I took this picture from someone's balcony - I was taking BPO pics of the one next door and turned around and saw a duck walking across the golf course - not unusual, but it was in the very hot summer of 2008, ducks aren't usually hanging around until after the golfers go home or to wherever golfers go when they aren't golfing. The lone duck was heading to the pond.
I first published it on my website in June 2008, also on my blog, also on Localism. It is actually still on my camera memory with those BPO pics - I can't figure out how to delete that file.
The first thief was an Active Rain member, who had it tagged as Sun City Mesquite. Not even close, a whole different area, whole different zip code. (Still on their website)
This picture, has turned up all over the place - I have seen it on Realtor blogs, websites, golf online mags.....
It is not even that good, just my point and shoot Canon. The zoom distorted it.
And you can't even see the duck.
Well, I know it was there.
I am waiting until it gets stolen a few more times, then I am going to file a reverse class action lawsuit for copyright infringement. :)
Sad but true. On our MLS I have seen the same waterfront pic used to describe river frontage, lake frontage and just waterfront. ALl different towns but same pic. I think we watermark them now.
So your picture is famous and therefore you are. Did you ever think of it that way.
Randy - I think I will watermark some of mine that I put out there - I see EHow uses them a lot.
Elite guys - So now I am a famous photographer - cool!
Virginia, This is a great photo even without a duck! No wonder its been used by so many people. Theft is the highest form of flattery!
Hi Pat - the duck really is there!! :)
I thought chocolate is the highest form of flattery. Highest form of anything.
Yes, I am flattered although itt was a lucky shot.
I can't see the duck but I can see why folks would want to use this photo as representative of "whatever". Too bad they have to steal it.
This happens in every market, every day. Lazy agents stealing from others to make their job easier! What a shame!
It truly is a money shot. You are very talented with a camera.
Virginia:
I have polished my glasses and I still cannot see the duck, but this is a lovely photo. I still have a difficult time coming to terms with the fact that agents actually steal each other's photos and do not think it is the absolutely wrong thing to do.
I have to disagree with #2, the pictures is famous but unless given credit (which never happens when stolen) you will not be recognized. No matter how you cut it, it's theft! And I still don't see the duck so I might have to borrow Claudette's reading glasses ;-D
Virginia,
When even our members of Congress see no harm in lying to the camera, we know that the world's turned upside down. Sue 'em!
Mike in Tucson
Virginia you don't give yourself enough credit. The picture is beautiful! Go get those theifs:)
Virginia - I used tineye.com to see where else it is on the web, and it came up with zero results... make sure it's exactly the same image, before you accuse.
I'll have to learn to watermark because I take a lot of photos and don't want them stolen.
Yours is a great photo for many reasons, and it's too bad it got stolen.
Now tell us where the duck is.
Virginia, it is a very picturesque photo. Too bad some have resorted to using it. You may want start putting your name and copyright on your photos.
Where is that duck??? Love the pic though. There might be a few of my pics stolen out there. I haven't ever chased them down. I'm bone tired with all the other stuff I need to be doing.
As Groutcho said, say the magic word and the duck comes down and gives you $100. In your case I think a bit more.
Virginia: I watermark all my home staging photos. I got tired of having them stolen. The theft has dropped since I started doing that.
Great pic. It is a shame people will stoop to theft for a great pic or anything else. WHERE IS THE DUCK?
It is a very nice picture, but must be very irritating to have people keep stealing it. Don't let them get away with it.
I don't care if someone steals my pics, I'm selling real estate, not art.
I does tell us a lot about the culprit though.
It's a form of flattery.
That's pretty funny! i would probably just consider it a compliment and move on.
I must be blind ... because I can't see the duck. Maybe I don't know where to look. In any event, it's a great photo. Yes, I agree about watermarking photos that you care about, but, then that can defeat the purpose of showing off what you can do because the watermark can get in the way of the photo - and - people can crop it off if it isn't across the center of the photo. Either way sometimes we can't win!!!
I cannot see the duck either, but it is a great photo! I have had mine taken as well, and it is so frustrating.
I don't see a duck, but that photograph is breathtakingly beautiful.
Virginia,
The photo is gorgeous, could not find the duck, perhaps it ducked out of the way was afraid his picture would get stolen. LOL
Can I have permission to use it? :) J/k. Great pic!
