Wikipedia:Unusual biographical images
{{essay|WP:UBI|WP:UNUSUALBIO|interprets=Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Images}}
{{nutshell|While turning an unillustrated article into an illustrated one is undoubtedly an important task, editors should use common sense when doing so for articles about living people: Consider not adding extremely low-quality or otherwise questionable biographical images.}}
File:Emil Wakim November 3, 2024.jpg, this image was removed from the Emil Wakim article, with the edit summary: {{tqq|Having no picture is better than what's currently there}}—{{em|a rare occurrence on Wikipedia}}.]]
English Wikipedia's policies on copyrights and image use mean that we can only use own-work, freely-licensed, or public-domain images in articles, and can only use copyrighted images under Wikipedia's special and very strict (stricter than the law) non-free content criteria. Not only are these criteria strict, photographs of living people typically also fail the separate "unacceptable use" guidelines, which act like a redundancy layer to make it extra certain that non-free images of living people are not used.
Copyrighted photographs of living people generally fail already at the first non-free content criterion: "No free equivalent". It states that where a free equivalent {{em|could be created}}, a non-free photograph of a living person may not be used, because {{tqi|in most cases, a photograph of a living person can be taken and released under a free licence}}. This is based simply on the fact that the person is living. "Unacceptable use" guidelines include the provision against using non-free {{tqi|pictures of people still alive ...; provided that taking a new free picture as a replacement (which is almost always considered possible) would serve the same encyclopedic purpose as the non-free image}} (WP:NFC#UULP). They also proscribe using a {{tqi|photo from a press agency or photo agency ..., unless the photo itself is the subject of sourced commentary in the article}} (WP:GETTY), which is especially relevant for celebrities.
At the same time, there is a very strong desire by editors to add images to articles, and many editors see it as an "easy way to improve the encyclopedia". This aligns with the idealized progression scheme for each article: According to the guideline for assessing the quality of a Wikipedia article, even "Start-class" articles need to either include an image or have some other very basic feature expected of any article, and "Good articles" are required to have an image (unless it is impossible to obtain one). Consequently, editors almost never agree that no image is better than at least some image, and in biographies, adding the subject's photo as the lead image is particularly seen as a top priority. To this end, contributors will take photographs of notable living subjects themselves, or come up with free images of living subjects in some roundabout way, such as by cropping a freely licensed or public-domain image in which the article subject is not the main subject.
Because of this, we occasionally end up with some peculiar and questionable biographical photos. The phenomenon is inherent to articles about living people, because the perverse incentive discussed in the previous paragraphs attaches to an assumption that a living person could be photographed, but in some aspects it extends to articles about dead people as well. These unusual biographical images may be low in visual quality, taken from afar, a non-facial angle or show their subject in a unique situation ...sometimes a very unique situation.
All of the images included below are either in use or were previously in use on English Wikipedia, generally as lead images. Feel free to add more compelling examples that illustrate the issue discussed in this essay (include only the strongest examples).
