Jeremy Byers

Just a few images of St. Simons lighthouse.

Recently the owners of Fun Finds and Designs have agreed to display photographs from Christi Sisk and myself. After the loss of the two galleries in Canton Fun Finds and Designs is the only location in Canton that I know of that is offering original artwork for sale. If you are in the area, stop by and take a look at what is there.

http://www.funfindsanddesigns.com

As an artist, my personal freedom of speech is practiced every day. It is one of the most important freedoms I have as an American. If I agree or disagree with anything, I can voice it without worry of prosecution or harm to myself physically. I enjoy the freedom to disagree with the government and even the president of this country when he does something I dislike. I can write a letter to him and explain what I disagree with and how I think he should improve anything in his administration without worry. Of course, threats of violence are not present when expressing my views. I personally believe the most important thing anyone has is freedom of thought. Art is an expression of thought, and free speech is our safety net that allows us to openly express ourselves.

The reason I am posting is due to the recent “Draw Mohammed Day” protest. This protest stemmed from Viacom (parent company of Comedy Central) censoring one episode of South Park on Comedy Central. For those not familiar with the episode in question, it was about celebrities and others trying to steal Mohammed’s power to keep from being made fun of. The episode did NOT show a depiction of Mohammed but instead stressed how it would cause uproar and violence if anyone actually saw him, so they had him in a bear suit. The episode was funny and hit the nail on the head. On the same episode, it depicted almost every other religious figure in a mocking way. For example, it did show Buddha snorting coke. If you watch the episode and see how all the religious figures are depicted with an open mind, you cannot help but wonder why the Muslim community is so outraged while other religious communities have for the most part ignored it.

Back to the censorship of the episode: After it aired, the creators and also Comedy Central started getting death threats, along with an extremist Muslim website posting the home address of the creators of South Park. Granted, if you watch the news, you see extremist Muslims protesting something and threatening to kill someone on almost a monthly basis. We all remember the Dutch cartoonist who extremists are still trying to kill. After South Park got censored, it struck a sore spot in many Americans, as it should. Another comedian jokingly said that May 20 should be “Draw Mohammed Day”, and it went viral with a “Draw Mohammed Day” Facebook page. After the Facebook page, it went to YouTube and started to spread like wildfire. From that the comedian starting, you guessed it, to get death threats. Facebook and YouTube started to get banned in Pakistan and other Islamic countries since it was considered too sacrilegious.

Back to the discussion on “Draw Mohammed Day”: What I thought about initially was that if I got involved, I could be targeted by extremists and could start getting death threats myself. Whoa, I thought, and realized that if I let fear get in the way of my artwork, then I would be a victim of terrorism. Below is the Webster definition of terrorism.

Main Entry: ter•ror•ism
Pronunciation: \ˈter-ər-ˌi-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: 1795
: the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion
— ter•ror•ist \-ər-ist\ adjective or noun
— ter•ror•is•tic \ˌter-ər-ˈis-tik\ adjective

This can be found at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrorism

Now the definition of terror

Main Entry: ter•ror
Pronunciation: \ˈter-ər, ˈte-rər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French terrour, from Latin terror, from terrēre to frighten; akin to Greek trein to be afraid, flee, tremein to tremble — more at TREMBLE
Date: 14th century
1 : a state of intense fear
2 a : one that inspires fear : SCOURGE b : a frightening aspect c : a cause of anxiety : WORRY d : an appalling person or thing; especially : BRAT
3 : REIGN OF TERROR
4 : violent or destructive acts (as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands
synonyms see FEAR
— ter•ror•less \-ləs\ adjective

This can be found at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terror

It is one thing to create corporate censorship, but it is a completely different thing to try to use terrorist tactics to strike fear into the hearts of free people. Especially regarding a religion that has caused so much destruction in the past few decades. In America, we have freedom of religion, and most Americans act in a moral way depending on their personal religious beliefs. We do not allow any other religion in America to use threats of violence to force their religious views on others legally. If a Christian threatens to kill another person, there are legal repercussions. If an atheist threatens to kill another person, they also have legal repercussions. So why are extremist Muslims getting away with it?

