TIPS

Aim for much better than ‘snap shots’

Our aim on Wikimedia Commons is to collect as many educationally-interesting images as we can. This means to capture details that illustrate the idea – and not just give a general view. Below are some things to consider from basic photographic tips and avoiding problems when taking photos to what you need to consider around Copyright.

Basic photography tips

The team at Wikimedia France and Wiki Loves Africa created this handy guide (in French) to help when photographing anything for Wikimedia Commons:

Read below for general tips on basic photography.

  1. Use the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is the image field sectioned into 9 equal parts (like a tic-tac-toe grid). This rule works well for people, landscapes, architecture, and nature photography. Compose your photo by imagining a line going through your picture while you are getting your shot ready. Align the section of the photo that stands out to one third or one of the lines of the grid. This helps to make the image more interesting by drawing the eye.  Look at how the grid applies to this image:
  2. Use symmetry in your photos. If there are horizontal or vertical lines use them to line up the photograph. Do not tip the photograph at an angle. This rarely makes a photograph better or interesting, and it distracts from the subject matter. Look at how symmetry is used in these images. 
  3. Intentionally compose people, objects and animals. Shift your view to ensure that the focus of the image is placed using either a central placement or a third placement.Mozambique_-_traditional_sailboat
  4. Use colour intentionally to draw interest and make the focus ‘pop’.  
  5. Use texture and pattern.  To make the image interesting look for textures that draw the eye. Clouds,  water, reflections, materials, patterns, etc. make the image more compelling.
  6. Combine some of the earlier tips.
  7. Use different or unexpected angles. Take images from above or from below.   Puente_de_las_cataratas_Victoria,_Zambia-Zimbabue
  8. Use a frame within a frame or geometry (circles, arcs, squares, leading lines (perspective, etc.) to make the image interesting.  
  9. Use of watermarks. Do not put watermarks or your logo on the image. This will mean that the photograph is automatically disqualified as an entry. Read more on why watermarks are not accepted.
  10. Do NOT use AI to generate images. The international jury will not review any image generated by AI.

Avoiding problems

  • If you are a beginner, check out the common errors to avoid (this relates to buildings, but is also good for people and other images).
  • Please be respectful and considerate to your fellow photographers, and to the people you are photographing.
  • Please be especially respectful when taking pictures of people. You should always ask their permission (if you cannot do it before the shot, do it afterwards).
  • Always ask for permission if you want to photograph people or inside someone’s workshop or property. Stop straight away if you are asked to do so.
  • Do not trespass on private property.

Photo essays

You could enter a photo essay, which is a series of photographs that tell a story about what is going on. Your entry could be a series of people involved in the same fun activity but in different contexts, or several people of a similar group doing different fun or playful activities, or a montage of images that explores one person going through the process of playing, or a montage of images that, say, explores a woman practicing her sport.

So, say, if you want to take a picture of a board game in Mozambique – don’t just take one picture of the players from far. Instead take several types of pictures … of the players engaging from different angles – and some long shots with some detail shots too. That way you have more to choose from and you have captured the whole story.

Copyright issues

  • Please do not upload photographs of posters, noticeboards, signs, modern murals, or anything else having text or two-dimensional images that might be copyright-protected. That applies even to text or images that are in a public place and that everyone else is taking pictures of. Ancient wall paintings in churches are fine, as are photos of stained glass windows of any date.
  • Do NOT upload some one else’s photographs unless you can get express written permission sent to Wikimedia that the person is happy for you to place their work on Commons using the CC-BY-SA licence. Read more about why and how to get permissions for someone else’s images. The only exception to this rule is if a Wikimedian is batch uploading images at a Wiki Loves Africa event. They will ask you to give emailed permission for these images.