleng prison, and asked for forgiveness. [source: BBC]

I visited Tuol Sleng prison in Phnom Penh and worked on a series of photos. I felt sick and depressed afterwards…

Survivor | Cambodia

Tuol Sleng | Phnom Penh | Cambodia

Survivor | Cambodia

World Portraits: Fair Trade Stock Photography

admin — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:23:01 +0000

World Portraits just released a beautiful promotional folder with photos taken by me, by Robin Utrecht and others. In this folder, you can read about Arjuna who was photographed in front of his house where he sold local snacks. His photo was sold through World Portraits and because he received his share, he can now afford a bigger stand at the local market and support his family.

I won the World Portraits photo contest (read more) and will shoot a ‘fair’ photo production in India, assisted by stylist Anouk. We will work in the context of Duniya Foundation and whenever a photo is sold, money will be transferred to a (medical) emergency fund, managed by a co-operation of local women. Duniya is often confronted with emergencies (surgery, death of an income earner, Cesarian section, road accidents etc.) and by setting up this fund, the whole community will profit from the sales of the photo(s). And we are planning a lot more… a local exhibition, for instance, with all the people from the slum where we work as our guests of honour. Of course, I will keep you posted.

The only way this World Portraits concept can be a success, is if we can sell our images. It’s as simple as that. And there are so many possibilities here! What about enlargements as (promotional) gifts? Calendars? Postcards? We can illustrate your annual report or design your commercial campaign. You name it, we will do our best. If you would like to read more about World Portraits, please read the text below (in Dutch, for English, please vitit the World Portraits website).

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please click to enlarge

Streetfood: Cháo gà (chicken rice soup) from Vietnam

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:55:27 +0000

One of the projects I am working on for several years now, is streetfood, a collection of photos and recipees of food prepared by the ‘common man and woman’ I meet during my travels. Simple food I eat in the homes I have been invited to, or at the small road stalls when on my way. Eventually, these images and recipees will be published, but to make your mouth water, I will post a few already.

Although I personally prefer vegetarian food most of the time, I am not a strict non-meat eater. Especially in the mountains of Vietnam, this would be difficult, although they prepare delicious tofu dishes. Also when at home, I eat fish, chicken and meat now and then. I do try to buy meet from animals that had ‘a living’, and not from the big bio-industries. If you live in Friesland, like me, you could buy your beef at Fries Roodbont, or your chicken or pork at Eerlijk Vlees. In Vietnam, I went to several ‘Sunday markets’ where ethnic minorities from the surrounding mountainous villages went for their weekly shopping, an outing for which they often dressed at their best! I saw people buying a live chicken, often a young one, which they would feed and care for untill big and fat enough to eat. The animal is not caged, but scrapes on the premises where other animals are kept as well.

A H'Mong woman bought a chick | Lai Chau, Vietnam

Mama bought a chicken at the Sunday Market | Bac Ha, Vietnam

The chicken rice soup described here, is often served for breakfast in Vietnam. On the side, you can add an omelet with fresh herbs, cut in slices. If soup in the morning is too rich for you, have it for lunch or dinner and even if you recover from a flu: it will help you to regain strength.

Shopping list | ingredients | preparations:

Serves (at least) four persons.

a small onion cut into pieces
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
salt to taste (1 teaspoon will do)
1 teaspoon grinded black pepper
1 whole chicken (1.8 kilo)
1 tablespoon spring onions
sliced coriander leaves (tablespoon or more)

Preparation:

Put 2,5 litres water, the onion, fish sauce, sugar, salt and pepper in a large saucepan and bring to boil. At that point add the chicken and bring to boil again for at least 5 minutes while skimming the impurities from the surface.
Cover the saucepan, turn off the heat and leave it like that for 45 minutes.
In the meantime, prepare a large bowl filled with ice-cold water.
Take the chicken out of the stock (keeping the stock!) and soak in the cold water for 10 minutes, drain afterwards and seperate bite-sized pieces of meet from the bone.
Cook the rice in the stock for about 25 minutes.
Put the pieces of chicken in soup bowls, add the rice soup and granish with spring onions and coriander.

Soup waiting to be served | Than Uyen, Vietnam

Enjoy!