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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 6d

I’m just having a moment over here about being put in the same skeet as Wikipedia. Aaaaaaaaaaaa thank you

"Cyrus" the Dragonite @joeybuckaroo.pmd.social · 7d

bsky.app/profile/anim...

Gonna plug this animal photo reference repository

Also, keep wikipedia alive, wikimedia is a genuinely good source of genuine photos that keeps AI out to the best of its ability. We need sources like this on our internet.

Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · Jan 27

GenAI has polluted image search results, especially for animal pics. It’s now basically impossible to find accurate art references.

Enter this: a repository of open-access, AI-free images of wild & exotic taxa. Artists creating *without AI* have blanket permission for derivative/transformative use.

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Reposted by Animal Photo Reference Repository

Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 12d

New Species Added: Aplomado Falcons!

www.animal-photo-references.com/aplomado-fal...

These are the first species to be posted from the Birds of Prey trip funded by all of you amazing folk.

All photos on the repository are free-to-use for artists creating derivative/transformative works (sans AI).

A view of a raptor mid-flight, from underneath. The bird is a tawny orange for chest and head, with dark wing feathers and dark-and-light barred tailfeathers. She has dark markings around her eyes and a yellow beak. Her wings are spread as she soars.

A view of a raptor mid-flight, coming into land on a glove. The bird is a tawny orange for chest and head, with dark wing feathers and dark-and-light barred tailfeathers. She has dark markings around her eyes and a yellow beak. Her yellow feet are spread wide as she aims for her landing spot.

A view of a raptor sitting on a rock in front of some vegtation. The bird is a tawny orange for chest and head, with dark wing feathers and yellow feet. She has dark markings around her eyes and a yellow beak.

A view of a raptor standing on a glove with wings spread. The bird is a tawny orange for chest and head, with dark wing feathers and dark-and-light barred tailfeathers. She has dark markings around her eyes and a yellow beak.

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 12d

Thank you! She’s a speedy girl so I’m pretty proud of these.

Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 12d

New Species Added: Aplomado Falcons!

www.animal-photo-references.com/aplomado-fal...

These are the first species to be posted from the Birds of Prey trip funded by all of you amazing folk.

All photos on the repository are free-to-use for artists creating derivative/transformative works (sans AI).

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 14d

Cool, I can’t wait to see what you make!

I’m hoping to get some new flighted species this fall in addition to the seven(?) raptor species from this trip.

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 14d

There’s some currently on the site if that’s useful too! I know southern ground hornbills and California condors are up, and I’ve got toucans, magpies, and I think a couple other species waiting in the wings (heh).

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 14d

Photo of the Day: milky eagle owl preview!

Thank you to everyone who funded the Birds of Prey trip. I’m hard at work sorting photos, but wanted to share this favorite shot immediately.

All photos on the repository are free-to-use for artists creating derivative/transformative works (sans AI).

A shot of a large dark owl in flight from directly underneath, against a blue sky with whispy clouds. The owl’s wings are pulled in towards the body mid-flap and it is looking straight ahead with big dark eyes. The underside of its wing feathers are light colored with dark bands.

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Reposted by Animal Photo Reference Repository

Kiki @kikitr0n.bsky.social · 16d

I love tigers 🐅✏️

Beautiful ref photos from @animalphotorefs.bsky.social

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 19d

The raptor photography trip ended up fully funded, and has begun! Very excited to share shots with you that are better than this teaser from my camera’s LCD screen.

A photo of the screen on a a camera. A large dark owl flies in front of shrub-steppe habitat. A low battery icon blinks at the top.

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Reposted by Animal Photo Reference Repository

Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · Jan 27

GenAI has polluted image search results, especially for animal pics. It’s now basically impossible to find accurate art references.

Enter this: a repository of open-access, AI-free images of wild & exotic taxa. Artists creating *without AI* have blanket permission for derivative/transformative use.

Exotic Animal Photo Reference Repository

www.animal-photo-references.com

540 15K 28K

Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 23d

We are at $430 out of $500! Y’all rock.

Even though it hasn’t quite met the funding goal, that’s enough for me to confidently commit to going! Tickets have been bought and a hotel room booked. I start driving towards the pointy birbs this Thursday.

Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 29d

Do you like raptors? Do you want more photos of raptors in flight in the repository? If so: I'm trying to raise $500 to travel out to the World Center for Birds of Prey later this month to photograph their Fall Flights event.

Please consider supporting to get more pointy birbs in the catalogue!

Support Animal Photo Reference Repository

ko-fi.com

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 23d

And lastly, Bornean elephants are here:

www.animal-photo-references.com/bornean-elep...

