I've gotten so many good tips from MakeUseOf that it's one of my favorite sites; they find and review a lot of things I simply don't have time to look for.
They also have currently 38 free downloadable guides in PDF format on such varied topics as iTunes, iPhone, Linux, Photoshop, digital photography, online shopping, building a gaming PC, Twitter, creating professional documents in Microsoft Word, Twitter, and the Internet Guide for the Movie Addict. There's really something for almost everyone.
I've posted a few times about sites to help find Creative Commons licensed media, and I have learned that Google has made a Creative Commons image search available since at least July 2009. Knowing so many students already use Google's image search, I think this would be an easy way to introduce them to being responsible users of others' digital property.
The process is simple. Use Google's Advanced Search, either initially or after you have done your image search (that works best for me when I use Chrome). At the bottom of the page you can select from a drop-down list to filter your results by the license of your choice. (Notice that below that you can also indicate a Safe Search level)
Google Image Search Advanced Search
If you aren't familiar with Creative Commons licensing and what these different license options allow, the Creative Commons website provides a good explanation.
Flickr has so many tools. Here's one that's easy and really enhances the viewing experience. Simply copying and pasting the BlackMagic code in a photo's comment provides a link that will open the photo with a black background. If you can copy and paste, you can do this. Check it out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nosha/3277989393/. This looks like a regular Flickr page, but read to find the code and instructions.
I suppose now that Flickr displays an image on a black background when you click on it, this isn't that much help, but it would give you a nice background if you wanted to send someone a link to a specific photo.
I have always been on the lookout for places to find royalty-free, preferably Creative Commons licensed, video/audio/photo resources for my own and students' use, so I was excited to run across this sitepoint blog post with descriptions of and links to over 30 sites to explore. Some additional ones are mentioned in the comments, so you might want to check those out, too.
If I were still in the classroom, this one would get lots of use!
Mbedr is a cool online tool that lets you embed a flickr image on your website. The title and any annotations of the original will be included with the embeded image. See an example below
Remember when using others' photos from flickr (or any site) to choose those with a Creative Commons license. You can read a previous post on a utility for doing a Creative Commons search of flickr images here.
I learned about Mbedr and other cool sites that use or manipulate flickr images on Karen Montgomery's site, Think Photo Sharing with Flickr. There is lots of excellent information here for anyone wanting to use flickr in the classroom.
Spell with Flickr is a very simple website that lets you enter a word or words and then spells out your entry using images from Flickr.
Taking advantage of the fact that today is election day, I created this image:
Oh, and then I found this blog post where the author creatively used the concept, though the image was created by another individual, for an image to illustrate her blog post on numbers. See how it can be used!
I take lots of photos, and I especially enjoy recording scenery so we can enjoy it later. I sometimes take a series of photos as I pan the camera around my location, trying to see that they overlap so there's an area of commonality between consecutive images for matching. I just found a FREE demo of AutoStitch which does an amazing job of stitching photos together to make a panorama image. In the past, I have kept the camera on a fairly level horizontal plane, but AutoStitch does not require this, as it can take images from a variety of angles, match them up, and smooth them out; this is illustrated on the AutoStitch website.
I tried the free demo out on some images I took on our summer vacation to North and South Dakota, and I was very pleased with the results. All you have to do is to open at once all the images you want combined in the finished panorama, and the software automatically does the rest, including saving the new image in the directory with the original photos. It couldn't be easier! And it's like being there and looking around all over again.
This image could then be opened in image editing software and cropped to remove the black edges, though I don't even mind them in this image.
AutoStitch opens up a whole new way of recording the beautiful views I encounter to view later and share with others.
I have been using Creative Commons (CC) licensed photos for some time now, finding them by using Flickr's advanced search option. Compfight is a website that makes that search easier and much quicker. Basically, all you have to do is to click beside "Creative Commons" to change the parameter to "Only," enter your search tag, and click "Search." Click on your chosen photo to open it in Flickr, where you can check the CC details, and then view sizes to choose to download one or to use the link to the size of your choice. You can then copy and paste the URL or CC code to complete the attribution requirement.
You can also further define the search by using Seek Original, which refers to the size of the image: "Only" will limit results to images saved in their original size, "On" will display images of all sizes, with an informational blue bar giving dimensions of those which are not original size, and "Off" will display images of all sizes without the blue bar. Your search results can also be filtered by using a Safe Search to display only images which are safe for work.
