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APA 7th Style:  Images from the web

UON Library guide for the APA 7th referencing style

Figures taken from web sources

 

If you are including a figure you found in another source within an assignment:

  • Copy the figure exactly as found in the original source, unless you need to adapt it.
  • Acknowledge the original source in-text and within a caption included directly underneath the figure.
  • Note that the format of the reference in the caption is different from the usual APA 7th style used for in-text citations.
  • While students don't usually require publisher permission to include figures in assignments, you should include the copyright statement.
  • There are 3 parts to successfully reproducing and referencing a figure in your assignments:
    1. Mention and cite the figure in your text
    2. Provide a description and caption for the figure
    3. Add an entry for the source in your reference list

There usually two categories of images used on web page sources:

  • Images created by the author of the web page
  • Images that have separate creator information listed

 

See the tabs on this page for more information.

Images created by the author of the web page

 

Where the author of the web page has created all the included content, use the complete web page for the reference list entry and detail the individual image information in the caption under the figure.

The photograph below is taken from a web page where all content was created by the same author. Note that the photograph has been shared under a Creative Commons Licence so this information has been added to the copyright statement.

Part 1 - Cite the web page as you would normally and mention the figure in your text:

Figure 1 shows filming undertaken with a patient as part of the production of the second learning module (Interprofessional Education for Quality Use of Medicines, 2016). Based on omission of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis, the module ...

Part 2 - Provide description and captioning of your figure:

[Above the figure]

Figure X  [Bolded, where X is your numbering]

Title of Figure

[Below the figure]

Note. From Title of Web Page, by A. A. Author and B. B. Author, Year (Link). Copyright Year by Copyright Holder Name.

[In this example we're also including the Creative Commons Licence the image was shared under in the copyright statement]

Figure 1

Filming of the Second Learning Module

Note. From VTE Production Gallery​, by Interprofessional Education for Quality Use of Medicines, 2016 (http://www.ipeforqum.com.au/photos/vte-production). Copyright 2016 by IPE for QUM, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 AU.

Part 3 - Reference the web page as you would normally:

Interprofessional Education for Quality Use of Medicines. (2016). VTE production gallery. http://www.ipeforqum.com.au/photos/vte-production 

Adapting or changing the figure?

 In the caption under the figure change the wording 'From' to 'Adapted from' to show that you have changed the original (even in a small way). Using the example above, if we had changed something in the figure, we would change the caption to:

Note. Adapted from VTE Production Gallery​, by Interprofessional Education for Quality Use of Medicines, 2016 (http://www.ipeforqum.com.au/photos/vte-production). Copyright 2016 by IPE for QUM, used under CC BY-SA 2.5 AU | Cropped from original.

Where Creative Commons licences are involved (and allow adaptation), you should include a statement at the end that explains how you have change the material. Short and simple is OK here, it's more to show that the material has been changed.

The in-text citation and reference list entry would stay the same.

Not reproducing the figure?

Follow the standard in-text citation and reference list entry to reference the web page.

Reproduction note: 

The figure above, reprinted from IPEforQUM.com.au​, has been reproduced under a Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike 2.5 Australia License. This notice is separate from the figure so as not to confuse the referencing in the figure caption.

Images created by another creator

 

Where the web page includes images created by others, it's the images that need to be referenced - not the full web pages.

The photograph below has separate creator information listed so the photograph is referenced, not the full web page.  Note that the photograph has been shared under a Creative Commons Licence so this information has been added to the copyright statement.

Part 1 - Cite the creator and year, and mention the figure in your text:

Figure 1 shows the relative size of a baby bat (fs-phil, 2009). Although small, baby bats are still capable of transmitting rabies ...

Part 2 - Provide description and captioning of your figure:

[Above the figure]

Figure X  [Bolded, where X is your numbering]

Title of Figure

[Below the figure]

Note. From Title of Work, by A. A. Creator, Year (Link). Copyright Year by Copyright Holder Name.

