The Business of Photography

April 19, 2012

Laws In Collision

Artistic freedom versus licensing rights—the law is in need of a course correction before it runs afoul of itself and takes photographers into a black hole of uncertainty

By Samuel Lewis
What do an artist, the University of Alabama, a host of trademark law professors and members of the major collegiate athletic conferences have in common? As absurd as the question may seem, the answer is rather sobering: All are participants, to varying degrees, in a legal showdown that pits copyright law and constitutional considerations against trademark... Read more
April 10, 2012

Vision To Visuals: Keeping It Real

Rachel Hovnanian challenges perceptions of female beauty

By Baldev Duggal
Imagine experiencing a parallel reality of our world that serves as an antidote to our pervasive media culture, which undermines women’s sense of self-image and confidence through its artificial constructs of beauty. With social media becoming the de rigueur method of keeping connected with “friends,” women being marketed, constructed... Read more
February 23, 2012

Vision To Visuals: Change The World

Russell James, Nomad Two Worlds and making a difference

By Baldev Duggal
It was more than 10 years ago when we first worked with acclaimed photographer Russell James. He had been commissioned by Hermès to create a site-specific installation at the Academy of Art in Tribeca. James, already pushing his fashion photography into an experimental fine-art genre, was exploring the theme of the “nomad” in his photography... Read more
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February 23, 2012

Is Photo School Worth It?

Going into a photography program gives you the skills and knowledge to compete in an increasingly competitive environment

By Staff
In recent years, the world of for-profit education has been criticized in the media for making promises of high-paying jobs upon graduation. At the forefront of these criticisms have been cooking schools, thanks in part to the proliferation of reality-based cooking shows on TV, which show young, hipster chefs spinning their magic and transforming disparate... Read more
December 20, 2011

Vision To Visuals: Culture Club

A nightlife hot spot uses artistic fashion photography to set the tone

By Baldev Duggal
Of all experiences in New York City that can make a newcomer feel like an instant New Yorker, spending an evening in one of the city’s famed nightclubs has to be among the top five. In the ’80s and the ’90s, clubs like Studio 54, Roxy, Limelight, Palladium and Webster Hall gained a cult status among the uninitiated in New York. That... Read more
December 14, 2011

The Fair Use Quandary

The anatomy of a copyright infringement dispute

By Samuel Lewis
Much has been written recently regarding Jay Maisel’s enforcement of his copyrights, and especially of the demand that he made against Portland, Oregon-based Andy Baio, a self-described writer and tech entrepreneur, arising from Baio’s unauthorized use of the cover art from one of Miles Davis’ records. The vast majority of commentary... Read more
November 16, 2011

Vision To Visuals: A Moveable Feast

Painter Nicole Etienne experiments with photography and printing

By Baldev Duggal
"I was hooked like a magpie to shiny things," says Nicole Etienne, the dynamic young painter known for her "luscious" paintings, of her first encounter with print materials at Duggal. Etienne had lived close to the Duggal headquarters in the Flatiron District for almost a decade before she moved to London. Remembering her walks past... Read more
October 18, 2011

Stay On Track

Before filing a lawsuit, consider the possible ramifications and what victory or loss will accomplish

By Samuel Lewis
One of the inevitable realities that any business involved in image creation and/or licensing will encounter is discovering instances where the business’ copyrights have been infringed. It’s important to keep business goals in mind when confronted with any sort of legal issue, and infringement is no exception. Increasingly, I find that... Read more
October 5, 2011

Vision To Visuals: Art And The Downtown Alliance

Wrapping post-9/11 construction zones in transformative art

By Baldev Duggal
The 10th anniversary of 9/11 arrived in our city with grace. Valiant reconstruction efforts that have silently been at play in the past decade revealed a rejuvenated New York. Lower Manhattan’s once desolate neighborhoods are now burgeoning with new businesses, and neighborhoods are showing the creative resolve of political and business figures... Read more
August 16, 2011

Under Fire

In an era of “cell phone” photojournalism, does the professional photographer still have a role?

By David Willis
During the recent uprisings in the Middle East commonly referred to as the Arab Spring, the people of the region were able to circumvent censorship and bring governments to their knees, thanks in large part to cell phone and mobile digital technology. Images and videos were disseminated to the world via social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Flickr... Read more