692R-2008-Book-Photos

Photo Sharing Strengthens Families

Lyndell E. Lutes

Tool Family Photo Sharing

Tool History

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Russell M. Nelson,“President Dieter F. Uchtdorf,” Ensign, July 2008

Can you imagine the terror that must have been in the heart of 11-year-old Dieter Uchtdorf as his family fled their home in East Germany in 1952 to find freedom in the West? For political reasons, the life of Dieter’s father was in extreme danger. He would have to escape alone to minimize risks to his wife and children. To avoid suspicion, the rest of the family would not be able to travel together. They would have to make the attempt separately.

A plan was implemented. Dieter’s two older brothers, Wolfgang and Karl-Heinz, took a northern route out of their hometown of Zwickau. Their sister, Christel, traveled with two other girls on a train that passed briefly through West Germany en route to its destination city in East Germany. As the train passed through West Germany, the girls persuaded the conductor to open the door for them, and they jumped out of the train.

Dieter, age 11—the youngest of the children—and his courageous mother took still another route. They carried with them only a little food and precious family photographs that had been preserved from destruction through World War II [emphasis added]. After Dieter and his mother had walked long hours, Sister Uchtdorf’s knees began to weaken. Dieter carried their belongings and helped his mother climb a final hill to freedom. There they stopped to eat a meager meal, only to realize, when they saw Russian guards, that they were still shy of the border. The mother and son terminated their picnic, picked up their packs, and climbed even higher before reaching their goal.

Dieter and his mother continued their trek as refugees, hitchhiking and walking to their destination at a suburb near Frankfurt. After many long and perilous days of separation, the family was finally reunited. . . .Their great reunion was joyful.”

The only belongings they took with them were their “precious family photographs.”

What roles do photos play in our homes? Ed Maryon, in the December 1973 Ensign article, “Look at Your Walls. What Do You See?” writes: Photographs, can become a meaningful and enjoyable part of the home’s flavor. . . [and] help children better understand their family. Old family photographs enlarged to poster size can be fun and attractive in almost any room. In addition, picture pedigrees can be valuable in building a child’s understanding of his ancestry. These ties with the past help give stability and feelings of gratitude toward our forebears. . . . Family “galleries” of photographs. . . can do much to develop attitudes of family unity. Good times can be recalled while warm feelings about the family can be reinforced. Photos of houses where the family has lived, of favorite vacations, of annual family gatherings, or of special friends can help strengthen positive feelings about the family.

What are you doing to protect and share your “precious family photos” so they can tell their stories across generations? In this chapter, we will explore digital options for preserving and sharing your photographs.

Tool Name

Sharing photos comes naturally to us—it always has. Whether displayed on wall, computer desktop, refrigerator door, or tucked away in a wallet or cell phone, our photos remind us of good times, good places, and people we hold dear. With the advent of computers and email, photos could be scanned and sent around the world in seconds—if you had lots of bandwidth (high speed data transfer). However, with the rising popularity and quality of digital cameras coupled with high-speed Internet, photo sharing in cyberspace has become simpler and richer. Dozens of excellent photo-sharing sites are available on the Internet. Among the top rated are: •	Flickr (affiliated with Yahoo) •	Photobucket (Google) •	Webshots (American Greetings)

The choice is yours, so take some time to explore these and other sites you may find or have recommended to you. Some frequently asked questions and general guidelines discussed below will help you choose wisely. Although Flickr will be used to introduce you to how to place and share your photographs on-line, it is not necessarily an endorsement of the site. Others may be better suited to your needs.

Let's get started with some explanations and fun facts about sharing images in a digital world. One use for photo-sharing sites is browsing through what others have placed and made available for public viewing. Flickr hosts more than 3 billion photos, Photobucket 2.5 billion, and Webshots over 500 million.

Just for fun, a search for the term “Salt Lake Temple” returned the following number of photos per site. •	Flickr—10900+

•	Photobucket—600+ •	Webshots—5100+

What does a photo-sharing site do?

Generally speaking, photo-sharing Web sites allow you to place your photographs on the Internet and let your friends and the general public view, download, and print them.

Other commonly available photo-related services include: •	Editing (enlarging/reducing, brightening/darkening, color correcting, rotating, cropping, eliminating red eye, and more)

•	Producing scrapbook pages, photo books, and many other things such as calendars, T-shirts, and mugs, featuring photographs of friends and family

•	Attaching captions or pointing out important elements in a photograph

•	Geo-tagging photos (allows others to see the area where you took your picture on a mapping program)

•	Making slide shows

•	Tagging your photos so others who are looking for a certain category of photos, such as Grand Canyon National Park, can find them

•	Allowing the general public to use your work (with or without restrictions) •	Uploading photos to social networks such as Facebook or commercial sites such as eBay

•	Storing (limited and unlimited, free or for fee) •	Earning money from the sale of your photos

Why might I use a photo-sharing Web site and what should I consider when choosing one? Many people will post photos on their blog (see the chapter on blogs) rather than use a photo-sharing site. If you plan on sharing all the photos from girl’s camp or your 90-day around-the-world cruise, posting them on a blog could be cumbersome. On the other hand, if you want to tell about your son’s graduation and include a few snapshots, a blog might be all you need.

