I have been using Photographers Direct for my own research on the distribution of a certain plant that is sometimes visible in photographs taken in scenic wet locations (especially waterfalls). For me, it is worthwhile to pay the photographer concerned for use rights, because there is little chance I will reach the location myself.

The company running this service has a good system for photographers based in less wealthy regions of the world.

In its own words, the company has "pioneered the concept of Fair Trade Stock Photography" This makes the range of photography more interesting than at many commercially-orientated sites. The company currently has 2,302,523stockimages in its search engine.

There are more than one thousand World Heritage sites recognised by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. These are places of both natural and cultural importance. OUR PLACE in partnership with UNESCO   is building an online photographic archive and interactive website to record these sites. Any photographer can contribute to the project.

This could be a good model for many kinds of image archiving projects.

See Our Place - The World Heritage Collection : http://www.ourplaceworldheritage.com/index.cfm

Max Antheunisse in the Netherlands has hand-crafted a collection of copyright-free botanical illustrations from various centuries, under a Creative Commons license.

The collection is not yet comprehensive, but is large and easily explored. The site provides a searchable index so that we can find illustrations by searching on botanical name, publication, artist, etc.

See: plantillustrations.org

I especially like the index list of artists, linked to their works.

Top of the list is Wikimedia Commons. .. a great place for exploration and volunteer contributions.

***

Max Antheunisse in the Netherlands has hand-crafted a collection of copyright-free botanical illustrations from various centuries, under a Creative Commons license.

The collection is not yet comprehensive, but is large and easily explored. The site provides a searchable index so that we can find illustrations by searching on botanical name, publication, artist, etc.

See: plantillustrations.org

I especially like the index list of artists, linked to their works.

***

There are more than one thousand World Heritage sites recognised by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. These are places of both natural and cultural importance. OUR PLACE in partnership with UNESCO   is building an online photographic archive and interactive website to record these sites. Any photographer can contribute to the project.

This could be a good model for many kinds of image archiving projects.

See Our Place - The World Heritage Collection : http://www.ourplaceworldheritage.com/index.cfm

***

AGPix ( http://www.agpix.com ) - an online community of 350+ image providers, mostly freelance/independent photographers.

An Amish village ( Amishphoto.com ) - the work of one photographer in one community, over a period of four decades.

Arctic Photo ( http://www.arcticphoto.com ) - pictures of polar regions, by various photographers who travel frequently to Siberia, Greenland, Alaska, Canada, Arctic Scandinavia and Antarctica.

Buiten-Beeld ( http://www.buiten-beeld.nl/ ) - Dutch nature/outdoor photography; online picture archive with about 100,000 images; best nature photographs by renowned wildlife photographers; young and talented photographers.

Corbis Corporation ( http://www.corbis.com ) - a comprehensive selection of photography, illustration, footage, typefaces and rights clearance services; based in North America with offices in Europe, Asia, and Pacific.

Images and Stories ( http://www.imagesandstories.com )- an Istanbul-based agency that supplies feature articles and stock images to magazines, book publishers, and others. Specialists for Turkey, Middle East, and Asia.

iStockphoto ( http://www.istockphoto.com ) - offers photos, illustrations, video and audio; based in Canada.

National Geographic Image Collection ( http://www.nationalgeographicstock.com ) - one of the largest online collections, global in scope.

Our Place ( http://www.ourplaceworldheritage.com ) - photographic records of World Heritage locations registered by UNESCO.

Photographers Direct ( http://www.photographersdirect.com/ ) , a pioneer of "Fair Trade Stock Photography" ; offers a range of photography more interesting than many commercially-orientated sites ; has more than 2,300,000 stockimages.

Photo Library Group ( http://www.photolibrary.com ) - represents leading stock brands and photographers around the world; provides access to images, footage, and music.

Randall Hyman ( http://www.randallhyman.com ) - environment, culture, and travel photos from over three decades, covering natural history and travel topics from Northern Europe to South America to Asia to Africa.

Tranz International Image Library ( http://www.tranz.co.nz ) - international and New Zealand photography on historical, news, studio, life-style themes.

***

I have also used Photographers Direct for research.

The company running this service has a good system that aims to help photographers benefit from their work. The company "pioneered the concept of Fair Trade Stock Photography" This makes the range of photography more interesting than at many commercially-orientated sites.