Blog homeThe other day I was on the back of an elephant…. and I had my camera in hand. The problem (apart from the lumbering movement of the elephant, which made taking photos a bit of a challenge) was that I could only really take good photos of other people on elephants…. and, in return, they could take good photos of my wife and I on our elephant.
So at the end of the trek, I had a camera with some images of other people - while they presumably had photos of us. How do you suggest you “swap” these images so everyone ends up with nice images of themselves?
I personally am not that keen on going around giving out my email address to all and sundry - on the off chance that they will forward me some photos. I see some people giving out their contact details - but if you are just sharing a few moments together I don’t really want to build that into any larger “relationship” - whether real or even through linking on a profile on some social network functionality. This was just an elephant trek after all - not a longer tour where more “client bonding” could occur.
Anyway, I think this could be solved somehow by an enterprising activity or tour operator website (on behalf of their clients). Two ways I can see this working:
- Issue a “password” a day….. and let your customers “upload” photos of the day into a shared pot. Other people can then review these photos and take those that are of interest to them
- Use some kind of “face recognition” software - so that former guests can upload photos - and the website would forward them to the appropriate people. Maybe this is a little bit over engineered though!
My preference would be to issue a “password a day” type open image uploading functionality. This would have the added benefit that you would drive former guests and customers back to your website…..
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when you upload the photos on web even on the website of the travel agent or tour operator, they will be able to add disclaimer that you give them complete rights of the photos etc and they are allowed to use these wherever they can.
You are not willing to give your email address, so this option is also ruled out.
I give you my example… in one of my past camel safari trip in Rajasthan, India, I exchanged the camera with person on the other camel and we both clicked each other photos and at the end returned each other cameras.
we got our photos clicked and we do not have to really share the other details. however, the important thing to note here is other people should be able to use sophisticated digital new age camera and same with us.
Thanks
rajat
Why don’t you just get everyone to stick images up on Flickr with a unique tag?
On the other hand last time I was in Zimbabwe my elephant learned to pick up my hat from the ground for me. I am sure it’s only a matter of time and patience to get it to take a photo of its passengers.
Alex: what in your opinion is the best photo-sharing method? Flickr? a social network? Picasa?
Hi Kevin,
Best for what!
- Retelling a story?
- Making images available to anyone?
- Transfering from one PC to another?
- Sharing with a small, known, group of friends and colleagues?
- Wishing feedback from 3rd parties?
I still use albums! (physical) for my primary photos - as I like “telling a story”. Yeah - old fashioned I know!
Also - I really don’t like tourists locations where people take photos as their primary objective. I prefer to appreciate an area first…. then just take a photo of something that takes my interest. Therefore photos are a bit more personal rather than just a succession of “sights” (hence, I don’t have an overwhelming desire to share them with anyone in public)
I used to wonder if there was a market for no-camera safaris.
It’s a pain in the butt when you stop the LandRover to admire a cheetah in the wild and a scrum of people shove in front of you to pepper the air with their point and shoots.
99% of their shots will be crap anyway and they’ve just spoiled the moment.
-slopes off to find his pipe and grumpy old man slippers -
Hi Neil,
What is worse is when, for example if you are on a long-tail boat (thailand) or the back of a landrover… where other travellers take a photo of the group “unposed” (i.e. a natural shot) - where I am in it…. and have no opportunity to get out of the photo (due to how it is being taken)
I never know whether to put my “photo face” on or whether to look away (hoping I would make the photo bad enough not to be taken!). Having a video camera pointed in my direction from someone I don’t know also sends me mad.
Alex, welcome back!
Location and date/time are key so you can find photos you may be interested in - either of yourself or just good photos, in case yours did not turn out, or you did not take any in the first place! Check out this link:
http://www.panoramio.com/blog/gps-camera-geocoding-photos/
Wherever the photos are then located needs a mechanism to allow full quality downloads of hte photos (if not for profit) or needs to be linked to a online fulfillment service.
There are so many photo sharing services out there, with varying functionalities. some must have private label / customization options for “resellers”.
Maybe it should go a step further back Alex - camera makers should make each camera with a bluetooth ability so you can take photos of each other then perform a bluetooth ’swap’ of your selected images?