Images are not an afterthought at Cities Under the Sun.
Photographs, maps, diagrams and illustrations can provide evidence, explain spatial relationships and show details that would otherwise require paragraphs of description.
For that reason, the origin and purpose of visual material should be clear.
Original photography
Many photographs published on Cities Under the Sun are taken by the author.
Original photographs may be used both as editorial images and as evidence supporting an article.
Where the date, location or viewing direction is relevant to the argument, that information may be included in the caption.
Photographs may be edited for normal photographic purposes such as exposure, contrast, colour balance, cropping, perspective correction and removal of sensor dust.
Such editing should not materially change what the photograph claims to document.
Stock and third-party photography
Stock photographs or images supplied by third parties may be used when original photography is unavailable or when a wider geographical range is needed.
Their source or credit will be provided where required by the licence or where useful for understanding the image.
A stock photograph is illustrative evidence only to the extent justified by what it actually shows.
An attractive photograph of a city is not proof of a general claim about that city.
Maps and diagrams
Maps and diagrams may be created specifically for an article using public, licensed or original data.
Where the information depends on a particular dataset, the source should be identified.
Simplified diagrams may omit details that are irrelevant to the explanation. They should not be presented as surveyed or legally authoritative plans unless they actually are.
AI-generated images
AI-generated images may occasionally be used for conceptual or illustrative purposes.
When they are used, they should be clearly identified as AI-generated or AI-assisted where there is a reasonable possibility that a reader could mistake them for documentary photography.
AI-generated images of real places are not used as factual evidence of what those places actually look like.
For example, an AI illustration may be used to visualise the general idea of a shaded Mediterranean street. It should not be presented as a photograph documenting a particular street in Valletta, Athens or Barcelona.
AI-assisted editing
AI tools may sometimes assist with conventional image editing, enhancement, resizing, noise reduction or removal of minor visual distractions.
When such changes materially alter the factual content of an image, the image should not be presented as documentary evidence without disclosure.
Composite and reconstructed visuals
A composite, reconstruction, simulation or diagram should be identified when its constructed nature would not otherwise be obvious.
The basic rule is simple:
A reader should be able to tell the difference between what was observed, what was measured and what was created to explain an idea.
Copyright
Images, maps and other visual material remain subject to the rights of their respective creators and licence holders.
Material from Cities Under the Sun may not be reproduced merely because it is available online.
For permission to reproduce original photographs, diagrams or other material, please use the Contact page.
