Jul 5, 2010

The Scourge of Stock Images

Stock images.
Yes - also the name for those ugly images of random people doing idiotic things like flailing arms while wearing office clothes to reflect whatever challenges faced at work. It is singularly ghastly to behold these people performing these amazing acts purely to perpetrate some loser creating a presentation. I would surely much rather prefer images created in photoshop or any other image creation tool. But depart hastily from resorting to the use of stock images.
A brilliant example is what i came across recently when trawling through the website of a big retailer. There was a couple - assumed - smiling widely - nay - almost tearing-their-mouths-up while looking at some electronic device. I could only wonder as to the reason for this display of dentistry. Perhaps they were exceedingly glad at buying a mobile phone together - however - it nowhere near licenced them to bare their fangs at the camera.

But my unhappiness is multiplied when i see another women grinning in the same dastardly fashion while staring into space contemplating where her next meal is going to come from. And that is my grouch!
There are no emotions in stock (sic) photos. It is akin to watching clothes being draped on mannequins. They stand there nonchalantly while men (helpers you sicko!) grab various parts to create just the right pose.
But i Digress.

What i mean is instead of using images of people that look like they walked out of Madame Tussuad's waxworks - use real people - I for one would connect with your message instantly!

1 comment:

Shakti said...

the chennai effect!