Home > Technique > Image Cataloging > Page updated June 4, 2007
Image Classification
# Class SubClass Notes
1 Abstracts & Patterns
Use for non figurative subject matter.
2 Animals Birds
3 Animals Fish
4 Animals Insects
5 Animals Mammals
6 Animals Reptiles
7 Buildings & Architecture Exteriors Use for exteriors of residential, commercial, religious, and public buildings.  Includes non-enclosed gardens and courtyards.  Also, use for non-religious outdoor tombs, monuments, memorials.
8 Buildings & Architecture Interiors Use for interiors of residential, commercial, religious, and public buildings.  Includes enclosed gardens and courtyards when viewed as an element of a structure.
9 Clouds & Skies
Use for clouds and skies (including night skies) void of any references to landscapes.
10 Commercial Photography Architectural
11 Commercial Photography Industrial
12 Commercial Photography Product
13 Cultural Subjects Art Use for sculpture.
14 Cultural Subjects Dance Use for classical (i.e., ballet) or native/folk dance subjects.  May include religious or ritual dancing.  Includes rehearsals and performance.  Use Portraits for depictions of identified dancers in the guise of their characters.  Use Music for orchestras when they are the dominant subject in dance picture.
15 Cultural Subjects Music Use for musical performance or rehearsal.  Includes opera or orchestras as part of dance or theatrical performances where they are the dominant subject.  Use Portraits for individual, identified depictions of musicians.
16 Cultural Subjects Theatre Use for a dramatic production or rehearsal.  Also includes circus productions and comedies, music hall, café singing scenes.  Use Portraits for depictions of identified actors in the guise of a character.  Use Genre for café eating or drinking scenes.
17 Documentaries & Photo Essays
18 Fads & Fashion
19 Figures Anatomy Use for anatomical studies and elements of the human figure (e.g., heads or hands), but not a reasonably complete figure.
20 Figures Clothed Use for primarily clothed figures.  Use Portraits for individual, unknown sitters.
21 Figures Nude Use for primarily nude figures.   Use Portraits for individual, unknown sitters.
22 Genre Scenes Exteriors Use for depictions of everyday life.  People scenes, domestic exteriors, outdoor café scenes, workers at their occupations, etc. are examples.
23 Genre Scenes Interiors Use for depictions of everyday life.  People scenes, domestic interiors, café scenes, workers at their occupations, etc. are examples.
24 Landscapes Cityscape Use for street scenes, parks, and general views of towns and cities.  Does not include works that can be classified as Genre or Architecture (for specific buildings).
25 Landscapes Landscape Used for depictions of generally undeveloped land where nature is the primary point of interest.
26 Landscapes Marinescape Use for important bodies of water, seascapes, shipwrecks, lighthouses, etc. which use the sea, sailing, or ocean transport and commerce as its principal theme.  A distant view of fishing in a fresh water stream or river should be classified Landscape.  Includes sea fishing.  Recreational boating or shore & beach activities should be classified as Genre.
27 Manipulated Images
28 Miscellaneous
Use when subject classification is unclear or impossible.  May include minerals, marine subjects.
29 Nature Studies Fall Colors Use for depictions of scenes involving fall colors.  May include a full range of subjects from landscapes to leaves.
30 Nature Studies Winter Use for depictions of scenes involving winter.  May include a full range of subjects from landscapes to snow flakes.
31 News
32 Photography Gear Use for depictions of photographic gear.
33 Photography Technique Use for depictions of photographic technique.
34 Plants Flowering Use for depictions of flowering plants.
35 Plants Non Flowering Use for depictions of non flowering plants.
36 Portraits Children Use for one or more children sitters (may be anonymous).
37 Portraits Female Use for an individual female sitter (may be anonymous).
38 Portraits Group Use for a grouping of two or more sitters (may be anonymous).
39 Portraits Male Use for an individual male sitter (may be anonymous).
40 Portraits Self Use for self-portraits.  Can include self-portraits with family members, but excludes portraits of family members by themselves.
41 Religious Subjects
Use for religious subjects.
42 Snapshots Indoor Activities Use for depictions of family & friends engaged in indoor activities (e.g., kids playing, dancing, or chatting).
43 Snapshots Outdoor Activities Use for depictions of family & friends engaged in outdoor activities (e.g., sports, kids at the playground, or picnics).
44 Snapshots Meals Use for depictions of family & friends gathered primarily for a meal.
45 Snapshots Parties Use for depictions of family & friends gathered primarily for a party.  Includes events such as birthdays, weddings, etc.
46 Snapshots Travel Use for depictions of family & friends engaged in travel.
47 Social Commentary & Conditions
48 Sports
Use for depictions of sports.
49 Still Life
Arrangements of diverse objects in an artificial or "natural" setting.  These works are generally un-peopled, but may include animals (alive or dead).
50 Travel