Research Guides: Research Paper Basics: Finding Images

Selected Sites for Images

There are many sites that offer "free" images, however, some uses may not be allowed. For example, some sites forbid redistributing or reselling images on stock or wallpaper websites or platforms, or portraying identifiable people in a negative, offensive, or degrading way. Images also should not be used with identifiable brands to create a misleading association.

Always read the "Terms of Use" and licensing information before downloading images.

Coastal students, faculty, and staff have access to Adobe Stock. Log in using your Coastal credentials to view stock images and videos.

Burst
All our photos are free for commercial use with no attribution required.
Creative Commons
Check for the specific CC license to determine how the image can be used.
Gender Spectrum Collection
This collection of stock images features trans and non-binary models. Users may not create derivative work from the images or use the images for commercial purposes. Read the guidelines.
Gratisography
Images may be used for personal or commercial projects.
Jopwell Collection
Attribution is required for these free images. Read the guidelines.
nappy
Free high-res photos of people of color. No permission or credit is required, but credit is recommended and appreciated.
The Noun Project
Icons and images.
Openverse
A library of images under Creative Commons licenses or in the public domain.
Pexels
Photos may be used for free, even for commercial purposes. No attribution required, but credit is always appreciated when possible.

Credit: Viktor Hancek on picjumbo

picjumbo
Download free stock photos, backgrounds and free high-resolution images for personal and commercial use.
Pixabay
All content on Pixabay can be used for free for commercial and noncommercial use.
Superfamous Images
Credit required.
Unsplash: Photos for Everyone
All photos can be used for free for commercial and noncommercial purposes. No permission or credit is required, but credit is appreciated when possible.

Source: Vintage Stock Photos

Vintage Stock Photos
Free vintage family and travel snapshots.
Visible Earth | NASA
Most images are freely available for re-publication or re-use, including commercial purposes, except for where copyright is indicated. In those cases you must obtain the copyright holder’s permission. Links to the copyright holder are provided.
Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons is a media file repository making available public domain and freely-licensed educational media content.

Images in the Public Domain

Women's Army Corps by NARA / U.S. Department of State, 1945. Creative Commons.

The Millinery Shop by Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas, 1879/86. Art Institute of Chicago.

Abandoned Dust Bowl Home by Dorothea Lange, 1935/40. Getty Search Gateway.

Painting of trees, landscape by Claude Monet

Bordighera by Claude Monet, 1884. Art Institute of Chicago.

The Sick Child I by Edvard Munch, 1896. Art Institute of Chicago.

"H07830" by Community Archives of Belleville & Hastings County, c. 1920. Creative Commons.

A Battery of "Flying Artillery" by Mathew B. Brady, 1862. Getty Search Gateway.

Under the Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai, 1830/33. Art Institute of Chicago.

Insects and Fruit by Jan van Kessel, 1660/65. Rijksstudio.

Historical Photographs and Images

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
WorldImages
Images may be used for non-profit educational purposes, but credit should be given to the copyright holders who retain rights to the images.
New York Public Library Digital Collections
This link includes images that have been filtered to "Show Only Public Domain." They are free to use without restriction.

Art in the Public Domain

Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago offers free, unrestricted us of more than 50,000 images.
Getty Open Content Program
Images in the Getty collection to which Getty holds the rights or that are in the public domain to be used for any purpose, free of charge, without requesting permission.
Old Book Illustrations
Read the "Terms of Use." The site leaves it up to users to determine if their projects comply with copyright laws of their country of residence.
Open Access at the Met
Metropolitan Museum of Art has made many of its images Public Domain.
Public Domain Review
A site that explores the history of art and literature in the public domain.
Rijksstudio
Public domain images in Rijksstudio may be downloaded for free.
The Walters Art Museum
Download high quality digital images.
Wikipedia Public Domain Art
Images are by artists who have been deceased more than 100 years. Be sure to read the notes in the introduction.
Yale University Art Gallery
The gallery does not require permission to use images of public-domain works.

Creative Commons Certified Librarian

Michele Nicole Johnson

she/her/hers

Email Me

Contact:

Librarian
College of Coastal Georgia

912.279.5788

Subjects: American Government, Art and Art History, Black History, Careers, College Success, Copyright and Creative Commons, History, Library Information/Skills, OER and Open Access, Political Science, Technology