Storming the Commons

So, I’m just going to fess up.  I’m guilty of stealing images off of other people’s websites and appropriating them for myself.  In my defense, most of these pilfered pictures make it no further than e-mails to my family and friends.  One or two may have also made it onto my MySpace page.  Thing is, I’m a crap photographer, I’m not an artist, and I like other people’s pictures.  How am I not supposed to swipe a image of Jesus as velociraptor or a LOLcat that looks like Christina Ricci?  (Actually, taking an LOLcat is not stealing since the people who post the pics expressly agree to share their creations.)

Nevertheless, the taking has been weighing on my conscience, and rightfully so, especially when there are places like Flickr’s Creative Commons that serve most of my purposes. People like me–who aren’t trying to turn a dollar off other people’s pictures or alter them in any way–have access to hundreds of thousands of free images. I had heard about Creative Commons a couple years ago, but only recently found out just how much is available.  In fact, there’s so much available that I can no longer justify my pirate methods. On this blog, from here on out, everything will be fairly obtained and attributed to the right peeps.  I’m playing by the rules now.  

PS: I would be interested to know about other people’s favorite places to find alternative copyright materials.  Send a comment my way if you would.