User talk:Colin/Archive/2020

Your best shot 2019

Dear member of the Commons Photographers User Group,

It's early 2020, which means it's time again to look back at photographs taken over the course of the past 12 months. As always, I'm curious – what would you consider your best shot of 2019 and why? I invite you to share your image and your thoughts in order to provide others with the opportunity to celebrate, learn, and enjoy:

Your best shot 2019

Thanks for all your effort in sharing your vision of the world with others under a free license!

All the best, --Frank Schulenburg (talk) 20:01, 19 January 2020 (UTC)

The C# codes for Photo challenge processing stopped working

Colin, I was trying to run your codes and run into some trouble: the line around # 58: with "List<string> wikiText = DownloadWikiFile(url, errorWriter)" instead of returning the content of Commons:Photo challenge/2019 - December - Mirrors returns content of this page. I assume that Function DownloadWikiFile will need to be rewritten so it is using some up to data protocols. Any idea how to fix it? --Jarekt (talk) 04:14, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

Jarekt, I had that problem too last month. I upgraded the library used for accessing web sites and it went away. I forgot that I did that and should have shared it with you. I'll post it tonight. Are you using the MS Visual Studio Community Edition with up-to-date C# and .net versions? -- Colin (talk) 12:25, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

Ok, that makes sense. I am using some free MS Visual Studio I downloaded years ago. Maybe I should, uninstall and find some more current version. I will try it tonight. --Jarekt (talk) 13:28, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

Jarekt, you need a library change. I'll upload the source. But the new library uses async which requires a modern C#. It is easy to get the community edition 2019 for free, provided you are on Windows. -- Colin (talk) 13:39, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

Jarekt, I've updated the code. I'm using Visual Studio Community 2019 16.4.2. I've updated the HtmlAgilityPack in my solution to version 1.11.17 using the Manage Nuget Packages... menu/page. The code is set to target .NET Framework 4.7.2. Let me know if you have problems with it and I'll help fix or help do this month's pages while we sort it out. Is Commons:Photo challenge/code/CreateVotingDuo.cs still used? I haven't done an update for that but can do if you need it. -- Colin (talk) 19:21, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

Thank you. I will try this tonight. I do not think I have ever run Commons:Photo challenge/code/CreateVotingDuo.cs, so it is much less of a priority. --Jarekt (talk) 20:38, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

I am still trying to reinstall Visual Studio. Something went wrong with the initial installation, so I had to uninstall it and am one reboot away from reinstalling it. Than I will try to recreate the project, as the old one did not work (maybe it will fix itself). It takes a while and next 2 evenings I will not be around. Any chance you have time to at least create the voting pages for last month? --Jarekt (talk) 03:01, 9 January 2020 (UTC)

OK, I got VS2019 to work and it does open the project file, but I must have broken something when I updated HtmlAgilityPack, because it is still looking for the old one, and can not see the new one. Maybe you can just send me a zip file with your 2 projects, that was how I got it to work in the first place. If you can, my email is (redacted). --Jarekt (talk) 04:30, 9 January 2020 (UTC)

Jarekt, how frustrating. It is 8am GMT here and I won't be able to do anything on this till this evening. I can do the photo challenge page(s). I'll also send you my project and solution files. I wonder if you added the HtmlAgilityPack previously with a direct reference to the DLL, whereas the modern way of doing this is with the NuGet Package Manager. If you look in Solution Explorer, and the project tree, there should be a "References" node. If you see HtmlAgilityPack in that, then delete it. Then right-click the solution node and choose Manage Nuget Packages For Solution... On the page that loads, change the top tab to Browse. Search for HtmlAgilityPack and install that.

You may also find that my latest C# references some .net libraries (via "using ... statements") that are not included as references in your project yet. If that is the case, right click on the References node and choose Add Reference... In the pop-up dialog, choose the Assemblies tab on the left. Then search down the list of microsoft libraries till you find the one that is missing and add it.

If you have created the project from scratch, you may also want to change the directory that the program runs in. I assume you run it under the debugger (press F5) after setting the new challenge name in the code. So right-click on the project in the solution explorer and choose Properties. In the page that appears, select the Debug tab. Then look for the Working Directory field and modify that to whatever you find useful.