If you aren't familiar with the Creative Commons license, it is a license granting a set of baseline rights to the owner and requiring the work (image, video, audio, text) to be attributed to the original author. I won't go into details here, but basically, for a licensed work, you will see the CC logo along with a description of the guidelines for use. You are then given the opportunity and responsibility to use the work according to those guidelines. A CC license can be obtained for no cost from Creative Commons. When creating a license, the owner can decide if he or she wants others to have the right to use the work commercially and if others will be allowed to modify the work.
If you're studying vocabulary for ACT or SAT tests, or just want to improve your vocabulary, Gotbrainy provides a fun way to do that. You can view Brainyflix (videos) or BrainyPix (photos) posted by students to Gotbrainy. If you're a student, you can enter your photo or video representation in the Gotbrainy contest for a $600 first-place (deterined by votes) award. Both the video and photo contests have ended for this year, so watch for next year's entry information.
After you have entered a phrase, phrasr will pull a photo from flickr for each word in the phrase. For each word, you can change the photo, selecting from among the suggestions they provide, or choose to have no photo for that word. When you are finished, phrasr puts together a flash slideshow of the photos you have chosen with the phrase, which you can view again or email to someone (perhaps yourself) if you wish. I don't know how long it will be available, but here is an example using a Mahatma Gandhi quote.
bookr uses photos to create a flash book. You can place text on each page and then do a flicker tag search for photos to illustrate the text. This is easy enough kids could do it, younger ones with help spelling the tags/search terms. Here's a sample book I created about clouds; to turn a page, click on its bottom corner.
If you'd like to see other Pimpampum toys, check out the Pimpampum Labs. The 4 x 4 memory game would be fun for kids.
I'm always on the lookout for FREE alternatives to expensive software. While Photoshop is probalby the best-known photo editing software package, with incredible features and results, its pricetag is a little high--well, extremely high--for the average user. I do appreciate the features in Irfanview, which I have used for years, but sometimes I need--well, want--more advanced options. I have found GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) to be a viable alternative for those times when a little more power is needed.
GIMP is not for the faint-hearted. Any software which can accomplish a wide variety of more complicated operations such as this will not be as easy to learn as simple word processing software. It does have built-in help, and a user manual is available for downloading. The GIMP website offers tutorials for various levels of expertise, and a Google search for "GIMP tutorials" yields even more. Perusing a few of those will give some idea of the amazing finished products which can be produced.
Oh, and for those of you who use portable apps, try GIMP Portable for your on-the-go photo editing.
GIMP is freeware, but of course you are encouraged to make a donation if you like the software.
The general, bare-bones idea of Photosynth is that you upload several photos of the same location or object taken from different distances, perspectives, times, etc. Photosynth will then stitch them together, by analyzing and finding similarities, into an "interactive 3D viewing experience." Your creation is then available for viewing by anyone on the web. Here's an example, a synth of Owachomo Bridge in Natural Bridges National Monument.
The description from the website is: "Photosynth creates an amazing new experience with nothing more than a bunch of photos. Creating a synth allows you to share the places and things you love using the cinematic quality of a movie, the control of a video game, and the mind-blowing detail of the real world."
I'll have to admit I'm still trying to figure this out, but it's fascinating. I'll have to see what photos I might have that I could upload to try it.
In the classroom? I wonder what kind of creations would result from photos taken by students on a field trip.
One way to "explore" the world, available from this site, is to view an "organized sampling" of photos. The goal of the Degree Confluence Project is to collect photos taken from each of the 10,538 latitude and longitude integer degree intersections in the world (39,804 confluences in the oceans and some near the poles are excluded from the project).
On the home page are photos from the 18 newest confluence visits. Those posted today are from such countries as Scotland, Colombia, Libya, Oman, Zambia, Germany, Australia, Mongolia, and the United States of America. Some confluence photos are beautiful, but many are of very ordinary views.
The site indicates that wherever you are, you are at this moment within 49 miles, or 79 kilometers, of a confluence. Anyone could participate in this project. The instructions provided include not only the items need and how to locate a confluence, but also a letter to landowners to aid in obtaining permission to venture onto private property in the process of reaching the confluence.
It's fun to visit the site and see the photos, which are organized by country. It's interesting and, in some cases quite enlightening, to read some of the "How To..." and "Information" pages.
