Wikipedia talk:Featured pictures

Please note that a great deal of discussion regarding Featured Pictures, including all discussions about individual featured pictures, takes place at the FP candidate page.

History subsections

The history subsection does not conform to the neutral point of view. It preferentially exposes American history, WW1 and WW2 more prominently than the history of other parts of the world. Since the English Wikipedia is not meant as a USA wikipedia, it should have a more global character. Therefore I suggest that we change the categories to be defined regionally - African History, American history (this should include both North and South America), Asian History, Australian and Oceania's History, European History (as ordered here alphabetically). This would also encourage more submissions and featured pictures of places other than USA. Meznaric (talk) 17:41, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

Categories tend to get split off whenever we get enough to do so. Unfortunately, the U.S. has laws - mainly {{PD-USGov}}, that mean we get more material related to it. Adam Cuerden ^(talk) 11:59, 19 August 2010 (UTC)

New Userbox

Just out of the pipes, a userbox for non-uploaders and non-creators that nominate pictures for FP status.
It is {{Template:User FP Nominator|##}}. Looks like this...

	This user found and nominated ## images to Featured Pictures status.

	This user found and nominated two images to Featured Pictures status.

Enjoy,   Nezzadar ☎   16:20, 27 October 2009 (UTC)

Perhaps change to "helps"? Mostlyharmless (talk) 01:43, 28 October 2009 (UTC)

What is the meaning of this userbox ? Is it for someone who provided an edit based on feedback at PPR/FPC ? Or is it only for the mere act of putting a Support vote ? If it is for the latter, I think this userbox is "dangerous" : award-whores will try to put as many support vote they can to make themselves looks good. Ksempac (talk) 09:39, 28 October 2009 (UTC)

I am using it to indicate that I have found two images that met the criteria and nominated them. People with no photography or illustration skills should still be encouraged to find images worthy of FP status. This is my reward. It is for nominators.  Nezzadar [SPEAK]  01:27, 2 November 2009 (UTC)

Changed wording. Don't worry, I am the only current user, so it won't affect anyone else.  Nezzadar [SPEAK]  01:48, 2 November 2009 (UTC)

NOTE Due to coding issues the template is not singular/plural identified, and a number must be put in place of the ##, as it does not function blank.  Nezzadar [SPEAK]  01:58, 2 November 2009 (UTC)

Better placement

I think this one should be placed among People, rather than Others. Brand[t] 18:16, 19 November 2009 (UTC)

The practice is to categorize the photos by the associated article. Since we don't have an article about this individual, it doesn't belong in People. howcheng {chat} 18:32, 19 November 2009 (UTC)

Link to Main Sections of Featured Pictures?

At the top of the screen, one can select a section in which to look at featured pictures on the page, i.e. Animals, Art, etc. This moves one down to that section. However, once in that section, one can not choose the main page associated with that section; instead, one has to select the subpage. I would like to be able to choose to go to the Art page, (not the Art/Paintings subpage) which does exist (I think).

However, I don't know how to edit projects, or if I am qualified, and after my last few help experiences, I request that someone else, if agreed, do it, or tell me how. Please excuse any misuse of Wikipedia jargon.

Thanks. Peacedance (talk) 21:01, 19 November 2009 (UTC)

You can go back to "Art" in the upper box. howcheng {chat} 22:51, 19 November 2009 (UTC)

Possible Featured pictures on Finnish Wikipedia

There is a discussion on the possibility of a Wikipedia: Featured pictures in the Finnish Wikipedia. However, there is no "Pic of the Day" on the front page, and some have argued against the adoption of Featured pictures unless there is a "pic of the day". I noticed that on the English Wikipedia there was over a year of gap between the adoption of Featured pictures and the adoption of Pic of the day. A question arose in the Finnish Wikipedia "What if Featured pictures aren`t shown on the front page?" I would like to ask you, fellow English Wikipedians, what did you use your Featured pictures for before adopting the pic of the day? 101090ABC (talk) 23:08, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