All photos on the repository are free-to-use for artists creating derivative/transformative works (sans AI).

A hairy Bornean elephant with very short tusks is eating from a feeder. Her mouth is open and her trunk is bent to shove food into it.

A hairy, short Bornean elephant with very short tusks is standing facing away from the camera, picking up hay from the ground.

A short, hairy Bornean elephant with very short tusks is facing the camera with her trunk swinging. A larger, taller Asian elephant is crossing behind her.

A short, hairy Bornean elephant with very short tusks is mid-step.

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 23d

DM me so I can grab a few more details?

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 23d

Bulls at this link:

www.animal-photo-references.com/asian-elepha...

All photos on the repository are free-to-use for artists creating derivative/transformative works (sans AI).

A male Asian elephant with short tusks is standing in front of a rock-textured concrete wall with his trunk extended.

A male Asian elephant is swimming in water with only the top of his head and eyes visible. His trunk tip is poking out above the water near his eye.

A male Asian elephant with long tusks is walking toward the camera. He has draining cheek glands and has been urinating on his back legs, indicating he is in musth.

Two male Asian elephants of different ages stand together and have their trunks reaching towards the same spot on the ground. The elephant in front is shorter and has shorter tusks than his companion.

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 23d

Females and calves are here!

www.animal-photo-references.com/asian-elepha...

All photos on the repository are free-to-use for artists creating derivative/transformative works (sans AI).

An Asian elephant stands at the edge of a pool, trunk swinging. Another Asian elephant stands behind her, resting its trunk on the ground.

An Asian elephant with a very light face and trunk is mid-step. Her mouth is open and her trunk is hanging low towards a leafy branch.

Two Asian elephants stand above the edge of a pool. One is mid-drink, squirting water into her mouth. The hind end of a third elephant is visible in the background.

A baby Asian elephant is walking towards the camera across sand. The legs and trunk of her mother are visible behind her.

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 23d

Taxa Update: Asian Elephants

The page for Asian Elephant has been broken out into three more specific pages: females & calves, bulls, and a standalone page for the Bornean elephant subspecies.

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 23d

Let me know if you’d like to have this put in the art gallery on the site!

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Reposted by Animal Photo Reference Repository

Abbey @abzkelly.bsky.social · 26d

WHO?
thin marker pen on sticky note
great horned owl

ref: www.animal-photo-references.com

thin marker doodle sketch of a great horned owl

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 23d

Photo of the Day: a horned puffin in breeding colors

All photos on the repository are free-to-use for artists creating derivative/transformative works (sans AI).

A horned puffin floating on the water, beak pointed at the camera. It is a black bird with a white belly, white face, yellow and orange beak, and tufted black feather horns around its eyes.

A horned puffin floating on the water, grooming its belly with an open beak. It is a black bird with a white belly, white face, yellow and orange beak, and tufted black feather horns around its eyes.

A horned puffin floating on the water, looking at the camera. It is a black bird with a white belly, white face, yellow and orange beak, and tufted black feather horns around its eyes.

A horned puffin with wings spread, upright in the water. It is a black bird with a white belly, white face, yellow and orange beak, and tufted black feather horns around its eyes.

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 28d

Funded now to $415/$500! I’m amazed by such generous support.

Anything donated over the $500 goal will go towards the next photography trip for the site.

Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 29d

Do you like raptors? Do you want more photos of raptors in flight in the repository? If so: I'm trying to raise $500 to travel out to the World Center for Birds of Prey later this month to photograph their Fall Flights event.

Please consider supporting to get more pointy birbs in the catalogue!

Support Animal Photo Reference Repository

ko-fi.com

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 29d

Photo of the Day: eepy Malayan Tiger.

All photos on the repository are free-to-use for artists creating derivative/transformative works (sans AI).

A large tiger napping with his head propped up on a log.

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 29d

$150/$500 funded!! Thanks so much everyone.

Normally I sleep in my car on photo trips to cut costs, but I’ve been having a chronic health flare for a couple months and I just can’t camp rough right now - donations towards this mean I photograph birbs /and/ sleep in a real bed.

Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 29d

Do you like raptors? Do you want more photos of raptors in flight in the repository? If so: I'm trying to raise $500 to travel out to the World Center for Birds of Prey later this month to photograph their Fall Flights event.

Please consider supporting to get more pointy birbs in the catalogue!

Support Animal Photo Reference Repository

ko-fi.com

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 29d

Shoot me a DM so I can get all the right details to add it :)

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 29d

Let me know if you’d like to have this featured in the art gallery!

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Animal Photo Reference Repository @animalphotorefs.bsky.social · 29d

This is so sweet.

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