I’ve been looking for something like this for years: a central, easy-to-use site for stock photos. Called PhotoPin , the site features a search engine that trolls Flickr for pictures. Some of them are also available to buy, but the vast majority are CC licensed. Obviously the site (it’s more a widget, really) reminds you to link back to the original image, but if you’ve ever tried to find an acceptable image for “ ninja stormtrooper ” then you’ll understand the value of the site.
Just search for any topic using the search box (ex: passion, puppies, etc.), preview the photo, and click “get photo” to download the photo as well as the proper attribution link. If you prefer to pay for the photo rather than linking to it, the results at the top will take you to a partner stock photo site where you can buy the photo (currently fotolia).
The site is surprisingly barren but quite handsome and much better than the jumble that is Flickr’s own CC site . It’s a clever site and an interesting diversion on this fine Friday afternoon. There is actually no contact information on the site itself, so there’s no telling how long it will stay up or if they’re looking for funding.
