JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
  • Home
  • Santorini 2023
  • About
  • Gallery
    • This Was STC Miami 2021
    • This Was STC Santorini 2018
    • This Was STC Miami 2016
    • This Was STC Santorini 2015
    • This Was STC Miami 2015 – Temple House
    • This Was STC Miami 2014
    • This Was STC L.A. 2013
    • This Was STC Bahamas 2013
    • This Was Miami – STC Oct 13-14, 2012 Seminar / Workshop
    • This Was STC Miami 2012
    • This Was STC Vegas 2011 – 2
    • This Was STC Vegas 2011 – 1
    • This Was Miami 2011
  • Model Search
  • Store
  • Blog
  • Contact

Blog

Amazon Technologies Granted a Patent in Lighting Techniques

Posted on: 05-2-2014 Posted in: Photography

 

Shoot The Centerfold attendee photographer Dana Manner informed us of his discovery of an interesting patent filing for a popular lighting technique known to world of photography. Amazon Technologies seems to have stumbled on to something new and unknown. Have they discovered a new gold-rush in owning lighting techniques? Perhaps they should check out some of our lighting books.

On March 18, 2014 Amazon Technologies, Inc. (an operating subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc.) obtained a United States Patent (8,676,045) for a “Studio Arrangement” and a “method of capturing images and/or video.”

ibook-store-widgetMany photographers will recognize this lighting set-up and method as being a very old, very common and very widely used lighting technique to photograph a subject against a white cyclorama background, where the subject is on a white base/platform, and the set is lit with multiple light sources pointed towards the background to overexpose (blow-out) the background and the base/platform, and with flags on either side of the subject to prevent overexposure of the subject. The method that Amazon has patented claims to “achieve a desired effect of a substantially seamless background.” You can find the patent here:

http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=08676045&idkey=NONE

Now that Amazon holds this patented lighting method, can we as photographers expect to receive demand letters from Amazon’s attorneys demanding to cease and desist from infringing on their patented “Studio Arrangement” when we shoot images in the studio against a white cyc?

What do you think about this, my photography friends?

 

shop-stc-click-pointer-2-568

STC-LA-seminar-568-banner
© 2014 Copyright ShootTheCenterfold.com. All rights reserved.

  • Popular Posts
  • Related Posts
  • How Your Photography Portfolio Can Help You Avoid Rejection
    How Your Photography Portfolio Can Help You Avoid Rejection
  • Hand Gestures: What do I do with my Hands?
    Hand Gestures: What do I do with my Hands?
  • The STC Graduates and Where are They Today? (Part 1)
    The STC Graduates and Where are They Today? (Part 1)
  • Fair Pay For Creators: Compensating Artists in the Age of AI Image Generation
    Fair Pay For Creators: Compensating Artists in the Age of AI Image Generation
  • How Your Photography Portfolio Can Help You Avoid Rejection
    How Your Photography Portfolio Can Help You Avoid Rejection
  • Hand Gestures: What do I do with my Hands?
    Hand Gestures: What do I do with my Hands?
  • The STC Graduates and Where are They Today? (Part 1)
    The STC Graduates and Where are They Today? (Part 1)
  • Fair Pay For Creators: Compensating Artists in the Age of AI Image Generation
    Fair Pay For Creators: Compensating Artists in the Age of AI Image Generation
  • (16) Comments
  • (4) Trackbacks
  1. Jerry Powers05-05-14

    I think it’s a bunch of B.S.! How can you patent and own something we phorographers have been doing for years and years?? They didn’t “discover” this technique!! This is about as stupid and arrogant as Donald Trump trying to patent the phrase “You’re Fired!”.
    Get a grip Amazon!

    (reply)
    • Kevin05-07-14

      Are we sure this was not an April Fools Joke? There is no possible gain for
      Amazon and it’s not their business. Are they next going to patent dark grey as the colour of roads?
      This comes as Congress is currently been lobbied to stop the mess caused by people taking out patents on features already in other’s products and then suing for damages.
      In both situations, lawyers are the big winners.

      (reply)
  2. Rick05-05-14

    How about everyone post this problem on their blogs, FB, etc, and encourage all photographers to close their Amazon account. Time to give back to the local mom and pops, and familiar national photo stores who graciously give back to our profession. My Amazon account is closed. Who will join me?

    (reply)
  3. Fuzzy05-05-14

    Please tell me this is a joke.

