The easiest place to look for images to use in your study is by using Discover and online.
Finding images of anything
Cultural and historical images
Use Flickr, NYPL and Digital New Zealand to find high-quality images of cultural, historical and heritage subjects.
You can find high resolution and/or culturally-authentic images at JSTOR
Using images legally
Many images are protected by copyright law, which limits who can copy and share them.
For more information on the legal and ethical use of images, see our copyright information for students
Sources of images
Art, Photography and Design images
JSTOR
Includes over 2 million quality images of art works and cultural objects. Strong historical focus, but includes extensive collections contemporary architecture and art.
CC Search
Discover millions of images made available under Creative Commons licences – free to use with varying conditions.
Go to CC Search
Google Arts & Culture
Collections of high resolution images themed around movements or projects. Browse categories or search.
Pexels
Stock photos offered under a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) licence (free for legal uses).
Unsplash
Free to use photos searchable by keyword or theme – credit the photographer when used.
LUNA Commons
Art and cultural images from universities and cultural institutions free for educational use.
AIGA Design Archives
Selections from AIGA design competition collections from 1924 on.
Designboom
Contemporary spatial and product design projects – explore their Product Library.
VADS: the online resource for visual arts
A large collection of art, crafts, design images free for educational use.
Go to VADS: the online resource for visual arts
WikiArt
Repository of quality art images, classical and contemporary. Search by genre or artist.
Advertising, Fashion, Textiles images
Bloomsbury Fashion Central
Images shown top of results for any search.
Go to Bloomsbury Fashion Central
New Zealand Fashion Museum
Designs and events that have contributed to New Zealand's fashion identity.
Go to New Zealand Fashion Museum
Vogue Archive (US Edition)
Search for garments, accessories, ads and so on from the 1890s onward.
V&A Museum Collections
Art, craft, textile and fashion historical images available for educational use.
FirstView
A large fashion photo archive.
Emergence of Advertising in America: 1850-1920
Rich source for early ads and the rise of consumerism.
History and Heritage images
DigitalNZ
Heritage and contemporary images from New Zealand institutions and communities. Open Filters to search.
Flickr: The Commons
Includes millions of historical images sourced from books and cultural institutions.
NYPL Digital Collections
Over 600,000 freely-usable images from the New York Public Library's collection – many high resolution.
Go to NYPL Digital Collections
World Digital Library
Images of cultural treasures from over 190 countries.
Wellcome Images
Quality medical, social history and oriental art images – many historical.
JSTOR
Includes over 2 million quality images of art works and cultural objects. Includes architecture and gardens.
Popular culture in Britain and America, 1950-1975
Includes rich visual sources on protests, fashion, media, counter culture and ads of the period.
Media Arts
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
New Zealand culture and history through moving image clips and films.
Go to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
eTV
Selected live and on-demand recordings from over 40 pay and free channels.
Vimeo
A film and video sharing site with creative practice focus.
SoundCloud
More than music – includes ambient sounds and sound art files.
Internet Archive – Arts & Music
Library of videos and VJ loops – many available for use under Creative Commons.
Go to the Internet Archive – Arts & Music
Wikimedia Commons
Includes public domain audio and video clips.
Ask a librarian
We're here to help you find the resources you need for your study. Ask a librarian by email, over the phone, or at a service point in any campus library.
Auckland campus library
- Library@massey.ac.nz
- Free phone inside New Zealand
- Phone outside New Zealand
- Location
Postal address
Library
Private Bag 102904
North Shore Mail Centre
Auckland 0745Physical address
Library
Gate 1, East Precinct
Albany Expressway (SH17)
Albany
Auckland 0632
Manawatū campus library, Palmerston North
- Library@massey.ac.nz
- Free phone inside New Zealand
- Phone outside New Zealand
- Location
Postal address
Private Bag 11054
Palmerston North 4442Physical address
Tennent Drive
Palmerston North 4410
Wellington campus library
- Library@massey.ac.nz
- Free phone inside New Zealand
- Phone outside New Zealand
- Location
Postal address
Massey University Library
Private Bag 756
Wellington 6140
Physical address
Massey University Library
Block 5
63 Wallace Street
Wellington 6021
Remote and distance contacts
- Library@massey.ac.nz
- Free phone inside New Zealand
- Phone outside New Zealand
Related content
Student copyright guide
What you're allowed to copy and share online, and how to get permission to use images in your thesis.