Photograph Resources

The following is a list of websites with royalty-free photographs. When using photographs from these (or any) royalty-free photo sites, please be sure to review the organization's directions on content use. Different sites may have unique formats for crediting sources and it may even vary by photograph within the site.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Wide range of photo types from historical illustrations and diagrams to recent weather events, aquatic habitats, fisheries, etc. Credit must be given to NOAA/Department of Commerce unless you are instructed to credit the photographer or another source.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Good variety of wildlife photos, habitat and human impact photos. Search using keywords; the format and size should be satisfactory for all uses except high quality printing. Credit the photographer or USFWS image library.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Many images of good quality on a variety of subjects including animals, research (field and lab), technology and equipment, people (researchers, kids getting involved), and a special historical section: Farm Security Administration's collection from 1930s to 1940s. Photos are organized by category and subcategory.

U.S. Department of Agriculture: PLANTS

Browse over 30,000 high quality images by scientific name, common name, symbol or family. Photos are also accompanied with a species description and facts.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Photographs of animals, landscapes, plants, recreation, research and education from the Great Lakes region. Credit must be given to the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program office.

USDA Agricultural Research Service

Search for images or browse by category from high quality images available in low or high resolution. Categories include: food/crops, animals (majority livestock or domestic), insects, research and plants.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Subject matter is disaster events and FEMA response efforts; photos are searchable by keyword, location, date and category. Content is not protected by copyright unless noted. If noted: permission must be obtained from the owner prior to use. If it is not noted: photo may be downloaded, reproduced, and distributed without further permission.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Photos on subjects such as renewable energy technology, research, equipment, people, biomass and other things related to energy sources and use. Low resolution images are free of charge, but high resolution images must be purchased. Search by keyword or browse by category.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

Photographs on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects, the project sites and people. Keyword search or browse by the following subjects: major category/mission, labs and careers, division, state or district. Please credit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

A list of links connects you to photo galleries within USGS or external organizations' photo sites on biological, geological, geographical and hydrological topics. As of December 2007, numerous links on this site were inactive.

American Environmental Photographs (Library of Congress)

The majority of these photos are plants and habitats. Browse by subject, place or state. These images were created by faculty, staff and students of the Department of Botany at the University of Chicago from the 1890s to the 1930s. Please be sure to check the "Rights and Reproductions" link for the correct crediting information.