Another crazy thing is that the protests are protected by freedom of speech, the same freedom that they want to take away from us. Ironic how a group that is so against free speech gets their message out with the very tool they are trying to take away from others. Viacom gave into the threats and now that one episode of one tv show has been censored in this way, this will set a standard for all tv shows unless this censorship is challenged. Once we let this foot wedge open the door, we open ourselves up to more censorship. What is next, censoring other forms of art that is considered offensive to a foreign culture or religion?

If you support free speech, you need to draw a line in the sand on this issue before we are bombarded by censorship from every other nut job that thinks America will fold to terrorism. If we do not stop this now and call bullshit on censoring art, we will contribute to the landscape of art and thought deviated by terrorism. The number of Islamic extremist and other extremist (religious and political) groups in America is growing at an alarming rate. To compound the issue, we are now supposed to be politically correct and sensitive to these groups. We are trading our common sense to fit in this mold of political correctness to the point we are giving up security to appease terrorist commands.

Back to South Park: The episode that Viacom censored was due to outrage. One point that most people are missing here is the fact that in 2008 South Park did fully depict Mohammed, he was not covered up with a bear suit. Once the outcry from the Islamic protesters started, in a perfect example of corporate brainpower, Viacom censored the episode at the root of the protest and went as far as sending copyright notices to YouTube that removed all the videos of this episode. Without doing their own research, they left all the videos of the previous episode on YouTube for the world to see. Kinda funny, the true insult South Park inflicted to the extremist Islamic community was left alone due to a corporate oversight.

Why so much outcry over the new episode versus the older and more offensive episode? It is all about what the extremist has seen from us. We as Americans have started folding to their demands. This shows clearly that if we don’t call bullshit they will continue to shove their censorship down our throats. In only two years, we have gone from an “it is ok to depict Mohammed” to “it is offensive to suggest Mohammed is hidden in a costume”. That, in my opinion, is a huge setback for free speech. The fact that the negative and slanderous depiction of other religious leaders were not censored in the same show sends the message that Islam is the only religion immune from debate or ridicule. Oh wait, that is what the South Park episode was all about.

Look at YouTube, one of the current open forums for free speech. The parent company of YouTube, Google, did call bullshit on the protests. YouTube is now banned in Pakistan and a few other Islamic countries. Do we want this in America? I sure don’t, and we need to support YouTube. We need to stand by any company that gives the message that we will not back down and that America is a free country. We also need to send a message to companies like Viacom and tell them that we do not support their self censorship. Large companies will act according to feedback from their viewer base, if they see their viewer base supports them in allowing free speech to take place they will stop this senseless self censorship.

If the news stations show protests, turn the channel and send them the message that we don’t want to see that crap. We don’t care anything about extremists protesting our free speech, especially when they do it in a method that is protected by free speech. Yes, they have that right and it should be protected but we do not have to feed it by giving it more exposure. Maybe they will get the message that if they don’t like watching a cartoon, then turn the channel. Extremists are attention whores, the more attention they get, the more they will do to get it. If we watch the news coverage of their protests and air their terrorist threats, you guessed it, the more they will do it.

One thing we must realize, Islamic extremists will not stop pushing their agenda on us. Today it is our freedom of speech, tomorrow it will be the way we dress. Make no mistake, oppressed people envy the free. I personally do not want to live in a country that is ruled by Islamic extremists, where you can be killed over your point of view. I can understand the people of those countries and their frustration. However, they need to understand that their way of life will not be forced onto the free people of this country. They have their area to practice their belief and we have ours. If you don’t like the country you live in, move out. Unfortunately, it boils down to the oppressed want to see everyone else oppressed. The free want everyone else to feel the freedom they enjoy.
The freedom we enjoy did not just happen. From day one of this free America, brave soldiers have fought and many gave their lives to preserve this freedom. We have the right to do the things we enjoy doing in this country thanks to those who push back other countries from oppressing us. Currently, there are Americans in conflict who does not know if they will see tomorrow, and they may never see their families again while fighting so that we at home can continue our life style. As Americans, we need to do our part to help preserve these freedoms at home while the brave soldiers are fighting for them overseas. If we ignore the mental front and allow the freedoms to be taken away here at home, in a sense we are betraying those on the front lines who are giving their lives to preserve these freedoms.

Now what can you do? Well, your part is easy, granted you have to get off your ass to do it, but all you have to do is make your voice heard. Sign the petition to show Viacom self censorship is not supported and going after users of YouTube who posted their video will not be supported. Voice yourself. Use Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Blogger or whatever to show your support of free speech. Support artists who are under attack for practicing their right of free speech, purchase their artwork and so on. Whenever you see free speech being suppressed, protest it in a non-violent way. From art to picketing to blogging, every little bit helps.

If you choose to be anonymous but still support the fight for free speech, back the people who are fighting for it!

Anti-Viacom YouTube lawsuit petition http://www.petitiononline.com/Youtuber/petition-sign.html

Bee on redbud flowers

Caterpillar on wisteria

A macro shot taken with a nikon 105mm macro lense on a nikon D300.

Silver Grass by ~digitalescapestudio on deviantART

Soon i will be removing a few reprints from my Artist rising gallery to make room for newer ones.

Please view it at http://www.artistrising.com/galleries/Jeremy_Byers before there are gone.

Below are a few prints for a fine art floral series i am going to do through winter this year.  Each with be a signed limited edition of 15 prints. 

Bee at work

Bee at work, strong contrast.

Daffodil in the afternoon light.

No clue on the name of this flower but rabbits enjoy eating it…

Wild flower that has been lunch for something..

Foxgloves on a cloudy day..

Not so red rose..

Artist proof 1 of 15, number 1 of the edition. No reprints will be made after this edition is sold.

A dreamy high dynamic range (HDR) of an emerald fountain from one of the squares in Savannah. Escape into the motion of the water fountain or allow your eyes to wander around the mossy oaks that Savannah is known best for. With a Historic building slightly hazed in the background and a brick walkway trailing off, there is plenty in this image to allow the eyes and mind to wander towards…

By Jeremy Byers
Size: 8×12 print 11×14 including matte
Matte: Black, acid Free

View this print at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42885116

About the print

Endura Metallic features a unique pearlescent surface. From fine art applications to special event photography and business cards, we think you will agree when we say this paper is truly spectacular.

Endura offers natural looking flesh tones, sharp details, and beautifully saturated colors. Plus, Endura is strong – resistant to tearing and curling without any additional lamination.

This paper uses a patented combination of film and laminate layers that result in striking, three-dimensional, lasting images on an ultra-bright background.

With this paper don’t worry about prints fading. The standard archival value is 100 years in home display and 200 years in dark storage.

With spring around the corner I am starting to plan out a few shoot areas for nature photography as well as shooting models.  Of course all modeling shoots will be handled by DES so request a shoot on the DES site.  A few changes that I am doing is cutting the limited edition print sizes, before I was doing 250 print editions but with the nature photography this year the edition sizes will be 50 or less.  Some editions will be as small as 15 prints per edition.  If you see any prints of this size you may want to jump on them because they will not last long.

Another change that will happen this spring is the closing our the purchase site.  I will be selling the limited edition prints on etsy.com and ebay.com.  art.com along with artistrising.com will still house all reprints alond with amazon and allposters.com.  However I have decided not to allow too many new images go into reprints.  So when the signed limited edition is sold out that is it, no more prints of that image will be made.  Some of the limited editions already have this wording in the description.

One thing to keep in mind with limited edition and reprints is the quality.  Limited edition prints are not only signed and numbered but are also high quality prints that are made to last.  The paper is metallic silver and adds a 3 dimensional look to the image that really makes it pop.  The reprints are done on poster paper so they are not as thick and are not archive quality, they also do not last half as long as the limited editions in sunlight/ harsh light.

So if you enjoy viewing the photography here or my works that are on other sites please show your support by getting a print  With nature or people the prints sold help fund equipment and trips to create more images.  With that said, we at Digital Escape Studio are going to try to expand our lighthouse collection and of course beach sunrise/sunset collection.  We will be capturing more of the north Georgia waterfalls along with some out of state ones.  We will also be expanding our people based images with a few projects already started and more on the way.

For those who have supported us a big thank you, I hope everyone enjoys our current catalog of images and the images to come.