What kind of image is it?

IMAGE EXAMPLE

GENRE

COMMON USE

Image. A photograph of a wide stream or river running within a rocky riverbed, with mountains at the left and in the distance and a green field behind the rocks on the right.

Photograph

To represent a specific place, person, or thing

Image. Sketch of a stone bridge with three arches spanning a river, with greenery on either side of the bridge.

Sketch

To provide an artistic rendering of a place, person, or thing

Image. Road map of the state of Michigan, with major routes in bold red, minor routes in thin red, and towns indicated with green dots.

Map

To show a specific location or route to a location

Image. Clip art showing a river running through green fields, with trees on the horizon and clouds and the sun in the sky.

Clip art

To provide a generic representation of a place, person, or thing

Image. Bar graph with six bars of varying lengths and colors.

Chart

To present data in a format that is easy to read at a glance

Image. Diagram showing a body of water and a landmass, with parts of each labeled.

Diagram

To show the inner workings of an object; to represent parts or functions of an object that are usually not visible

Sources (top to bottom): © Straga/Shutterstock.com; © Danussa/Shutterstock.com; © Jami Garrison/istockphoto.com; © Sapik/Shutterstock.com; Courtesy of the US Geological Survey; Courtesy of the US Geological Survey, Duda, J. J., Warrick, J. A., and Magirl, C. S., 2011, Elwha River dam removal--Rebirth of a river: US Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2011-3097, 4 p. Illustrator: Jonathan A. Warrick.