CREDITS

Directionals

When several credits are lumped together, generally start with the picture closest to the credit and include a directional in parentheses at the end of each credit. It may be possible to omit one directional if it is clear by a process of elimination what picture it applies to.

DAVID BARR, WORLDVIEW ENTERTAINMENT (BOTH)

DAVID MCLAIN (ALL)

NAT FEIN (ABOVE); BOB SACHA (ALL RIGHT)

JOHN GURCHE (INSETS); REBECCA HALE, NGM STAFF

MARK W. MOFFETT (TOP); JUNE LIVERSEDGE

IRA BLOCK (LEFT AND SMALL SKULL, FAR LEFT)

When using (above), the photograph should be immediately above the credit; otherwise use (top). The same is true in reverse for (below) and (bottom).

ANNIE GRIFFITHS (ABOVE); MARK THIESSEN, NGM STAFF (BELOW)

LUIS MARDEN (TOP); LUIS MARDEN AND NACA (BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT)

On pages with several illustrations it may be easier to indicate the order of credits at the beginning of the credit.

FROM TOP: DON RYAN, AP PHOTO; AP PHOTO; LAURA DICKSON, NGT&F; ROBERT CLARK

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ED KASHI, CORBIS; FRANS LANTING; DAVID DOUBILET

CENTER FROM LEFT: CDC/PHIL, CORBIS; SEA STUDIOS FOUNDATION; JOEL SARTORE

Sometimes it works to identify the image by subject rather than by directionals.

PHOTOGRAPHED AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (SKELETONS) AND AT WILLIAM L. CLEMENTS LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR (PORTRAIT)

Follow the credit provided by an agency or institution except for adapting to NG style. Occasionally a credit may need to be shortened and should be rechecked with the agency or institution.

Some commonly used agencies and institutions:

AFP/GETTY IMAGES

AP IMAGES

AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS

ART RESOURCE, NY

BETTMANN/CORBIS

CORBIS

CORBIS/SYGMA

EPA PHOTO

GETTY IMAGES

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STOCK

REUTERS/CORBIS

UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD/CORBIS

Do not use a website as an organization’s name in a credit.

If an institution’s name can be abbreviated, use the full name on first use with abbreviation in parentheses. Subsequent credits need only the abbreviation.

NASA AND MALIN SPACE SCIENCE SYSTEMS (MSSS)

NASA AND MSSS

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (AMNH)

AMNH

A few well-known institutions may be abbreviated on first use.

IUCN

JPL

NASA

NOAA

UNESCO

USGS

Use a slash in a name only if the organization or agency writes its name with a slash.

INSTITUTE FOR EXPLORATION/INSTITUTE FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

Special case: Because of JPL’s connection to Caltech as well as to NASA, write:

NASA/JET PROPULSION LABORATORY

NASA/JPL

For other NASA installations write:

NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER.

In most credits, especially lengthy ones, use this order without internal punctuation:

NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER

NASA/JET PROPULSION LABORATORY

USGS EROS DATA CENTER

NOAA NATIONAL HURRICANE SERVICE

In a single credit, it may sometimes be appropriate to use a more formal order, giving the subsection first and the institution second, separated by a comma:

GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, NASA

JET PROPULSION LABORATORY, NASA

EROS DATA CENTER, USGS

VISUALIZATION LABORATORY, NAVAL OCEANOGRAPHIC OFFICE

NATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL DATA CENTER, NOAA

Museums and Institutions

A photograph of an object in a museum or other institution usually needs to be credited to that institution. Give the photographer’s name first, then the institution. If the photograph was made by the bylined photographer, naming just the institution is often enough. However, for clarity it may be necessary to use “at” or “photographed at.”

SISSE BRIMBERG AT NATIONAL ARCHIVES

KENNETH GARRETT, EGYPTIAN MUSEUM, CAIRO

PHOTOGRAPHED AT MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR

PAINTING PHOTOGRAPHED BY STEPAN BARTOS AT MENDEL MUSEUM, BRNO, CZECHIA

In some instances, a general note on the opening spread is an effective way to credit a museum.

ALL ARTIFACTS PHOTOGRAPHED WITH PERMISSION OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFGHANISTAN

EXCEPT WHERE NOTED, ALL MUMMIES AND ARTIFACTS PHOTOGRAPHED AT ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF SAN MIGUEL DE AZAPA

Omit the from an institution’s name unless there is a compelling reason to include it:

NEW YORK TIMES

ANDRE CAMARA, TIMES OF LONDON

ANDRE CAMARA, LONDON TIMES

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

THE INSTITUTE FOR GENOMIC RESEARCH (TIGR)

The names of foreign museums and institutions may be written in the native language or in English; be consistent throughout an article. The location of an institution or museum should be given on first use but does not have to appear in subsequent credits. If a city is not well-known, include the state or country in the credit.

BIBLIOTHÈQUE NATIONALE, PARIS

REGIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM, LIPARI

MUSEO ARCHEOLOGICO NAZIONALE D’ABRUZZO

GENERAL ARCHIVES OF THE INDIES, SEVILLE

ARCHIVO GENERAL DE INDIAS, SEVILLE

WALT WHITMAN HOUSE, CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY

EXHIBIT MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR

Copyright and Courtesy

Do not use copyright or the copyright symbol in credits for NGS images.

GREG MARSHALL, NGT&F

When using copyright or the copyright symbol, do not precede it with a comma, but insert a space both before and after the copyright symbol.

RICHARD H. MEADOW © HARAPPA ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROJECT

Use courtesy for those rare situations when images are provided under special conditions and without charge. When using courtesy in a credit, do not use of.

DATA COURTESY SUPREME COUNCIL OF ANTIQUITIES, ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

BIBLIOTHÈQUE NATIONALE, PARIS, COURTESY EUROTUNNEL

With free promotional images of a place or product, it is not necessary to use the courtesy credit. 

Staff Credits

If a staff member is not given a byline, then on first mention in credits follow the name with NG STAFF or NGM STAFF.

ALEXANDER MOEN, NG STAFF

MARK THIESSEN, NGM STAFF

REBECCA HALE, NGM STAFF

Note: NGM Staff (uppercase "S") when not in all caps

Use with when crediting NG technical staff.

PETER ESSICK WITH JOSEPH S. STANCAMPIANO, NGM STAFF

A credit for nonphotographic staff may specify a particular division of the Society:

CARRIE REGAN, NGT

Graphics Credits

Credits for NGM Art staff read:

ART: FERNANDO BAPTISTA, NGM STAFF

DIAGRAM: MARIEL FURLONG, NGM STAFF

DIAGRAM: NGM ART

In addition to an artist's credit, a graphic often needs a credit for the source or sources:

ART: DAVID FIERSTEIN. SOURCES: H. SAPIENS, CHRISTOPHER B. RUFF; H. ERECTUS, SUSAN C. ANTON AND CONNIE FELLMAN

ART: FERNANDO G. BAPTISTA, NGM STAFF. SOURCE: COUNCIL ON STANDARDS FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL

Map Credits

Generally give the map credit first, followed by the source or sources. The sources may be run in with the map sources or written on a new line.

MARTIN GAMACHE, NGM STAFF

DATA: NAVTEO

NGM MAPS. SOURCE: PHILLIP T. ROBINSON, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO