Geograph - photograph every grid square

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General

There's a page I once saw on Geograph, and I can't find it again! Close

Have a look at More Pages and our Sitemap, between them they should give access to many a page

http://www.geograph.org.uk/help/more_pages
http://www.geograph.org.uk/help/sitemap

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I don't understand Grid References - are there any sites to help me? Close

Here's a quick link to the Ordnance Survey's graphical crib sheet for grid references: http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/gi/nationalgrid/nationalgrid.pdf

Grid references locate places on the map. They consist of one (Ireland) or two (Great Britain) letters followed by an even number of digits. The letters define a (100x100)km^2 square (a 'myriad' in Geograph-speak) and are best looked up on an overview map. The numbers locate the position within that square. To find a location, split the block of numbers in two. The first block is the easting, i.e. the distance from the western edge of the myriad. The second is the northing - the distance from its southern edge.

Grid references always specify square areas, not points. The more digits there are, the smaller is the square referred to, and the higher is the precision of the grid reference. For each pair of digits, the precision increases by a factor of ten: SN58 defines a square of (10x10)km^2, 50km to the east and 80km to the north of the origin of myriad SN. SN5881 is a (1x1)km^2 square 58km east and 81km north of that origin. SN 58272 81324 is a (1x1)m^2 area. When stating a grid reference, the precision given should be in line with the accuracy of the position (how well do we actually know where we are?) and with the size of the object (a building doesn't fit on a 1m^2 footprint).

The system Geograph still uses in Ireland works in exactly the same way, although the Ordnance Surveys of Ireland and of Northern Ireland have recently introduced a different system for their maps. This article http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/Locating-photos---Republic-of-Ireland explains the differences.

· More information on this topic... · contributed by Rudi Winter, Jun 2011 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer!

What makes a good Geograph? Close

The answers given by Barry have been on the site for a long time, and they form the basis of what the site is about. Yet many good Geographs do not fulfil any of those criteria, and two are almost contradictory (at close up and being useful in interpreting a map).

It is important to realise that the site has grown way beyond what was first envisaged, and so the site's definition of Geography is now very wide, incorporating a lot of social history, ecology, geology and other allied subjects. This is encouraged but it means that the definition of a Geograph has become broader.

So a Geograph is any photograph, accurately geoloacted, that depicts the Geography of a square, or any aspect of the Geography of the square, shown in some form of context. A description is useful and encouraged, especially for photographs in which the geography is not obvious, but it is not essential.

Some other photographs are still extremely welcome and contain useful geographical information but may not be classified as Geographs.

Firstly, it was felt that it was very important that every square should be actually visited and not just 'view-bagged' from a distance. So, Geographs must be taken within the square. Nevertheless, certain views can only be seen from outside a square. These cross-grid shots are classified as supplementals.

Secondly, some photographs don't have much context. These are usually details of large objects, but they may just be very small objects or they could be large objects that are not shown completely. Most mods would agree that the smaller the object the more context that is needed to make it a Geograph. These close-ups are classified as supps. The largest objects that tend to be classed as shown in close-up or incompletely are buildings. Most mods believe that to be a Geograph a building photograph should the whole building or some context, although some mods would prefer both.

Thirdly, indoor shots are always made supps. They can add useful information, but indoors, being an entirely human environment, is on the fringe of the site's definition. Only public indoor areas are acceptable.

Finally, aerial shots are always supps. They are often useful, but they approach the subject of Geography in a different way than was originally envisaged.

· contributed by Mike Pennington, Jun 2011 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer!

Viewing Images

Many thumbnails seem to be missing, any idea of the cause? Close

Some firewall programs, in particular Norton Internet Security, block images that are the same size as some common advertisements. Unfortunately many thumbnails and some map images happen to be this exact size.

So if you use such a program you might like to try turning it off temporarily and trying again, and if that gets our images back, then have a look for the option to disable this, arguably, flawed method of security.

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Can I see the distribution of pictures within a gridsquare? Close

For Great Britain, can also use the Draggable OS map - it has a Centisquare overlay.

Can open the map via the "Interactive OS Map Overlay" link under the 1:50,000 map extract on the grid-square page. (this link already has the centisquare overlay enabled)

Or from the "More Links for" page (look for the red Pin icons), which has a dedicated link for the centisquare map, as well as the "Grid Squares" coverage layer.

· contributed by Barry Hunter, Jun 2011 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer!

Photo Contributors

What makes a good Geograph? Close

* You must clearly show at close range one of the main geographical features within the square

* You should include a short description relating the image to the map square

* Photographing a subject that could be useful to a child in interpreting a map

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How do I find which squares need photographing? Close

If you are looking for squares to obtain a point, try the coverage maps, and look for green squares; also accessible from that page are various printable checksheets for easy reference in print form. More technical users might enjoy GPX, or Memory Map downloads.

