VOAz Event Photography & Picasa Web Albums
VOAz Event Photography
The Event Photographer(s) is recruited by either the Event Manager or Admin. Before the event the EM will
work out who is responsible for each step of the process:
• who takes camera & gear to/from event
• event photography
• photos uploaded to Web Album & configuration of Web Album
• link at Report webpage & Announcements
Admin will have a link in VOAz Announcements webpage set
Event Photography Equipment
If you do not have the necessary items, ask the EM to have VOAz get gear to the event.
 Camera (VOAz has Nikon and ??)
 Good batteries, plus extras for Nikon
Note: if this is an overnight event, be sure to keep batteries warm
 Pad and pencil/pen to jot down volunteer names, etc.
Photo Guidelines
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Set camera to the highest resolution possible (other than RAW).
Turn OFF date and time stamp.
If using the VOAz camera, erase all existing images
Pay attention to composition. Make sure light is behind you when photographic subject. Fill the frame with
people, individual close ups and group shots, fun shots, and spectacular landscape and wildlife scenes.
Avoid butt shots.
Include first-time VOAz volunteers in photos.
Record names (if 4 or less people in a photo) and what is taking place in the photo - may include first
names in photo caption.
Incorporate Photos from Other Photographers
Try to incorporate photos offered by other volunteers. If the photographer does not wish to use a personal email,
photos may be sent to pics@voaz.org. Up to 100 MB maybe emailed but the VOAz webmaster should be notified
so they can be moved out of that account and eventually uploaded to our Google account.
Retain High Resolution Images
The Picasa Web Album allows you to downsize the images so that they occupy less space online; however, this
does not allow VOAz to use images for print publications and displays. When you upload images to the Web
Album, the originals remain on your computer - do not destroy these original images! Please burn the original
images to a CD and mail to VOAz. If you cannot burn a CD, you may also email them to: pics@voaz.org (be sure
to notify the EM or Admin if doing so). Additionally, we can provide ftp access to upload them directly to our
server.
Please get photos online within one week of the event; photos lose their value the longer it
takes to post them after the event.
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VOAz Event Photography & Picasa Web Albums
Create a Web Album for a VOAz Event
Web albums can be created from any computer that has an Internet connection (hi-speed recommended)..
Access VOAz’s Picasa Web Albums
Go to https://picasaweb.google.com/home
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If you have a personal Google account it may take you to that account automatically. Simply Sign Out
and …
Sign in VOAz’s Google account
email = admin@voaz.org or voazalbums@gmail.com
password = 20vOaz02
Install Picasa™ Software
Note: You do not need to install Picasa Software onto your computer to upload photos to Picasa Web
Albums. Picasa Software is the free photo editing software from Google that integrates into the Web Album
service.
• Sign in VOAz’s Google account at http://picasaweb.google.com
email = admin@voaz.org or voazalbums@gmail.com
password = 2014v0az
• Click settings gear button in the upper right corner
• Click “Help”
• Click “Picasa” in upper left corner
• Click “Download Picasa” and follow screen prompts
Note: Software upgrades may mean instructions such as those that follow may become out of date.
STEP 1: Upload Photos
You can upload photos directly via Picasa Web Albums (Step 1a) or with Picasa
Software (Step 1b)
Step 1a: Upload Photos Directly to Picasa Web Albums
1. Sign in to Picasa Web Albums (see top of page for access keys)
2. Click the Upload button.
3. Now you need a destination album. Choose to create a new album or select an existing one. For new
albums, adjust your settings:
• Set your album title, date and privacy (Public)
4. Select the photos you'd like to upload. What browser are you using?
• Firefox, Chrome and Safari: You can upload a maximum of 5 photos at a time. Just click Browse
and select your photos.
• Internet Explorer: Upload any number of photos. The first time you use this option, click the Upload
Control link on the right in the upload dialog. You'll need to install the Active X plug-in when
prompted.
5. In the 'Upload Settings' drop-down box, select the size you'd like to upload (1024 or 1600 pixels)
6. Complete the upload.
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VOAz Event Photography & Picasa Web Albums
Step 1b: Edit & Upload Photos Using Picasa Software
1. Transfer event photos from your camera to a computer.
2. Once you start the event picture transfer to a computer with the Picasa Software, Picasa should
automatically detect the new pictures. It will display the new pictures and allow you to import them to a
folder of your choice.
