Image

Image on Wikipedia

An image is a visual representation of something, often created or captured to resemble a person, place, object, or abstract concept.

They are often created by

Traditional: Drawing, painting, sculpting.
Photography: Capturing light with a camera to produce images.
Digital: Using software to draw or manipulate pixels, including 3D modeling and rendering.

Saintapedia references

Image on Saintapedia should be creative commons or the uploader's own work.

Sources

Finding public domain images for specific topics like administrative subdivisions, bishops, churches, countries, dioceses, lay organizations, parishes, populated places, prayers, religious orders, saints, and shrines can be challenging, as public domain content depends on copyright expiration or explicit release. This page provides guidance on where to find public domain or freely usable images for each category, focusing on reliable sources. Note that some categories may have limited public domain images due to their specific nature, and you may need to verify the copyright status of images.

General Sources for Public Domain Images

Before diving into category-specific sources, here are some broad platforms where you can search for public domain images across all these topics:

Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org): A vast repository of freely usable images, many in the public domain or under Creative Commons licenses. Search by keyword (e.g., "bishop," "church," "saint") and filter for public domain using the "License" filter.
Flickr Commons (www.flickr.com/commons): Offers public domain images from institutions like museums and libraries. Search terms like "church" or "saint" often yield historical images.
Pexels (www.pexels.com) and Pixabay (www.pixabay.com): Both provide images under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), meaning they are free for any use without attribution. These are good for generic or symbolic images (e.g., churches, landscapes for populated places).
Public Domain Review (publicdomainreview.org): Curates high-quality public domain images, especially for historical and religious topics like saints or churches.
eCatholic (www.ecatholic.com): Offers a library of nearly 200 high-quality Catholic-themed images free for dioceses, parishes, and non-profits. Bloggers can purchase royalty-free downloads.
LiturgyTools.net (www.liturgytools.net): Provides a curated list of sources for copyright-free religious images, including clip art and liturgical-themed drawings, some tied to the Catholic liturgical calendar.

Category-Specific Guidance

Administrative Subdivisions (e.g., maps, regional symbols)

Sources:
- Wikimedia Commons: Search for maps or flags of administrative subdivisions (e.g., "California counties map"). Many maps created by users are public domain or CC0.
- OpenStreetMap (www.openstreetmap.org): Provides freely usable map data, which can be used to create public domain images of administrative boundaries.
- Library of Congress (www.loc.gov): Offers historical maps of regions, many of which are public domain. Use the "No known restrictions" filter.
Tips: Look for terms like "map of [region]" or "[country] administrative divisions." Verify that images are explicitly marked as public domain.

Bishops

Sources:
- Wikimedia Commons: Search for portraits of historical bishops (e.g., "Bishop Augustine"). Older images (pre-1923) are typically public domain.
- Flickr Commons: Institutions like the British Museum may have historical portraits or engravings of bishops.
- Catholic-Hierarchy.org (www.catholic-hierarchy.org): While primarily a database, it may link to public domain images of bishops.
Tips: Focus on historical bishops, as modern photographs are less likely to be public domain. Use terms like "portrait of [bishop’s name]."

Churches

Sources:
- Wikimedia Commons: Extensive collection of church images worldwide, often public domain for older structures (e.g., "Notre-Dame cathedral").
- Flickr Commons: Museums and archives often upload historical photos of churches.
- eCatholic: Offers free Catholic church images for parishes and dioceses.
- Pixabay/Pexels: Good for generic church exteriors or interiors under CC0.
Tips: Search by specific church names (e.g., "St. Peter’s Basilica") or general terms like "Catholic church." Older photos or drawings are more likely public domain.

Countries

Sources:
- Wikimedia Commons: Offers public domain flags, maps, and historical images of countries (e.g., "France flag").
- CIA World Factbook (www.cia.gov): Provides public domain maps and flags for countries.
- Library of Congress: Historical images of countries, such as landscapes or cultural symbols, often public domain.
Tips: Use terms like "[country] flag" or "[country] map." Most national symbols are public domain, but check for modern designs.

Dioceses

Sources:
- Wikimedia Commons: Search for diocesan crests, cathedrals, or maps (e.g., "Diocese of Rome seal"). Some diocesan symbols are public domain.
- Catholic-Hierarchy.org: May link to diocesan coats of arms or cathedral images, some of which are public domain.
- eCatholic: Includes images of cathedrals or diocesan events.
Tips: Diocesan images are often tied to specific cathedrals or bishops. Search for "Diocese of [name]" or related cathedrals.

