Facing AIDS for World AIDS Day Flickr FAQs

As we mentioned in last week's post for you to upload your Facing AIDS for World AIDS Day photos. There are already hundreds of photos from the United States Conference on AIDS — we hope you'll help us add hundreds (thousands?!) more!

We've been talking with some of our colleagues and realize while it is very popular, not everyone is familiar with FlickrExit Disclaimer, so we've written this post to give you a little more background.

Flickr is an online photo-sharing community Flickr photostream has over 3,000 photos. And many organizations, like the Global Health CouncilExit Disclaimer and YouthForceExit Disclaimer have used Flickr for photo contests. We spoke to Michael Barron, Director of AIDS LifeCycleExit Disclaimer, about how Flickr has helped to promote their annual AIDS ride by asking participants to post photos from the event. He told us, “Our dedicated cyclists and volunteer 'roadies' share photos with the donorsExit Disclaimer who rallied to send them on the road to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS all over California and beyond.”

There are also a lot of exciting things happening outside the HIV community that we can learn from. For example, the Library of Congress, an archive of public photos from libraries and institutions around the world that the Flickr community is helping to describe and tag. Now there are 29 additional institutionsExit Disclaimer that are participating in the Commons initiative. According to Michelle Springer from the LOC, "there are over 1000 records in our Prints and Photographs Catalog that have been enhanced by data provided by Flickr community members."

If you're new to Flickr, we've put together some steps to help you get started.

Create a Flickr accountExit Disclaimer

1. Once you've created an account, you can edit your profile, your screen name (you can use your own name or create an alias), and control your privacy settings.You can also create your own permanent Flickr address, for example, our Flickr address is www.flickr.com/photos/aidsgovExit Disclaimer (but choose wisely, it can't be changed later!)
2. When you sign up, you have two options, a free account (that limits the size and number of photos you can upload or post) or a Pro account that has unlimited uploads, storage, photosets, and does not include ads on your page. You can use the free account to upload photos to the Facing AIDS group.

Upload Photos
There are several ways to upload photos to Flickr.

Note: New accounts are marked "pending" until your photos have been reviewedExit Disclaimer. You'll need to upload at least 5 public photos to have them reviewed by Flickr.

1. Flickr websiteExit Disclaimer: Log into your account, select "Upload photos and videos", and follow the steps to choose photos from your computer to upload. Don't forget to describe them with a title, description, and tags. Then click "save" and you're all set.
2. Email your photosExit Disclaimer: Flickr provides you with your own unique email address to add photos to your Flickr account.
3. From your mobile phoneExit Disclaimer: To upload from your mobile phone, either visit flickr.comExit Disclaimer or use your phone to upload photos using your unique email addressExit Disclaimer.

Join the Facing AIDS for World AIDS Day groupExit Disclaimer and upload your Facing AIDS photo

Note: All members of HIV.gov Facing AIDS Flickr group can see your photo. If you don't want anyone outside of the group to see your photo, you can change your privacy settings. Similarly, we may be using the photos to compile a Facing AIDS video montage and to promote the campaign on HIV.gov.

1. Once you've logged into your Flickr account, join the Facing AIDS group page by clicking "join this group."
2. Then select "add photos" and follow the steps to select, tag, and describe your photo. We suggest tagging your photos with "WAD09" or "Facing AIDS." We also encourage you to caption your photo with the message from your sign.

Have additional questions about Flickr?
Check out Flickr's help pageExit Disclaimer or email us at contact@HIV.gov.

Please join us in Facing AIDS for World AIDS Day. Together we can Face AIDS. Together we can make a difference!