I need to make a confession, you see, at times I really do a horrible disservice to myself and after a person has proven to me repeatedly what a detestable person they can be, I actually still attempt to attribute some redeeming quality to them. In this case the only thing I could come up with was I never thought this photographer, Laura Dark, would stoop so low as to use a photograph that her and I created with two fantastic MUAs some five years ago I believe, for a recent cover of the Metropolitan d'Etroit. Not that re-edits are any huge deal, except for the fact that this particular re-edit, seems to have just one glaring change - my face has been photoshopped over by another model from another shoot. Lacking releases and copyright hoopla aside, I just find this to be in absolute horrible taste as well as a glaring example of this person's professional accountability or lack thereof. The technical aspect of this obvious cut and paste is so offensive and noticeable in the amateur aspect that I'm surprised it ever made it into print. But there is something so insulting about this piece, not to me, but let's take a look at the model who's face was pasted over mine. What does this say about this lovely gal, whom I believe is Jackie Steinert? Is the photographer saying that Jackie isn't a good enough model, her body isn't right or her wardrobe may be lacking? I do believe Jackie is a model in her own right, and I would think that Laura would think that she is deserving of a cover that is all her and not just a badly photoshopped hack job of her face pasted over an image I was part of. I think it's quite shocking to realize that this model is still working with this photographer and I would just hope that her self esteem isn't that low to let herself be treated like this. I feel really bad for anyone who feels so badly about themselves that they let someone else use them like that. As for Laura, the photographer of the amazing original image, I do agree is a fantastic shot. I trust myself to bring my own creations to life like I did here, that entire outfit I'm wearing was created by me from the crown and wig to the gloves, bustier and skirt (70+ hours) - it won me best in category for Highball Halloween back in 2009 I think? Maybe 2010. The male model is wearing one of my vintage silk top hats and a great jacket provided by Lip Service for a shoot I was to be doing for Gothic Beauty Magazine. The fantastic MUAs (Mary Kelley and Beth Gray) spent hours on my make up, we only had an hour to shoot before we lost all daylight. Things soured between myself and Laura and through the years I've had lots of professionals come to me and share their stories of stolen items, public temper tantrums and other falsities screamed loudly by Laura. I've watched her copy a lot of my own concepts as well as many others and then rant and rave about everyone ripping her off. In truth, it only provides me with a moment of laughter and I don't attribute much time to whatever her latest tantrum is over because I have a life to live and it's not on the internet. I'm too busy with my own wonderful (and new) family and friends, so many incredible projects that are in the works right now (just you wait!) and just enjoying each day that comes to me as I do still cope with the loss of my beloved best friend. I do feel this blantant rehash of an old photo by covering my face and using it for a publication without any credit to me (that is still my body, my creation - my costume) is a desperate scream to get my attention as she's done before. I've moved on and pushed myself I feel into new realms of creativity, I'm in this for the art, not to see how many shoots I can crank out with the same flat look over and over again. There is a story within all my creations and although I'm open to work with new people all the time, it's why I'm so thankful to have found true artists who are on the same page as I, ready to experiment and forge into new areas. Some of the stuff I created with Laura was truly fantastic but due to our break up and all the reasons behind it, I don't have a need to use our past work and if I ever did, I would always credit the people involved. To me this just seems to imply that she misses me so much more than I ever imagined and that her creativity must be faltering if she cannot produce a better image than to badly rehash an image we created some five years ago.
**Now she's emailing me that I'm violating her intellectual property and that my opinion is libel. Yes my darklings, careful what you say out there, apparently freedom of speech does not protect one's personal opinion! She's threatening me with reporting and legal action now which is really so traumatic. I just didn't realize that I made such an impact on her and that she misses me so much. Perhaps she can seek professional help to assist her with this break up, I think it's starting to affect her far too much. **
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