• Create a folder for your event.
• Click on Import All, or Import Selected if you only want to import only a subset of the pictures on
your camera.
• Choose the folder created to import the pictures.
• After import is complete, Picasa should point to the photos just loaded.
3. Edit photos in Picasa. In your folder with the “library” view of thumbnails of all images:
• Delete poor or redundant pictures. Drag them around to get the order that tells the event story (the
sequence can also be adjusted once loaded to the web).
• Click View/Edit View on the top menu bar. Scroll tool takes you through the entire album.
• Image editing tools are on left-side pane. The “I’m feeling lucky” option is often helpful to make the
pictures look better. Use the tools available in Picasa to get them the way you want.
• Add captions by clicking in the caption area below the picture (or, you may do this after uploading the
photos to the Web Album)
• Proof the final picture set and captions by clicking the “Play” button
4. Upload final event album to the Web Album.
• From Picasa, select all images (or those you want) and load the event pictures by clicking the
“Upload” button (Green arrow) at the bottom.
• If necessary, sign in to VOAz’s Web Albums/Google Account:
email = admin@voaz.org or voazalbums@gmail.com
password = 2014v0az
• The new album name will be the folder name or you can create a new one.
• Set Photo Size = 1024 or 1600 pixels
• Set Visibility = Public
• Click Upload
Note: Photos may be loaded to the Picasa Web Album before processing is complete. Multiple photographers
can load pictures. The lead photographer can edit/adjust on-line.
STEP 2: Finish Configuring the Web Album
Once images are uploaded to the Web Album, the tools you need to use for editing are located under the Edit
tab:
1. Click Album Properties (replace text in red with your event information):
• Title: Short project/work related name - location reference – no date
OK to copy names from prior events on same project.
• Description: Project Narrative like “Thirty two volunteers built 500 feet of new trail …
The Event Manager should provide this text. If not available at time of album creation it can be
added later.
• Place Taken: Address of the event
As close as possible, Google will attempt to locate this event on a map – you can adjust the map
pin location.
• Click Album Type: Chose “Public”
• Click “Save Changes”
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VOAz Event Photography & Picasa Web Albums
2. Click Album Cover. Select the best picture to be the cover of your Web Album. This photo will also be
shown on the VOAz report page. Choose a group shot or good volunteer in action shot.
3. Click Organize & Reorder to re-order pictures in a close to accurate timeline
4. Click Edit Captions and other tools as needed
Once you are finished configuring the Web Album, click Share and enter the Event Manager’s email address so
that s/he will get an email indicating the album is finished and can then forward that to the event registrants. If EM
or a Web Tech is doing Step 3 below, you may paste the link used to embed the album at the web in the email
message box that appears after you click share. (See steps 3 and 4 below.)
STEP 3: Links to the Web Album on the Report Page
In order to complete this step, the event must be associated with a Project that has a Project Report page on the
VOAz website.
In Picasa Web Albums
1. If necessary, sign in to VOAz’s Web Albums/Google Account:
email = admin@voaz.org or voazalbums@gmail.com
password = 2014v0az
2. Click your event’s Web Album
3. Click Link to this album (located on the right hand side, under the description)
4. Select text in the box below “Paste HTML to embed in website”.
• Select all of the text using your cursor, or press CTL+A to select all
• Right click, copy
• Place it directly in the Project Report page
In VOAz website
At voaz.org, under “Staff”, click Events
Located your event, click Edit
At the top of the Event Edit page, click Post Event Entries
Scroll to the bottom of the page to Item 6: Event Report for Web
Paste the “Paste HTML to embed in website” text you copied from Picasa Web Albums
• This HTML link should be the first entry, before the written web report.
7. Click Submit Information
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Place Link in the Announcements Page (VOAz Administrators only)
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At voaz.org, under “Admin”, click Announcements
Click Create New Announcement
Under “Announcement Type” select Administrators
Copy and insert only the Picassa HTML code used from Step 3.
Click Submit Information and review at Admin home (under My VOAz). If OK select “All” under
Announcement Type and click Submit Information.
Final Proof of the Web Album
Once an event album is posted at the VOAz web site, the photographer and EM may view it there to make sure
all is okay. If there are any problems, edit the Web Album from any internet connection.
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