I personally can find at least a couple of uses for iStockphoto, and I think many others can as well. Once you join, you can use all kinds of royalty-free files: stock photography, vector illustrations, video footage, audio tracks, and Flash(r) files. This could be a great source of free graphics for teachers and students. In addition you can purchase photos uploaded by approved contributors if you wish.
You can also upload your own photos and, by meeting the requirements to be a contributor, you can sell your photos. I found this site while perusing a photographer's blog and then viewing his photos. Enjoying photography--taking as well as viewing photos--I'll have to be careful not to spend too much time at iStockphoto!
NYI PhotoWorld, a photo ezine produced by the New York Institute of Photography, has "Photo Tips, 'How-to' Articles, and Opinion from the Pros." I came across it while looking for help on taking photos of Christmas lights, which I had been experimenting with. This particular article has suggestions for digital as well as film cameras, suggestions for using editing software, and a variety of ideas for different photo moods. If this is any indication of the content, I think this will be a valuable site which I will have to peruse when I have more time! Actually, their classes look pretty interesting, too...
ShootSmarter.com has lots of photography tips (taking and editing), though some refer to higher-end hardware and software than I use. Very interesting, though, and many tips are useful...even to me, the definite amateur!
I had a nice long blog entry prepared, but I think I'll go for the quick-and-easy-to-read approach--well, as nearly as I am capable of that approach!
There are many sites which allow you to upload your pictures for different purposes. I've used 3 of those (free, of course!) and have had another recommended that I haven't tried but have seen its amazing product.
flickr
I have uploaded vacation, family, and flood photos here to share with family members. Tags may be added, and you can search flickr by tag to find others' photos on whatever topic or location you wish. Some personalized start pages, like pageflakes, let you add an object that will randomly select and load a photo from flickr based on a tag that you select.
photobucket
I've used photobucket when I want to be able to put a link on a page to a photo that's already on the Internet (some blog sites, like those at schoolblogs, prefer that to uploading photos directly to their site). The presentation isn't pretty, but is very functional. Each photo has with it links for various purposes. For an example, see this photobucket prepared for the Patriots Read blog (see the May 2007 entries; for some reason we had trouble with images on the site during 2008).
shutterfly
I have just registered on this site (which gave me 50 free 4 x 6 photos and a free 11 x 14 collage poster just for registering) based on the recommendation of a friend who has been using it for several years. You can (after uploading photos) get prints (cheaper than local retail stores' photo machines), photobooks, calendars, cards, apparel, and gift items made using your photos. After each family vacation, my friend has had a photobook of the vacation made each family member on the trip. If you have a lot of photos to upload and are on dial-up (I know, I'm stuck in the dark ages!), you can even send them a CD with your .jpg photos on it and they will add them to your account...no charge. Or if you have a film camera, send them the film (small fee) and they will add the photos to your account and send you the negatives. What's not to like?
mypublisher
This site does only photobooks...professional-quality coffeetable books. I've seen one, and they are absolutely beautiful. Both hardcover and softcover are available, and you can order a dust jacket, which makes it look even more professional. See the pricing and examples on the site.
Okay, this one is just for fun. Upload your picture to pikipimp and add some bling! It was fun, too, to see myself with long hair...talk about a change!
Particularly when away from home (as on our upcoming Alaska trip), I may want to do some quick photo editing, such as resizing before posting to Flickr or another blog. I read an interesting post on Mashable about FlauntR. Oooh, I see you can upload your photos from Google Picasa, desktop app, to create e-cards--I could like that!
Three apps are free for use on FlauntR: PhotoStylr, PhotoEditr, and PhotoProfilr. PhotoEditr lets you make standard picture fixes. PhotoStylr adds special effects similar to those you can make using apps like Picasa. PhotoProfilr lets you "take a picture you've edited and load it to any social network, resized and compatible." According to Mark Hopkins, author of the Mashable post, this app will be good for quick changes and edits and loads faster than many other sites, good for those of us who are still in the dark ages, stuck with dial-up access! (Still slow on dial-up--what isn't!--but tolerable.)
Wait...there's more! Add text (Textr). Make wallpaper for your cell phone (Mobilr). Apply effects of works of art to photos (Picasr). Looks like this will be lots of fun to play with, too.
Posts
