Images are central to telling the protected areas story. This pages details how to upload images to the SAPAA Website.

Where and when a photo was taken as well as by whom is important. Amongst other things, such detailing offers a chance to compare changes in a protected area over time.

SAPAA File and Image Management

WordPress is NOT an image management tool (e.g. unlike Flickr, Google Photos, etc.). Only images to be used immediately on a page/post should be upload to to the Website. Pre-Website Image-Management discusses where to store images used or being collected by SAPAA.

Procedure: Uploading an Image

Uploading an image involves the following 5 steps.

1. Preparing
2. Uploading
3. Describing
4. Using
5. Archiving and Deleting

1. Preparing

Once uploaded, very basic editing such as cropping is possible but it is not possible to change the file name of the image nor resize it. These steps should be done in advance using a photo editing or file management tool. Preparation involves transforming the image to the standards in particular:

• Filename: e.g. BilbyNA_2098-12-31_BobsUruncle.
• File size: e.g. rendering an image down to be no more than 1,000 pixels on the largest dimension (Height or Width).
• Cropping: Extraneous information from the image should be removed; ‘fill the picture with the subject’ is the mantra.

File Naming Conventions

As a general principle, care and effort is taken to name images and files not for their immediate benefit but instead for those having to manage the file a year, decade or more in the future. The file name should be scannable to the human and at a glance tell the store of WHERE, WHEN and WHO. Some specifics include the following:

1. No Spaces: Replace them with hyphens “-” or underscores “_”.
2. General Format: [WHERE]_[WHEN]_[WHO]_[IDENTIFIER]
   1. WHERE: Name of the protected area including its designation at the time of uploading (Natural Area = NA, Provincial Park =PP, etc.).
   2. WHEN: The filename should contain the date (YYYY-MM-DD) and where the photo was taken. Use ‘ca’ indicating an approximate timeframe if the date is less certain (e.g. ca1987).
   3. WHO: Include the photo credit in the name if available otherwise listed as ‘unknown’.
   4. IDENTIFIER: Often a number or a subject description.
3. Examples:
   • Not allowed: “dsc012345”
   • Perfect: “BilbyNA_2098-12-31_BobsUruncle”
   • Acceptable: WelchCreekNA_ca1987_Unknown
4. Substance over Form: the reason to follow the above standards is to support searching, sorting and usage of the images. As long as the above standards are reasonably adhered to, the file should be accepted and used even if the order, format, etc. varies.
5. Tips and Tricks:
   • Windows Title: the Windows attribute ‘Title’ associated with an image will override the file name when uploading.
   • Unable to Delete: wordpress.com holds an image in its database even if it is deleted (this is to provide continuity and support restore function). Uploading a file again will result in an ‘incremented’ file name (e.g. Bilby, Bilby-1, Bilby-2, etc.).

File Size and Format

• Size: RAW images are not permitted but the photo should be 800 to 1,000 pixels on one of its dimensions (e.g. 1,500 x 1,800) but no more than 3,000 pixels on its largest dimension. Approx. 0.3 to 1.0 MB is ideal!
• Format: Most common media-formats are allowed (jpg, png, etc.). At this time, videos are not permitted due to space limitations. JPG files are preferred because of their metadata management.

Use of Metadata

Image information can be stored in select metadata elements such as the image’s title or description. Metadata must be accessible to WordPress

2. Uploading

Upload via the Media Library function. This ensures the Describing stage is done consistently before associating a file with a page or a blog. Images can also be uploaded via a specific page or blog.

3. Describing

Photo Credit: Photo credit is provided in the narrative sections of the image and if possible, embedded in the filename (see above example).

Caption: The caption should provide a short description of the subject of image and a photo credit and date: [SUBJECT] – [LOCATION] – [DATE] – [(CREDIT)].

• [SUBJECT]: What is being seen in the photo, e.g. People, flora, fauna, landscape, etc. E.g., white-tailed deer.
• [LOCATION] Name of the area where the photo was taken unless unavailable.
  • Abbreviations of common terms permitted, e.g. NA = Natural Area, PP = Provincial Park.
• [DATE]: preferred format, YYYY-MM-DD, e.g. 2098-12-31 for December 31st, 2098.
• [(CREDIT)]: who took the photo in parentheses, e.g. (BSuruncle).
  • Typically first initial followed without a space by the capitalized last name.
  • Words such as photo credit, etc. are not required if this format is used.
• Examples:
  • Sedge Fens, Welsh Creek Natural area – 2098-12-31 (BSurncle)
  • Bilby Natural Area Site Review, December 31, 2098 (Bob Suruncle)

Description/Alternative Text: This provides narrative for those viewing the site with audio-descriptions on. Use short and concise sentences to describe the image, e.g. “White-tailed deer face the camera from behind foliage in Bilby Natural Area”. Abbreviations should be avoided.

Files can be sorted in the media library and searched on (e.g. a search for ‘Bilby’ would return the image: “BilbyNA_2098-12-31_BobsUruncle”).

Describing an Order in Council Map

Order-in-Council Map of [LOCATION] [ADDITIONAL DETAILS AS RELEVANT] Natural Area (Government of Alberta)

4. Using

Once uploaded, the image is available to insert into a page or blog. The caption and other details noted above will be automatically carried along with the image.

5. Deleting or Archiving

For the moment, images are note deleted or archived.