In this blog post, we will be looking at how to reference images using the Harvard referencing system. We will start by looking at how referencing helps your readers and why it is so important, then move on to consider the correct format for a reference in your reference list, as well as how to do an in-text citation. Finally, we will consider how to evaluate sources for reliability before you include them in your work.
Firstly, why do you need to reference? There are two main reasons for this. One is that referencing is important to make sure all of your source creators are given credit. It is plagiarism to not attribute all of your sources correctly. Even if you are just describing what you see in a photograph, you still need a reference to the original photographer, as it was their work that let you see what you described.
If it is found that you have committed plagiarism, the consequences can be serious. You may be required to review the problematic areas, redo the whole piece of work, or, for serious or repeated infractions, leave your course. It can also affect your professional reputation, making it harder for you to be taken seriously or respected in the academic community.
The other reason to reference is to help your readers. If they read your work, with a reference to support a point that you have made, this makes it easy for them to look up the source you used. This can then help them to understand the point you are making in the context of the source you referenced. In addition, a reference list can be useful if your reader wants to take their research further and find some of the sources you used.
In the Reference List
The basic format for an image in the Harvard referencing system is:
Artist/Photographer’s Surname, Initial(s)., Year of production. Title of image. [Medium type] (Collection details).
For example:
Bing, I., 1936. Rockefeller Center and Chrysler Building tops. [photograph] (London, Victoria and Albert Museum).
We will now look at each part of the reference in turn.
Artist/Photographer’s Surname
This should be written exactly as it is in the image credits. If they have more than one surname, for example, a double-barrelled name, make sure you include the whole name.
Initials
Again, this is simply the initials of the creator’s first name(s). If they have multiple first names, write the initial for all of them, following each with a full stop. For example:
Green, K. W.
Year of Production
This should be the year that the image was first available. Make sure you have written this as four digits, not two, i.e. 2014, not just 14.
Title of image
Write the full title of the image in italics as it appears in the image information. Only the first word and any proper nouns should be capitalised, for example, “A View over the Danube” would be written in your reference list as “A view over the Danube“.
Medium Type
Include the type of medium the image is, written in square brackets. For example, it could be a photograph, painting or drawing.
Collection Details
Write the collection details you have available inside brackets. Start with the name of the collection, followed by the document number for the image you are referencing. Add the place where the collection is located, then the name of the library or archive that the collection belongs to. You may have to adjust this format slightly according to the details that you know. Include as much as you can to make it easier for your readers to find the correct image.
In-Text Citation
The in-text citation needs to include the creator’s name and the year the image was created. You can do this as either a direct reference or an indirect one. A direct one is where you mention the author’s name in the text, followed by the year in brackets. For example:
This can be seen in Bing (1936).
Alternatively, you can make an indirect reference by not mentioning the author’s name in the sentence, but including their name and the year inside brackets, separated by a comma. For example:
(Bing, 1936)
Evaluating Sources
Before you include any source in your work, you should evaluate it for reliability. A good place to start with an image is to look at the date it was created. The closer it is the time you are discussing, the more likely it is to be useful. For example, if you are writing about architecture in the 1950s, you would want a photo from around then.
In addition, consider the creator of the image and how reliable you would expect them to be. Remember that photos can be edited, and paintings may not show an accurate representation of what is happening. Consider what you already know about the subject and whether this matches up.
Wrapping Up
I hope this helps you reference images in your writing. These are a valuable source and including them can really strengthen your work. In my next blog post, we will be looking at how to reference videos, so come back in two weeks for that!
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