The world’s first image to have its rights released after its 1/1 NFT is purchased on the blockchain.
THE GREATEST VICTORY IS THE ONE THAT REQUIRES NO BATTLE
— Sun Tzu
This project originated from the idea that the virality and large use of an image in the physical and online world increases the importance of provenance and therefore the value of the NFT. #FreeHawaiiPhoto is also a statement of gaining back control over use of our images and fair compensation.
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In October of 2017 this photo of a lonely road in Hawaii was captured by landscape photographer Cath Simard and shared on her Instagram account. The photo quickly became a viral sensation, being shared thousands of times on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and reached the front-page of websites like Reddit, 9Gag, iFunny and others. Along the way, the original artist was very often not credited for the photo and never received a dollar of compensation for its usage.
Today, after four years of chasing down social media accounts and companies for usage without credit or consent, the artist decided to choose another path and flip the script. While Intellectual Property is us battling to prove ownership of our creations, provenance is us having the ability to authenticate the original.
The image is now minted as 1/1 NFT on the Ethereum blockchain. Its sale releases the image to the world, free to use,* forever.
For the collector, this gives the opportunity to own an iconic and viral image while sharing its use with the rest of the world.
For other creatives, #FreeHawaiiPhoto represents an alternate path for traditional image licensing and usage rights.
We believe that NFTs represent a world where restricting usage and chasing licensing rights might no longer be productive. This gives artists a way for anyone to enjoy their work while still receiving compensation for the dedication and artistic talent required to capture an iconic image like #FreeHawaiiPhoto.
@GMONEY
FUTURIST . DISRUPTOR . APE
GMONEY IS AN INVESTOR WITH 15+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE PRIMARILY IN TRADITIONAL FINANCE SECTOR. A FUTURIST THAT USED HIS TIME DURING THE PANDEMIC AS A CATALYST TO UNDERSTAND BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES AND CAPITALIZED ON IT. GMONEY IS THE OWNER OF CRYPTO PUNK 8219, THE HIGHEST USD PRICE ON RECORD FOR A NON-FUNGIBLE TOKEN. CURRENTLY MANAGES THE DELPHI INFINFT FUND AND IS THE GO TO RESOURCE FOR ALL THINGS NFT.
Cath Simard is a Canadian-born photographer, digital artist and educator with an instantly recognizable style that meticulously blends reality with her own imagination. Rooted in an immense passion for the outdoors and wilderness, Cath mostly captures the world as little pieces of a puzzle and brings them together into iconic composite images that often leave her audience breathless as they question their own sense of perspective and reality.
Everything starts out with great intention. An image, captured on a lonely road in Hawaii is shared to social media. The image, gains traction as the likes and comments begin to pile in. Then the photo is shared, then re-shared, again, and again until the original artist is no longer receiving credit and the viral image is now out of control.
A curse? A blessing? You decide.
charitY
#FREEHAWAIIPHOTO is proud to support the land and communities of Hawaii.
A PART OF THE PROCEEDS HAVE BEEN DONATED TO KEY PROJECT, HOOKUAAINA and culturalsurvival
Where would We be without #NFTCommunity on Twitter?
This is your chance to share the project using #FreeHawaiiPhoto and be featured on this page.
Planning on using #FreeHawaiiPhoto in a creative way once the NFT is sold? You don’t need permission, but we would love to hear about it.