U.S. government agencies have become the best stock photo site to use during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.
The COVID-19 outbreak has filled our internet feeds with images of doctors, nurses, hospitals, and the coronavirus. The majority of virus images 🔬 we see were produced by NIAID (the department that Anthony Fauci heads) and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and are completely free to use.
How the images were created
Because of the incredibly tiny size of the virus, it took teams of scientists and engineers to develop the images of the coronavirus that we see today. NIAID scientists used an electron microscope to “take photographs” of the virus. Electron microscopes only produce images in black and white, so images were then taken into photoshop to be colorized after they were created. The neon colors that were photoshopped in are used to highlight different objects in these images. The bright colors are engaging and even beautiful at times (especially if you did not know about the harm the virus has caused to society.)
Beth Fischer, a scientist at NIAID, was asked about the importance of the images. Fischer said “When you can face your enemy, it takes a little of the fear factor out of it.”
The images are part of the Public Domain
What is most important is that these images are free to the public. Anyone anywhere can download these images and use however they want; broadcast news, newspaper article, local health department infographic, new Richard Preston book cover, heavy metal band t-shirt, so on and so forth.
As a graphic designer, I’ve spent countless hours searching different stock photo sites or internal photo libraries trying to find the perfect photo that “works.” It is great to know that federal agencies have helped out graphic designers, health departments, and media professionals by creating a great variety of images to use when trying to inform and educate the public about this virus.
Below are the links for you to download the images libraries:
The CDC
The CDC developed the most popular rendering of the virus, a gray ball with red “crown” proteins. It can be downloaded along with videos and other 3D virus renderings. https://www.cdc.gov/media/subtopic/images.htm
NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
NIAID has set up a Flickr album containing 76 photos and 2 videos of the virus. https://www.flickr.com/photos/niaid/albums/72157712914621487