Remember those old photo albums that would sit on shelves or under coffee tables? Then we would lug the binders out for every family get together (or even those embarrassing baby pictures shown to our dates), relieving memories. It was so important to make sure that every photo was perfect…film was expensive.
Today, we all seem to have cameras at our disposal. Digital camera technology allows us to have our cameras integrated into our phones, our computers, and our pocket mobile devices. As technology keeps changing these devices are becoming cheaper which means they are more accessible, bridging the digital divide. Storage also isn’t as much of an issue which means that we can freely snap away. The results sometimes seem like photo overload.
We have also gone digital when it comes to sharing our photos. Many of us use Facebook, posting instantly from our mobile devices, to share with friends and families. Other websites like Flickr, which is one of the most know photo sharing sites, allow allotments of space for free (or pay an upgrade charge for additional space) to post our photos for everyone to see and maybe even share. Photos can be tagged with keywords to make searching easier. Other users can even comment on photos or even share them with others.
Flickr uses what is known as Creative Commons licensing to grant permissions for reuse of photos. Some users are just posting to visually share their work, but others are willing to let other users download and modify the images. Public Domain means that an image has no copyright then it is free to reuse the images without first getting permission from the greater or domain holder. (Caution: photos of artwork are not always public domain even if the artwork is public domain because the actual photos belong to the photographer or museum). So if you are thinking of using an image for a project, remember to first check the licensing restrictions and then give all proper attributions (i.e. credit the source). Why get permission first? Well, think about it, you wouldn’t want someone using a photo of your dog in a dog food ad without your permission.
There are also several tools out there that allow you to edit your photos. Apple fans already know about Instagram which allows you to subtly change the appearance of your photos with filters, but there are also more advanced programs you can purchase for your computer, like Photoshop, that allow you to go into much more detail with your editing. Don’t forget to check out the free resources like the ones available through Google or even GIMP which is a open-source image manipulation program that rivals Photoshop.
Whichever route your photos take you, just remember to have fun and happy clicking!
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