Choosing a place for your photos to live is a little like finding a good place for you to live. You'll want to know how much space you will have, what the cost will be, what the neighbors and neighborhood are like, how safe it is, and how hard or easy it will be to move into. Here are some questions you will want to ask as you explore photo-sharing Web sites.

•	How much space can I get? It varies widely from site to site. Most allow you a fair amount of free storage space; some even have unlimited free space. For example, you get the following amount of free storage on: Flickr—100MB per month (roughly 400 photos) Photobucket—10,000 photos and “hours” of video Webshots—1000 photos initially plus 100 per month

Most sites have premium accounts that give you unlimited storage for $25–30 per year.

•	Can I keep my photos private or limit viewing to only those I invite? (Remember that once a photo has been placed on the Web it will remain out there even if you delete it. Absolute privacy does not exist.)

•	How long has the site been operating? A few sites have gone down without notice.

•	How easy is it for me to learn and to use?

•	Does it have the special features I want such as scrap booking, captioning, editing, and receiving comments?

•	What sites do my family, friends, and colleagues use?

•	Do I want to be able to categorize (tag) my photos so others or I can search and view photos by subject such as Christmas, vacations, birthday parties, Aunt Minnie, and such?

•	Do I want others to be able to view my photos without having to register?

•	Do I want to be able to upload my photos to social networking or commercial sites?

•	Does it support the format I would like to use, e.g., TIFF, JPEG, or GIF? (Formats are described in detail below.)

•	Is it family friendly? That is, does it do a good job of filtering out undesirable images? •	Does it block unwanted downloads of my photos?

•	Does it allow me to give various levels of rights for use of my photographs by others?

•	Do I agree with the site’s terms of use? Some sites retain ownership.

What format should I use or, what’s with the alphabet soup?

TIFF, JPEG, RAW, BMP, GIF, PSD among others are letters you’ll see after the “dot” following your photograph’s name or number. These are called file extensions and they describe the format of your photograph. (For a detailed explanation, search the Internet.) To keep things simple, let's discuss two of the most popular formats, TIFF and JPEG. Because of their widespread use, they also stand the best chance of being readable over time.

For most uses, TIFF or TIF (pronounced as it is spelled), and JPEG or JPG (pronounced JAY-peg) formats are probably your best options. Many digital cameras produce “raw” format images, which means you will see the image exactly as the camera captured it (if your camera retains a raw image). Because raw images take up a lot of room, most cameras will convert the raw image into a TIFF or JPEG format. This means that your camera (or photo software) will compress your raw photo into a format that is smaller and therefore more economical to store and easier to share.

•	A TIFF format retains all of the detail in the photo and is best if you plan to print your photograph(s) on a press or copy machine—most often done when publishing a book. •	JPEG compresses the data more than a TIFF and in the process actually discards some of the pixels. Although, a photo saved as a JPEG will produce excellent prints. It is the recommended format to use for color photos. Virtually all Web sites accommodate the JPEG format.

Roughly speaking, a TIFF photograph will take about four times more storage space than the same image in a JPEG format. For customary photo-sharing applications (on-line or prints), you will not notice the difference between the two unless you make very large prints.

What size is my photograph?

If you are familiar with film, you know that it comes in various sizes—35mm wide being common. When you have your film processed, your original photo is the size of the film. You usually have a larger print made—3x5 or 4x6 inches being common. Such is not the case with digital photographs. Digital photos do not come in fixed dimensions; rather, they come in pixels per inch (ppi). Some people will use the term dots per inch (dpi)—a carryover from having to screen photographs in order to print them on a press—dpi is also used to describe the resolution on a printer.

Pixels are small squares that contain the color information for a spot in the image. Think of a tile floor and you get the picture. The greater the number of pixels, the greater or finer the resolution, which means you will retain a greater amount of detail in your image and therefore will be able to make larger prints.

Popular digital cameras take images in the range of 3 to 12 megapixels. This means that you can produce prints in the range of 5x7 to 10x14 inches with excellent quality.

How large a print can I make from various megapixel camera sizes?

The following table shows the largest high-quality photographs you can expect to get from commonly available digital cameras (and as compared to 35mm film).