    (reply)
  4. Geoffrey05-05-14

    Full patent details can be found here – http://www.google.com/patents/US8676045

    (reply)
  5. Gwo05-05-14

    When reading the patent, be sure to ignore everything not in the Claims section. They’re not protected. Note also that all subsequent claims depend on claim 1 or 2, so if you do anything not covered in Claim 1 … Thats not covered. So this patent claim 1 only applies if you have ALL of

    4 rear light sources, in a 10:3 intensity ratio, in exactly
    An 85mm lens at f/5.6
    ISO 320 set
    An elevated platform with the object on it, and a reflective top surface on that platform

    Similarly, claim 2 is full of equally specific statements, about reflective surfaces, multiple elevated platforms.

    Secondly, if you’re using a setup substantially similar to that shown in any photography guide / textbook / lighting book etc. written prior to the filing date, you’re absolutely in the clear, as this is demonstrably prior art.

    So, to answer your question “No, they haven’t”

    (reply)
  6. Edward Stern05-05-14

    F@#K Amazone if this is true its the most insane paten i have ever heard of, whats next Window light.

    (reply)
  7. Jason Wood05-05-14

    I use an elevated platform on a regular basis with a reflective surface. the amount of lights and position depend on the subject being shot. The problem is not Amazon filing this. The problem is the Patent office granting something so insane.

    I was under the understanding that if something was used in public first it was not able to be patented. Maybe a one year grace. SO if they shot any product or video with this setup prior to the filing then it would be void as well since it was used in public domain first.

    I have a photo of my dogs with a similar arrangement just 2 rear lights not 4.

    It is like patenting how you arrange silverware and dishes on a table. Every arrangement has been done it is all public domain. The patent office has failed on this one.

    (reply)
  8. Eugene05-06-14

    I was using this lighting setup way back in the 60s.

    (reply)
  9. Charlie O'Brien05-06-14

    Boy, don’t tell Joel Grimes. That’s totally his thing.

    (reply)
  10. amy kay05-06-14

    I think I will go put my patent on the sun now.

    (reply)
  11. Paul Maynard05-06-14

    Umm, PPA needs to chime in as this is absolutely ridiculous. That’s like saying we are going to put a patent on pages in a book.

    Get a clue Amazon!!!!!!

    (reply)
  12. crazy crazy world05-07-14

    they will send a drone to assassinate you if you do abuse their “patent”. they know your address from that playboy subscription you get from them 🙂 🙂

    (reply)
  13. david05-14-14

    Maybe is time to boycott Amazon.

    (reply)
  14. Beth Ann05-22-14

    Amazing that everyone has been doing this for the last 40 years as so many posts have stated. I learned a great white background alternative to the Amazon setup at the www. PhotoAssistantBootCamp .com I attended a few years ago. And they have been teaching this lighting setup for the past 15 years, long before Amazon even filed their Patent.

    (reply)
  15. I. Bunker06-05-14

    Just shoot the exact setup at f5.7 and you’re in the clear.

    (reply)

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

  1. Amazon Patent Shows Common Seamless Background Lighting Technique « Secured Archives Secured Archives05-05-14
  2. Amazonas meldet das Patent an, das nahtlose Hintergrund-Studio-Beleuchtungs-Technik zeigt | Nachrichten Heute Deutschland05-05-14
  3. Amazon patenta la fotografía con ‘fondo blanco’05-24-14
  4. Amazon’s Studio Lighting Patent – What’s Wrong With This Picture? « Shoot The Centerfold®06-24-14

Twitter Feed

    Twitter not configured.

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • April 2022
  • September 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • September 2010

Search Blog

Recent Posts

  • How Your Photography Portfolio Can Help You Avoid Rejection How Your Photography Portfolio Can Help You Avoid Rejection
    03-17-2023
  • Hand Gestures: What do I do with my Hands? Hand Gestures: What do I do with my Hands?
    02-7-2023
  • The STC Graduates and Where are They Today? (Part 1) The STC Graduates and Where are They Today? (Part 1)
    01-22-2023

Popular Posts

Every photographer has a story to tell …
© 2011-2023 Shoot The Centerfold. All Rights Reserved
  • Privacy Policy
  • Customer Support
  • Ordering Details FAQ
  • Payment Methods
  • Return Policy FAQ
  • License Agreement
TwitterStumbleUponRedditDiggdel.icio.usFacebookLinkedIn