2006 Infinity Award: Trustee

Mark Getty and Jonathan Klein formed Getty Images in 1995 with the intent to “create and distribute the world’s best and broadest imagery collections, making them available in the most accessible and usable way.” Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the company developed a user-friendly and reliable way to search, download, license, and manage a wide selection of still images and film clips. These include news, sports, entertainment, and contemporary and archival imagery.

As a socially conscious organization, Getty Images believes in the power of imagery to enable understanding and change lives for the better. Throughout 2005, Getty Images waived license fees valued at $1.4 million dollars to help many non-profits and charities gather support for their efforts—including organizations engaged in relief work after the South Asian tsunami, the U.S. hurricanes, and Pakistani earthquakes. In 2006, the company launched “Change Me,” an open conversation on the web that brings people together to share ideas through powerful imagery. To date, more than 3,000 people from all over the world have become involved. For each submission, Getty Images makes a donation to the Friends of the Global Fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria. The project will continue through the year, toward raising $500,000 for the non-profit’s work to end the worldwide burden of these three related diseases. Exhibitions and a publication are being planned as a follow-up. ICP is proud to recognize Getty Images for creating an extraordinary project that uses and elevates photography as the world’s unifying visual language.