Dive into Royalty-Free Water Imagery

Water images include photos, illustrations, and graphics that depict H2O. When it comes to size, these images run the gamut from extreme close-ups of water droplets resting on flower petals to shots of the earth’s oceans as taken from space. Expect to see the various bodies of water in these images, such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and seas. Water images can also easily take on an artistic look. There are graphics of water textures such as ripples and oceanic swirls of color, as well as abstract paintings that evoke a sense of the sea. A simple, high-resolution shot of a water splash before a black background can appear stunning thanks to the dramatic, dynamic nature of moving water frozen in place by the photographer’s lens.

Water is a source of inspiration for many. The ripples of a pond or water waves of the sea can gently carry a person away from their mental worries. No wonder so many choose to vacation by the ocean, to watch the water splash and swirl. Water is both cleansing and cathartic, calming and rejuvenating. Images of water can mirror these powerful effects on the human psyche. In fact, scientific research has found that when people simply look at pictures of water, their stress levels are reduced. Some evolutionary scientists have speculated that this is perhaps due to the fact that we all need water to live, so some part of our brains may be anxious when water is out of sight or earshot. There is actually a scientific explanation for this. When we see or hear the soothing sounds of water, it triggers a response in our brain that, no pun intended, floods the body with neurochemicals. These chemicals induce relaxation by increasing blood flow to the brain and heart.

Popular water images include: Water Splashes: These images capture the dynamic movement of a water drop hitting a watery surface and causing a splash. Some images focus solely on the splash itself, presenting the arc or swirl of water on a white or black background. Water Pollution: Water is an essential ingredient to life on Earth, so the fact that it is so often polluted is troubling. An image of dark sludge bursting from a rusting pipe to pour into the sea, or a shot of plastic water bottles bumping into fish as they try to swim, serve as powerful reminders to viewers that our planet’s oceans need saving. Save Water: Essentially the opposite of the water pollution images, Save Water images show clean, clear water as a reminder that this beautiful, life-sustaining substance is crucial to the wellbeing of all living things. These images often show hands cupped together to support a single water drop. Text such as, “Do Not Waste Water” and “Slow the Flow” may accompany the image.

With Shutterstock’s high-powered search engine, finding impressive water images takes no time at all. Simply type “water” or “ocean” into the search bar and watch the image results pour in. To narrow down your results, apply Shutterstock’s various search filters. Looking for an artistic rendering of the sea? Select “Illustrations” from the “Image type” filter and add the keyword “watercolor” to the search bar if you happen to know that that is your preferred painting style. If you want an image that shows a person drinking water, type “drinking water” into the search bar and select “With people” from the “People” filter. You can also further specify the age, ethnicity, and number of people you would like to see in the image.

If you are looking to download free images of water, you need look no further than Shutterstock’s free nature imagery collection. Expect to see photos shot above and below, from an aerial view of a misty seaside to an underwater glimpse of fish swimming through the ocean blue. Whether you want a macro shot of water drops or a wide shot of a waterfall, you will find your water image in this nature collection.