Sharing Photos

Any experienced Public Information Officer will tell you that providing photographs can be even more effective than written news releases or public statements. Digital cameras have all but eliminated the old-school headaches of film processing and printing.  And, with increased internet speeds and free Wifi access at just about every coffee house, library and public building – it’s never been easier to upload your photos for the world to see.  There are dozens of photo sharing sites, but the one that has the highest popularity is Flickr.  It also has flexibility so users can get photos and video into and out of the system in as many ways as they can: from the web, from mobile devices, from the users’ home computers and from whatever software they are using to manage their content.

For example, the California Emergency Management Agency sends it’s photographers and PIO’s out into the field with digital cameras and laptops.  They either use free Wifi or cellular broadband cards and upload images taken at disaster scenes within minutes.  These images are then used by news organizations who might not have such close access or enough reporters to tell the story.

Using Online Photo Sharing

• Get your own Flickr account here

• HOW TO VIDEO:  How to Use Flickr
• HOW TO VIDEO: Finding Free Photos using Flickr
• EXAMPLE:  California Office of Emergency Services (now Cal EMA)
• EXAMPLE:  Los Angeles Fire Department
• EXAMPLES: San Diego Fire, Southern California Fires – 2007, KPBS San Diego Wildfires Photo Group, San Diego Wildfires, San Diego Wildfires 2007

Other Photo Sharing Sites

• Picasa: Picasa is a part of Google. “Picasa automatically resizes and attaches pictures to email messages at sizes your friends will be able to open. Works with most email programs, including Google’s Gmail.”
• Yahoo Photos: “Upload as many photos as you want! You get free, unlimited storage for all your online albums.”
• SmugMug: unlimited photo sharing with a free trial, and then you have to sign up
• Photobucket – upload your images and videos, copy your links, and then post your content on any website or blog. Easy to use and free.

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How to Share Digital Photos Online – Flickr.com

Basic Use of Flickr from Mr. Sheehy on Vimeo.

A very basic tutorial for teachers looking to find images on Flickr and insert them into a presentation

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