Sometimes stock photos, which are snapped for various creative and professional needs, find their way into "memeland," just like this dramatic shot. The picture of a man, walking with his girlfriend while his head is turned in another direction because he is checking out another lady passing them by, has become a widespread meme.
— Omar Essam LHC (@OmarEssamLHC) 19 августа 2017 г.
This is the "distracted boyfriend" stock photo, which accidentally launched thousands of memes that literally flood every social network.
these aren't even jokes this is deadass what happened pic.twitter.com/L15F8Ek9yC
— gorgeous hag (@ashaggreyjoy) 22 августа 2017 г.
— leon (@leyawn) 22 августа 2017 г.
The image that has gone viral since January, was actually photographed two years ago. Antonio Guillem, a 45-year-old photographer from Barcelona, Spain, who works for stock image companies, snapped this emotional picture on the streets of Gerona using three models he consistently cooperates with.
— Reverend Scott (@Reverend_Scott) 23 августа 2017 г.
According to the photographer, the session aimed to represent the infidelity concept in relationships in a playful and fun way. "It was quite challenging to achieve face expressions that were believable," Guillem told Wired. "Mainly because we always have a really great work atmosphere, and almost all the time one of the models was laughing while we were trying to take the picture."
— Big Uzi Vert (@BlvckGrip) 21 августа 2017 г.
— gab/apentin🏴 (@gabrielamadej) 27 августа 2017 г.
He was very surprised that one of his stock images received the meme treatment and became so popular. "I didn't even know what a meme was until recently, when the models started to tell me about the memes that people were doing with our work," Guillem admitted.
Did I meme OK? #journalism pic.twitter.com/yGZAUWcNNU
— Jim Brunner (@Jim_Brunner) 30 августа 2017 г.
However, memes haven't given him or his company any kind of economic profit. "Most of the images haven't been sold on the microstock agencies. They are being used without the proper license on those agencies," he revealed.
By the way, other images of that series, where all of the three models can be seen in different poses, also found their way to the social networks, allowing people to be creative about how the story of the distracted boyfriend could end.
THE CONCLUSION WEVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR pic.twitter.com/48f6s5y9KG
— *gun* (@oranforest) 25 августа 2017 г.
Or even how it all began.
oh wow jealous girlfriend has a dark origin story pic.twitter.com/rTocPCj8Md
— Jason Emory Parker (@jaspar) 25 августа 2017 г.
