It was Henri Cartier-Bresson who talked about the decisive moment in photography, and his desire to ‘preserve life in the act of living’ at the press of a camera shutter.
We’re one of the few photo agencies who are still committed to championing photographers and artists who work in the real world. Due to our stance on AI-Generative imagery we understand the value of being there, in the moment, when you take a photo on your camera.
The need for photography to capture the living and the world around us still holds true today, even more so with the influx of AI-generated imagery. This counts for both editorial and creative photography.
We know that images which are valued the most are believable (in being what they say they are), original (to the photographer’s eye), of a moment, and have meaning.
These are also the qualifiers for authentic content across News, Editorial, Archive and Creative photography. And it’s something we’re already showing in our promotion of authentic content through our contributor spotlights. In a world where it can feel like everything is starting to look the same, localized content is a welcome antidote.
News and Editorial Photography
Across our Live News uploads we’re able to share a living document of history in the making from events happening across the world right now. News images follow a strict set of guidelines, not just about including the ‘who, where, why, when, what’ of an event but also adhere to Alamy’s code of conduct in line with the UK’s Independent Press Standards Organization guidelines.
This means our images can be trusted and traced back to a specific place in time, because our photographers were truly there. Traditional photography is one of the closest ways we can understand the truth.
It would be a conflict of interest to host AI-generated images purporting to also be actual ‘news’ photos. Many examples exist already of how those who wilfully create content to look like real photography in the context of news reporting often want to add to a false narrative. It can come from a desire to spread misinformation based on personal bias. Often, the images are created to elevate or heighten drama, such as the misleading AI-generated images of the recent LA fires showing the iconic Hollywood sign engulfed in flames. They lead to confusion and are shared on social media for likes or clicks, but it’s too easy to value what we can measure, rather than acknowledging what we value.
A real person doing something real. A calligrapher writing with ink during the Tet festival in Hanoi, Vietnam 14th February, 2024. Photograph: Jean-Yves Bardin
Archive Photography
We know how valuable archive content is in looking back to learn from our shared histories through the work of photographers past and present. This is part of our shared visual heritage – photos are able to say something about everyone everywhere. They can also be telling as a snapshot of the past that can no longer be altered. For example, there are now only a set number of photos of the Twin Towers in existence, some of which may never be published or shared. What was once a seemingly permanent feature can now only be ‘seen’ through the eyes of the photographers who stood under that former New York skyline.
A visual document of a real thing, now gone. The Twin Towers and New York City skyline, USA, 1997. Photograph: Russell Kord ARCHIVE
Photography as creative expression
But photography is not only a form of documentation. It also gives us true creative expression through a type of shared storytelling – what it feels like to have been there or to genuinely experience something, either through the photographer’s observations or the expression of the model in the photo. Originality also comes from the photographer’s style and vision along with a specific place and moment in time. All of this cannot be replicated or fabricated.
A real moment that feels real. Mother holding her baby close with sister feeling his hair. Photograph: Mareen Fischinger / Westend61 GmbH
QC update on AI-generated images
As we’re championing authenticity, this means we do not accept any AI-generated imagery on the Alamy platform. Our Quality Control Team class AI-Generative images as ‘Unsuitable Material’ and will reject uploads and remove images immediately if found to have, in whole or part, been generated by AI. Uploading unsuitable material is in breach of our submission guidelines so may also lead to immediate termination of the contributor contract. It is acceptable to use AI tools that mimic retouching tools already available (such as denoise) on your original photographs, but other tools such as Generative Fill or anything that dramatically alters the reality of the original image, may be liable to QC failure.
In working towards having the site represent truly authentic content, we recognise we still have work to do. AI-generated content is not always labelled as such and can be tricky to identify at a glance. It often needs closer examination from our trained Curation Team to assess the material. We’re continually monitoring uploads to ensure images that stay on site have come from the cameras of our photographers, as we strive to remain true to photography.
Whilst there’s certainly a place for AI-Gen within our industry, currently it’s not part of our strategies for building the Alamy image collection. You can read more about our stance on AI material here.
What to shoot and send
In valuing original, authentic content, we want to see real places, real people, and real things. This is what we champion and showcase to our customers. They value this too – they’re looking to use images they can verify as being true to what they say they are, whether editorial in nature or showing true creative vision, all captured through your camera lens.
It’s a wide, wide world with more in it that only some of us will ever see or learn about in person. Through photography, we can all discover something new every day, from the ‘Enrosadira’ of the Alps to the curious life of insects. In an era where reality is unfortunately being heavily subverted, there’s never been a better time to share what’s been captured on your camera or Smartphone of real people, places and events from the real world.
Technology of any kind is no substitute for hard work, talent, vision and invention. So, what are you going to discover out there, beyond your front door?
The Alamy Curation Team are looking forward to seeing what you have to send us for 2025, as we continue to showcase your content to our customers for licensing.