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"Picture editor, I need a photo for a story we're printing about dogs."
"No problem. Should the dog be in any particular scenario?"
"Yeah, though I only need the dog's head. But on a human body."
"On a human body?"
"Yes. And wielding an axe."
"A dog's head on a human body holding an axe?"
"That's right. Might as well stand him next to a car too, otherwise it'll just look stupid. And give him a hat. Dogs love hats."
I firmly believe the above conversation, betwixt journalist and a publication's picture editor, is the only way the photograph in this story could have ended up used. What other possible uses for a dog's head on a human body holding an axe against a car could there be? Really, I want to know.
This is an example of what I call "stuck photography" -- a picture from a stock photo database undoubtedly stuck for a use. There are countless examples. Most were likely commissioned for a particular purpose, but then put into a database for licensing by any future media organisation who, for some reason, requried a similar shot.
I've sourced 11 of my personal favourites from Shutterstock in this gallery. But the deeper reason is that I would genuinely love to ask the wider internet, "Where are these pictures being used? And why?" If you know, the comments are open.
Enjoy the gallery, presented with their original titles. Though be warned: if you don't want to see a dwarf in a bath, or a flying cow, you're reading the wrong article.
Image credits: Shutterstock
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
