In the digital age, images are ubiquitous. Whether you’re writing an academic paper, creating content for the web, or putting together a presentation, you’ll likely incorporate visuals to enhance your work. Just as you would cite textual sources, it’s crucial to properly credit the creators of images you use. This practice not only respects copyright and intellectual property but also adds credibility to your work. This guide focuses on how to cite photos and other visual materials using the Harvard referencing style, ensuring you give due credit and avoid plagiarism.
When you find an image online that you want to use, the process of citation is straightforward, mirroring the citation of other online sources. The key is to gather the necessary information about the image and its source.
For images found online, the Harvard referencing method requires both in-text citations and a comprehensive entry in your list of references. Let’s break down how to cite different types of visual content.
Citing Images Found Online
When referencing an image you’ve discovered online, your citation will differ slightly depending on whether the image has a named author.
In-text Citations:
If the image has a known author, your in-text citation should include the author’s last name and the year the image was produced.
For example, if you are referencing a political cartoon:
“The political commentary is sharply illustrated in a cartoon by Frith (1968) depicting…”
If the image lacks a specific author, cite the title of the image (or a descriptive title if none is available) and the year. If the title is lengthy, use a shortened version.
For example, when referencing a historical map:
“The geographical boundaries of the area are clearly outlined in a map from the 1840s (Map of the Parish of Maroota, 1840-1849).”
Reference List Entry:
In your reference list, provide a fuller citation with the following details in this order:
- Author (if known)
- Year of production (if known)
- Title of the image (or a clear description)
- Format of the image and any relevant details (e.g., digital photograph, political cartoon)
- Name and location of the source’s sponsor or publisher
- Date you accessed the image (day month year)
- Full URL of the image source, enclosed in pointed brackets
Here are examples based on the original article:
Frith J 1968, From the rich man’s table, political cartoon by John Frith, Old Parliament House, Canberra, accessed 11 May 2007, <//www.oph.gov.au/frith/theherald-01.html>.
Khafre pyramid from Khufu’s quarry 2007, digital photograph, Ancient Egypt Research Associates, accessed 2 August 2007, <//www.aeraweb.org/khufu_quarry.asp>.
Map of the Parish of Maroota, County of Cumberland, District of Windsor 1840-1849, digital image of cartographic material, National Library of Australia, accessed 13 April 2007, <//nla.gov.au/nla.map-f829>.
Citing Online Images and Diagrams Used as Figures
In academic and professional documents, visuals like diagrams, graphs, photographs, sketches, and maps are often incorporated as figures. If you use an image as a figure and it’s not your original work, you must cite its source.
Figures should be sequentially numbered (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.) and include a caption placed directly beneath the image. The caption should be concise, descriptive, and include an in-text citation.
In-text Citations within Figure Captions:
Within the figure caption, cite the author and year of the image’s creation.
Figure 1: Bloom’s Cognitive Domain (Benitez 2012)
If you refer to the figure explicitly in the body of your text, you should also include a citation there.
“As illustrated in Figure 1 (Benitez 2012), the cognitive domain encompasses…”
Reference List Entry for Figures:
For figures, your reference list entry will be similar to that of a general online image, providing complete citation information.
Benitez J 2012, Blooms Cognitve Domain, digital image, ALIEM, accessed 2 August 2015, <//www.aliem.com/blooms-digital-taxonomy/>.
Citing Online Data in Tables
When you present data in tables that you’ve obtained or adapted from online sources, proper citation is essential. Tables, like figures, should be numbered and have captions. However, table captions are placed above the table.
In-text Citation for Tables:
If you reproduce or adapt data from an online table, include an in-text citation in the table caption.
Table 2: Agricultural water use, by state 2004-05 (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006)
| State | Total ML |
|---|---|
| NSW (including Canberra) | 3 976 108 |
| Vic. | 2 570 219 |
| Qld | 2 864 889 |
| SA | 1 004 828 |
| WA | 429 372 |
| Tas | 255 448 |
| NT | 45 638 |
| Total ML | 11 146 502 |
When you mention the table in your text, also include a citation.
“Table 2 shows that a significant 11 146 502 ML of water was used in agriculture (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006).”
Reference List Entry for Table Data:
For data obtained from a webpage and presented in a table, cite the webpage itself in your reference list.
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006, Water Use on Australian Farms, 2004-05, Cat. no. 4618.0, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, accessed 4 July 2007, <//www.abs.gov.au>.
Best Practices for Citing Photos and Visuals
- Consistency: Maintain a consistent citation style throughout your document. If you’re using Harvard for images, use it for all source types.
- Accuracy: Double-check all citation details – author names, dates, titles, and URLs – for accuracy.
- Completeness: Strive to include all necessary information in your citations to allow readers to easily locate the original source.
- Ethical Use: Always ensure you have the right to use an image, considering copyright and licensing. Citation is crucial, but it doesn’t automatically grant permission to use copyrighted material.
By following these guidelines, you can confidently and correctly cite photos, diagrams, tables, and other visuals in your work, upholding academic integrity and giving credit where it’s due. Proper citation is a hallmark of responsible and scholarly work, and mastering image citation is an essential skill in today’s visually rich information landscape.