You GO VIRGINIA!
Hey, Virginia. Way to go!! I am in full support of what you are doing. All my best, Jim
Hi Virginia, It is a very cool photo ! Still not too late to " watermark " it.
Virginia ... Fabulous picture!!! I looked hard for the duck but don't see it. I need to learn how to "watermark" pictures! pippa
Great picture...
I'm not a lawyer, but used to be a photographer. You may find that by knowingly allowing the image to be used without permission, you will have a harder fight proving copyright violation. My lawyer always told me that if I wanted to protect any picture, I had to protect every picture every time I found it...
Virgina....I cannot imagine. Interesting comment by Lane. I never find my shots anywhere. Of course they aren't this good. Great shot, indeed!
The duck was about to hit the pond when I snapped it - I can't see it either!
Lenn - only one Mesquite guy used it that I know of - he could have taken his own, he knows where that spot is - the rest are out of area, some out of the country - they just get it from Google image, it was tagged as Mesquite NV golfcourse - originally.
Jennifer - I used to do the same thing, when I didn't know any better. This pic is viral now - and it was supposed to be a duck picture - funny.
Rich - I have a very talented Canon which I use as a point and shoot - I was trying to zoom on this one and got a great golfcourse pic instead of a duck. Thanks for the compliment, though!
Claudette and Russell - I can't see it either and I know where it was.
Mike - it is pretty wacky out there.
Bill - another of my accidentally excellent shots - I take so many pics, sometimes I get lucky - no skill.
Alan - I am not going to sue anybody - I don't think there really is a reverse class action lawsuit - I just made that up. I just think it is funny that my picture of a duck ended up as a viral golfcourse pic. I am no photographer!
Bill T - I watermarked a couple of maps that I made - they are all over the internet, too, with my website right on them - pretty funny.
Michael - I am too lazy. I barely get around to uploading the pics on my camera. :(
Lizette - Me, too - I've never looked for any - this one just appears all over the internet. The duck is right before the pond. I can't see it either.
Joe - my husband loved that show!! I am expecting him to order it from Netflix and make me watch Groucho for weeks at a time.
Michelle - you should! Your pictures are beautiful and they should remain yours to advertise your business and not for anyone else's use.
Tom - We can't find the duck. The picture is 2 years old. He is probably dead, anyway.
Mark - They can all have it - I am going to get another duck and take a new picture and keep it for myself.
Robert - Good point - and I am not a photographer who sells pics, either.
Jon - It is funny. I took a corny picture of a duck and it went viral as a golfcourse shot - who knew what a genius photograper I am?
Stephen - I watermarked some maps - they don't even bother to crop my website off the bottom - Hey! More ads for me, right?
Sharon - I am guessing that these people just picked it up on Google image as Mesquite Golfcourse - it is wierd when Realtors use your pics on a competing site, isn't it?
Phil - Thank you. Nobody else can find the duck either. Where's Waldo?
Ron & Alexandra - Obviously a shy duck.
Chris - take it!
Christianne - I am out for blood now. ;) I have decided to sue the duck.
Jim - I don't actually care anymore - it is kind of funny to me, after seeing it so many times.
Bill - I would watermark it as a duck, now. Actually, I am now # 1 on Google for 'Mesquite NV duck' because of this post. HaHa.
Pippa - I actually don't know how, either. My daughter has done that for me on some maps. No clue.
Lane - that makes sense, and I think that is what Lenn does - this pic is old news. I am actually not going to sue anybody - my whole blog is all over the internet, actually, but they give me credit one way or another when they use it. So that is ok with me.
Jeanean - Thanks. It sure came out nice, but it was actually taken as a picture of a duck. An accident.
How would you water mark it? I would be curious for myself.
Damon - I do not know how to watermark, my daughter did it for me on some maps - Picnik, maybe?
I just wish someone would steal one of mine, I would think that was so cool. It is a nice picture but not worth stealing I don't think.
Charles, I'll go steal one of yours, just to make you happy.
This one is a nice enough picture of a golfcourse subdivision in Mesquite - but a really crappy picture of a duck.
Virginia, this is a great picture and captures the beauty of Mesquite! I promise not to steal it, maybe borrow it for a day or so - BTW, I do not see a duck either :o) jk!!
Lila, you can have it as a late Birthday gift.