Salad Is Hilarious! - Doing A Stock-Take On Reality

Stock picture libraries contain millions of photographs submitted by professionals and amateurs alike, ranging from studio shoots to well-shot but otherwise unremarkable theme shots sent in by freelancers angling for a placement in a high-profile magazine.

- Bruce Dennill

For the publishing industry, print and online, these libraries are a boon; a must-have resource when trying to sensibly illustrate a wide range of content. That word ‘sensibly’ is worth noting, though, as among the selections of material that are actually relevant to the search terms you entered are a number of visual ideas that bring into question the intent – or, indeed, sanity – of everyone from the photographer to the picture editor who uploaded the shot. Models, we’re not judging you. Take your money and go.