Since I am the person about whom Macabros is speaking, the one who IM'd him and sent him an ICQ message, it seems only appropriate that I clarify this matter. Yesterday morning, I was the first person to post with a new free package offered by MnD Productions. Throughout the day, three other people posted images with this very same package. On each and every one of these images, Macabros left comments that were favorable regarding lighting, etc. and then closed with the same comment, worded almost indentically on each image, "but this looks like sinamin's image". Since he used my name in each and every comment, I felt that I had every right to communicate with him directly. And, since I happen to know Macabros very well, I also chose to not couch my words, the same as I would with anyone I know well. I explained to him that it seems obvious that when people are using the same set, the same character and the same props that images are going to be somewhat similar. Beyond that however, each of these images used different lighting, POV and cameras and in fact, while my image was a nude, the characters in the other images were all dressed differently, some sets had additional props and in one image, not only was the character dressed differently and posed differently, the hair was different also (in addition to the pov, camera and lighting). If Macabros had wished to say in his comments that these images looked similar to another image posted, then that is his business, when he uses my name specifically in his comments, I believe it becomes my business. I took my thoughts on the matter to him directly, because I know him very well. I did not come to a forum and whine about someone, I dealt with the individual directly. No one called Macabros an idiot in any gallery posting. I did ask him if he had lost his mind (in a private IM) as he went to every single image that used this package and made the same post about it. I did IM him on ICQ and call him an idiot, as one might call any person they know very well an idiot when they think they have done something that is very stupid. My friends have the leisure of calling me an idiot when I do something idiotic, without worrying that I am going to be offended, knowing I will recognize the veracity of their remarks and the spirit in which they were intended. I would take an offense if a stranger called me an idiot however, that is not what occured. Constructive criticism in my opinion, does not involve comparing someone's work to another person's. If you feel that you are looking at cookie cutter images, then don't comment, it's what I do. Macabros did leave positive comments on each of these images, saying they were nice in one way or another. My objection was to him saying these images looked like my image, inferring these other artists, all of whom I know, were imitating my image in some manner, when clearly, the similarities ended with the items I already mentioned. And again, he used my name in each of the comments he left, and he made the same remark on EVERY image that used this package. This isn't the first time Macabros has posted a thread bellyaching about comments on images. Neither I nor most of the artists I know feel the comments left on our images have to be positive, we do appreciate them being constructive. I've received more than my share of constructive criticism and each and every bit of it has helped me to grow as an artist. But, I fail to see how comparing one artist's work to another equates to constructive criticism, whether the purpose of that comparison is to denote similarities or differences. I hope this clarifies this situation, which was a private one and should have remained that way.

The Art of Sin

sinning every minute is an art form