Looking for copyright free photos to sketch. The big name websites have gotten impossible

[GPV]

to search, so I can't find what I'm looking for. If you have pics you don't mind sharing, I'm looking for landscapes and older buildings, main street USA, right now.

TIA

[MattNC2021]

2. I use Pexels, Pixabay, and Unsplash

Sometimes they have what I’m looking for, and other times I have to buy a photo on big stock

[GPV]

3. I use them too, but if I look up Maine, I mostly get adorable coon cats, not landscapes. Lol

[quaint]

4. Some stuff here; lots of harbor and lighthouses.

https://unsplash.com/s/photos/maine

[woodsprite]

5. Even if an image is copyrighted inspiration can be found all over

Getty.edu (mainly research and architectural stuff) or the gettyimages.com or Smithsonian.org as inspiration. I also use images off FB for inspiration. The key being “inspiration” rather than “recreation” or “copying”.

There are plenty of open travel groups that post photos that can be used as inspiration. Try blending elements of multiple images for a composition that you can use as a guide. Go out to museum, zoo, small town newspapers and municipal sites, and church sites that have pics posted. I’ve also used Flickr.com to get me started. I was just out there and did a search on “parade” and got quite a few returns. Pinterest is another site I frequent that provides a myriad of possibilities and inspiration. With digital photography, I’ve also taken a weekend here and there to go on a photo expedition to a zoo, botanical gardens, fair, into different local parks, town centers, etc.

Happy hunting!

[Alice Kramden]

6. There are photographers on Facebook

Sharing their work specifically for artists' reference photos

[JohnnyRingo]

7. "Tag Galaxy" lets you search pics in 3D

You get a 3D globe that you turn to find the images you like.
It's a lot of fun, but you need Adobe to use it.

http://taggalaxy.de/

[Marthe48]

8. My friend gets ideas from calendars

I gave her a few old ones I didn't want. I scanned pictures we took and sent them to her, too.

[JoseBalow]

9. AI is perfect for this sort of thing

[GPV]

10. You mean rip off the Ai that "learned" from

disposable humans? Lol

[JoseBalow]

11. Not exactly, but OK

You could create whatever kind of image you want using AI, then sketch what you created yourself. I think it would fit your needs perfectly, without worrying about copyrights. Have you tried using AI to create images? It's pretty simple and straightforward, and fun to play around with.

There are a bunch free AI sites out there you could explore. I'm usually pretty happy with the results I get from this site: https://tengr.ai/en

For example, I just made this using your prompt from the OP above: "landscapes and older buildings, main street USA"



Of course, you could specify whatever prompt you want, and tweak it as needed.

Anyways, it's an idea. Good luck.