Digital Photo Gallery of Ted Szukalski

Colorado state worker could be punished for Obama e-mail

Ted Szukalski — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:06:50 PST

This is an ugly story that refuses to die.

Some time ago during American presidential elections, which saw Barack Obama becoming the USA president some person has stolen my copyrighted photograph and altered it in derogatory way to portray Barack Obama shoe shining Sara Palin’s shoes. So, once again: I did not create the Obama/Palin image and below you can see my original photograph.

Photograph: Shoeshine – homeless and a woman client MG_6348-27
Photographer: Ted Szukalski.

I have already posted an article explaining this was an unathorised plagiarism. Never the less it seems the image is still being forwarded in USA and this time someone got in trouble for forwarding this image on company’s time and using company’s resources. The company is Colorado Department of Transportation – a Colorado state government institution.

The story was initially published by Associated Press in Denver and then it was quickly syndicated across hundreds of news websites and blogs. AP’s original story had no image associated with it, but almost all other sites printed the unauthorized plagiarism of my photograph. Interestingly almost all of these sites made sure to insert copyright notices on their story and “All rights reserved” note, yet none of them observed my rights over the image.

The woman, who forwarded this image using employer’s e-mail system, is facing some disciplinary action. I wonder what should all these news and blog sites face? They all should know USA Copyright Act. I found this site, which summarizes the copyright very well – perhaps all of the people reproducing this plagiarized image should read it.

Just for clarity I have not granted any media or news agency any publishing or distribution rights to this image or any images derived from it (legally or otherwise).

Rain

Ted Szukalski — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:42:40 PST

Photograph: Rain drops on a leaf
Photographer: Ted Szukalski.

Christmas and New Year were marked by very wet weather in Australia. Uncharacteristic low temperatures and rain causing floods in many areas of the country. It seems as there is no middle ground and the weather takes us from the drought of the century to floods in no time. While some rain is more than welcome, floods are certainly not.

There is a native bush about 6 feet tall in front of our house. This morning its entire foliage looked like the leaf in the photograph – heavily covered with water. There must be something special about its leaves as other bushes did not seem to retain the rain drops from the night.

Happy New Year!

Ted Szukalski — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:24:28 PST

Photograph: Fireworks – New Years Eve 2009
Photographer: Ted Szukalski.

Wishing you all the best in 2010. Love, health Prosperity, peace and joy.

The firework photograph was taken at our local family show at 9pm last night. You are welcome to see more fireworks photographs in this, New Year’s Eve fireworks gallery or simply watch the YouTube presentation below.

Surrogate avatar

Ted Szukalski — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:01:31 PST

Photograph: Surrogate avatar
Photographer: Ted Szukalski.

Surrogates and Avatar are very popular movies in the cinemas at the moment. Both explore the idea of using a surrogate or an avatar as part of human life. However, the commonality ends on basic concept of a human controlling the avatar. From this point on the use of the avatar is very different in each movie. Where the “Surrogates” replace human existence almost 100% in name of safety and lead to alienation and isolation in the result the Avatar concept extends the use to presence in environments where humans could not survive. In fact the final scene transforms the avatar into a creature thus signifying the avatar is only a carrier, a robot but not a being.

Both movies are excellent to watch and will keep you entertained.

The photograph of the avatar here is a head of a manekin wired to medical equipment and transformed into digital art in Photoshop using light color modifying filters.

Cicada Song

Ted Szukalski — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:10:22 PST

Photograph: Discarded cicada skin
Photographer: Ted Szukalski.

cicada-song
This year cicada’s song is unbelievably loud. The relentless and never ending brain drilling wall of noise reaching 120db. That is one loud little insect and in the bush surrounding my house there must be millions of them. I have yet to see a live cicada around the house, but I can see their discarded cicada skins.

My best street photos of 2009

Ted Szukalski — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:51:16 PST

Here is a little compilation of my best street candids I’ve captured on digital film in 2009. The YouTube presentation goes for around 6 minutes. Sit back and enjoy

Crying girl

Ted Szukalski — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:59:54 PST

Photograph: Crying girl
Photographer: Ted Szukalski.

As a street photographer I capture a lot of various situations. It is not often that I capture row emotions as people in the CBD are usually there as office workers or shoppers and there are not many “personal” events seen day to day thus it surprised me to see this girl pouring out her eyes in a bus stop. Her friend provided the proverbial shoulder to cry on. Few minutes later the same pair of girls passed me by laughing and entering some boutique.

Hare Krishna

Ted Szukalski — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:49:27 PST

Photograph: Hare Krishna
Photographer: Ted Szukalski.

So, its just few days before Christmas. Sydney is full of Christmas decorations. One can hear the carols performed by various musicians almost on every corner. There is Santa Claus or two too. People are doing their last minute present shopping. Out of nowhere a “Hare Krishna” chant is heard. It intensifies as the group of very colourful and obviously happy group of Hare Krishna followers pass me in the street. They look fantastic in their vivid outfits, performing a well rehearsed routine. Hare Krishna and Jingle Bells all combined together – just another day in Sydney.

The day I photographed an alien

Ted Szukalski — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:22:01 PST

Photograph: Alien
Photographer: Ted Szukalski.

I have entered a large unlit hall. It was pitch black. I was ready to turn around and hit for the dimly lit exit. There is obviously nothing interesting here, I thought.

I made a step towards the exit when lights blinded me. I could make out an outline of a greenish glowing creature in front of me. Extremely long feet and neck were immediately identifiable. Almost without moving I pointed my camera at the apparition and took a shot. The creature moved. I took another photograph despite being overpowered by the lights. I was not sure the camera has anything to focus on in this bizarre mixture of bright light and extremely dark hall. As suddenly as the creature appeared in front of me everything went black and there was nothing to see again. I have copied the photos from my camera to the PC with great anticipation. First photograph showed nothing but white frame from overexposure. To my surprise the second photograph shown here clearly shows the creature I photographed with its strange colours and shapes. I took a photo of an alien!?

Engineering of yesterday

Ted Szukalski — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:11:20 PST

Photograph: Brass locomotive tap
Photographer: Ted Szukalski.

When I visited the Power House museum one thing became very apparent as I watched exhibits spanning few hundred years. The older the device the more “elegant” it was. Modern engineering is all about efficiency and functionality, while engineers of the past also made sure their creations looked good too.