Academia
File:John esposito 03102013198 cropped1.png|John Esposito
File:Kaiser Haq's photograph.jpg|Kaiser Haq
File:Jorge E. Hirsch.jpg|Jorge E. Hirsch
File:Golan Levin in 2019.jpg|Golan Levin
File:Gregory S Paul in Princeton.jpg|Gregory S. Paul
File:Alan Rockefeller leads a mushroom walk at Eaton Canyon in Los Angeles County, California.jpg|Alan Rockefeller
File:Paleonthologist Jan Smit.jpg|Jan Smit (paleontologist)
File:Spivak Michael.jpg|Michael Spivak
File:Dr. Dev Swarup.jpg|Dev Swarup
File:Yukiko Goda eLife webinar.jpg|Yukiko Goda
Sports
= Basketball =
File:Shareef Abdur-Rahim in 2006.jpg|Shareef Abdur-Rahim
File:Shandon Anderson 2005.jpg|Shandon Anderson
File:Ryan Bowen 2008.jpg|Ryan Bowen
File:Michael Doleac at White House.jpg|Michael Doleac
File:Danny Fortson.jpg|Danny Fortson
File:Joey graham cropped.jpg|Joey Graham
File:Lou Hedley 9 10 2023.jpg|Lou Hedley
File:Eurobasket2007semifinal (cropped and rotated).JPG|Jon Pollock
File:Australia men wheelchair basketball v Great Britain 5788.JPG|Jon Pollock
File:Maurice Taylor on the bench in 2006.jpg|Maurice Taylor
File:David Wesley.jpg|David Wesley
= Football =
File:Kyle Bartley - Rangers.jpg|Kyle Bartley
File:DaRon Bland 2022.jpg|DaRon Bland
File:Greenock Morton v Arbroath (49631637327).jpg|Derek Gaston
File:!Jared Lorenzen.JPG|Jared Lorenzen
File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 18 - Alan Page (Alan Page crop).jpg|Lawrence McCutcheon
File:Jayden Nelson watching match.jpeg|Jayden Nelson
File:SM-Rangers18 (20).jpg|James Tavernier
File:ToneyCC (cropped).png|Kadarius Toney
File:Yuji Wakasa.jpg|Yuji Wakasa
File:DarnellWASHINGTONCAMP (cropped).jpg|Darnell Washington
File:WAS at PIT Photo 9 (50696367882) (cropped).jpg|Derek Watt
File:Dexter Williams II IU November 5, 2022.jpg|Dexter Williams II
File:Xavier Worthy 11 4 2024.jpg|Xavier Worthy
= Other =
File:2012 IAAF World Indoor by Mardetanha3142.JPG|Seun Adigun
File:Jacob Bernard-Docker (51847467923) (cropped).jpg|Jacob Bernard-Docker
File:Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards in Calgary 2017-03-05 (crop).jpg|Eddie the Eagle
File:Yoshiaki Fujiwara.JPG|Yoshiaki Fujiwara
File:Tony halme rmj (cropped).JPG|Tony Halme
File:1972 stamp of Ajman Hildgartner+Plaikner.jpg|Paul Hildgartner and Walter Plaikner
File:Evgeny Kuznetsov (diver).jpg|Evgeny Kuznetsov (diver)
File:Erislandy Lara.jpg|Erislandy Lara
File:Dexter Lumis - WWE Live Birmingham April 2023 (cropped).jpg|Dexter Lumis
File:Stephanie McMahon.jpg|Stephanie McMahon
File:David Probert 2009 (cropped).jpg|David Probert
File:1972 stamp of Umm al-Quwain Wolfgang Scheidel (cropped).jpg|Wolfgang Scheidel
Ilya Zakharov (diver).jpg|Ilya Zakharov
Politics
=Politicians=
File:Bater.png|Bagatur
File:Jeanne-Irene Biya cropped.jpg|Jeanne-Irène Biya
File:Chen Xiaoguang.png|Chen Xiaoguang
File:Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla 1983.jpg|Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla
File:GJ losing (cropped).JPG|Gordon Jackson
File:Oleksandr Lavrynovych.jpg|Oleksandr Lavrynovych
File:Walter Lini profile 1983 (cropped).jpg|Walter Lini
File:Lu Zhangong.png|Lu Zhangong
File:Donna Lupardo at the Bill Clinton rally for Hillary Clinton in Binghamton.jpg|Donna Lupardo
File:Adly Mansour 01 (28-04-2014).jpg|Adly Mansour
File:Taha Muhie-eldin Marouf, 1978 (cropped).jpg|Taha Muhie-eldin Marouf
File:Mohamed Mediouri.jpg|Mohamed Mediouri
File:Prime Minister Micombero in 1966.png|Michel Micombero
File:Phelekezela Mphoko.jpg|Phelekezela Mphoko
File:Gérard Ouédraogo (cropped).jpg|Gérard Kango Ouédraogo
File:Moctar Ould Diay, Ouagadougou, 4 Feb 2019 (cropped).jpg|Mokhtar Ould Djay
File:Ertha Pascal-Trouillot on January 7, 1991.png|Ertha Pascal-Trouillot
File:John_Raese.jpg|John Raese
File:Karlheinz Ritter (cropped).tif|Karlheinz Ritter
File:Johann Schädler (cropped).jpg|Johann Schädler
File:Fuad Shukr.jpg|Fuad Shukr
File:Bornito de Sousa, 2017 (cropped).jpg|Bornito de Sousa
File:Monica Tranel on Vlogbrothers.jpg|Monica Tranel
File:Rep. W. Carlton Weddington accepting a bribe (cropped).jpg|W. Carlton Weddington
File:Yang Chuantang.png|Yang Chuantang
File:Zeng Qinghong in 2000.jpg|Zeng Qinghong
=Most-wanted Iraqi playing cards=
For several members of the Ba'ath Party, the only freely-available images are from the most-wanted Iraqi playing cards set produced by the U.S. Government. Some of these cards contain no photographs at all, with generic silhouettes being used to illustrate the subjects.