Many of the squares have been captured but only have a few photos; check out the depth map, from which you can find under-represented squares. In the same vein we have a number of maps to show the distribution of photos within a square, usually on a centisquare grid, which divides a grid square into 100 squares, each 100m by 100m.

We have also recently introduced a new map, "Recent Only" this shows recent photos. Help us keep the coverage current by photographing squares without any recent photos (orange or green).

Also look out for Red pin icons around the site, click them to take you to the links page for the location. From that page you can access textual lists of squares in need of photos (as well as direct links to many of the maps on the site).)

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How does a viewer/subscriber find the grid squares which have few or no photos? Close

The depth map
http://www.geograph.org.uk/map/?depth=1
displays this graphically. You can zoom in on your area of interest by clicking on the map and the colours show the number of images in each square.

· contributed by Penny Mayes, Jul 2011 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer!

I've uploaded a picture, why is the square still green on my personal map? Close

Normally, maps get redrawn within 24 hours. If this doesn't happen, please post a bug report on this forum thread: http://www.geograph.org.uk/discuss/index.php?&action=vthread&forum=4&topic=13731 .

· More information on this topic... · contributed by Rudi Winter, Jun 2011 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer!

Where do I find squares where points are available? Close

It depends on which kind of points you're chasing. If it's good old first-geograph points you're after, the answer is probably 'Ireland', although a handful are still left on the big island too. Many of them are mudflats and military installations, though, so good planning and potentially letter writing for permission may be involved. First-geograph points are available in squares shown in green or orange on this map http://www.geograph.org.uk/mapbrowse.php - zoom into your region of interest. Occasionally, squares that have become 'green' again because a mislocated photo was moved are announced on the forum at http://www.geograph.org.uk/discuss/index.php?&action=vthread&forum=2&topic=8428&page=0 . Expect an imminent mass pilgrimage of Geograph-ers to these, though!

There are also other points that you might like to collect. Personal points are awarded for _your_ first geograph for a square. This map http://www.geograph.org.uk/mapbrowse.php?mine helps you find your personal green squares.

If you are the 2nd, 3rd or 4th visitor to a square and submit a geograph for it, you also get a repeat-visitor point for that. The best way to find which squares have had few visitors is the draggable map http://www.geograph.org.uk/mapper/ . You need to change the data overlaid on the Ordnance Survey map by clicking the blue '+' sign top right. Then select 'contributor depth'. This shows the number of different contributors to each square, so if it shows a '2', then you can get a 3rd-visitor point if you upload a picture for that square.

Finally, there are TPoints. They are awarded for geographs which were taken at least five years earlier and later than any existing ones, so you can get a TPoint for a current geograph if nobody has uploaded one taken in the last five years before you. If you enable the TPoint layer in the draggable map (again, via the blue '+'), you can see to which squares this currently applies. You can also get a TPoint for an archive shot which falls outside the periods five years either side of any previously uploaded geographs, but the map doesn't show this.

· More information on this topic... · contributed by Rudi Winter, Jun 2011 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer!

Photo Contributors :: Contributing

How accurate do I have to locate photos to submit to Geograph? Close

As accurately as you can. If you can pinpoint subject and photographer position on the map then do so. If you are unsure then don't worry but do expect others to make suggestions of more accurate positions. You can help them by mentioning in the description things such as the direction you were facing or the name of nearby roads.

· contributed by Gerald England, Jun 2011 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer!

Is there a way to enter latitude and longitude directly when submitting? Close

On submit v1, select "Locate on Map" tab
or
On submit v2, "Find square on map" tool

Enter the coordinates into the box under the map. Separated by a comma, and prefixed by loc, eg:
loc:N51.7252,E0.5905

Click the button at above the map to then continue.

(Much of the text based on an answer given by Barry Hunter in the link below)

· More information on this topic... · contributed by Roger Jones, Jun 2011 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer!

Most GPS receivers allow you to change the datum and display format to OSGB36 and British National Grid, the convention used by the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain. If you're using a GPS built into a mobile phone, this may not be possible, and your coordinates will always be in WGS84 lat/lon format. If you also use your GPS phone to take your geographs, it should store the positions in the GeoExif header, which Geograph should interpret correctly as camera position.

Otherwise, you can use the Google map part of the submission routine ('locate/find on map') and enter your lat/lon coordinates in the format 'loc:N51.7252,E0.5905' in the box below the Google map. This will look up the grid reference for the location and insert it as _subject_ position into the submission dialogue. You may have to adjust this unless the subject was right in front of you.

