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Archiver > SOG-UK > 2004-02 > 1076182869


From: John V Addis-Smith <>
Subject: [SoG] Church Photographs
Date: Sat, 07 Feb 2004 19:41:09 +0000
References: <6.0.1.1.2.20040204132850.043f2ec0@pop.ntlworld.com>
In-Reply-To: <6.0.1.1.2.20040204132850.043f2ec0@pop.ntlworld.com>


I have been following this thread with interest and should like to
make the following brief observations:

- the idea of having church pictures available from a central web
site, whether by links or with the picture files actually on the site
seems an excellent idea

- I think that the scope of the pictures needs to be considered:
- geographically: England, Wales, Scotland, N Ireland and the
islands. Also the Republic of Ireland?
- picture medium: photographic, but also scans of prints and
drawings (especially for destroyed or mutilated churches) and
paintings
- religious affiliation: chapels and meeting houses to be included
too I hope
- view points: building exteriors of course, but also interiors?
(If pictures of individual church monuments are offered, would they
also be accepted?) churchyard/graveyard views? Individual memorials?

- since you have had the offer from Brian Randall that some GENUKI web
space could be provided I hope that that will be accepted, because I
think that the ideal would be to have copyright free pictures
available on such a site. At least in the short term links to
pictures on other sites will be needed to provide the volume of
pictures needed, but I think the aim should be to eventually have most
of the pictures on the site

- copyright: the already suggested mix of copyright free, used with
the permission of the author, or for private use only will be needed
initially. But if pictures in the second and third categories can be
replaced with those in the first category, then that should be
encouraged. I personally don't care if some use the pictures for
commercial purposes, but one could always request that use for such
purposes requires a fee! But ideally for those publishing family
histories on a non-commercial basis, there should be no restriction.
Define 'non-commercial' as you wish - perhaps for print runs under
1,000. There will also be need to be some system of recording and
filing all the copyright waivers for future reference.

- picture resolution: although one has no control over pictures on
other sites, I would hope that the site would set a standard for
pictures accepted or requested for use on the site. I suggest three
resolutions, bearing in mind that the pictures are to be used in
illustrating family histories, many of which will be **printed**,
rather than screen viewed from a CD-ROM say:
- thumbnail
- 2 megapixels (for a 6" x 4" printed image at 250 dpi)
- 5 megapixels (for a 'full page' 8" x 10 " printed image at 250
dpi)
Should there also be a minimum resolution accepted for those pictures
which are to be linked to - given the intended use on paper? For
example, I have recently seen pictures on the web of some Northants
churches that don't even look sharp on screen, let alone printed out!

Obviously at present not every one will be able to provide pictures at
the highest resolution, but pictures at 4 or 5 megapixel resolution
should be accepted if available - and in a year or two many people
will have cameras with such resolutions. Only one highest resolution
picture would be needed each time, provided Phil or whoever can
produce the lower resolution and thumbnail versions from these.

- task size: I don't know if Phil has estimated the potential number
of pictures involved yet, but at one picture per church, chapel or
meeting house, we are talking around 20,000 (I seem to remember a
figure of 12,000 ancient - pre 1837 - anglican churches). Add extra
exterior views, and interiors, and we could easily approach 100,000!
Then add the task of checking on a regular basis the thousands of
links to other web sites, and dealing with the broken ones. I suggest
that a team will be needed to deal with such a task!

Personally, I would donate 5 megapixel pictures of churches that I
have taken or will take, plus scans from out of copyright books that I
own. Only today my wife has scanned from a book on the GIFFARDS,
published in 1902, a picture of the alabaster tomb of Sir John GIFFARD
and his family of Chillington in the church at Brewood, Staffs.


Cheers, John

John V Addis-Smith
Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, England

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