While we are talking about size, have you ever received an email with photographs attached? Depending on how your computer has been set up, you may find that when you click on a photo icon, the photograph displayed is so large you can only view a portion of it without scrolling. That is because your computer displays 72 pixels per inch. Therefore, what looks to be about a 3x5 inch photo to the sender could appear about four times larger on the receiver's screen. Opening the photo with photo viewing software such as Windows Picture and Fax Viewer (XP) or Windows Photo Gallery (Vista) may eliminate the problem.

When emailing photos, if you can choose the size of a photo, keep it between 30-100 KB (kilobytes) or around 480x640 pixels. Although these sizes can be easily viewed on the screen, they will not have enough pixels to produce good (reasonable-sized) prints.

How much storage space do I need?

One GB (gigabyte) will hold roughly 4000 standard resolution images. One hundred MB (megabytes) will store roughly 400. The number of photos stored can vary widely depending upon the size of the images.

Flash drives are an economical way to store photos. You can buy a 1GB drive for under $10.00. If you prefer to store your photos on a disc, you will get about seven times more on a DVD (about 50 cents) than a CD (20 cents). A standard CD holds about 700MB. If you choose to use a disc, you should transfer your photos to a new one every 2–3 years to ensure that your images do not deteriorate. Flash drives are estimated to last about ten years. Remember that if you choose to store images on a Web site, it is a good idea to back them up on separate media that can be stored at home, in a vehicle, in a safety deposit box, or other secure location.

How is the tool commonly used?

Common uses vary widely according to the needs and wishes of the user. Many people use photo-sharing sites to: •	Post photographs and videos, and invite others to view, download, or print them •	Organize and store photos •	Search for a particular photo for personal use •	Join an on-line community with people who share similar interests

How do I use it?

Flickr requires you to register and select a log-in identity and password. To do that, go to http://www.flickr.com and select “Create Your Account.” Once you have done that, you can sign in and upload photos with a few mouse clicks. It works much faster if you have the photos you want to share stored in a folder on your computer before you begin.

The screen shots below show you examples of actual Flickr screens. The instructions in the blue “balloons” will walk you through the process of uploading and describing your photographs.

Step 1: This is the Flickr page you will see when you have logged in. To begin placing photos on Flickr, select “Upload Photos.”

[Flickr page here--Dr. Wiley, see Word document in your BYU email]



Step 2: Here is where you can browse your computer files to select the photographs you want to upload into Flickr.



Steps 3-7: Although it looks like a lot is going on in this screen (below), you are checking to see that the photos you have selected are on the list. At this point, you can delete and add photos. Also, you can set your privacy settings here.

If you don’t care who sees your photos, you can use the default selection, which is “Public.” If you want to be the only one to see them, select “Private.” When “Private” is selected, you can indicate if you want friends or family to see them. (If you choose “Private,” follow the directions on the screen.)

The settings will apply to all of the photos on your list. Once you have all the images and privacy settings as you want them, select “Upload Photos.” Don’t worry, if you change your mind, photos can easily be deleted later.



Step 8: This screen tells you that you have successfully uploaded your photos. Selecting “add a description” will take you to the next screen where you can add a title, description, or tag—or skip all three, although it is advisable to at least add a title.

[Flickr page here]



Steps 9-10: Here you will see the photo that you have uploaded. Add a title, description, and tag—taking the tour of Flickr (on the home page) will explain how these elements can be used. When you are finished, remember to click “Save” at the bottom of the screen.

[Flickr page here]



You have now successfully added a photo(s).



Here you will see the photo(s) you have uploaded. In this example, we only uploaded one photograph, so we see previously uploaded photographs as well. Notice that there is a delete option under each photo, as well as a place to add a description.

Uploading Summary

Most photo-sharing sites have similar processes. You log in, select a photo, select privacy settings, and add descriptions. The most important thing is to have the photographs you want to upload in a format (usually JPEG) the site can accept and stored in place you can find!

Where are other free on-line tutorials and guidelines?

•	Flickr has an excellent guided tour that will introduce you to its features and screens at http://www.flickr.com.

•	Photobucket has extensive tutorials at: http://tutorials.photobucket.com. •	Webshots claims that once you register, the first screen you see enables you to upload your photo so simply that only minimal instructions are needed. They have a video tutorial at http://entertainment.webshots.com/video/3095549370010147259?vhost=www.

•	http://www.photosharingnuggets.com/photo-sharing-websites provides valuable tips about photo sharing in general as well as about specific sites.

How can I use this tool to expand my gospel knowledge, share the gospel with others, and better live gospel teachings?

•	Sharing photos is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family, especially when you add captions, point out things in the photo, and invite comments. This can draw families together and strengthen relationships, especially among those who may not see each other very often.

