How To Cite A Picture In Apa

Citing a picture in APA style can be a bit tricky, but don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. The American Psychological Association (APA) style is widely used in social sciences, education, and business, and it has specific guidelines for citing visual materials like pictures.

General Guidelines

When citing a picture in APA style, you need to provide enough information so that the reader can locate the picture. Here are the general guidelines:

1. Creator’s Name: Provide the creator’s name, if available. If not, use the title of the picture or a description.
2. Title of the Picture: Provide the title of the picture, if available. If not, use a brief description.
3. Date: Provide the date of creation, if available. If not, use “n.d.” (no date).
4. Source: Provide the source where the picture was found, such as a book, journal, website, or museum.
5. Location: Provide the location of the picture, if it’s a physical object, such as a museum or gallery.

APA Citation Formats

Here are the APA citation formats for different types of pictures:

1. Picture from a Book:
   • Creator’s Name, A. A. (Year). Title of the picture [Painting/Photograph/Illustration]. In Title of the book (pp. Page Numbers). Publisher.
   • Example: Smith, J. (2020). The City [Photograph]. In Urban Landscapes (pp. 12-15). Routledge.
2. Picture from a Journal:
   • Creator’s Name, A. A. (Year). Title of the picture [Painting/Photograph/Illustration]. Journal Title, Volume(Issue), Page Numbers.
   • Example: Johnson, K. (2020). The Beach [Photograph]. Journal of Coastal Studies, 10(2), 12-15.
3. Picture from a Website:
   • Creator’s Name, A. A. (Year). Title of the picture [Painting/Photograph/Illustration]. Retrieved from https://www.website.com
   • Example: Williams, P. (2020). The Mountain [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com
4. Picture from a Museum or Gallery:
   • Creator’s Name, A. A. (Year). Title of the picture [Painting/Photograph/Illustration]. Museum/Gallery Name, Location.
   • Example: Van Gogh, V. (1889). Starry Night [Painting]. Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY.

In-Text Citations

When citing a picture in the text, use the following formats:

1. Parenthetical Citation: (Creator’s Name, Year)
2. Narrative Citation: Creator’s Name (Year)

Example: The picture of the city (Smith, 2020) shows a vibrant urban landscape. Alternatively, Smith (2020) created a stunning photograph of the city.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to cite a picture if it’s public domain? A: Yes, even if a picture is in the public domain, you should still provide a citation to credit the creator and provide context.

Q: How do I cite a picture with no creator or title? A: Use a brief description of the picture and the source where it was found.

Q: Can I use a screenshot of a picture as a citation? A: No, it’s best to use the original picture or a high-quality reproduction.

By following these guidelines, you’ll be able to properly cite pictures in APA style and give credit to the creators of these visual works.

I hope this helps you cite pictures like a pro in APA style!