Hope that helps. I'll fix the photo challenge unless I hear from you that you've got it working. -- Colin (talk) 08:13, 9 January 2020 (UTC)

Colin, are you running it on some wmf tool server or wmflabs?, have you some github?. I've been doing some javascript libraries to improve the experience of QIC voting, however, I would like to use c # and not js to do the same on FPC, I do not know if wmf has any server that interprets --Wilfredor (talk) 14:11, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

(talk page stalker) en:Mono (software) can run c# on toolforge. --Zhuyifei1999 (talk) 14:21, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

Wilfredor, Zhuyifei1999, the instructions of what I and Jarekt do when maintaining PhotoChallenge can be found at Commons:Photo challenge/Maintainers Manual. The code is at CreateVoting.cs and Voting.cs, though I can send anyone the more complete solution/project files if that helps. Both are simple command-line apps and I haven't even bothered to read arguments from the command-line. I just change a string in the app to the current PC name being voted-on or submitted-to and run it in visual studio. Both output some files, one with errors that may need fixed on the wiki pages or with voting mistakes. Some of the files are the wiki text for the new voting or results. All edits to Commons need to be done by hand by pasting that text into the browser and submitting.

So clearly there is much room for improvement wrt integrating with Commons and perhaps automatically generating pages and giving out prizes. However, I think the priority for helping the UI would be to improve the submission page so that newbies don't get stuck trying to submit images. Sorry this probably doesn't give you any help wrt FPC improvements.

Zhuyifei1999, do we have any examples of C# tools on toolforge? I can write C# but not web (HTML/Javascript). -- Colin (talk) 18:07, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

User:Picasa Review Bot 2 is in C# and ran on toolforge. --Zhuyifei1999 (talk) 22:51, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

Colin What submit page are you talking about FPC submit page?. I could change anything --Wilfredor (talk) 18:32, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

I meant Commons:Photo challenge#submitting but I know you want to tackle FPC. There are problems with FPC submission too, especially with newbies. Better to discuss on FPC talk about what could be improved there. I think the Photo Challenge gets more newbies than FPC. -- Colin (talk) 18:45, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

selfblock of ArionEstar

On the other hand, I've been trying to convince ArionEstar to come back, however, it's not an easy task and I have been seeing the unfortunate incident that resulted in the practically selfblock of ArionStar, a incident difficult to understand how being able to get votes in FPC is a valid reason to prevent a user from continuing to collaborate. Maybe FPC has become a kind of elite reigned by egos where the same homogenous vision of what FP is supposed to be. The community became older, more rigid rules and a mediawiki that has practically not changed anything in a decade, the projects have been thrown into abandonment according to my point of view or perhaps I am poisoning. Finally, I see that you are also retiring slowly?, maybe it has stopped being fun to collaborate in a ship aimlessly with the broken keel (WMF seems to have stopped supporting even mediawiki, focused on other things). --Wilfredor (talk) 03:17, 17 February 2020 (UTC)

You can see my comment at this discussion. I wasn't happy with how he was dealt with, but also I really have no sympathy with long-term users who nominate constantly and without themselves selecting the best. Whether it is Poco and his own photos or Arion and other people's photos, it is IMO disrespectful to waste reviewers time in this way, simply to amass more gold stars. There's really no excuse that long-term FP users should have a low success rate, unless they are being adventurous in stretching themselves as artists and photographers.

