Nathan Bransford - The Forums

Hi.

I need sources and guidelines for where to find photos and images for a blog
and also how to use them legally and ethically.

I thought that might be useful information for others too.

So, please, all you blog-savvy writers, share any resources and knowledge here!

Thanks!

Here's a pretty big database of free pictures.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Thanks!
There's so much Wiki stuff it's hard to keep up with it all.

lvcabbie wrote:Thanks!
There's so much Wiki stuff it's hard to keep up with it all.

Very true. Glad to help!

This is a link to a search database of Flickr for Creative Commons pictures. http://flickrcc.bluemountains.net/flickrCC/index.php
You can use Creative Commons pictures so long as you list the correct attribution (which is listed for each picture on this search)

For anyone using Wordpress.org, there is a plugin called Photo Dropper that searches for creative commons pictures from approved databases and imports the attribution for you.

You can also go here: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ to read what the different levels of Creative Commons licenses there are. So if a photo is listed as a CC, it probaby has some rights reserved (like, you must add an attribution tag) and some won't allow you to use it for commercial purposes, some will, some won't let you alter it, some will.....etc.

Thanks Sommer!!!!

You can also find some at Morguefile. They prefer you change the photo in some way and do not require attribution. pdphoto.org also has public domain photos and asks only that you include a photo credit.

Welcome

At some point a while ago I started taking pictures randomly of everything so I could have a database of mine own to pick from. I am thinking of throwing them all up on Flickr and letting my writing and book blog friends use them at will. It will require a good weekends worth of work putting it up so I've been kind of lazy about it. I will do it some day.

Sommer Leigh wrote:Welcome

At some point a while ago I started taking pictures randomly of everything so I could have a database of mine own to pick from. I am thinking of throwing them all up on Flickr and letting my writing and book blog friends use them at will. It will require a good weekends worth of work putting it up so I've been kind of lazy about it. I will do it some day.

Make sure you put them up on Photobucket. If you list your pix in words, a Ctrl-S will allow you to highlight a lot at a time.

These are some great links.

Microsoft has a ton of clipart you can use for free if you have Word. Here's the link:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/

I also often google "free pictures of...." and it will take you to a ton of sites that offer pictures for free. You can also find sites that offer animated pictures for free by doing the same thing.

Be warned - once you start downloading free pictures, it's addictive. I've spent many, many, many happy hours searching free picture databases for the PERFECT picture. In retrospect, that time could have been spent doing other stuff. Still, it's very fun.

hektorkarl wrote:Here's a pretty big database of free pictures.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

hektorkarl, thanks for posting this -- what a great resource.

bcomet, great post.

The Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/index.html has free images, including maps and photos.

NASA http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/index.html has beautiful free space images.

NASA says you don't have to request permission to use their photos, which are all in the public domain, but they ask that you credit them.

These links are great - thanks everyone!

Just for clarification - are freely usable images different from Creative Commons ones (where the latter would need an attribution)? For example, pictures taken from Wikipedia Commons won't need an attribution, while pictures from Flickr Creative Commons require one?

GKJeyasingham wrote:These links are great - thanks everyone!

Just for clarification - are freely usable images different from Creative Commons ones (where the latter would need an attribution)? For example, pictures taken from Wikipedia Commons won't need an attribution, while pictures from Flickr Creative Commons require one?

Hi, GK. I'm guessing that if you scrutinize those websites, they will all have image guidelines -- you just might have to hunt for them.

Holly wrote:

GKJeyasingham wrote:These links are great - thanks everyone!

Just for clarification - are freely usable images different from Creative Commons ones (where the latter would need an attribution)? For example, pictures taken from Wikipedia Commons won't need an attribution, while pictures from Flickr Creative Commons require one?

Hi, GK. I'm guessing that if you scrutinize those websites, they will all have image guidelines -- you just might have to hunt for them.

Ah, I see. I also just realized that the copyright laws in Canada are probably a bit different than those in the States. I'll probably just end up including the attribution for each image I use. Better safe than sorry.

Thanks for the quick reply, Holly!