Images - Finding & Using

Finding images for a research paper, a course assignment, or for sharing online can be challenging. This guide addresses what to consider when finding and using images, such as:

• The difference between image full text and image index databases
• Open Access image websites
• How to cite images using a specific citation style
• Copyright and Creative Commons permissions or attributions

Here is an example of how to cite an image with a Creative Commons (CC) license:

Title: Mermaid Cove Sunrise

Creator: Jerry Meadon

Source: Flikr https://bit.ly/2GMYajl

Copyright Information: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Note: The use of digital images is often subject to copyright and/or licensing restrictions. Consult each site's information on rights and reproductions, especially if you plan to use an image in a publication. For guidance on how to cite images in a research paper, see the How to Cite section of this guide.

Listed below are few image resources.  For more resources, explore the menu topics on the left-hand side of the page.

Searching Artstor: An Introduction

For help with finding, viewing, and downloading images using the database Artstor, watch the video below.

Using Google Image Search

For help with verifying, tracking, or finding information about an image on Google (including reverse image searches).

Image Slideshows on Bing

For help with making Bing's image search results play like a slideshow (save yourself from having to scroll through pages of crowded images).

While this research guide specifically provides information on finding and using images, images are often just one section of a subject-based research guide. You will find many other research guides online. Below are few examples of image resources from other UBC Library research guides.