In case you didn’t know, I work for a design magazine. In our most recent issue, we wrote an article on a local boutique that was designed around an international artist’s work. In a few of the pictures of said boutique were a few paintings from a local artist who will go unnamed. These other pieces were neither mentioned in the article NOR were they the focus of the picture.

We neglected to attribute his paintings to him. This was not an oversight, as they were, again, NOT the focus of the picture. Captions simply don’t allow room for attribution for EVERYTHING in a picture.

My publisher received an email from said artist today, blasting us for our underhanded tactics, claiming that this was the reason our magazine was not highly respected in the art world.

I ask you this…where was the mistake here? Should we attribute every single thing in a picture? Was it right for some small time artist to blast us for not doing so? Was there a better way this should have been handled?

I’d love to know your thoughts.

You haven't subscribed yet?

More from tdhurst

• $10,000 in text messages?
• This is what I do in my free time
• Typos Beware
• The great flattener of our time
• Past, present and future of journalism

Arkayne recommends

• The FruitGuys – Changing the World One Apple at a Time (Tomas Carrillo)
• What Do You Spend Your Time On? (Derek Neighbors)
• The Art of Writing a Farewell Letter (Tomas Carrillo)