I'm not contributing much at the moment but that's just my own diversions away from photography. I need to find some motivation and some extra hours in the day. -- Colin (talk) 14:03, 17 February 2020 (UTC)

I have been limiting myself to two nominations per month according to our last conversation, the success rate has increased considerably (my last 3 nominations have passed quietly). BTW, I have been through moments of discouragement because of what we talked a long time ago by email and sometimes overwork, monotony, weather, can be overwhelming and I ended up filling myself with useless material objects brought from China seeking to fill that existential void, however, traveling to Caribbean countries for a month, meeting people and the local language can cure anything. Maybe the same might work for you or maybe not, but definitely traveling refreshes the soul. --Wilfredor (talk) 14:12, 17 February 2020 (UTC)

Topaz Denoise AI

Returning to our past conversation about Artificial Intelligence in Phones and how it's changing the photography industry today, BTW I have been observing noise and sharpness correction software that possibly adds details that did not exist in the original image. I am extremely impressed with this artificial intelligence software, with the default options doing nothing considerably improves not only the noise but also the sharpness, see this example. Original, Topaz Denoise. This has made me think of a future full of artificial intelligence that could bring to life the photos we are taking now. This also makes me think of a world where photography as art begins to disappear in the vulgarization of touch-ups, something that has been going on for years, but now the gap between phones and cameras is beginning to close. --Wilfredor (talk) 21:23, 9 February 2020 (UTC)

Wilfredor, that's quite a remarkable sharpening. I assume from the size it is a stitched photo. Is it downsized at all? Perhaps some sharpening halos round "JE ME SOUVIENS" in the centre. How does it cope with a higher ISO photo? I often find indoor photos with high ISO end up with much lower detail and hard to sharpen them without just sharpening the noise. -- Colin (talk) 08:36, 11 February 2020 (UTC)

Yes it is an image composed of two images, my images are never downsized. I was seeing the automatic correction of with high ISO (and noise) and it seems to be practically magical, in the description page of this image you will find the two versions and a link to the raw if you are interested to improve this image by yourself. Original with heavy noise, Topaz denoise AI and Neat Image et another comparison original method vs Topaz denoise. Finally a noise reduction on my phone after and before --Wilfredor (talk) 00:50, 12 February 2020 (UTC)

I'll have a go with your raw files. I think some of the AI results are a bit odd looking, with patches of smooth noise-free area and patches of noisy area. It is clever but it isn't totally realistic. -- Colin (talk) 14:04, 17 February 2020 (UTC)

I used the default setting, changing the settings gives better results --Wilfredor (talk) 20:49, 17 February 2020 (UTC)

Some Topaz Gigapixel AI results(my sister) are simply magical, they are a little scary to rescue so many details. Some faces are poorly rendered but others are simply miraculous, I can't imagine the future that awaits us --Wilfredor (talk) 04:19, 22 February 2020 (UTC)

This night i was testing Topaz Gigapixel adding a upscaled version of File:Teatro Municipal de São Paulo 8.jpg and it never ceases to amaze me --Wilfredor (talk) 05:39, 22 February 2020 (UTC)

The Gigapixel image is interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about invented details. There are some bits that clearly look as though lines and curves have been imposed to give an illusion of detail, while other bits remain a bit soft but not noisy. The areas with colour moire get emphasised worse and the writing on the tall poster isn't more legible. But doubling the linear "resolution" is a huge jump! It also shows your original photo was well taken with sharpness and low noise. I haven't got round to experimenting with the raw files yet. Been busy with some DIY at home, and some obligations on Wikipedia. It is in the todo list. -- Colin (talk) 10:44, 22 February 2020 (UTC)

File:Hot and Steamy.png

File:Hot and Steamy.png has been listed at Commons:Deletion requests so that the community can discuss whether it should be kept or not. We would appreciate it if you could go to voice your opinion about this at its entry. If you created this file, please note that the fact that it has been proposed for deletion does not necessarily mean that we do not value your kind contribution. It simply means that one person believes that there is some specific problem with it, such as a copyright issue. Please see Commons:But it's my own work! for a guide on how to address these issues. Please remember to respond to and – if appropriate – contradict the arguments supporting deletion. Arguments which focus on the nominator will not affect the result of the nomination. Thank you!

P 1 9 9  ✉ 20:01, 4 March 2020 (UTC)

A barnstar for you!

	The Barnstar of Good Humor
	I wholeheartedly endorse floral flavors in desserts. Thanks for sharing! :) — Rhododendrites talk |  13:53, 29 March 2020 (UTC)

Commons Photographers User Group: Meeting on May 30, 2020

Dear member of the Commons Photographers User Group,

I’d like to invite you to our group’s first Virtual Meeting on Saturday, May 30, 2020. The meeting will serve as an opportunity to get to know each other better, share learnings, and connect in times of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Please take a look at the meeting page and add your name to the list of participants if you’re planning to attend.

