Grants talk:Project/Rapid/UG BG/BGWinterPhotoSafari

I found a mistake in the calculation of the fuel expenses and corrected it. --Dimi z (talk) 18:58, 30 January 2017 (UTC)

Thanks for catching that, Dimi! Winifred Olliff (WMF Program Officer) talk 00:05, 8 February 2017 (UTC)

Hello, Dimi and Gregory! Thank you for your Rapid Grant request for a Photo Safari. We have a few questions for you, before we make a decision about your request.

1. The idea behind the creation of this 360 degree interactive content is quite interesting! We are curious to know more about how your team has identified the need for the specific content you intend to provide. For example, do you have a strategy for targeting specific places to document in this way? How do you imagine this content will be used?
2. You mention that "the participants have extensive experience and expertise in creation of professional visual content" and are photographers of Google Street View. Are these participants also members of the Wikimedia community in Bulgaria already, or are these photography experts being introduced to the community through this project?
3. Has there been further discussion of this project within the user group or the communities affected? Can you please link to it or summarize it here?

Thank you! Winifred Olliff (WMF Program Officer) talk 00:05, 8 February 2017 (UTC)

Hi Winifred, I am happy to answer:

1. We will start working off the main national tourist sites and tourist attractions. En route, we will also take images of cities/villages/monuments that are :missing on Wikipedia.
2. They are new members in our Wiki Community. They have been contributing for some years now, becoming really active in the past year participating prominently in Wiki Loves Earth and Wiki Loves Monuments. In real life, we have met last year for the first time and are since then meeting more or less regularly. I am hoping that through this project they will finally feel comfortable enough to start referring to themselves as "Wikimedians".
3. The project has been discussed on our village pump.

Let me know if there are other questions! --Dimi z (talk) 11:10, 8 February 2017 (UTC)

Thank you for the prompt responses, Dimi z. We really appreciate it!

I would like to hear more about how you imagine these images would be used. Of course, photo safaris are a type of project that the WMF funds (through Rapid, Project, or Annual Plan Grants), but this event is unique since it involves expert photographers who have not been active as Wikimedians. We are glad they have your support in interacting with the Commons community and are willing to work on some potentially valuable content, and yet US$1500+ is a rather large amount to spend on a photo safari by external experts. This is why it would be helpful to learn more about:

1. The value of the content that you will produce, and how you expect it to be used.
2. How you expect the photographers to interact with and remain involved with the Wikimedia communities after the safaris are completed, if at all.
3. Whether you have (or can get) some broader support for the initiative beyond the brief village pump discussion you linked. For example, strong support from volunteers active in the Commons community, and / or endorsements from other volunteers and members of the user group on the grant page.

Thank you for your patience as we continue to review your request! Winifred Olliff (WMF Program Officer) talk 17:37, 8 February 2017 (UTC)

Hi Winifred, here is the new batch of answers:

1. I find it hard to put a price tag on photographs. However, I believe that 80% of the images will be used on Wikipedia and they will be integrated in the articles by the volunteer editors.
2. At least one of the photographers has been editing Wikipedia before, has been contributing to Commons and last year he has participated in WLM and WLE. He will also participate in the integration of the images on Wikipedia. We will make sure to have follow-up meetings between the community and the photographers to make sure they consider themselves part of the community.
3. I have not, but I can attempt to generate more support.

--Dimi z (talk) 19:00, 9 February 2017 (UTC)

Thanks, Dimi z. Given the nature of this request, I think it will be important to link to more discussions within the user group and the communities affected, to ensure that there is broad support for this initiative that involves financial support for the travel of non-Wikimedians. Can yo u tell me whether or not you believe it would be possible to implement this work on a smaller scale. For example, by conducting a shorter 5-day photo safari? It would be good to know if you consider this a viable option in case the full amount cannot be funded. Thank you! Winifred Olliff (WMF Program Officer) talk 21:28, 9 February 2017 (UTC)

Hi Winfried! I do believe a smaller scale is possible, so that's a yes. Unfortunately, we are extremely busy with work this and next week and organising another discussion won't be possible. I understand if that is a reason for you not to grant the request. Just a small side-note: The photographers are new Wikimedians, but not non-Wikimedians, which I find a derogatory term for people who have been contributing content to our projects for more than a year now. --Dimi z (talk) 11:01, 15 February 2017 (UTC)

Thank you, Dimi z! I see your point about the distinction between new Wikimedians vs. non-Wikimedians, and I will be more careful with my words. I did not intend to belittle their contributions over the past year!

With links to an announcement and some further discussion within the communities and the user group, we'd consider funding a shorter safari, but we understand if it doesn't make sense to put more time into this request right now. I'm gonna move it to "not funded" but if you want to resubmit an application for a photo safari at a later date you are welcome to. Winifred Olliff (WMF Program Officer) talk 23:40, 16 February 2017 (UTC)