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Citing Images

Citing Images

When including images in your assignments, provide attribution for the image within the caption beneath the image: 

  • The image should be centered and appear below the text that addresses it. 
  • Number the image consecutively. For APA, begin with Figure 1. For MLA, begin with Fig. 1.
  • If the title of an image is not indicated, provide a description in its place. 

APA does not have specific rules for citing images. We recommend following rules under "Figures" for APA. For more information, visit the guide on APA Style: Tables & Figures.

 

In-Text

Reference Entry

From a public website with a title

Figure 1

Interior of Home in Pompeii

Note. From Interior of home in Pompeii [Photograph], by R. Hawkins, 2008, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pompei_%2829%29.jpg). CC BY-SA 1.0.

Hawkins, R. (2008). Interior of home in Pompeii [Photograph]. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pompei_%2829%29.jpg

From a public website without a title

Figure 2

Multicolored Abstract Paining

Note. From [Multicolored abstract painting], by L. Huggins, 2019, Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/AeT8VR7qss0).

Huggins, L. (2019). [Multicolored abstract painting]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/AeT8VR7qss0 

 

MLA does not have specific rules for citing images. We recommend following rules under "Tables & Illustrations" for MLA. For more information, visit the guide on MLA Style: Tables & Figures.

Source

Citation Format in the Caption

Example

Library Database

Fig. X. Creator's Firstname Surname, Image Title; Database; year; Medium; access date.

ARTSTOR_103_41822003655048.jpg

Fig. 1. Rose Barton, Going to the Levee; ARTstor; 1897; Web; 14 Feb. 2014.

Web Image

Fig. X. Creator's Firstname Surname, Image Title; Website; year; Medium; access date.

Fig. 2. Gordon Kneale Brooke, Rawcliffe near Goole, Royal Oak; Wikimedia Commons; 2006; Web; 5 Aug. 2015.

An image from a book

Fig. X. Creator's Firstname Surname, Image Title (year); in Author's Firstname Surname, Book Title (Place of Publication: Publisher, year; page number).  

 

Fig. 3. Gustav Klimt, The Kiss (1907-1908); in Camilla de la Bedoyere, Art Nouveau (London: Flame Tree Publishing, 2005; 309).   

More Information

Refer to Tables and Illustrations (section 4.5) of the MLA Manual

 

With Creative Commons licensed images, attribution is generally required. An attribution provides credit to the creator, similar to a citation, but it also includes the Creative Commons licence information. The format for attributing a Creative Commons licensed material differs from citation styles such as APA and MLA. 

The general format for attributing a Creative Commons licensed image is: 

"Image Title" by Creator is licensed under Licence Type

Here is an example: 

"Kittens!" by Nicolas Suzor is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Note that an attribution statement should try to include embedded hyperlinks to the source image, creator's site and Creative Commons licence information. If there is no image title, start with a short description of the image enclosed by [ ]. For more information, visit the Creative Commons' page on "Best Practices for Attribution." 

Many open licensed photo websites such as Pixabay and Unsplash have their own licences. These licences generally allow people to copy, reuse and share their images but they may have restrictions on certain uses. Be sure to check the licence information of the website from which you want to use. 

The attribution format is similar to the one for Creative Commons licensed images. Here is an example:

"London Pride Parade 2022" by Semyon Borisov is used under the Unsplash licence