Alternatively, there is a conversion tool here on Geograph Tools http://www.nearby.org.uk/coord.cgi?f=conv from which you can copy and paste. There's also a bulk conversion tool on the Ordnance Survey website http://gps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/convertbatch.asp?location=0 which will convert lat/lon co-ordinates into grid references, although this uses a slightly different datum for the lat/lon base and will produce a small error (insignificant for Geograph purposes).

(Question asked by Roga and answered by barryhunter, oasthouse and DHL on the forum http://www.geograph.org.uk/discuss/index.php?&action=vthread&forum=18&topic=13483&dontcount=1&page=0#1 )

· More information on this topic... · contributed by Rudi Winter, Jun 2011 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer!

Can I upload an annotated version of a photograph to point out particular features? Close

The main picture on Geograph should be free from annotations because different people may want to use it in different contexts. However, annotated pictures demonstrating features such as geological or geographical details are very welcome. Please upload annotated versions to Geograph's media repository http://www.nearby.org.uk/geograph/media/ and link them from the description of the original image uploaded to Geograph's main archive. This article http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/Howto-Crosslinking-descriptions shows how to make such links.

The media repository can also be used for out-of-copyright images such as old postcards to compare with the same scene in a current geograph, or for user-generated maps of the area.

You can also annotate other people's images and link them as external images from an article you're writing. To get started with article writing, have a look at this overview: http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/Help_on_formatting_of_articles .

· More information on this topic... · contributed by Rudi Winter, Jan 2012 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer!

Points and Moderation

Do you accept multiple images per square? Close

Certainly - the points system is there to encourage people to make that extra effort to capture squares we don't have photos for yet, but we welcome additional Geograph or Supplemental images, perhaps showing a different subject, or a different time of year. You could be gaining yourself a personal point too.

Everyone sees things differently - feel free to give us your take on any square. Some squares have been done in considerable detail, helping to more fully document and add depth to a square. In particular, watch out for things others may have missed - the coverage maps can help with this.

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What are TPoints, how do they work? Close

TPoint or 'Time-gap Point' is a new kind of point. A contributor can gain a TPoint by submitting a contemporary photo to a square that hasn't had a photo for 5 years. The aim is to increase the date range of available photos per square.

Squares available for a recent photo are shown in orange on the Recent Only coverage map,
http://www.geograph.org.uk/map/?recent=1

or purple dots on the 'TPoint Availability' layer on the Draggable OS map.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/mapper/?lat=650000&lon=350000&zoom=0&layers=BFFTFF&recent=1

Also can get listings of squares via this page
http://www.geograph.org.uk/squares.php?distance=5&gridref=SH5050&type=norecent
(change the grid-reference in the box to your area of interest)

· Read more about the various points on the Statistics FAQ
http://www.geograph.org.uk/help/stats_faq

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Why have I gained an extra point without uploading a picture? Close

Sometimes pictures get relocated if they have been uploaded to the wrong grid square by mistake. This is often the case with images from the very early days of Geograph, when there was no or only scanned out-of-copyright mapping available.

Very occasionally, a (first) Geograph gets reclassified as a supplemental image if there had been a clear error in the original classification.

Also rarely, images are withdrawn or vaulted for a long period because they weren't taken from a place with public access and the land owner has complained.

In all these cases, the next uploaded geograph (if any) will take the point, and if that was yours, then you'll find a miraculous extra point on your profile.

· contributed by Rudi Winter, Jun 2011 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer!

Finding way in the forum

How can I show a picture on the forum? Close

If you want to show a thumbnail of a picture from the Geograph collection, just copy and paste its URL (web address) between a pair of square brackets: [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1234567] or just its id number between a pair of triple square brackets: [[[1234567]]].

You can't generally show pictures from other websites, but you can link them so people can click the link to view the picture elsewhere by using this syntax: [url=http://www.example.com/pic.jpg]anchor text[/url] where 'anchor text' stands for the text people click to go to the picture.

If you've got a picture that adds value to the point you're making but it's not suitable to upload it to the Geograph collection, you can upload it to the Geograph media server http://media.geograph.org.uk/ . Once uploaded you can show it in a forum thread using the [img]http://media.geograph.org.uk/files/....[/img] syntax. Use the 'direct link' URL from the upload page for this. This works for png, gif and jpeg formats. If the image is wider than 640px, it'll automatically be shrunk to fit.

This technique is best used for supporting material such as out-of-copyright photos that you can't license under the Creative Commons licence, user-generated maps or graphs showing statistics etc. It should not be used to create signatures, smileys or avatars or other recurrent images, which aren't used on the Geograph forums.

· More information on this topic... · contributed by Rudi Winter, Sep 2011 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer!

· Old FAQ page in case you still looking for it. But please let us know why so we can update this one!