The best photographs of the Europe 2008 soccer championships, which came to an end today after Spain defeated Germany 1-0, were not taken by professional sports photographers, but by members of the global Flickr community.
The social photo sharing site has had a huge impact on the photography industry and many cutting edge media companies are catching on, sourcing people's Flickr portfolios instead. Not only does this give them a wider range of images to choose from, but it also saves them thousands of dollars which they used to spend on staff photographers.
The gallery shows some incredible captures of the final game by Flickr photographers.
Flickr as News
Best Photos of Euro 2008, Spain vs Germany Finale
Trend Themes
1. User-generated Content - The proliferation of sites like Flickr is changing the way content is created and consumed, providing opportunities for businesses to tap into a vast array of photos, videos and written content created by users.
2. Crowdsourced Journalism - Social media is increasingly becoming a source of content for traditional media outlets, disrupting traditional journalism while providing opportunities for new and innovative forms of storytelling.
3. Disruption of the Photography Industry - The rise of user-generated content and social media platforms is shifting the balance of power in the photography industry, creating new opportunities for both amateur and professional photographers alike.
Industry Implications
1. Media - Traditional media outlets are increasingly leveraging user-generated content to reduce costs, opening up opportunities for new and innovative forms of journalism.
2. Marketing and Advertising - User-generated content provides companies with an authentic and relatable way to connect with their audience, offering opportunities for new and innovative forms of advertising.
3. Photography - The photography industry is being disrupted by the rise of user-generated content and social media platforms, creating both challenges and opportunities for photographers and other industry players.