Adventures in Copyright: Crossing la Ligne

Sølve Sundsbø shot the wonderful “Points a la Ligne” for Numéro last year in May.

We loved the Norwegian photographer’s eerie and sexy spread featuring a pancaked Edita Vilkeviciute’s body covered in various shadowed patterns.

Seems for the editorial’s one year anniversary Allure Korea and photographer Lee Kyung Ryul did a little more than pay homage to Sundsbø’s work in their May 2009 issue. In some of the shosts the model, Han Jin, is actually wearing clothing (unlike Edita) and they went beyond the strict geometric patterns that Sundsbø used, but it’s still unquestionably similar to the photos from “la Ligne”.

Okay, so plenty of fashion photographers have taken inspiration from any number of photographers from Avedon to Penn and so many other talents - and that’s great. But this comparison is beyond simple inspiration and comes pretty darn soon after the original shoot. Sundsbø presented a unique image that Kyung Ryul recreated nearly identically. The heights of creativity reached in contemporary fashion photography is awe-inspiring and that’s why an original perspective will just always be more interesting.

—AMANDA JEAN BOYLE

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 3:29PM

i think it's more an homage to yayoi kusama

Jun 16, 2009 4:24PM

It's all an hommage or a rip off (whatever you like) of Man Ray's photo of Kiki from the '20s.

Jun 16, 2009 5:19PM

do you (amanda jean) go to hopkins?

Jun 17, 2009 4:49PM

I'm a follower of the arts and as one studies history we see a consent effect and influence from the beginning of time. As long as the original is recognized as the inspiration, (but one could always argue origin).

It reminds me of the French impressionists. They all recognized one another as creative, talented artists. The influence on one another was undeniable. It became a movement, one that is still strong and greatly admired today. And surely continues to influence the artists of the world.

Long live artistic expression of all kinds!

Jun 18, 2009 12:42PM

There's an homage and then there is plagiarism, theft, piracy, IP violations of all kinds...whatever you want to call it. And there are those who say that their work was "influenced" by someone else. True, sometimes... but its obvious this is the equivalent of copying of the guy who sits next to you in class.
Those who would pirate what you produce have developed an elaborate sophistry to convince you that they are your victim. They aren't. Fight back.

Jun 19, 2009 6:41PM

I think it's great that you posted this. It's always beautiful to be inspired by another artist, but you should always push yourself to be better than you are. Not pay such a close homage to another, and so soon. If you're going to do it, do it better.