A Living Magazine - Day 133 - David's Stolen Image and an Indy Photo Fest

Morning came quickly, and the sky was transformed from nighttime clouds and rain to daytime blue and sun.

I rose and packed up. Here is a catalpa leaf, to give some scale...

The Fall Creek - where I camped - has lovely and clear water. No wonder the ducks love it...

At some point along my way down Meridian, I stopped to squish a mango juice into my backpack for later. I'd been meaning to show you guys the great utility of the two blue bendy fasteners I use to keep the zippers closed...

Strong fasteners and very flexible. Small things can make a huge difference!

Thanks again, Jeff!

Caught another texter. He was hogging the crosswalk while he tapped away.

No near misses THIS time. I didn't send these images to the police, but was very tempted.

I wanted to work at the library, but it didn't open until 1:00 pm, so it was back downtown to Starbucks again. Still, I caught this shot, and vowed to take a bunch of pictures of the library when I returned later. It is definitely the best library I have been to since leaving Maine...

Along the way to the Monument Circle, I walked down the green of the Indiana War Memorial Plaza. It is located between the library and the downtown...

Not sure the name of this church? Google Maps surprisingly does not label it.

I'm crazy bout that base.

Looking toward the front of the library.

On the green, looking north toward the library. 

On the green, looking south toward the World War Memorial.

I call these the "Twin Towers". They are apartment buildings.

This soldier was killed three months, three weeks, and three days before I was born.

It is also the day Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed.

I really liked this fountain and strolled around it.

One of my favorite shots. I like the shape that each water spout makes at it terminus.

Moses.

Goose poop. Such disrespectful birds. Ha!

Hi Sandie! Now you're famous (and so is your phone number).

The thick line seen at the bottom of this image is an artifact from processing it.

I usually crop it out, but left it, because I thought it looked kind of cool.

Frank?

I like this, because it is a parking garage and the ramps inside cause an

optical illusion from the outside that makes it look crooked, when in fact it is straight.

I wanted to get some shots of the Christ Church stained glass. The building is located on Meridian and the Circle itself. I would have gone in but there was a service going on... 

Buffalo drool pool.

I like that these chain posts are shaped like cannons, plugged for eternity.

A little bird that landed on my knee, looking for crumbs. I know how she feels.

Indy--It's a gas, gas, gas...

I finally got my photo-taking ass to Starbucks and settled in for a long write. About three hours in I had to use the little boys room to do what I must (once again) walk to the lobby of the Sheraton, show the snobby counter person your Starbucks receipt, and if she's in a good mood, she won't ask you for your blood type, Social Security number and to sacrifice your firstborn male child. Then, she gives you a "room key" which you flick in front of the locked hotel restroom door...in a flicky kind of way. If, by chance, you have jumped through all these hoops without shitting yourself first, you will be treated to the shiniest, cleanest, gold plated bathroom you have ever had the privilege of stinking up.

After my bathroom spa experience, I tossed the counter person (which could be a double entendre?) her key back and turned to go into Starbucks, not realizing that the Sheraton had named a bar and grill after me. They even made it fancy with the little "E" at the end... 

I returned to my table, next to which, a gentleman sat nursing a coffee and occasionally making calls. He asked me if my laptop was an Apple. I told him about my sticker scam, and he smiled.

But as I would learn, he had a very serious legal situation that he had been fighting for many years over--even winning his case in federal court, but was finding it very difficult to get compensation from the defendant.

His name was, David E. Kelly, and his story is fascinating...

[Photograph from David's Facebook Profile page.]

I promised him I would contact him by email if I were to write any original article about him, but have not had a chance to do either. So, I will quote from his website: thestolenimage.com...

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Home Page

During the opening game ceremony of the 2001 World Series an unknown photographer captured a picture with his Canon 750 and 300mm lens. The setting was perfect for an award winning photograph. For the first time in the Arizona Diamondbacks history their players accomplished something that every youth baseball player in America dreams of, reaching the World Series.

A little league pitcher and second baseman who now found himself behind a camera as a freelance photographer, while enjoying his new career, snapped one of the most recognizable photos in Arizona Sports History.

The 2001 World Series proved to be one of the most memorable sporting events ever as the nation suffered and mourned the victims of the terrible tragedy of 9/11/2001. It was therefore fitting that this photo be titled “Remembering September 11, 2001.”

Curt Schilling was the Diamondback starter on the mound and recorded a 2- 0 shutout against the New York Yankees who were considered the favorite. The Diamondbacks went on to win the best of seven series, and shortly thereafter the photo was copy-written, published and the photographer decided to share his prize photo with the rest of the world.