File:Barzan card1.jpg|Barzan Abd al-Ghafur Sulaiman Majid Al-Tikriti
File:Saad card2003.jpg|Saad Abdul-Majid
File:Rashid Taan card2003.jpg|Rashid Taan Kazim
File:Rafi card.jpg|Rafi Abd Latif Tilfah
= Other =
File:Dr._Srgjan_Kerim_(cropped).jpg|Srgjan Kerim
File:Lahouaiej Bouhlel.jpg|Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel
File:ISN 00015 Zia Ul Shaq.jpg|Zia Ul Shah
Visual arts
File:Harry Bertoia's Birthplace.jpg|Harry Bertoia
File:Yelena-Baturina-and-designer-Tom-Dixon (cropped).jpg|Tom Dixon
File:Russell frantom (cropped).jpg|Russell Frantom
File:Milton glaser.jpg|Milton Glaser
File:Christien Meindertsma (cropped).jpg|Christien Meindertsma
File:Christian Narkiewicz Laine.jpeg|Christian Narkiewicz-Laine
File:Marcello Nizzoli.jpg|Marcello Nizzoli
File:Gaetano Pesce Lectures at Columbia GSAPP 2 (cropped).jpg|Gaetano Pesce
File:Peter Saville at i realize 2009, Turin.jpg|Peter Saville
File:William_George_Stirling.png|{{Oldid|oldid=1291842887|label=William George Stirling}}
File:Craftsman's World Marguerite Wildenhain-35.jpg|Marguerite Wildenhain
Entertainment
= Film and television =
File:Johan Philip (Pilou) Asbæk, Pernille Fischer Christensen and Jesper Christensen (Berlin Film Festival 2010) (cropped).jpg|Jesper Christensen
File:Mark Christopher 3.jpg|Mark Christopher
File:Joey Diaz.jpg|Joey Diaz
File:Loz downey.jpg|Morton Downey Jr.
File:Rafael de la Fuente (cropped).jpg|Rafael de la Fuente
File:Gilbert2019 (cropped).jpeg|Johnny Gilbert
File:Tahj Mowry performing November 2009 (Cropped).jpg|Tahj Mowry
File:Tim & Eric, Beaver Boys (3236256860).jpg|Tim & Eric
File:Jeanne Tripplehorn 1992.jpg|Jeanne Tripplehorn
File:Vellile Tshabalala (cropped).jpg|Velile Tshabalala
File:Elmo Williams 2007.jpg|Elmo Williams
File:Anna Wing.jpg|Anna Wing
= Internet =
File:Vidcon Domics 2017 Animators Panel.png|Domics
File:Brian David Gilbert 2016.jpg|Brian David Gilbert
File:HowToBasic on Cold Ones.png|HowToBasic
File:JonTron by Jonathan Wedge (2020).png|JonTron
File:TJKirk2021.png|TJ Kirk
File:KSI performing 2016.jpg|KSI
File:Luccas Neto com fã (cropped).png|Luccas Neto
File:NileRed Open Sauce 2024.jpg|NileRed
File:Northernlion.jpg|Northernlion
File:One Pound Fish Man at The Boleyn Ground cropped.jpg|One Pound Fish Man
File:Ray William Johnson.png|Ray William Johnson
File:Rosanna Pansino 2022.png|Rosanna Pansino
File:Adam Ragusea.png|Adam Ragusea
File:Tom Cassell school interview.jpg|Syndicate
File:Toby Turner in 2011.jpg|Toby Turner
File:Vikkstar 2014 (2).jpg|Vikkstar123
File:WillNE 2017.jpg|WillNE
File:TBJZL, Zerkaa and Miniminter.jpg|Zerkaa
= Music =
File:Jimmie Allen (Fillmore - 2019).png|Jimmie Allen
File:Arthur2022.jpg|Arthur Brown (musician)
File:Some blob that happens to be Ceschi.jpg|Ceschi
File:D12 at the Anger Management Tour in 2005.jpg|D12
File:Charles Hamilton (rapper).jpg|Charles Hamilton (rapper)
File:Quadeca idc bts portrait.png|Quadeca
File:Wise Intelligent @ House of Blues, Chicago 12 5 2012 (8262459917).jpg|Wise Intelligent