Hope to see you in a week! All the best, --Frank Schulenburg (talk) 16:41, 23 May 2020 (UTC)

Quality Image Promotion

Your image has been reviewed and promoted Congratulations! View South East from the Shard London Bridge 2. Afternoon 2019-09-22.jpg, which was produced by you, was reviewed and has now been promoted to Quality Image status. If you would like to nominate another image, please do so at Quality images candidates. We also invite you to take part in the categorization of recently promoted quality images. Comments  Support Good quality. --King of Hearts 19:36, 9 June 2020 (UTC)

Your image has been reviewed and promoted Congratulations! View South East from the Shard London Bridge 1. Afternoon 2019-09-22.jpg, which was produced by you, was reviewed and has now been promoted to Quality Image status. If you would like to nominate another image, please do so at Quality images candidates. We also invite you to take part in the categorization of recently promoted quality images. Comments  Support Good quality. --Jakubhal 18:17, 9 June 2020 (UTC)

--QICbot (talk) 05:35, 12 June 2020 (UTC)

FP Promotion

★ This image has been promoted to Featured picture! ★ The image File:Looking up at The View From The Shard, Level 72.jpg, that you nominated on Commons:Featured picture candidates/File:Looking up at The View From The Shard, Level 72.jpg has been promoted. Thank you for your contribution. If you would like to nominate another image, please do so.

/FPCBot (talk) 13:01, 13 July 2020 (UTC)

Commons Photographers User Group: Meeting on September 26 and other stuff

Dear member of the Commons Photographers User Group,

I've got a quick update for you, containing three items:

• I’d like to invite you to our group’s second Virtual Meeting on Saturday, September 26, 2020. As last time, this meeting will serve as an opportunity to get to know each other better, share learnings, and connect in times of the global COVID-19 pandemic. If you'd like to present, please add your name and the proposed topic to the list on the talk page.
• Also, I'd like to start a conversation about how we should be sharing responsibility for the user group going forward. I'd love to get some help when it comes to organizing things and I'm convinced that we can achieve more if a couple of people helped with coordinating stuff.
• Finally, the Wikimedia Foundation has asked me to spread the word about their latest survey: Universal Code of Conduct Survey. The goal is to create a safer environment on Wikimedia projects and the Foundation gathers feedback prior to coming up with a first draft.

Hope to see you at the Zoom meeting in September!

All the best, --Frank Schulenburg (talk) 18:43, 15 August 2020 (UTC)

Reminder: User Group Meeting this Saturday

Dear Commons Photographers User Group member,

This is a quick reminder that our second virtual meeting will take place this Saturday, September 26. The agenda entails presentations about drone photography, about the story behind a featured picture, and about the future of LRMediaWiki. We'll also discuss photographers’ contacts with the Wikimedia Foundation and the election of representatives for our user group. You'll find information about all of this on the event page:

• Virtual Meeting on September 26, 2020

I'm also inviting you to share some information about yourself and your photography work with other members of the user group on our new membership list:

• Comprehensive membership list

I hope you're well during these difficult times. All the best, --Frank Schulenburg (talk) 15:44, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

About Sony Cameras

Dear Colin, After having spent a long summer with coronavirus, and got 360 panoramas where it was impossible before. I have been thinking that it might be a good idea to change my entire equipment and buy a Sony Mirroless camera, I was thinking of a Sony a7 III. I know that you have always given me good, very accurate advice and I also know that you have a Sony camera. I would not like to fall into the capitalist trap of buying cameras without much difference either but I have been watching the Market and Nikon has made a lot of bad decisions, so it might be a good idea to sell now before getting stuck with obsolete equipment. Thanks --Wilfredor (talk) 23:00, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Hi Wilfredor. Mirrorless is certainly the future for this kind of camera. Are there some lenses or flashguns you would keep if you could get an adaptor for Nikon or Sony mirrorless camera? (See Guide to Nikon Lens Adapters for Sony E-Mount Cameras). If there is no good reason to keep with Nikon brand camera then I agree that the Sony cameras are an attractive choice. They have lots of lenses for them, though they are often expensive. Do you think you'd get much for your kit?

