Ben MacAskill is President & COO of Awesome, a family-owned and operated company with a singular mission: building a better world through the power of photography. He helped found SmugMug more than two decades ago to provide professional photographers an unrivaled platform for their businesses, and acquired beloved photography hub Flickr in 2018 to ensure a creative home for photographers everywhere. Today, Awesome also includes the photography network powerhouse This Week in Photo, and the nonprofit Flickr Foundation, dedicated to the preservation of earth’s largest and most important collection of publicly available photography.
When he’s not promoting photography in every way possible, Ben can be found exploring the world with his own camera in hand.
Ben also sits on the Board of The Conservation Alliance, working on public land and water conservation for future generations of photographers.
Flickr, founded in 2004, is the world's largest photography community, committed to elevating the memories, artistry, and impact of all your photos. Fueled by passionate photographers for 20 years, Flickr provides users with the safest and most inclusive platform for sharing and connecting through photos and videos.
OUR MISSION
Photography has existed for a little less than two centuries, but its impact on humanity is immeasurable. As the world's largest photo community, Flickr's mission is to build a better world through the power of photography. Sustainability and conservation are integral to our values, driving our duty and privilege to protect the open and wild spaces that inspire photographers.
COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
In addition to being a member of 1% for the Planet and a Climate Pledge signatory, we are proud to have achieved Climate Neutral Certification, demonstrating our dedication to reducing our carbon footprint and combating climate change. The rigorous standards set forth by Change Climate, the managing body of Climate Neutral certification, helped us implement a range of innovative ways to measure, reduce, and offset our carbon emissions. And while we’re now certified, we’re far from done. We’re committed to continually improving our sustainability practices to help build a greener, more sustainable future for all.
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY
Flickr is a member of The Conservation Alliance, reinforcing our dedication to environmental conservation. We also joined the Mobilizing for Monuments Coalition and produced the Mobilizing for Monuments film, advocating for the preservation of open spaces. By combining the power of photography with a commitment to sustainability, Flickr aims to inspire and support photographers in their creative journeys while protecting the planet for future generations.
