Picture Albums

[HoopScoop]

Now that we are getting into the season, I thought I'd start examining some additional features that this forum software contains. And Bob's comment about not knowing how to post and share some pictures with the rest of us is all the push I needed :)

So, I've enabled picture albums within the software now. Right now, the way to access picture albums is to click on "Quick Links" in the menu bar above. Under networking you will see "Pictures & Albums". Click into that and if you are registered and logged on you can create a picture album. I've put together an example album using some pictures from OU's South Carolina game last season.

Hopefully Bob can share his pictures with us. And I encourage everyone else to upload pictures as well. They don't have to be only about basketball or the Big 12. Maybe 35TangoTango would like to upload pics of his plane, etc., etc.

Lets see how this goes. If the pictures get out of hand, they can be reported to me. I believe there is a link next to the picture you are viewing that states that you can report it. If it is inappropriate - just report it.

And, if people like this and use it, I'll probably create a better, more obvious links to the albums. You can comment on pictures also, by the way. A direct link to the albums is here: http://hoopscoop.net/forums/album.php

[35TangoTango]

I'm missing something here. I can see how I can create an album, but how do I look at someone else's - like the example you created?

[HoopScoop]

I'm missing something here. I can see how I can create an album, but how do I look at someone else's - like the example you created?

Turns out you will have to go to my "HoopScoop" user profile. And that's a pain, ain't it? Picture albums are brand new to Vbulletin software and so the first iteration is very elementary. But, I will fix that now. They have a new, beta version of their software that will show the latest updated albums which makes it a little easier to access albums. That is still not optimal, but it's progressing.

Let's see how this works. If it's still too much of a pain, I may considering getting some 3rd party software to interface with vbulletin, or also continue using Gallery software which I used last year.

[HoopScoop]

I received the following question:

I think my files are too large. Each picture is approximately 5 MB in size. It would not let me upload them.

Okay, I've also finally figured this out. For those of you like Bob that have these great cameras that can create a gazillion megapixels and would like to upload the picture in all its grandest glory, I have increased the maximum allowable picture size.

However, you may still have to downsize the picture a little. There are two limiting factors. First the vbulletin software has a limit which I have now set very high - 6 MB per picture and 5000 x 3500 pixels per picture. However, there is another limiting factor that is ingrained in the webhost servers that is beyond my control. It also may have something to do with their PHP version they are using (that's a bit over my head). But by trial and error, I've been able to determine the largest allowable picture size is somewhere around 5 MB and somewhere in the neighborhood of 3200 x 2133 pixel size. Depending on the number of megapixels your camera has, the limits for picture size in MB and the pixel resolution will be a little bit different.

If you get a white screen after trying to the load the image, the image is too big. Reduce the resolution a little and try again. I've been able to upload a 4.82 MB (3312x2208) and a 5.21 MB (3024x2008) picture. But that was as high as I could go on those two different pictures.

Hope this helps.

[HoopScoop]

I'm missing something here. I can see how I can create an album, but how do I look at someone else's - like the example you created?

Okay, I've upgraded the version of forum software and now everyone should see a "Community" link in the menu bar above. Click on it and then click on "Pictures & Albums". This will now take you to an albums page that will include the most recently updated albums.

[Bob_Ballew]

I finally got it to work. The pictures aren't as clear as they should be. I had to change the resolution to get them to upload. Some of my photos were over 9 MB in size.

Thanks for setting this up. Let me know if I post too many pictures.

[HoopScoop]

I finally got it to work. The pictures aren't as clear as they should be. I had to change the resolution to get them to upload. Some of my photos were over 9 MB in size.

Thanks for setting this up. Let me know if I post too many pictures.

The number of pics is just fine.

Great pics! What kind of camera do you use? Lens?

[Bob_Ballew]

I am using a Canon EOS Rebel XSi, 12.2 MP with an 18-88mm standard lens. I have been experimenting with different speeds and settings. I will use a 200mm lens on Friday to see the difference. So far it has been a real learning experience. Every day it gets better. I'm not computer savvy, so that hurts. I will try and post photos of each game I attend.

[HoopScoop]

Thanks Bob, good to know. My wife and I are considering buying a DSLR because we are sick and tired of blurry kids pictures. It would be great to take to a game and photograph some action.

Did you compare to any other cameras like the Nikon D80 or D90?

[Bob_Ballew]

I did look at the Nikons because that is what I have in a regular SLR. I found this Canon on Amazon much much cheaper than in the retail stores and I was not charged any sales tax or shipping. So price was a big factor in addition to what I had read about the Canons.

[35TangoTango]

OK, I've given it a try. My only problem was I couldn't get the pictures in the album in the right order!

[35TangoTango]

Now when I go to Forums > Albums, I only see my albums and the most recent. How do we get back to Bob's albums?

[HoopScoop]

Now when I go to Forums > Albums, I only see my albums and the most recent. How do we get back to Bob's albums?

Sorry - not sure. You can find Bob's albums by going to his user profile. I don't have time at the moment to look into this. I'll let you know once I find something.