I walked all of the Hertfordshire Way this summer, but only took my mobile phone along. I have uploaded some photos and have still lots to upload. None of them are FP quality, though they are useful for Wikipedia. I think it is currently hard for me to justify upgrading my camera equipment because (a) I don't use it enough and (b) it still takes great photos. I don't feel limited by my equipment and have a wide choice of lenses from 8mm fisheye to 500mm (750mm equivalent) autofocus mirror lens. I do lack a high quality long-telephoto lens suitable for wildlife photography, but that hasn't really interested me. And for sure the latest full frame sensor will have better noise and dynamic range. But really the main limitation for me is my own talent and opportunity and enthusiasm rather than equipment.

If you are using your equipment heavily and have the money to afford one of these nice cameras along with some lenses that are good enough to do it justice, then sure you could treat yourself. The Sony a7 III is a couple of years old and has fallen in price so could be good value. I think you will notice an improvement in quality but your wallet will be quite a lot lighter afterwards! Alternatively, what is the second-hand market like for buying Nikon lenses for your existing camera or buying a FF DSLR? If those are ridiculously cheap (I don't know) then it might be worth considering that even though it is a dead-end? -- Colin (talk) 20:48, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

I think that the lenses I have are excellent, especially the sigma art 18-35mm f / 1.8 that when using it gives the feeling of having another camera due to the sharpness that this lens provides. The 50 mm (85 mm in FF) is my favorite due to its low weight and versatility, however, I feel identified with you, I take photos mainly with my huawei p30 pro with a daytime quality close to the D7200, additionally I have also felt discouraged and honestly I do not know why but I think I take much less photos than before, this may be due to the restrictions here on taking photos of people and that there is no country falling apart, that is worth documenting.

Another factor is the cold weather that makes it very difficult to go for a walk for more than 20 min during the Quebecois winter. I think that if I sell everything (and I don't know how much they can give me maybe about $ 2000) I could collect and buy a more compact and better quality camera, however, it is not a guarantee that this really encourages me to take photos again. I think that this loss of passion is related to my personal life, the fact of living excited makes you carry a constant weight and an emptiness that I do not know how to explain. But going back to the sony topic, I think I could get a Sony A7 III with some cheap manual 85mm lens, that would be enough for me, for the type of photography I do and a good zoom and weight ratio. Maybe this is about lust, but I really see how people get uncomfortable when I take my camera out in the middle of the public with those big glasses. The phone really takes away all that work from carrying a camera and revealing everything that increasingly bores me, I must have many photographs without uploading even to commons since the uploading system is annoying. Additionally, I have many photos still to be uploaded, from Brazil and Canada possibly for the next 10 years of WLM. --Wilfredor (talk) 20:39, 16 September 2020 (UTC)

After analyzing a lot I decided not to buy anything, just wait for a replacement that is worth better than the z50. I think the cost of a full frame lens is not something I can afford. I was afraid that my equipment would be obsolete but I doubt that will happen, hopefully Nikon will make better decisions --Wilfredor (talk) 22:16, 25 September 2020 (UTC)

Thank you for participating in Wiki Loves Monuments 2020! Please help with this survey

Wiki Loves Monuments logo

Dear Colin,

Thank you for contributing to Wiki Loves Monuments 2020, and for sharing your pictures with the whole world! We would like to ask again for a few minutes of your time. Thanks to the participation of people like you, the contest gathered more than 200K+ pictures of cultural heritage objects from more than 50 countries around the world.

You can find all your pictures in your upload log, and are of course very welcome to keep uploading images and help develop Wikimedia Commons, even though you will not be able to win more prizes (just yet). To make future contests even more successful than this year, we would like to invite you to share your experiences with us in a short survey.

Please fill in this short survey and help us learn what you liked and didn't like about Wiki Loves Monuments 2020.

