We have an online auction site, similar to eBay, which is called Trademe. It has been a roaring success since it’s start sometime ago. However, recently, it was in the news as there is a so-called artist who has been kicked out of Trademe for copying directly from other people’s photographs. You may ask, “What’s wrong with that?” Well, you will have to know as well, that his paintings does not seem to real paintings(more printed) and his sceneries are from anywhere other than New Zealand(which he claims-he even states a specific spot). It may be just photoshop work as well.
**Advert break :P My photoblog about this.
My auction! for a newspaper about this story. Fun reading!
A common scenario is that this “Artist” puts up an auction for one of his “paintings” of a sunset over say, Wellington Bay. It gets eagerly snapped up as people like realistic paintings(including me). The auction gets to like thousands of dollars. When people ask him what type of media is the painting, he bans them from his auction. When people start doubting him more(because of his strange behaviour) he then accuses everyone as an “jealous artist” but half of them are not! You think this is bad? A month after the auction, someone finds a photograph on the internet exactly the same as the painting(for examples go to Scambusters - see how similar the images are!) Even worse, some of his auctions have their pictures flipped right-to-left compared to the original photo. When his buyers receive the physical painting, they find that it is the right way instead.
You wonder why an honest person would do such dubious things? Oh, and he’s left the country for Holland. Read his website. Buyer beware! Just remember, do not believe everything you read, especially online, where people have no identity.