Photo of Year 2012

Happy New Year 2013 to all. This is the time of year when we share Photo of the Year on all the DiversityIndia groups. So here is the call for posting the Photo of the Year. If you are not familiar what it is here are the guidelines.

• Photos taken during 2012 are posted for this, up to three best photos by each member for each taxon group like Butterflies, Moths, Dragonflies etc.
• Please post them with clear subject line "GroupName Photo of Year 2012 : Your Name" eg. ButterflyIndia Photo of Year 2012 : Vijay Barve Photo 1
• Photos are posted with usual specifications and metadata like size less than 1200px the larger size and information like date, place and scientific name of the organism etc. Ref: How to make most of your biodiversity photos
• Remember, the photos that are posted may be uploaded on DiversityIndia websites and blogs.
• Members are encouraged to also post them as Biodiversity Occurrence Records on websites like http://indiabiodiversity.org/ , http://inaturalist.org/ etc.

Please check some of the submissions for earlier years at http://diversityindia.org/photo or http://diversityindia.blogspot.com/search/label/Photo

How to make most of your biodiversity photos

I have been participating in DiversityIndia cyber communities for more than 10 years. In recent months there are more interactive options like Orkuk, Facebook and Google+ have become popular. There are increasing number of members and posts on these communities every month. I have been thinking of making all the good information more useful and available to people who are concerned about environment and want to use this information for that, rather than merely showing off the photos and replying with like or + and wow and beautiful.

When we take a photo of any plant or animal in the wild (outside a zoo or botanical garden), we create a record of that organism being present in that place at that point of time. This is very important information for scientists who study

• Geographical Distributions
• Ecological Niches
• Invasive species
• Behaviour
• Microecology

and so on

By simply specifying the date and location we can help all these people to understand and protect our natural heritage.

It is important to specify the date and place in proper format to avoid confusion. To let people know when it was clicked use date of photo like 2012-08-15 for 15th August 2012 rather than “this month” or “this year Independence Day”. Similarly “my backyard” is not useful at all, rather use “Bangalore, Karnataka” or “Niphad, Nashik Dist, MH”. Specify time if you can, sometimes it adds an interesting dimension in behaviour. So in consultation with some experienced members we are trying to develop a very simple yet powerful format to document these photos while posting.

The format looks like this:

###
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Locality:
Lat: , Lon:
Date:
Remarks:
###

If a member does not know the name of the species, first two fields of scientific Name and Common Name are left blank for the time being. They are filled in by the member once someone helps with the id. Locality is descriptive information about where it was seen. It starts from village or locality and goes all the way to state and country. Lat and Lon values are very simple to obtain now with the technologies we have. There is no need of expensive GPS. We can use Google maps (https://maps.google.com/) for this. Just zoom in to the location you had been for photography. Make sure you zoom in maximum possible and then use right click menu What’s here? It will display Lat Lon values on top in search box. Date should be in formay YYYY-MM-DD so it is simple for computer to understand. Remarks is the only optional field in this format. We can use it for information on Habitat, weather etc.

Members can always add more fields like Sex of organism, Life stage, association with other species etc. If we all just start filling this for every photo we post, within few months we would have a very important and useful data repository in place. And by doing this you will contribute to conservation efforts too, because the data will be used for research which will lead to better understanding and protection of the species.

It is not sufficient to add this information on photograph itself, because that may not be read and understood by automated computer scripts, and does not show up in the searches.

Note: This format is NOT final and suggestions and comments are welcome. Specially problems filling out would help us refine it. Remember we are trying to make it simple to fill yet powerful.

ButterflyIndia Theme of the Month : July 2012 : Courtship

This months theme will be Courtship.

Photo: Kishen Das

Please post your pictures accordance with http://diversityindia.org/postimage.htm and subject ButterflyIndia Theme of Month Jul 2012. You may send up to three photos for this months theme. Remember what we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here http://diversityindia.org/photo/ which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. Adding Scientific Name helps add value to you post.  If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.

DragonflyIndia Theme of the Month : April 2012 : Early Stages

This months theme will be early stages

Photo Susanth Kumar

Please post your pictures accordance with http://diversityindia.org/postimage.htm and subject Theme of Month Apr 2012. You may send up to three photos for this months theme. Remember what we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here http://diversityindia.org/photo/ which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. Adding Scientific Name helps add value to you post.  If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.

Feb 2012 months theme photos are uploaded as a set and is definitely worth watching http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=28 If you have posted photo last month for theme and by mistake I have missed it uploading, please email me and I will upload them.

IndianMoths Theme of the Month : April 2012 : Yellow, Yellow, Beautiful Fellow

This months theme will be Yellow, Yellow, Beautiful Fellow.

Photo Geetha Iyer

Please post your pictures accordance with http://diversityindia.org/postimage.htm and subject Theme of Month Apr 2012. You may send up to three photos for this months theme. Remember what we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here http://diversityindia.org/photo/ which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. Adding Scientific Name helps add value to you post.  If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.

Feb 2012 months theme photos are uploaded as a set and is definitely worth watching http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=26 If you have posted photo last month for theme and by mistake I have missed it uploading, please email me and I will upload them.

