Sure we are (hopefully) aware of the well known large sources of openly licensed photos and images, but as I travel around the internet I’m impressed by individual efforts to share openly.
So it was in a discussion forum inside flickr on a post I made about issues with search, in a reply I came across the collection of some 14000 CC licensed photos by Mark McClure or his handle WalksinPortland featuring on the ground imagery of his home city, Portland Oregon observed at the human level.
Mark E McClure photos in flickr
Most of my photos are made while walking with compact cameras or an iPhone rather than specialized professional gear. My interest has always been less about equipment and more about observation: documenting Portland’s neighborhoods, seasons, architecture, street life, and small unexpected moments over time. My focus is primarily at street level — it allows me to “touch the grass,” stay close to my subjects, and observe Portland from a human perspective rather than a distant one.
With that many images, there’s much to explore, and he provides an overview of his photography interest and a detailed how to guide to exploring his own collections inside his library of photos as well as a behind the scenes look at his approach to photography. The vast majority of his photos, some 14000, are licensed Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
As an introvert, photography gives me a way to share how I see and experience the world. Family, travel, outdoor adventures, Portland, quirky “Portlandia” moments, architecture, urban planning, and active and public transportation have been enduring themes in my work. During more than 1,100 walks of five miles or longer across the Portland metro area since 2010, public transit has made it possible for me to explore the region extensively without relying on a car.
It’s warm to see a personal approach to observing the world and sharing it. Take a look around his collection and share anything interesting you discover or also share another specialized collection of open licensed media that may not be well known.