File:Kaija Saariaho (2013).jpg|Kaija Saariaho
File:Kameron Saunders 2023.png|Kameron Saunders
File:Tupac Shakur 1988 Yearbook.jpg|Tupac Shakur
File:Crop Julian Wachner from BRIC festival The Hubble Cantata.png|Julian Wachner
File:Summer Walker Toronto Nov 2019.jpg|Summer Walker
File:Fetty Wap 2015.png|Fetty Wap
= Other =
File:Toby Fox foam shower.png|Toby Fox
File:Lorne lanning.jpg|Lorne Lanning
File:Lewis H. Lapham at ALA.jpg|Lewis H. Lapham
File:Malfatti Brion.png|Onorina Tomasin-Brion
Biographical images that are unusual but also highly justified
The following images depict the subject in a peculiar pose, state, or situation, or while performing a particular activity they are known for, either of which is either tied to the reason why the subject is notable, and/or there is a meaningful link between the given peculiar aspect of the photograph and the article's prose. Such images are therefore {{tq|significant and relevant in the topic's context}} and {{tq|look like what they are meant to illustrate}}. They may also be of fairly high quality (but not necessarily).
File:Dancing on cop car.jpg|Qween Amor
File:Autoportrait by Zdzislaw Beksinski 1956-57.jpg|Zdzisław Beksiński
File:Bil Baird and Charlemane 1963.JPG|Bil Baird
File:Count Gore De Vol (cropped).jpg|Dick Dyszel
File:Francis-Hamel-studio.jpg|Francis Hamel
File:Washington - Smithsonian Museum - Grover Krantz & Clyde.jpg|Grover Krantz
File:Jack Nance Eraserhead.jpeg|Jack Nance
File:Melissa Ong.webp|Melissa Ong
File:Pinkman.jpg|Pink Man
File:Henri Robin et un spectre.jpg|Henri Robin
File:Industrial Designer David Rowland.jpg|David Rowland
File:Frank sidebottom.jpg|Chris Sievey
File:Sergey Stepanov - Epic Sax Guy - May 28, 2010.jpg|Sergey Stepanov (musician)
File:Vivian Jenna Wilson - March 2025.jpg|Vivian Wilson
See also
- {{slink|Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons#Images}}
- {{slink|Wikipedia:Image use policy#Moral issues}}
- {{slink|Wikipedia:Arguments to avoid in file deletion discussions#Low resolution}}
- Wikipedia:Image dos and don'ts
- Wikipedia:Ten things you may not know about images on Wikipedia
- Wikipedia:A picture of you
- :Category:Wikipedia requested photographs of people
Further reading
- {{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Fraser |date=2025-03-29 |title=The amateur photographers fixing Wikipedia's 'terrible' pictures |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqly43k3d45o |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=BBC News|language=en-GB}}
- {{Cite web |last=Sherman |first=Rodger |date=2017-07-14 |title=Wikipedia’s Best Worst NBA Photos Are Modern Art |url=https://www.theringer.com/2017/07/14/nba/nba-player-wikipedia-photos |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=The Ringer |language=en}}
{{Wikipedia essays}}
External links
- [https://www.wikiportraits.org/ WikiPortraits]
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