ButterflyIndia Theme of the Month : April 2012 : Yellow, Yellow, Beautiful Fellow

This months theme will be Yellow, Yellow, Beautiful Fellow.

Photo J M Garg

Please post your pictures accordance with http://diversityindia.org/postimage.htm and subject ButterflyIndia Theme of Month Apr 2012. You may send up to three photos for this months theme. Remember what we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here http://diversityindia.org/photo/ which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. Adding Scientific Name helps add value to you post.  If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.

Feb 2012 theme photos are uploaded as a set and is definitely worth watching http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=27 If you have posted photo last month for theme and by mistake I have missed it uploading, please email me and I will upload them.

DragonflyIndia Theme of the Month : February 2012 : Black Beauty

This months theme will be : Black Beauty, So any Odonata with dominant black color is good.

Image by Vijay Barve

Please post your photos with Name of the species both common name and scientific name, date and place (including district and state at least Lat-Long readings will be great.). What we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo.

Please post your pictures accordance with guidelines and subject same as this email. Please do not send more than 3 photos per person. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here  which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.
Last months theme photos are uploaded as a set and is definitely worth watching http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=24 If you have posted photo last month for theme and by mistake I have missed it uploading, please email me and I will upload them.

If you have suggestions for theme for coming months, please leave a comment.

ButterflyIndia Theme of the Month :February 2012 : Go Green

This months theme will be Go Green. Any stage of butterfly is accepted.

Photo Vijay Barve

Please post your pictures accordance with http://diversityindia.org/postimage.htm and subject ButterflyIndia Theme of Month Feb 2012. You may send up to three photos for this months theme. Remember what we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here http://diversityindia.org/photo/ which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. Adding Scientific Name helps add value to you post.  If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.

Last months theme photos are uploaded as a set and is definitely worth watching http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=23 If you have posted photo last month for theme and by mistake I have missed it uploading, please email me and I will upload them.

SpiderIndia Theme of Month : January 2012 : Photo of Year 2011

Theme of this month is  Photo of Year 2011

For this every member selects up to three best photos taken in the year 2011. This theme has a restriction that the photo should be taken during the year 2011 only. And if the photo is posted without the details specially date, place and story it may NOT be posted on the website.


Check last year photos http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=2

Please post your pictures accordance with http://diversityindia.org/postimage.htm and subject same as this email. Please do not send more than 3 photos per person and what we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here http://diversityindia.org/photo/ which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. Adding Scientific Name helps add value to you post.  If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.

If you have any suggestions for upcoming months, please leave a comment here or email us.

DragonflyIndia Theme of Month : January 2012 : Photo of Year 2011

Theme of this month is  Photo of Year 2011

For this every member selects up to three best photos taken in the year 2011. This theme has a restriction that the photo should be taken during the year 2011 only. And if the photo is posted without the details specially date, place and story it may NOT be posted on the website.


Check last year photos http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=3

Please post your pictures accordance with http://diversityindia.org/postimage.htm and subject same as this email. Please do not send more than 3 photos per person and what we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here http://diversityindia.org/photo/ which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. Adding Scientific Name helps add value to you post.  If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.

Last months theme photos are uploaded as a set and is definitely worth watching http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=21 If you have posted photo last month for theme and by mistake I have missed it uploading, please email me and I will upload them.

If you have any suggestions for upcoming months, please leave a comment here or email us.

IndianMoths Theme of Month : January 2012 : Photo of Year 2011

Theme of this month is  Photo of Year 2011

For this every member selects up to three best photos taken in the year 2011. This theme has a restriction that the photo should be taken during the year 2011 only. And if the photo is posted without the details specially date, place and story it may NOT be posted on the website.

Please post your pictures accordance with http://diversityindia.org/postimage.htm and subject same as this email. Please do not send more than 3 photos per person and what we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here http://diversityindia.org/photo/ which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. Adding Scientific Name helps add value to you post.  If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.

Last months theme photos are uploaded as a set and is definitely worth watching http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=20 If you have posted photo last month for theme and by mistake I have missed it uploading, please email me and I will upload them.

If you have any suggestions for upcoming months, please leave a comment here or email us.

ButterflyIndia Theme of Month : January 2012 : Photo of Year 2011

Theme of this month is  Photo of Year 2011

For this every member selects up to three best photos taken in the year 2011. This theme has a restriction that the photo should be taken during the year 2011 only. And if the photo is posted without the details specially date, place and story it may NOT be posted on the website.

Check last year photos http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=1

Please post your pictures accordance with http://diversityindia.org/postimage.htm and subject same as this email. Please do not send more than 3 photos per person and what we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here http://diversityindia.org/photo/ which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. Adding Scientific Name helps add value to you post.  If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.


Last months theme photos are uploaded as a set and is definitely worth watching http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=22 If you have posted photo last month for theme and by mistake I have missed it uploading, please email me and I will upload them.

If you have any suggestions for upcoming months, please leave a comment here or email us.

