The photography site Unsplash is causing some controversy in the photography industry.
The site features a large collection of gorgeous photography “gifted by the world’s most generous community of photographers”. The entire collection is listed under Creative Commons Zero—meaning you can take and use the images for any purpose you want.
“An image…could end up in Times Square with a Coca-Cola logo on it, and the Coca-Cola Company would owe you exactly nothing for that use.”
In an article, PDN Pulsewarns that this means your images could be plastered on billboards or used in international campaigns and you would not be entitled to a cent.
Mega companies such as Apple and Pringles have both used images found on Unsplash.
The Unsplash manifesto explains that the site was “born from the pain” that creatives undergo to find beautiful photography for their own needs. Unsplash seeks to remedy that.
However, PDN took issue to the fact that Unsplash praised the generosity of photographers who donated images, yet will not allow the free images to be aggregated by another party—which calls into question how sincere Unsplash is about generosity and free use.
“The message seems to be: creative work is valuable, except for photography.”
Strangely enough, Unsplash was founded by the same people who founded Crew, a site dedicated to connecting creative freelancers and clients. The contradiction lies in the fact that freelance photographers trying to seek work on Crew may be simultaneously praised for giving away free work on Unsplash.
The site has drawn ire for further devaluing photography in a time where clients often expect it free.
However, some photographers are not uncomfortable with such a site. This photographer argues that Unsplash has been good for him and directed a flow of attention towards his work.
Would you use this service? Read the whole article over at PDN Pulse.
[via PDN Pulse, image via screenshot]