Just like any great work of art its value is determined from an objective point of view and its splendor is in the eye of the beholder. Little did the photographer know that thieves were at work planning a scam to steal, counterfeit, mass produce, and distribute this timely work of Art?

This story is laced with drama, suspense, adventure, comedy and "nothing, but the truth."

The Story of a Big League Photo! 

The scene of the image was captured from the right side behind home plate in Bank One Ball Park, Phoenix, Arizona. It details the United States Colored Guard in the outfield along with members of the Armed Forces holding a flag as it draped the outfield. The Arizona Diamondbacks were lined up along third baseline and the New York Yankees on the first. Jewel, a well known country and western vocalist was selected to sing the National Anthem. She stood in front of Yankee Manager, Joe Torre. 

The Phoenix Fire Department held up the tattered flag from the World Trade Center over the short stop area. Then, the F16th's flew over Bank One Ballpark and the fans pointed up to the sky for a split second, as the planes jetted by. At that precise moment, the shutter opened and the rest is history. 

 There were only 1,001 limited edition 24 x 36 photo-posters printed by the registered copyright owner. Only God knows how many counterfeit prints are hanging on sports fans walls from "sea to shining sea". 

As you view the photo notice that on the backfield wall "Office Max" had an advertisement and the thief tried to sell it to Wal-Mart in bulk, who may have asked him to remove it. The poster was also darkened and printed on thicker stock paper. 

As the story unfolds, the original thief who from now on will be referred to as "the brother from another planet" was supposed to be a Mormon and a former Major League player who somehow lost his way and sought out to recapture his faded glory of throwing curve balls at Homerun Kings. 

Because of a dereliction of duty by legal authorities after the crimes were reported, the photographer/copyright owner personally took it upon himself to go on the road to track down the thief's paper trail and discovered that the counterfeit photo-poster had been distributed to over 100 vendors who sold the 50,000 bogus prints of posters, vinyl banners, t-shirts, post cards, and reportedly window car shades across the United States and in other countries. The criminal has not been charged to this very day and claims that he donated 3,000 fake copies of the poster to Sheriff Joe Arpaio, when in fact, the copyright violation was reported to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department long before the criminal distributed his illegal stock of merchandise. Visit the thief's wall to see how he got in bed with the Sheriff. 

The Stolen Image [itself]...

The Counterfeit...

This is a counterfeit copy displayed for sale in Picture Perfect Galleries in Phoenix, Arizona. The copyright thief had the nerve to remove the Office Max logo from the backfield wall, darken the picture, print the counterfeit on thicker paper, cut the photo out of the poster design, change the title to "United Were Still Standing" and autographed his signature, plus impersonated that he owned Big League Photos photography's business with a counterfeit business card. All of these infractions are a clear violation of U. S. Copyright Law, Title 17 and other state and federal crimes. As of to date, the counterfeit is still being sold and it is an ongoing violation of United States copyright laws. http://www.copyright.gov/title17/circ92.pdf

He asked a little bit about my project and I told him what I've done and was planning to do. We were both on our own kinds of missions. He is very likely to reach his goal. And, I hope he does. I'd seen HIS photo myself at Wal-Mart.

If you're interested in learning more about this story or want to help David out by sharing it, leave a message at his Guestbook page and join him as he takes on "The Man".

David left and I got back to work on the daily post, but 1:00 pm came around and I wanted to get up to the library to finish, Taking some shots along the way...

Graduation from high school for me.

A nice doorway.

The porthole to knowledge.

Someone's screwed, especially in bare feet.

Were I in Maine, I'd take these suckah's and add 'em to the collection.

Before getting back to work, I photographed all the things I'd been meaning to capture here at the library...

Interestingly, this bird would also be the shape of the sunset, as you will see.

Preparations for a wedding--nice stuff! And the smell of dinner made me hungry.

Six floors of fantastic work spaces.

Now check out that sunset sky! Two wings with the sun in between...

From the inside.

From the outside.

I'd finished my post and left to find a new place to eat, heading up 10th Street...

The only puddle left from the Halloween rain.

I seem to be a bird and ladybug magnet. If I could just attract a "chick" or a REAL lady! 

Overpass symmetry.

Some neighborhood art. 

A Pizza Hut sunset. You can still some some of that bird's wing still.

Best view of the Indianapolis skyline at night is from the Veteran's hospital on 10th and Capitol.

I was tired, but satisfied with my wanderings and pictures. It had gotten cold that night, but the next day was due to be very warm; a wave that would last through to my departure on Wednesday, November 4, for Memphis, Tennessee.

The tent went up, the Alex went in, and the sleep came quickly.