You have permission to use the photo or image. Now what?
While some image and photograph creators choose to license their works in such a way that attribution is not necessary, it is generally appreciated.
Ethics and best practice indicate that regardless of how an image is licensed, if you did not create it, it must be cited. It is inappropriate to represent someone else's work as your own.
When formatting images, look for ways to add citation information that are appropriate for your project:
- In image descriptions (often embedded and revealed by mousing over an image on the web).
- In the image's metadata
- By adding a credit line adjacent to the photo (generally underneath the photo or running up one of the sides). This is sometimes accomplished by adding a text box.
- Captions -- Generally a bit more extensive than a simple credit, may include several sentences about the figure/image/photograph such as particular features that are germane to one's assertions or the point one is trying to make in addition to the credit.
- For presentations and videos it is sometimes better to add an image citation page as the last slide or "card". In slide shows consider including the page number of the slide upon which the image appears in addition to the citation itself. In video projects, it may be appropriate/possible to indicate the scene or segment.
Typical Elements in the Citation of an Image:
- Title
- Creator Name
- Date of Creation (if not available, Date Uploaded/Posted Online).
- Owning Institution (ie, museum, library, or other owner)
- Image Source (website, database, etc)
- Date Accessed
Finding Citation Information
Some, but not all. websites will include a link to either the photograph's metadata or may indicate a preferred citation format. If the citation info isn't obvious, try looking for links that read, "More details" or something similar.
