Searching for Pictures

Few of us would remember what a tractor looks like if asked to draw one for use on a web site. The human brain is good at recalling the general outline of an object but it isn't that efficient when it comes to remembering small details. We often need to rely on visual references when preparing illustrations.The Internet is a valuable resource for locating needed photographs, drawings, paintings, and other visual reference material.

There are perhaps five basic strategies for finding images on the Internet.

Keyword searches are the most common way to locate resources. Web images use the file extensions "jpg" or "gif" added to a name. A search using "tractor.jpg" or "tractor.gif" will produce links to many tractor images. Most searches are successful when combining a single word, such as "bridge" with a commonly used extension.

Using an image search engine such as those provided by Google or Yahoo will scour the web locating images not only by the jpg and gif extension but also will look for the use of the "Alt" code that verbally describe a picture. The code "IMG SRC" (image source) is also looked for by search engines.

Some web sites employ individuals who manually search for images and catalog or classify each with descriptive information. The Amazing Picture Machine is one example. It has 25 categories which range from rock music to civil war people, places and things. Some cataloged sites, given the labor involved, will charge a fee. Others are provided as a free service.

There are also image banks that are constructed from the beginning to provide visual resource material. The American Memory Project by the Library of Congress is one such source. The Library of Congress has extensive collections of prints, slides, and other images and it has spent considerable effort to organize these materials as searchable data bases.

Museums and art resource web sites also provide image collections primarily of painting, illustration, and graphic design. The WebMuseum, Paris is one example.

Proscenia has compiled a Image Search and Database page for use by Interns, students and other needing to access images. Here you will find most of the available search engines that will find illustrations, paintings, photographs, and other images resources on the net. We have also included links to photo collections at museums and other institutions. All images you will find are copyrighted and so care must be given to following copyright laws when pictures are used off the net.

Reference:

How to Get Pictures on the Internet. Provides additional tips on web searching plus links to some excellent image resources on the web.