How do you find nice images and CC Zero

I get quite a few questions about images. How do I find images on the web that I can freely use when I publish things publicly? I mean, nice images. Good images. It’s not entirely straightforward, but thanks to a fantastic sharing culture and great photographers, there’s now a lot to choose from.

What makes a good photo is, of course, entirely in the eye of the beholder, but I have a few tips for you. If you’re not familiar with how copyright around image use works, I can recommend checking out Webbstjärnan’s site first. On Webbstjärnan’s blog there is, among other things, a post with tips on how to find images free to use with Creative Commons licensing. www.webbstjarnan.se/blogg/sommarblogg-hur-hittar-man-bilder You can also read more there about what Creative Commons is and how it works. www.webbstjarnan.se/blogg/nypajobbet-och-creative-commons-licenser

But… CC Zero?

Sometimes I need to create graphics and other things where I don’t want to add credits to the photographer (for design reasons). This can apply to web design, keynotes or other stuff. In most cases I try to create the images myself. But I have neither a good camera nor the skills to take a really good photo myself. Fortunately, there are plenty out there who can — and they share them, completely free to use.

Here are my favorite sites that use the CC0 license - Creative Commons Zero. Those images you can use however you want, privately or commercially, alter them “All without asking for permission or setting a link to the source”.

PEXELS

Pexels has the most images of the two sites I’m recommending and a pretty decent search function. Right now over 2000 handpicked images under the CC0 license. www.pexels.com

Unsplash

Unsplash was the first site I found and the one I tend to linger on, just browsing lots of beautiful photos. It works the same way as Pexels. unsplash.com

Got more tips?

Please leave examples in the comments and we’ll add more sites.