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Missing

November 22, 2005 - 10:45 PM

You probably didn't notice it. It happened in a blink of an eye. One moment, there were four galleries with over a thousand images and then the next instant they were gone. All of the sudden, one second and one hundred and eighty degrees later all of the UVSA galleries on phidong.com were physically deleted. Strange? No, not really. Just about as strange as the reception we got after the Tet Festival last year.

It seemed like the most promising year, ever, for IT. Organization, check. Talent, check. Dedication, check. Team players, check. Leaderhsip, check. Some of the most talented photographers and videographers worked together to form what seemed like the best thing UVSA IT has ever seen. And then everything went awry.

One moment we're headed forward, to the promise land. The next instant, 180 degrees the other way. "Anyone with a digital camera can do what you guys did," they said. They critisized a "me, me, me" attitude that they suggested each of the members of IT had. And then they did something that any photographer, regardless of his or her level, should frown upon.

They said that from now on, any and all photographs taken at a UVSA sponsored event, including but not limited to all copyrights and other intellectual property rights thereto, were sole property of UVSA.

Welcome to UVSA media, please check your self-respect at the door, as well as the rights to all of your images.

Let me set things straight. There was never any personal gain from any of the photos I've ever shot for UVSA. I never got into this mess thinking there would be any personal or monetary gain. This was a community service. I help cover the event so that the people involved in it, the people who were there could remember it. Then suddenly fingers start getting pointed.

They accuse me of being selfish. Doing this for myself. They say that anybody can replace me and that if I ever shoot again, I can't watermark or post images anymore because they don't belong to me and they aren't being used in an "editorial" sense.

That's fine then. I'll stop posting UVSA images. It'll be easy for me because I won't be taking anymore. The only thing worse than lack of apperciation is disrespect.

If you don't see me or Loc, Chris, Tim, Anne, Nick, or anybody out there shooting UVSA events, now you know why. It's kind of like a media embargo. mamoru

Comments

Well said. bowdown

Posted by: Loc at November 22, 2005 11:15 PM

damn what the hell is uVSA thinking? madrun

Posted by: Tin at November 22, 2005 11:36 PM

I don't know the details, but I've always felt that you guys deserve better since the beginning. Considering this a relief of an unnecessary burden.

Posted by: Sam at November 23, 2005 1:13 AM

The real losers here aren't the UVSA board, or us. I will find other things to shoot, other places to help out (where I will be appreciated) and UVSA will find some photographers with point and shoots to take advantage of.


The people who really lose out in this whole fiasco are the people who participate in the UVSA events. The people whose experiences we used to capture. Innocent bystanders who won't have the luxury of having their memories recorded because a select few were disrespectful, ignorant, and unappreciative.


A couple rotten fruits will end up spoiling the entire fruit basket. That's what happened here. fruit


I think the irony of it all is their accusations that we were all shooting for personal gain. They accused us, me, of shooting the Tet Festival only for the girls and that most of the coverage was skewed towards the Tet Pageant. My response to the matter was that the Tet Pageant was indeed the main event of the festival and I only shot what I was directly asked to shoot (none of the other committees had asked to be shot). They accused me of being selfish, but it was their selfishness that led to this embargo. It was their selfishness, their wanting to have pictures taken of them, their concietedness and self-centric views that led us to where we are. Oh the irony.

Posted by: Phi Dong at November 23, 2005 1:31 AM

At least you guys were able to leave Nguyenners

Posted by: localandbitter at November 23, 2005 2:40 AM

That sucks man. I liked those photos you took using that camera extender. That photo of the guys playing chess was pretty cool hs

Posted by: marcus at November 24, 2005 4:42 PM

man, this is pathetic. What happen to all those hard work, all those contribution?!?!?! Free labor. They'll regret it, cheer up.. you guys where the best, it's their own stupidity for not realizing it. tear

Posted by: Luong at November 26, 2005 12:42 PM



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