User:PS2pcGAMER/flickr

With the recent push towards free images and the removal of fair use images, many articles, especially articles on living people are now imageless.

flickr is a great source to locate replacements for free images. There are two methods to finding images on flickr for use on Wikipedia, using already free images or trying to get the author to release the rights of the image under a free license. The second method takes a bit of work, but it my experience it is very rewording and has a high rate of success.

I've seen and had great luck convincing flickr members to change their license. In my limited experience, they are usually more than willing to help Wikipedia out. Examples: Image:Michael Jordan.jpg, Image:Jeremy Clarkson.jpg, more...

Already free images

This applies only to Creative Commons by and by-sa images.

This method is easy as the creator has already release his/her image under a free license. Basically, anyone can take one of these images and upload it on to Wikipedia (preferably the Wikimedia Commons). To find such images on flickr, do as follows:

Use the advanced flickr search
The last option on the search page relates to Creative Commons licensing. You must check all three boxes as for content to be considered free, images must be able to be reused commercially and edited.
To the best of your ability, make sure the flickr member owns the rights to the image. (i.e. they aren't promotional images or any image with dubious ownership claims)
Click on the alternate sizes and grab the original/largest image available and save it to your computer.
Upload image onto the commons. Use the appropriate flickr option from the drop down menu. This is necessary because it puts the image in a queue to be automatically verified that the license listed on the commons matches the one on the flickr source page.
This is optional, but strongly suggested. Send a message to the flickr member letting him/her know that you have used their image on Wikipedia (provide a direct link to the article). Thank them for releasing their image under a free license. Also, let them know that you are more than happy to answer any questions they may have.

flickrlickr (to expand)

let the flickrlickr bot do its thing

Copyrighted images

This includes cc-nc and cc-nd

Use the regular flickr search
Locate the image you would like to use on Wikipedia
To the best of your ability, make sure the uploader actually owns the rights to the image (i.e. make sure it isn't a screenshot of a tv show or falls under Derivative works, etc)
Send a message to the creator
Some guidelines:
Make the message personal. Don't use a template that you send to many different flickr members. It looks tacky and reflects poorly upon Wikipedia.

Introduce yourself. State that you are a contributor of Wikipedia "a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit".

State which image you would like to use and give a link the Wikipedia article that you would like to use it in

Explain that wikipedia/commons only accepts by-sa-2.0 or by-2.0 (and gfdl). Give a direct link to the creative commons overview pages for these licenses so they know exactly what a creative commons license is.

More advice
Remember:
Be friendly

They might ask if cc-nc is ok. It isn't. See this essay as to why.

Give them a way to contact you if they have any questions in the future.

Consider leaving them a link to Commons:Welcome, Flickr users if they seem like they might want to help out (should this be listed here?)
Click on the alternate sizes and grab the original/largest image available and save it to your computer.
Upload the image onto the commons so that other Wikimedia projects can immediately take advantage of your work
- On the commons, If they change the license on flickr to a free license, just use the default upload template for flickr images (on the drop down menu). This is done so the flickrreviewr bot can do its thing
- On the commons, If they leave it as "All rights reserved", use the generic template that you have to fill out. Copy and paste the exchange between you and the copyright holder on the image/talk page. (is this the correct procedure?)
Add the image to the appropriate article(s)
Send a link the flickr member showing them their contribution on the site. Thank them once more.

Closing

Just be friendly with the flickr contributors. They are doing us a favor by releasing their image under a free license, so we definitely don't want to leave a bad taste in their mouths. If they have a good experience, they might even become Wikipedia contributors themselves.