There’s no doubt Fotolia is a great source of stock images for business presentations. But even with such beautiful stock photos to choose from, or perhaps because there are so many, it can be overwhelming to find the best business image for your slide presentation design.

Here are, in our estimation, the top new images posted to Fotolia in the last month under the theme of “motion”. This theme is a common requirement for presentation stock imagery because motion is often a business metaphor for success, progress and the like. We also stuck with new images posted within the last month to make sure the stock images are fresh and not likely to be recognized by your audience. If you are so inspired, we’ve included links to the images on the Fotolia site.

Black Liquid | This stock image was available in a variety of colored tints, yet we chose the black and white version because of the wonderful contrast it provided. The bubbles generate positive motion that provides for myriad applications, particularly for those exploring new business ideas. The relatively large empty, black space at the top shows us the potential and the bubbles are the action and ideas. Big potential and lots of activity – business people love this stuff!

Gear Wheel | Gears are always a solid metaphor for collaboration and alliances. This particular business stock image stands out because it’s not just the interlocking gears that are in play, but also the gears stacked below it. This adds dimension and complexity to the image. And the metallic steel coloring provides an effective, sharp drama that suggests efficiency. You could say this image proposes “synergy”, but I promised long ago to never use that word again.

The Polar Bear Sniffs | This image evokes the idea of hunting for opportunity – a common theme in business presentations. What makes this image dramatic? It’s the subtle colors combined with a top predator and set within a textured canvas. It shows aggressiveness without being too obvious – perfect for a business audience. You’ll be the strategic opportunity hunter poised for action with this Fotolia image.

Pista | At some point you’ll have to tell the audience how you’re going to accomplish your big idea. With this stock image, a big mountain in the distance is the prize and a well-organized plan leads straight to it. How can you fail? Sure it’s uphill…but definitely doable. The groomed lines suggest organization and the soft shadows between them provide a calming effect. Tell your boss everything will be all right in your hands.

One last piece of parting advice – try not to “paste and run” with your images. You can create a dramatic element by investing 10 minutes to edit stock images with a border effect, tweak the tinting, or employ any of the many other image effects that are possible with SlideRocket. You will be rewarded with a more engaging presentation.