# The Sheridan Libraries

**Source**: https://guides.library.jhu.edu/images
**Parent**: https://guides.library.jhu.edu/anthropology

Search

# Finding Images

Learn the best methods to identify and utilize images in many fields of study

- [Getting Started](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/images/home)
- [By Subject](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/images/subject)
  - [Arts and Humanities](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/images/subject/arts)
  - [History](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/images/subject/history)
  - [Medicine and Public Health](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/images/subject/medicine)
  - [News and Popular Culture](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/images/subject/news)
  - [Science and Engineering](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/images/subject/science)
  - [Social Sciences](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/images/subject/social-sciences)
- [Citing Images](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/images/citing-images)
- [Saving and Presenting Images](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/images/downloading)
- [Copyright](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/images/copyright)
- [For Publication](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/images/publication)

## Ask a Librarian

**[Find your librarian](https://www.library.jhu.edu/library-departments/academic-liaison/)**

\
Email us: [ask@jhu.libanswers.com](mailto:ask@jhu.libanswers.com)

Text us: 410-692-8874

[Explore our FAQ's](https://ask.library.jhu.edu/)

## Getting Started

- Searching for Images

  Unlike searching for text sources where the subject is often relatively easy to describe, putting images into words can be challenging.\
  \
  Below are general tips for finding copyright-free images.

**Search tips:**

- Look in **specialized image databases** first. These have more advanced image searching capacity than Google.
- Look in **journal indexes** for illustrated articles. Many articles in periodicals have great illustrations.
- Search for **illustrated books** in our library online catalog.
- If at first you don't succeed, **try again**:
  - Are there other terms that describe your subject?
  - Are there more concrete symbols that represent abstract concepts (e.g. ""heart" or "kiss" instead of "love")?
  - If you aren't turning up many results, try **more general terms**.

If you are still having problems, **[ask a librarian](http://ask.library.jhu.edu/)** for help!

## Start with these Resources

- [ARTstor](https://databases.library.jhu.edu/databases/proxy/JHU03382)

  A collection of digital images in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
- [Visual Resources Collection, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences](http://guides.library.jhu.edu/visual-resources-collection)

  Consult this guide to explore local image resources and services available to JHU faculty and students.
- [Associated Press Collections Online](https://databases.library.jhu.edu/az/databases?q=JHU06910)

  Associated Press photographs, audio files, graphics and text from 160 years of history.
- [Image Collection from EBSCOhost](https://databases.library.jhu.edu/databases/proxy/JHU05796)

  Historic and contemporary images of people, places, and the natural world, with an emphasis on news and events. Within Academic Search Ultimate, to search images, click on **"Image Search"** in the blue bar at the top of the screen.

## Web Resources

- [CC Search: Creative Commons](https://search.creativecommons.org/)

  A search engine to find images that are freely available.
- [Flickr Commons](http://www.flickr.com/commons)

  Image collections from libraries, museums, and archives from around the world.
- [Flickr Creative Commons](http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/)

  Millions of photos created by Flickr users are available under different kinds of Creative Commons licenses.
- [Google Image Search](http://images.google.com/)

  Search for images on the web.
- [morgueFile](http://www.morguefile.com/)

  A public image archive for creatives, by creatives.
- [Smithsonian Galaxy of Images](http://www.sil.si.edu/imagegalaxy/)

  Search the collections of materials digitized by the Smithsonian Libraries. Note: the site prohibits the use of images as content for online courses.
- [Unsplash: Photos for Everyone](https://unsplash.com/)

  An Internet source for freely-usable images.
- [World Images](http://worldimages.sjsu.edu/)

  A database of images in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences, from all over the globe.

## Creative Commons Materials

- [Finding Images](#s-lib-ctab-4442144-0)
- [Citing Images](#s-lib-ctab-4442144-1)
- [Creating your own Images](#s-lib-ctab-4442144-2)
- [Using Vendor / Product Logos](#s-lib-ctab-4442144-3)

---

**Be sure the images you select are free from restrictions! Here are some sources to explore:**

- **[CC Search](https://search.creativecommons.org/)** - a search engine to find freely available images via Creative Common.s
- **[Flickr Commons](http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons)** - to limit search to [Creative Commons](http://creativecommons.org/), click [Advanced Search](http://www.flickr.com/search/advanced/?) and check the appropriate box. When you click on an image you like, look for the copyright info under "Additional Information" in the bottom right.
- **[Wikimedia Commons](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page)** - a database of freely usable media files.
- **[Google Usage Rights](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/29508?p=ws_images_usagerights&rd=1)** - to limit search, click [Advanced Search](http://www.google.com/advanced_search) and select appropriate level of access under "usage rights".
- **[MorgueFile](http://morguefile.com/)** - Free stock photos, created by artists for the common good.
- **[Finding Images Guide](http://guides.library.jhu.edu/images)** - explore the JHU guide on how to locate images; note that most of these are not free of license restriction, be sure to explore each image individual for permission.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Be sure to **cite the source** of your restriction-free image!  Provide:   - Image title - Image creator / username - Service providing access - Creative Commons license number or Public Domain designation - URL for image so we can link back to the original source   **EXAMPLE**: Image by Everyskyline via Flickr / CC by 2.0 | **FINAL RESULT**: |

- A nearly fool-proof way to avoid copyright complications is to take your own picture!\
  \
  Just remember not to take pictures of copyrighted materials...\
  \
  It's the best way to document a local phenomenon, like a place on campus or an employee.

If you're talking about a particular database or licensed research tool, consider using the product logo in your post.

But, be sure to:

- check for any specific restrictions on the vendor website
- make the logo link directly to the product (proxified, of course!)

Like this:

- [**Next:** By Subject >>](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/images/subject)