Software Piracy Is Theft

During my morning State Of the Union Review I came across a blog post in which the author addressed the issue of Software Piracy, particularly in relation to individuals who use the software to produce a product for sale. It was an interesting read and I must say that overall I am in agreement, but being me I saw a different side to the issue as a whole.

The author was certain he would receive many comments seeking justification because of perceptions regarding Adobe being greedy. Like I said, I look at things from different perspectives, in this case I pitched in an opinion branched from a different departure point.

ORIGINAL POST LINK:
http://www.cswatzell.com/blog/2013/6/theft-of-photoshop


Here is my comment in its entirety:

Yes, many of the software firms are greedy, charging much more than needed, etc.. They claim they need to fund research and development in order to give us consumer junkies our next rush. Well, they don’t quite word it like that, but it is synonymous to the way it works; the marketers tell us we have these massive needs that they can fulfill and we soon believe we can’t do without the newest, most improved, cram-packed-with-everything-we-need-but-likely-will-never-use gadget or version of software. I don’t buy it! I shoot Nikon digital because I still shoot film and I can still exchange lenses. I develop and print with real silver based materials and the results can be stunning, classic even. Just because it is experienced doesn’t make it dead.

I purchased PS Elements in ver. 3. I took college hours on version 6 and I used PS CS5 extensively during a two year full-time professional photographer program. While in school I purchased Lightroom 3, which has become the triage desk of my workflow, everything enters through LR3, then nearly all my post and printing is handled from there. If I must needs heavily manipulate or work with layers I will perform surgery in Elements 3. I have yet to miss anything the newer versions offer. So why should I give Adobe, or any other for that matter, more of my coins for their coffers when what I have works quite well already. And since I don’t need to purchase these upgrades, I needn’t steal them either!

Abstracts From A Wedding

People do not have to feature in every picture made at a wedding, as I wondered around the location with my mind on the people and the ceremony my photographic eye continued to scout about for frames of interest. In doing so, I couldn't resist the texture of the cobblestone flooring nor those wonderfully changing perspective lines forming from out the identically laid tiling pictured above. Neither could I prevent myself from popping the Lens Baby 2.0 onto the D70 to capture the chairs posted below. In hindsight though I would have placed a single flower on the featured seat, providing a spot of color further defining my chosen focal point. ( I know I could PS one in but for me the art is photography, not post process graphic manipulation. ) Another lesson learned.




I wouldn't be true to my heritage if I failed to be inspired by a kilt, and there in the background is once again that fabulous stone floor.




And yes, this is a people picture, but you must admit that it does have an element of abstract to it, and that really is my point - for the photographer who looks around, there is always another photo ready to be captured.