Photographs

Images needed for Wikimedia UK

Wikimedia UK has lots of opportunities to use photographs - to include in publications to donors, members and volunteers, to support events and to improve specific publications (such as new members packs or sponsorship brochures)

Wikimedia volunteers are strongly encouraged to upload photos to commons when they get the chance, and to categorise these appropriately as outreach events, members, staff, or WMUK in general. However, we need to get better at making sure we have a good range of photos that are high quality (in terms of image quality and framing) and properly demonstrate the range of activities and individuals we are involved with. I'd like to use this page to start

• A wish-list of images we need by general type or event
• A place to log volunteers interested in attending events to take photographs
• A repository for online resources that give hints and tips on how to take better photographs
• Kickstart a discussion about how we can incorporate photography disclaimers into events
• Anything else we think of!

Interested volunteers

Please let us know whether you have a camera or suitable camera phone, and your level of interest (i.e. I'd like to learn more about taking photographs/I'm interested in being informed of events we would like to make sure pictures are taken etc)

• Katherine Bavage (WMUK) (talk) 15:19, 5 March 2013 (UTC)
• Mike Peel (talk) 21:22, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

Useful resources

• The National Council for Voluntary Organisations has published some short training videos as part of its 2013 members' photography competition.
• Commons advice on image quality in terms of size, file type.
• Commons photography critiques - consider submitting your photo for feedback to improve your work!

Dos and Don't list

Dos

• Do feel comfortable to ask people if you can take pictures, and either ask them to pose or let you snap away while they carry on
• Remember to charge your battery/empty your memory card before you go
• Do think about the TYPE of image and whether there are lots of images like the one you're taking already.
• Think about the VALUE of an image - are you capturing the essence of the event, or the people in the picture, or both? What might it be used for - use the photo wish-list as a guide.
• Think about what the image is representing - have you taken pictures of new editors, or attendees from under represented groups e.g. women or older people? This could be valuable in helping people we want to engage with us see us to be accessible
• Be ambitious - often the most abstract or creative images are the ones that make it into marketing materials - your image could be on the next members application form or donor email

Don'ts

• Forget lighting! We have lots of pictures of people in dark rooms (normally by computers). Can you take it from another angle, or avoid having a major light source directly in the image (eg. a screen)? Can you use flash or open a blind to let in natural light? Can you experiment with aperture, shutter speed or ISO?
• Ignore framing - Are you focusing on people (faces, posture) or the activities they're undertaking (viewing, editing, listening, talking).
• Take pictures without permission - especially if people are attending an event. Ideally ask whoever is running the event to mention that photographs will be taken during the introduction
• Upload the pictures months after the event - often the pictures are most used and valuable shortly after something has taken place

Wishlist

Ongoing

• Recent photographs from all the UK-wide weekend meetups
• Images with woman, BME, younger or older participants (With the caveat that under 18 year olds may require explicit parental permission - ask staff for advice if possible)
• Abstract images of merchandise being used, close ups of people editing, looking at displays at backstage pass events etc
• 'Behind the scenes' pictures from editathons - we always need fresh ones of these, preferably showing new editors and with good lighting
• Events pictures in unusual/beautiful surroundings - often in grade I and II listed buildings, or outdoors - something that is eye-catching that can accompany news about programme work

Specific

Could the image requester sign the request please - and if you upload something that fits the bill, ping the requester on their talk page.

• Small group photos from GLAM Wiki with careful attention to lighting and content (less 'people working on laptops in a room', more, delegates talking or asking questions of a speaker?) Katherine Bavage (WMUK) (talk) 15:19, 5 March 2013 (UTC)
• Images from the March 23rd Open day - both of individuals in discussion and perhaps group shots during presentations/group discussions Katherine Bavage (WMUK) (talk) 15:19, 5 March 2013 (UTC)