Mar 1, 2011 9:00 am53 views
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The first time Ben Aqua was offered the chance to sell one of his photographs as a "stock" illustration, he wasn't sure whether to be flattered or insulted. After all, in the publishing trade, the term "stock photography" has traditionally referred not to fine art but rather to generic images that can be used to illustrate "soft" news articles, such as stories about lifestyle trends, season events, or health advice. Aqua, a photographer and new media artist, has participated in exhibitions in Paris, Los Angeles, Dallas and Philadelphia. Did he really want to sell his artistic photographs to illustrate a lifestyle story in a German fashion magazine?