Flickr Collection launches on Getty Images

Offers Flickr pictures for licensed commercial use

11 March 2009 15:01 GMT / By Verity Burns

Flickr has launched a collection of pictures on Getty Images' website that showcases the work of Flickr users available to be licensed for commercial use.

Photographs for the Flickr Collection were selected by Getty Images’ editors - quite a task when there are some 3 billion to choose from.

"The goal was to choose photos that created a commercially viable collection, while preserving the inspirational and unexpected nature of the kinds of images that are so prevalent on Flickr", said Kakul Srivastava, Flickr general manager.

The collection features a variety of conceptual imagery, such as everyday scenes and believable subjects, as well as original and regionally relevant content.

Images from the Flickr Collection are available to customers in both royalty-free and rights-managed licensing models.

"We are thrilled to provide our customers with this ground-breaking collection", said Jonathan Klein, co-founder and chief executive officer of Getty Images.

"We are impressed with the talent from the Flickr community, and are proud to once again lead our industry in this exciting new direction".

Andy Saunders, vice president of creative imagery at Getty Images added: "The Flickr Collection is determined by the lives of those who contribute to it.

"The collection changes the definition of 'stock' photography by making it even easier for our customers to find and license imagery that is unexpected, genuinely original, and created by an untapped imagery resource – people everywhere".

Getty Images will continue to invite select Flickr members to participate in the project, with the plan to add thousands of new images, added every month, for customers to choose from.

To have a look at the Flickr Collection yourself, head over to the Getty Images website.