Thursday, 12:05pm
16 July 2009

Pictures for rent

Spreads from Abbott Miller’s article about stock photography in Eye 14

In this article from Eye no. 14, Autumn 1994, designer J. Abbott Miller discusses the use of stock photography, ‘which makes up a kind of corporate vernacular that informs almost all levels of graphic design’. You can read an extract from ‘Pictures for rent’ on the Eye website.

Pictures for rent 70-71

Pictures for rent pp.72-73

Pictures for rent, pp.74-75

Pictures for rent, pp.76-77

Above: spreads from ‘Pictures for rent’, Eye no. 14 vol. 4, Autumn 1994. Art director: Stephen Coates. Editor: Rick Poynor.

Copies of Eye 14, which also features articles about Andrzej Klimowski and Dan Friedman, are still available from bit.ly/backissues

Eye’s new awards, ‘Just Add Stock’, are for the use of stock photography in nine categories: Book covers; Magazines and newspapers; Reports and brochures; Printed ads, including posters; Corporate identity; Music design; 3D design; Moving image; Interactive/Web design.

The closing date is 31 July, so don’t delay: download the entry form and send your work today.

Eye is the world’s most beautiful and collectable graphic design journal, published quarterly for professional designers, students and anyone interested in critical, informed writing about graphic design and visual culture. It is available from all good design bookshops and online at the Eye shop, where you can buy subscriptions and single issues.