Photo Credits
Every image on the site, who took it, where it came from, and what license it's used under. Single source of truth — we don't fudge attribution.
Our image strategy in full is at docs/09-images.md. If you're a photographer who'd like to license to the site, or a venue with press photos, the photo submission page is the move.
Pensacola historic district streetscapes
- Photographer:
- Carol M. Highsmith
- License:
- Public domain
Carol M. Highsmith dedicated her body of work to the public domain via the Library of Congress. Always credit 'Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress.'
Aerial view of Perdido Key, Florida (site background)
- Photographer:
- Curtis Palmer
- Source:
- Wikimedia Commons
- License:
- CC BY
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Used as a translucent homepage hero background. CC BY 2.0 — attribution required, provided here.
Surf at Perdido Key State Park (site background)
- Photographer:
- Ebyabe
- Source:
- Wikimedia Commons
- License:
- CC BY-SA
CC BY-SA 3.0 — attribution required, provided here. Used as a translucent section background.
Perdido Key beach mouse and dune habitat
- Photographer:
- Kristi Yanchis / USFWS
- Source:
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
- License:
- Public domain
- Captured:
- 2017-02
USFWS-created imagery is public domain. Credit '[Photographer] / USFWS'.
Hurricane Sally satellite imagery (2020) and Hurricane Ivan series (2004)
- Photographer:
- NASA Earth Observatory
- Source:
- NASA
- License:
- Public domain
Credit 'NASA Earth Observatory / [imaging team]'. Useful for hurricane and weather posts on /life-on-the-key/hurricane-prep/ and the history page.
Gulf Islands National Seashore — dunes, sea oats, Fort Pickens, Johnson Beach
- Photographer:
- National Park Service
- Source:
- National Park Service
- License:
- Public domain
Credit individual photographer when known (often listed on the NPGallery item page). 'Photo: National Park Service' is fine when no specific credit is attached.
Gulf Shores beach and emerald water (site background)
- Photographer:
- ourgulfshoresvacation.com
- Source:
- Wikimedia Commons
- License:
- CC BY-SA
CC BY-SA 4.0 — attribution required, provided here. Used as a translucent section background.
Historical photographs of Pensacola, Perdido, and the FL Gulf Coast
- Photographer:
- State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory
- Source:
- Florida Memory
- License:
- Public domain
Most Florida Memory holdings are public domain or 'no known copyright restrictions.' Some items have third-party copyright — verify on the item page. Cite 'State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory'.
1930s–40s linen postcards of Pensacola and the Gulf Coast
- Photographer:
- Tichnor Brothers, Inc.
- License:
- Public domain
Tichnor Brothers ceased postcard publishing decades ago and the catalog is firmly public domain. Attribute 'Tichnor Brothers, Inc. / Boston Public Library.' Editorial-perfect retro aesthetic for Drift history posts.
Sightseeing cruise at sunset, Orange Beach (site background)
- Photographer:
- U.S. National Archives (NARA)
- Source:
- Wikimedia Commons
- License:
- Public domain
Public domain (U.S. federal / NARA). Used as a translucent section background.
Blue Angels training and air shows over Pensacola Beach
- Photographer:
- U.S. Navy / DVIDS contributors (Cody Hendrix, Crayton Agnew, Timothy Schumaker, others)
- License:
- Public domain
DoD-employee imagery has no copyright protection. Commercial reuse requires the disclaimer: 'The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.' Always credit the individual photographer when listed (e.g., 'MC2 Timothy Schumaker, U.S. Navy').
Pensacola Beach drone aerials, Gulf Pier, observation wheel
- Photographer:
- Various — see individual file pages
- Source:
- Wikimedia Commons
- License:
- CC BY-SA
Per-file licensing — always check the specific file page. Attribution format: '[Photographer], CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons'. When this credit record is used, the file-specific photographer must be filled in on the place/post that consumes it.
Hard rules
- Every image carries a credit.
- We never use AI imagery of real places.
- When a license requires a specific attribution format, we use it exactly.
- If we get a credit wrong, the correction form works for that too.
For photographers
We're actively building partnerships with Gulf Coast photographers. Submit your portfolio or email contact at perdidokeyog dot com. Barter-for-byline deals are the most common starting point; we credit prominently and link out.