Use five fields
Record the input filename, search method, candidate page URL, observation date and what the page actually shows. Add a separate conclusion field so an inference does not become indistinguishable from a fact.
Fill it while you search
- Give each input crop a distinct filename.
- Copy the source-page URL rather than only the image URL.
- Describe the visible relationship in plain language.
- Mark unresolved claims explicitly.
For example: “same composition; page credits Studio A; publication date not stated” is more useful than “original found”. It preserves what you can support and what still needs checking.
Keep the record proportionate
Do not collect unrelated personal information from a source page. For an audit of your own images, the relevant evidence may be only the image, caption and URL. Store notes securely and remove material that no longer serves the task. A tidy worksheet improves judgement by exposing gaps rather than hiding them behind a confidence label.
Continue with tracing an original source.