Lay Organizations

Sources:
- Wikimedia Commons: Limited images, but some historical logos or event photos for groups like Knights of Columbus may be public domain.
- USCCB Website (www.usccb.org): May have images related to lay organizations like Catholic Extension or Knights of Peter Claver, though not always public domain. Check licensing.
Tips: Images for lay organizations are less common in the public domain. Search for historical materials or contact organizations directly for permission.

Organization (General)

Sources:
- Wikimedia Commons: Search for logos or symbols of religious or charitable organizations, especially older ones.
- Flickr Commons: May have historical photos of organizational events or buildings.
Tips: Specify the organization (e.g., "Jesuit logo") to narrow results. Older organizational materials are more likely public domain.

Parishes

Sources:
- Wikimedia Commons: Images of parish churches or events, often public domain for older parishes (e.g., "St. Patrick’s Parish").
- eCatholic: Free parish-related images for Catholic use.
- LiturgyTools.net: Includes parish-related clip art or photos.
Tips: Search by parish name or associated church. Historical parish photos are more likely public domain.

Populated Places

Sources:
- Wikimedia Commons: Offers photos of cities, towns, or landmarks, many public domain (e.g., "Florence Italy").
- Library of Congress: Historical photos of towns or cities, often public domain.
- Pixabay/Pexels: CC0 images of landscapes or cityscapes that can represent populated places.
Tips: Use terms like "[city/town] panorama" or "[place] historical photo." Verify public domain status for modern images.

Prayers

Sources:
- Wikimedia Commons: Search for illuminated manuscripts or historical prayer books (e.g., "Book of Hours"). Pre-1923 religious art is often public domain.
- LiturgyTools.net: Offers public domain images tied to prayers or liturgical themes.
- Metropolitan Museum of Art (www.metmuseum.org): Provides public domain images of religious art, including prayer scenes.
Tips: Use terms like "prayer manuscript" or "rosary art." Focus on historical religious art for public domain content.

Religious Orders

Sources:
- Wikimedia Commons: Images of religious order symbols, habits, or historical figures (e.g., "Franciscan habit").
- Flickr Commons: Historical photos of monks, nuns, or order-related buildings.
- Vatican Archives (www.vatican.va): May link to images of religious orders, though licensing varies.
Tips: Search by order name (e.g., "Benedictine monastery") or founder (e.g., "St. Francis of Assisi").

Saints

Sources:
- Wikimedia Commons: Extensive collection of saint icons, statues, and paintings, many public domain (e.g., "St. Augustine painting").
- Metropolitan Museum of Art: Public domain religious art featuring saints.
- Cathopic (www.cathopic.com): Catholic-themed images, some free for non-commercial use.
Tips: Search by saint name (e.g., "St. Teresa of Avila") or "saint icon." Pre-1923 artwork is typically public domain.

Shrines

Sources:
- Wikimedia Commons: Images of famous shrines like Lourdes or Fatima, often public domain for older photos.
- eCatholic: Includes shrine-related images for Catholic use.
- Flickr Commons: Historical photos of pilgrimage sites.
Tips: Search by shrine name (e.g., "Fatima shrine") or general terms like "Catholic shrine."

Tips for Finding and Using Public Domain Images

Verify Licensing: Always check the license (e.g., Public Domain, CC0, or Creative Commons) on platforms like Wikimedia Commons or Flickr. Some images may require attribution or have restrictions.
Historical Focus: Images created before 1923 are generally public domain in the U.S. due to copyright expiration. Look for historical paintings, engravings, or photos.
Search Specificity: Use precise terms (e.g., "St. Peter’s Basilica 19th century") to find older, public domain images.
Custom Photography: If public domain images are scarce (e.g., for lay organizations or modern dioceses), consider taking your own photos of local churches, shrines, or events, which you can dedicate to the public domain.
Contact Institutions: For specific items like lay organizations or dioceses, contact the organization or diocese directly to ask about public domain or freely usable images.

Notes on Templates

The templates mentioned (e.g., {{AdministrativeSubdivision}}, {{Saints}}) appear to be Wikipedia-style templates used for categorizing or formatting content. They don’t directly provide images but can guide you to relevant Wikipedia pages or Wikimedia Commons categories. For example:

{{Saints}} links to pages about saints, which often include public domain icons or paintings.
{{Church}} may link to articles with images of churches or cathedrals.

Search Wikimedia Commons using these template names or related keywords to find associated images.