APA Referencing 7th ed.: Images

Referencing images/ figures can be difficult as the APA guidelines are limited and it can be hard to locate the original source of an image.

For WITT assignments cite images and figures as a direct quotation. For any images that are not your own work, place a caption under the image and include a full citation in your reference list. Use the following format for the caption:

Figure number. Title of the image (Source: Author, date, page number if appropriate)

The caption should include:

• The word Figure (with a capital letter and in italics)
• A number (from 1, in numerical order)
• A title for the figure. If there is no title in the original source add a brief description of the work
• An in text citation for the reference of the source (if not your own work), which includes the Author(s), date and page number for the source, i.e. (Smith, 2010, p.13). Start the citation with the word Source:

For staff working on post-graduate assignments and/or if you are intending to publish your work as research, a thesis or in another form, APA requires tables, figures and images that have been reproduced or adapted from another source to have a full reference and a note providing permission statements and/or copyright information. Permission to reproduce copyright material must be obtained from the publisher or copyright holder (Publication Manual, pp. 225-234, 384-390).
For detailed information on copyright and permissions, see the Publication Manual and the APA blog

Own/Personal image

If the image is your own (e.g. your own photo), you just need a caption.  No in text citation or reference is required. 

Caption

Because the image caption contains the information an in-text citation would normally, simply refer to the relevant Figure in the body of your assignment. E.g.:

In text

Figure 1 shows the ....

OR

New Plymouth has several beaches that...(see Figure 1)

Images from a book

Caption

Figure 1. Organs of the respiratory system (Source: Boore et al., 2016, p. 263).

In text

Because the image caption contains the information an in-text citation would normally, simply refer to the relevant Figure in the body of your assignment. E.g.:

In text

Figure 1 shows the ....

OR

Breathing can be ...(see Figure 1)

Reference list

Boore, J., Cook, N., & Shepherd, A. (2016). Essentials of anatomy and physiology for nursing practice. SAGE.

Images from the internet

Caption

Figure 2. Triple chocolate cake (Source: Chhaya, 2013).

In text

Because the image caption contains the information an in-text citation would normally, simply refer to the relevant Figure in the body of your assignment e.g.:

Figure 2 shows...

OR

Baking can... (Figure 2).

Reference list

Chhaya, M. (2013). Triple chocolate cake. https://www.flickr.com/photos/merajchhaya/11370696464/in/photostream/

These examples are for when you refer to an image in your assignment but do not include a copy of it.

Image from a book

In text citation

Reference list

Image from a journal

In text citation

Reference list

Image from a website

Many images online have few details, but always check extra information by:

• clicking on the image
• looking at the bottom of the image
• looking at the URL

If the image does not have a title, give a brief description and place in square brackets[ ]

In text citation

...Singapore Zoo ([Untitled photograph of an orangutan eating fruit], n.d.).

Reference list