Does Google index images that I link to?

using the a tag, not img tag

[norbiu]

Do the images that I link to that are on my site get indexed by Google?

<a href="example.com/images/image1.jpg>text</a>

I'm asking because I use litebox. Also, I only link to one of the images so I have:

<a href="example.com/images/image1.jpg">
<img src="example.com/images/image1-thumb.jpg">
</a>
<a href="example.com/images/image2.jpg"></a>
<a href="example.com/images/image3.jpg"></a>

[tedster]

Sure, it can happen. But by embedding an image on even a rudimentary html page, you are giving many more relevance signals to Google for what that image actually is, and what searches it might be returned for.

[norbiu]

Thanks Tedster. I would use the img tag to display my images, but unfortunately, that's how the layout works.