•	Share your photos of trips to historic Church sites or temples. Seeing these beautiful places may create interest by nonmembers. A young lady from Armenia had a dream where she saw a beautiful building. Some time later, two missionaries knocked on her door. Her family invited them in and, to her surprise, they showed her a picture of the Salt Lake Temple which she recognized as the building she had seen in a dream. Others may have far-distant memories jogged, which may cause them to inquire about the Church.

•	Most families have old photos where people, places, or dates taken are unknown. By digitizing (scanning) and sharing them, you may find someone who knows who is in the photo, when, and where it was taken. This could lead to ordinance work for the dead. One caution, be sure you only submit names of kindred dead for ordinance work.

•	Pictures can enhance lessons by showing details that words alone cannot describe. For instance, when giving a lesson about Joseph Smith's First Vision, the words “a grove of trees” may conjure up very different images for someone from Norway or Tahiti, neither of which would be the same as the trees in upstate New York.

•	Pictures can be important in family preparedness. In the event of a disaster, having a place where you can get current family photos may help you locate missing family members. Also, should your residence be damaged or destroyed, readily accessible photographs can be helpful with insurance claims.

•	Make a themed photobook (available on many sites) composed of pictures of a family vacation, wedding, grandparent, or a year-in-the-life-of a child. This will become a family treasure and serve as a constant reminder of the importance of an individual and family.

•	For family members who would like to add to the family income from home, selling photos or other graphic designs is a possibility.

•	This may be a good way to obey Elder Ballard’s counsel to use the media to promote the gospel.

Practical ideas and tips (“Try This”)

Here are some great ideas you might want to try.

•	Post photos of family on a site that allows viewers to order prints—which most do. You can tell your family and friends where the photographs are available, and they can go to the Web site to view and print any copies they want. This makes keeping a family history easier, and including photos makes it more interesting. It also saves you the expense of making prints and sending them. •	Some photo-sharing sites give you the ability to geo-tag your pictures, allowing others to see more of the area than you captured in your photo. This can be very nice for missionaries who have received a call (and their families), allowing them to see not only the photos but also adjoining areas of their new “home.” Similarly, this can be fun when planning a trip.

•	Order stamps, calendars, or a variety of other products with favorite photos on them for year-round gift giving.

•	Rather than keeping all your photos stored in your camera or on removable media that could reach capacity or get lost, especially if you are away from home on business or vacation, just upload your photos and keep on shooting. If anything happens to your camera, you will still have your photos.

How can this tool affect my family?

“And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength” (Mosiah 4:27).

As with all good things, excesses should be avoided. Just because you can browse through millions of photographs does not mean that it is a wise use of your time to do so. Scrap booking, while a wholesome activity, can take a great deal of time and resources. Setting guidelines for the worthwhile things that you want to accomplish with preserving and sharing your photographs is a way to ensure that you do things in wisdom and order.

Keeping the story straight

Before the age of digital photography, including photo manipulation programs such as Photoshop, you could generally trust that the people in the photograph were actually there when the photo was taken. For reasons both good and questionable, people (and other things) can be edited in and out of photographs; locations can be changed, and other elements manipulated that change the story being told by the photo. While there may not be much you can do with other people’s pictures, you would be wise to record any significant changes you have made to your photographs that, without notation, could cause the photo to be misinterpreted. And for the sake of coming generations, please make sure that full names, dates, places, occasions (birthday, vacation, graduation), are included.

Safety

Most sites have processes for monitoring and removing indecent and offensive photos. However, due to the sheer numbers of photographs being uploaded, it is possible that some might slip through or that your standards are not the same as the photo-sharing site’s. It is advisable to monitor children when they are on the Internet at any time, and this would be especially true if you allow them to browse a photo-sharing site. View photos together. A good first approach would be to view the photos of friends and family. Secondly, you could browse using a search term such as Disney World that would not likely bring up objectionable photos. Remember that many terms such as rose, Isaiah, and model could result in seeing more than a flower, a prophet, or a balsa wood airplane. Some sites have filters you can turn on.

Putting digital images on the Web to either store or share has risks. Once a photo is out there in cyberspace, deleting it does not necessarily remove it. If you have seen the film Raiders of the Lost Ark, you will remember the closing scene of the crated Ark being stored in a huge government warehouse among thousands of other crates. One of the points being made is that there is safety in numbers. To some extent this is true of placing family photos on the Internet as well. Nevertheless, for those intent on mischief, or worse, your family photos can be used for less than noble purposes. While it takes some effort, it is possible to track down you or your children from something as simple as a photo. Remember Jacob's plea, “O be wise; what can I say more?” (Jacob 6:12).