Kind regards,
the Wiki Loves Monuments team, 08:21, 14 November 2020 (UTC)

Commons Photographers User Group meeting on Saturday

Dear Commons Photographers User Group member,

I'd like to invite you to our next virtual meeting on Saturday, December 12. We'll have two presentations: Habib Mhenni aka Dyolf77 will answer the question Do "we" need DSLRs anymore? and Martin Falbisoner will walk us through the making of his featured picture File:Caribbean_Sea_-_Long_Exposure.jpg.

If you can make it, please add your name to the list of attendees to this page:

• Virtual Meeting on December 12, 2020

I hope to see you in three days. Also, I wish you, your family, and your friends all the best for 2021. Your contributions to Commons make a big difference.

Warmly, --Frank Schulenburg (talk) 14:02, 9 December 2020 (UTC)

Re: WLM 2020

I saw that a short time after the list was updated you had written to me, thank you for being aware of me!. This year I did different things on WLM, I added more saturation to the images, artificial retouching and filters. I did things that I know WLM jurors love and not like last year that I concentrated on taking good quality photos on the FPC style and I also made more contact with Canada and Brazil chapter people, criticizing mistakes made in previous events with arguments (For example, on WLM Canada a photo of a person was selected and not a monument in the last year contest and I, despite having achieved third place, did not receive no prize that was stipulated on the page (I am ashamed to ask that I win in something that they should be the ones who contact me)). Anyway this year, the selection of images in Brazil was random, for example, photos like this and this one were not selected, which in my opinion are superior to the ones they chose of myself (not to mention the first and second place they are heavily processed photos). All this shows that this contest does not make the slightest sense for me other than to obtain money to buy a new lens, although as a result of the covid I have been unemployed, so I am not sure if I will be able to buy a lens or send money to my family In Venezuela.

In any case, in moments of crisis there are always opportunities, with this additional time I have been rethinking what to dedicate to in the future (maybe taking the photograph seriously could be an alternative), in any case I hope that my residence visa will come out one day (It's already 4 years of waiting) and allows me to dedicate myself to other things that I really love. On the other hand, I have been rethinking going to live somewhere else, 6 winter months in one of the coldest cities in the world (Quebec city) is not for me, I have been planning to move to Montreal, maybe it is a better place. --Wilfredor (talk) 15:37, 17 December 2020 (UTC)

Update: There is no award for WLM Canada despite being stipulated in the contest rules --Wilfredor (talk) 20:00, 18 December 2020 (UTC)

Wilfredor, sorry for not responding sooner. I am busy at work preparing for Brexit. I am sad to hear that covid has left you unemployed and pray you find some alternative employment soon. 2020 has not been a good year and I wish you the best for 2021. I am a bit concerned for my own employment in 2021.

The WLM awards are certainly unpredictable in their decision and the national prizes do tend to be small (or non-existent!). I wish you better luck with the international prize. I agree that the judges do seem to ignore the "FP style" of faithful and technically high-quality image, vs something creative regardless of technical merits. I am fortunate that the international jury on the year I got 2nd prize appreciated the former. My entries this year have all been photographed on a smartphone and the main benefit of the WLM UK website has been to make it easy to locate Listed Buildings and get the correct name and WikiData record. I have enjoyed filling in the missing photographs or improving on existing photographs, without any pressure in thinking I might stand any chance this year.

Wrt changing location. I live in a town I would not have picked if I had been given a choice of anywhere to live in the UK -- it was where I was offered a job when graduating during an economic recession in 1992. But people are more important than place, and we have ended up being very fortunate with the people we have come to know here. I hope that wherever you end up, you find people that you can make a home and find a community with. Stay safe! -- Colin (talk) 21:01, 18 December 2020 (UTC)

Happy holidays 2020/2021!

		* Happy Holidays 2020/2021, Colin/Archive! *
		Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Joyeux Noël! Bonne année! Frohes Weihnachten! Frohes Neues Jahr! Счастливого Рождества! С Новым годом! ¡Feliz Navidad y próspero año nuevo! Щасливого Різдва! З Новим роком!    -- George Chernilevsky talk 13:52, 23 December 2020 (UTC)