Adding Images Using Online Photography

What is online photography?

It is photographs displayed and viewed on the internet

Where can I find free online photographs?

The best places to search online for photographs include the following websites:

These websites serve the general public so that they have access to free pictures. You may also find other websites by typing into search engines.

How do I know when a photograph has a copyright?

You will see either:

  • © (with or without a name),
  • “All Rights Reserved”

However, you may not always see these because:

  • According to the Berne Convention, it is not necessary to have either of these symbols
  • Copyrighting photos becomes automatic when the photography is in any tangible form
  • When in doubt, give credit or don’t use it

How do I properly use someone else’s photography?

You can:

  • Ask permission
  • Cite the owner
  • Negotiate payments for rights with the photographer
  • Go to a site that sells rights for pictures and pay them
  • Use a creative commons licensed content which is content that has been legalized for the public use

An article may contain images that are relevant to the topic, such as to illustrate a concept or show a process. Follow the guidelines below when adding images to your articles.

Do . . .

  • use good taste when selecting images.
  • add a description to images.
  • include a descriptive alternate tag.
  • use a high quality image.

Do not . . .

  • add images that are copyrighted.
  • use a flashy image that is meant more to draw attention than to supplement the topic.
  • upload an obscene image.

Public Domain

If the image is public domain, you must still cite the original owner. Otherwise, use of the image will be considered plagiarism.

If in doubt, follow the Wikipedia Image use policy.

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