# 6: Discover Flickr

Photosharing websites have been around since the 90s, but it look a small startup called Flickr to move the idea of sharing into a full blown online community. Within the past few years, Flickr has become the fastest growing photo sharing site on the web, and is also known as one of the first websites to use “tags”. Tags are keywords to create associations and connection between photos and users of the site.

For this discovery exercise, you are asked to take a tour of Flick and discover what this site has to offer. Explore how tags work, what groups are for, and all the fun things people and libraries are using Flickr for.

Discovery Resources:

• Flickr Magical Feature Tour (six steps)
• Flickr: Popular Tags
  Interestingness- Last 7 Days
• Flickr Services (3rd party applications and mashup)
• Libraries on Flickr

Discovery Exercise:

1. 1. Take a good look around Flickr, and discover an interesting image that you want to blog about. Either include a link to the image, or if you create a Flickr account, you can use Flickr’s blogging tool to add the image in your post. Another option you have for including images in your post is to use Blogger’s photo upload tool.

   –OR–

2. If you are up to an easy challenge… create a free account in Flickr and upload a few images to your Flickr account. Tag at least one of the images “newcanaanlibrary” and mark it public. Then create a post in your blog about your photo and experience. Be sure to include the image in your post. Once you have a Flickr account, you have two options for doing this: through Flickr’s blogging tool or using Blogger’s photo upload feature.

So, explore and discover Flickr, and have some photo fun. If you are interested in exploring some other photo hosting sites, checkout Picasa or Photobucket. This Wired article reviews and compares some of the photosharing sites available.

PS. A quick word about photo posting etiquette- When posting identifiable photos of other people (especially minors) it is advisable to get the person’s permission before posting their photo in a publicity accessible place like Flickr. Never upload pictures that were not taken by you, unless you have permission from the photographer, and always give credit when including other’s photos in you blog.

Photo from Paris2e on Flickr.