[In this example we're also including the Creative Commons Licence the image was shared under in the copyright statement]

Figure 1

Relative Size of Baby Bat to a Human Hand

Note. From Little Bat, by fs-phill, 2009 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/31855019@N05/3885417778). Copyright 2009 by fs-phil, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Part 3 - Reference the image on the web page:

Formatting examples are provided on the next tab for how to do this.

fs-phil. (2009). Little bat [Photograph]. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/31855019@N05/3885417778

Adapting or changing the figure?

 In the caption under the figure change the wording 'From' to 'Adapted from' to show that you have changed the original (even in a small way). Using the example above, if we had changed something in the figure, we would change the caption to:

Note. Adapted from Little Bat, by fs-phil, 2009 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/31855019@N05/3885417778). Copyright 2009 by fs-phil, used under CC BY-SA 2.0| Cropped from the original.

Where Creative Commons licences are involved (and allow adaptation), you should include a statement at the end that explains how you have change the material. Short and simple is OK here, it's more to show that the material has been changed.

The in-text citation and reference list entry would stay the same.

Not reproducing the figure?

Follow the standard in-text citation and reference list entry to reference the creator and year..

Reproduction note: 

The figure above, reprinted from Flicker​, has been reproduced under an unspecified Creative Commons ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License. This notice is separate from the figure so as not to confuse the referencing in the figure caption.

Formatting for image references

 

General Notes:
  • Where a title is provided for the image use that, in italics.
  • Where no title is provided, you will need to create a descriptive title for the image in square brackets, e.g. [Photograph of a baby koala], [Sculpture of the Greek goddess Artemis].
  • The name of the hosting site is required to be added before the access link.  This is a major revision for APA 7.
  • The words 'Retrieved from' are no longer required before an access link for images.  This is a major revision for APA 7.
  • Do not include a full-stop after the URL at the end of the reference.
  • APA allows for links to be either plain text or 'active'. See the official APA Style Blog for more information.
Titled image with a creator noted

Creator Surname, Initial. (Year). Title of work [Description]. Title of Website. https://www... 
Untitled image with a creator noted

Creator Surname, Initial. (Year). [Descriptive title for the work]. Title of Website. https://www... 
Image without a date Follow the above patterns but replace (Year) with (n.d.).  See the examples below.
Titled image with no creator noted

Assume that the creator is the same person who created the web page content.  See the 'Same Creator' tab in this box.
Untitled image with no creator noted Assume that the creator is the same person who created the web page content.  See the 'Same Creator' tab in this box.

 

Reference list examples:

Greater Moscow League of Young Mums. (2014). [Untitled photograph of mothers breastfeeding their children]. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/features/2014/russia-breastfeeding/en/

 Leahy, S. (2015). Snouts in the trough [Cartoon]. Leahy: Cartoons from the Courier Mail. http://www.beyondtheblackstump.com/leahy/view_comic.cfm?comic_id=2806 

Marks, D. (n.d.). [Untitled photograph of mother koala and baby]. Australian Koala Foundation. https://www.savethekoala.com/about-koalas/furry-photos 

Michelangelo. (ca. 1500). David [Sculpture]. Accademia.org. http://www.accademia.org/explore-museum/artworks/michelangelos-david/ 

University of Durham. (2014). Excavations at the Binchester site [Photograph]. History. http://www.history.com/news/roman-ruins-in-britain-hailed-as-pompeii-of-the-north 

Van Gogh, V. (1888). Sunflowers [Painting]. The National Gallery. http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/vincent-van-gogh-sunflowers 

 

In-text

Every time you paraphrase, or use an idea from another source you must include an in-text citation to that source.
Follow the general pattern for the type of author.

Example:

To mention to image in your text, follow the standard pattern:

Leahy's (2015) cartoon parodies MP's expenses.

If you are reproducing the image in your assignment, see the previous tab on this page for how to do this.

Creating a PowerPoint?

 

Adding images to PowerPoint slides?  Refer to the tab on the main Images page.

Help and Information

Subjects: Referencing