This dataset contains 731 ground-based nadir vegetation community and ground surface photographs of selected field plots taken as ground reference data for vegetation classification studies at three areas near Toolik Lake, Alaska during the summers of 2014 and 2015. The largest area, 'Toolik', (approximately 6 km2) covers research areas near Toolik Field Station at Toolik Lake, including Arctic LTER installations. The other two areas are each roughly 3 km2: the 'Pipeline' area: a stretch of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and the 'Imnavait' area: along Imnavait Creek roughly 10 km east of Toolik Lake.