Today (August 19th) is World Photography Day. Photographers around the world celebrate this day. Today is the day we pay homage to how photography has shaped our lives. Photography has become an integral part of human culture and communication. Nearly everyone in the world has a cell phone and we can all take photos digitally so it can be argued that photography is now more accessible to everyone.
We have a great range of photography books for you to borrow or browse here at Ara and this range includes eBooks, here are a couple of eBooks on photography:
I have to admit that I have a thing for Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia. I also have to admit that I have an even bigger thing for Wikimedia Commons, the biggest repository of free images in the world.
Main page of Wikimedia Commons
One of the nicest things about the Commons is that everybody can contribute, including you!
Interested? Keep reading!
In particular we’re after images that can illustrate articles on Wikipedia, or Wikidata, a new project that is trying to describe the whole world in a machine readable language. But, whenever you take a trip or anytime you go for a local stroll, there will likely be something that we would love to have in our photo collection. Things like sculptures, buildings, streets, bridges, hills, plants, animals, beaches or just public street lamps are all on the list of desired content.
But, there’s one catch. All of the images that you upload on Wikimedia Commons need to be released under a free licence so that they can be freely reused by anyone for any purpose.
This is something that puts many people off. But the way I see it, in this world of private ownership, free sharing of information is the main benefit!
Free images are often reused by the media or publishers and they all have to state me as an author. So, from a brief search on Google I can see that my photos have made it all the way to places like Radio New Zealand, Scoop or Stuff.
By releasing your photos under a free licence you help building the biggest educational source on Earth
How to start contributing? It’s easy:
Identify Images That are Needed
You don’t have to do this and I often just take pictures of whatever I like. However, it’s always nice to see your pictures being used on Wikipedia or Wikidata. At this link you can find a map which shows red spots representing missing photos for objects in Christchurch that we would love to have. It’s far from an exhaustive list but it’s a great starting point.
We’re missing photos from all of these places!
Go and Take Some Photos
Alright, this is the most entertaining part. Going to new places always feels good. Sometimes I think that it’s in our DNA to be on the move, to discover all the possibilities and corners of this beautiful world. It’s always better to use a camera for taking pictures but if you don’t have one, your smartphone will do the job too!
Upload the Images
First, you need to create an account on Wikipedia Commons which is a very easy thing to do via this link. Then you can start uploading images. Don’t forget to give your photo a meaningful name and description so people can actually identify what’s in the picture. There is nothing more frustrating than a good picture of an unidentified object.
Upload form is straightforward – just follow the instructions
And that’s it! Congratulations, you have contributed to a project based on the idea that every single human has something to contribute to the image database that is trying to capture all areas of the world. Our work is never complete so be cautious of becoming a wikiholic.
Boulevard du Temple by Daguerre, 1838. [CC0 – Wikimedia Commons]
Guest blog by Wendy Clarke, Photography tutor, Ara Institute of Canterbury.
Sunday August 19th is World Photography Day. Who knew that in an image soaked culture, we would need to set aside a special day to focus (sic) on picture taking. So why that day and what is the point?
The 19th of August is of considerable historical import in the development of photography as an accessible medium. It all started with a photographic process that was developed by Frenchmen Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1837, the invention of the Daguerreotype. On August 19, the French government purchased the patent and gifted the invention as “free to the world”.
It was this unexpected generosity that catapulted photography into the hands of the man on the street.
World Photography day was conceived and launched eight years ago by an Australian Photographer, Korske Ara. The goal of this day is “Inspiring Positive Impact Through Photography”, by bringing photographers across the globe together in celebration, and to raise awareness and funds for organisations that work in the communities. This year the aim is to raise over $15,000 for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, through donation and book sales.
So how do you get involved?
Register to upload your chosen image on the 19th of August to be part of the day. Start at World Photo Day’s Facebook to do this.
Visit Fujifilm Events Facebook to sign up for a free Photography walk and competition on Sunday 3- 5:30pm, sponsored by Fujifilm and setting off from Montreal Street.
Text by Michele Frey and Sara Newman Photographs by John O’Malley and our own CPIT Senior Lecturer in Photography, John Maillard
On a Saturday Night is a warm and colourful celebration of the strength and spirit of small towns all around New Zealand. From Whakapara in the north to Mossburn in the south, community halls have been the focal point of small towns for as long as the towns have been on the map.
The stunning photography by John O’Malley (North Island) and John Maillard (South Island) capture the essence of what each hall has meant to its community. The stories and pictures have recorded an aspect of New Zealand’s unique culture that seems to be passing into history.
Check here for more information and to see if your home town hall has been photographed for this book.
Book launch at CPIT library
5pm this Friday, 30th November, CPIT library, Rakaia Centre.
You are warmly invited to come and hear guest speaker and book photographer, John Maillard, and celebrate the launch of On a Saturday Night. Wine and nibbles will be offered and books will be available for purchase.
Spring may be here but chilly fun is still to be had at the New Zealand IceFest for the next couple of weeks. Head to Hagley Park where you will find the Ice Station, an ice rink, Still Life (a sensory experience of Jane Ussher’s photographs of the Antarctic), movies, talks, food and entertainment. CPIT’s Manager of Food & Hospitality and Culinary Programmes Dennis Taylor will be there during the weekends demonstrating at IceFest and undertaking carvings for the Antarctic Season Opening Function. Dennis has 15 years experience in ice carving which includes experiences in Sapporo Japan, Harbin China and Lubeck Germany, working on large events and competitions. Dennis has an Antarctic affiliation that includes a summer season as a chef at Scott Base in Antarctica.
Other exhibitions on involved with the Antarctic ice theme and New Zealand IceFest are on around the city as well and can be found at: the Canterbury Museum, The National and Form Galleries.
Ara Library Blog 