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They’re wacky and wondrous, bizarre and tasteless, impossible to explain and somehow captivating. Ladies and gents, welcome to the wacky world of stock photography, where commercial photography meets “what on earth is going on there?” moments, making it one of the internet’s most beloved forms of memes.

And thanks to the Twitter page “Dark Stock Photos” that delivers exactly what it says, we have the most cringy collection to feast on, but with a messed up twist. The Grim Reaper shaking hands with a doctor next to a body laying motionless in a hospital bed? Check. A kid putting a salami tranche into a CD drive? Yep. And it’s pointless listing more, because the craziest thing you can think of—it’s there.

So get your popcorn ready for the sheer stock craziness below, and after you’re done, be sure to check our previous articles with hilariously bad stock photos here, here, and here.

#1

Dark Stock Photos

darkstockphotos Report

Raven Sheridan
Community Member
4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The American health care system at work! You can't pay? You die.

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    #2

    Dark Stock Photos

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    Hans
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If I saw an article on domestic violence with this picture I would not know whether I would laugh or cry.

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    #3

    Dark Stock Photos

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    Hans
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I did not know there were exxagerations of that meme!

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    Most of the stock photo gems look absolutely pointless. I mean, who’d need a shot of a woman pointing a baguette at a chef in a bakery robbery? Incredibly, stock imagery is basically a reflection of the demand for very, even if absurdly, specialized imagery.

    When a stock bank user is browsing through the archive, they already have a more or less clear specific idea about what they’re looking for. But the whole challenge the commercial photographers face is being ahead of the demand and anticipating users' needs before they even type in the keywords in the search bar.

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    #6

    Dark Stock Photos

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    Hans
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "But Grandmother! What big eyes you have."

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    Usually, it’s the contributing photographers who figure out what the subscribers will be looking for on stock collections like Shutterstock. Then, there are the website's top photographers, illustrators, and videographers who get direct orders from the content team.

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    With time, stock imagery has become its own aesthetic category that blends the hyperrealism and absurdity of everyday life. It’s exactly what makes them so appealing for an internet that’s inherently run by jokes, memes, and everything that doesn’t fit the definition.

    #7

    Dark Stock Photos

    darkstockphotos Report

    #8

    Dark Stock Photos

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    Hans
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Influencer and kidnapper double occupation.

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    #10

    Dark Stock Photos

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    Ember
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ....this is gonna give me nightmares

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    #11

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    Hans
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Parenting while working when you cannot avoid a corona infection.

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    #12

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    Call Me Mars
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm sorry I laughed. But don't drink and drive. Please.

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    #16

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    Hans
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "I think an apology is due here."

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    #17

    Dark Stock Photos

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    Ember
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Behold....the portal to another world

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    #18

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    Ember
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think he needs to give up cycling, he’s obviously not very good at it...lol

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    #19

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    Ember
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Black market during the pandemic....lol

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    #20

    Dark Stock Photos

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    #22

    Dark Stock Photos

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    Chyppa Homer
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We used to call these Sundays, back in the day :D

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    #24

    Dark Stock Photos

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    Ember
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    WTF? I am the only one confused here?

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    #25

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    Her Highness, Duke of Qin
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I do the same to my cat when it starts hitting and scratching lmao

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    #26

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    Hans
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The office canteen served bean soup again.

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    #27

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    Ember
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are people actually paid to come up with these ideas???

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    #28

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    Ember
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Look children...it’s the Easter bunny....run for your lives!

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    #31

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    Carmen Sandiego
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Umm... I think this one could be something fun but fatal. Similar to the quote- speed thrills but kills? It could be putting the fun in funeral but they are adding ERAL, right?

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    #32

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    Juliet Hadaway
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    she Poseidon the drinking fountains to pay for her fancy high school using the inheritance

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    #33

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    Zena Marsh
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Your heading for the slammer now

    Chillace
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    theres one where it says "i ate your sushi"

    Andrew Gibb
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I licked by butt hole then your face...

    Tory Chrome
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    “I bought a million dogecoins then used them to shame dogs by throwing them at them”

    Scagsy
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Mittens brothers were well-known to the law but it was still satisfying to pull them in all at once.

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    #34

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    Priscilla Reshell
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this would make sense if it was 90's justin timberlake

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    #35

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    Daniel Atkins
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If my face was there i would make that face too when I fart.

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    #40

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    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's not where he keeps his insurance card, sir

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    #41

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    James016
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Since I spent all of our money on toilet roll, we have no food.

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    #42

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    Ember
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ...Breath damn it....you need to live!

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    #45

    Dark Stock Photos

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    #46

    Dark Stock Photos

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    Doctor Strange
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It started out with a kiss, how did I end up a fish? It was only a kiss

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    #48

    Dark Stock Photos

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    #49

    Dark Stock Photos

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    Alexis Bilodeau
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Defeated the chosen one ... now my life is empty

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    #52

    Dark Stock Photos

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    Chyppa Homer
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What did you say, was in the vaccine, again ? :D

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    #55

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    Ember
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not sure if it’s going in or coming out...

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    #56

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    Sarah Simons
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "TIM GOSH DARN IT YOU CAN'T WAIT TWO MORE DAYS?!"

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    #59

    Dark Stock Photos

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