ButterflyIndia Theme of Month : December 2011: Eggs and Egg-laying

Theme of this month is  Eggs and Egg-laying

Photo  Vijay Barve 

Please post your pictures accordance with http://diversityindia.org/postimage.htm and subject same as this email. Please do not send more than 3 photos per person and what we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here http://diversityindia.org/photo/ which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. Adding Scientific Name helps add value to you post.  If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.


Last months theme photos are uploaded as a set and is definitely worth watching http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=18 If you have posted photo last month for theme and by mistake I have missed it uploading, please email me and I will upload them.

If you have any suggestions for upcoming months, please leave a comment here or email us.

IndianMoths Theme of Month : December 2011: Antennae

Theme of this month is Antennae

Photo  Adapted from Wikipedia image

Please post your pictures accordance with http://diversityindia.org/postimage.htm and subject same as this email. Please do not send more than 3 photos per person and what we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here http://diversityindia.org/photo/ which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. Adding Scientific Name helps add value to you post.  If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.


Last months theme photos are uploaded as a set and is definitely worth watching http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=19 If you have posted photo last month for theme and by mistake I have missed it uploading, please email me and I will upload them.

If you have any suggestions for upcoming months, please leave a comment here or email us.

DragonflyIndia Theme of the Month : December 2011 : Blue

This months theme will be : Blue

Image by Saleem Hameed (Wikipedia)

Please post your photos with Name of the species both common name and scientific name, date and place (including district and state at least Lat-Long readings will be great.). What we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo.

Please post your pictures accordance with guidelines and subject same as this email. Please do not send more than 3 photos per person. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here  which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.
Last months theme photos are uploaded as a set and is definitely worth watching http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=17 If you have posted photo last month for theme and by mistake I have missed it uploading, please email me and I will upload them.

If you have suggestions for theme for coming months, please leave a comment.

IndianMoths Theme of Month : Octoberber 2011: Early Stages

Theme of this month is Early Stages. So all the Eggs, Cats and Pupa.

Photo Yuwaraj Gurjar

Please post your pictures accordance with http://diversityindia.org/postimage.htm and subject same as this email. Please do not send more than 3 photos per person and what we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here http://diversityindia.org/photo/ which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. Adding Scientific Name helps add value to you post.  If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.


Last months theme photos are uploaded as a set and is definitely worth watching http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=15 If you have posted photo last month for theme and by mistake I have missed it uploading, please email me and I will upload them.

If you have any suggestions for upcoming months, please leave a comment here or email us.

SpiderIndia Theme of the Month : October 2011 : Halloween

On the lines of other DiversityIndia groups, we are starting Theme of Month photo submissions. These photos would be compiled together and uploaded on DiversityIndia Photo collection. 

This months theme will be : Halloween so any scary looking spiders would be good candidates.

Image by Yuwaraj Gurjar

Please post your photos with Name of the species both common name and scientific name, date and place (including district and state at least Lat-Long readings will be great.). What we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo.

Please post your pictures accordance with guidelines and subject same as this email. Please do not send more than 3 photos per person. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here  which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.


If you have suggestions for theme for coming months, please leave a comment.

DragonflyIndia Theme of the Month : October 2011 : Tandem

This months theme will be : Tandem

Image by Haneesh KM

Please post your photos with Name of the species both common name and scientific name, date and place (including district and state at least Lat-Long readings will be great.). What we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo.

Please post your pictures accordance with guidelines and subject same as this email. Please do not send more than 3 photos per person. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here  which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.
Last months theme photos are uploaded as a set and is definitely worth watching http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=14 If you have posted photo last month for theme and by mistake I have missed it uploading, please email me and I will upload them.

If you have suggestions for theme for coming months, please leave a comment.

ButterflyIndia Theme of the Month : October 2011 : Butterfly Alphabet

This months theme will be Butterfly Alphabet.

Photo Haneesh KM

Please post your pictures accordance with http://diversityindia.org/postimage.htm and subject same as this email. We are making an exception this time, you may send up to 26 photos for this theme, but all have to be unique alphabets. Remember what we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here http://diversityindia.org/photo/ which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. Adding Scientific Name helps add value to you post.  If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.

Last months theme photos are uploaded as a set and is definitely worth watching http://diversityindia.org/photo/thumbnails.php?album=16 If you have posted photo last month for theme and by mistake I have missed it uploading, please email me and I will upload them.

IndianMoths Theme of Month : September 2011: Day flying Moths

On the lines of ButterflyIndia and DragonflyIndia groups, we are starting theme of Month on IndianMoths group too. The photos can be taken anytime but shroud fit the theme. Here are the details of this months theme.

Theme of this month is Day Flying Moths. So all the moths typically seen flying during day are candidates.

Please post your pictures accordance with http://diversityindia.org/postimage.htm and subject same as this email. Please do not send more than 3 photos per person and what we enjoy the most is the story behind each of the photo. The photos may have been taken by you anytime. Latest photos are not must, relevant photos are necessity.

I will upload the images on the albums here http://diversityindia.org/photo/ which would remain for long time, so invest some time in writing the email with as much information as possible. Adding Scientific Name helps add value to you post.  If you are posting for first time, take time to go through albums before you post.

If you have any suggestions for upcoming months, please leave a comment here or email us.