• Well I can't say for sure what we 'used them for' prior to picture of the day, as I haven't been around that long, but the point of featured pictures isn't just for POTD. It's to maintain a collection of high quality encyclopaedic images. It does seem slightly self indulgent if there is no practical and immediate use for the featured pictures other than where they were already used in articles though. I suppose it's similar to featured articles, except that the featured article process often results in improvements to the article, whereas it isn't quite as common here (although can still happen, when faults are identified and corrected). Not sure if this helps to answer your question though. Ðiliff «» (Talk) 08:09, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

• A featured picture process is more about searching for, sourcing, improving, and maintaining the images that illustrate articles. As with a featured article, vetted work of recognised quality has some automatic right or "authority" to stay in its present form, and with a featured picture, to stay in an article. It's also an impetus to simply place the best illustration of a topic in an article, where it most benefits the encyclopaedia. I cannot say for certain how the Finnish Wikipedia operates, but I've often been surprised by the number of Wikipedias (not all of them small; the Spanish Wikipedia is a good example) that have hugely inferior images in their articles, when FPs on Commons and EN Wiki are available of the subject. Without the impetus of a featured picture process, many users would have no motivation to find the best available. Also, Wikipedia is criticised for the quality of its images, and that criticism isn't without some truth; we have many subjects which are only illustrated by very poor quality photographs, and many more topics that aren't illustrated by anything at all. A featured picture gallery goes some way towards correcting that, showcasing the best of what the Finnish Wikipedia has to offer. On one final note, I would like to think that a featured picture process local to the Finnish Wikipedia will inspire Finns to go out and photograph their own locality, and that, selfishly, can only benefit the rest of us, too. I'd love to see more nominations here of Finnish landscapes and people and wildlife! To sum up, no, it isn't about just the Picture of the Day. Featured pictures (and the process) have their own inherit worth, regardless of whether or not they are shown on the main page. Hope that helps! Maedin\^talk 09:07, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

"I would like to think that a featured picture process local to the Finnish Wikipedia will inspire Finns to go out and photograph their own locality". I believe this point has been taken into account in the discussion. I at least believe that we should not just copy the criteria from other wikis. One suggestion has been that to qualfy the picture must have been taken/loaded into Commons by a Finnish Wikipedia user. 101090ABC (talk) 14:02, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

That's not a bad idea, but keep in mind that if you restrict the creator to that degree, you risk having a dead, or at least very inactive project. I mean no disrespect to the Finnish Wikipedia, but I suspect that there are not many photographers there who will be uploading featured quality photographs. That's true here at the English Wikipedia: if it weren't for 4 or 5 prolific and regular English contributors, our featured picture gallery would be decimated and the project would possibly languish and die. You have to give editors enough content, and enough interesting and varied content, that they keep coming back and voting. A handful of nominations from a few Finnish photographers of subjects in Finland is unlikely to inspire contributors. I'm not sure in what way you could give preference to Finnish content, and I like the idea of doing so, but I'm not sure how viable it is. Does that make sense? Maedin\^talk 14:23, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

I'll echo Maedin's sentiments. I think it may be counter-productive to limit Finnish FPs to only those taken by Finns. For one thing, the encyclopaedia is intended to be all-encompassing and broad in scope. To only feature the images taken by Finnish wikipedians would push the Finnish wiki towards systematic cultural bias. Obviously each language wiki is entitled to its own processes, but I would imagine that countering systematic bias is something that should be important for all of them? You could still encourage grass roots contributions while being open all images regardless of origin in my opinion. Ðiliff «» (Talk) 15:16, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

Please note two things: 1. I also mentioned "loaded into Commons". 2. There are also Finnish -born people abroad that use the Finnish Wikipedia. This should give a nice variety in the pictures. 101090ABC (talk) 19:51, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

I did note these things, but I am not convinced, personally. There are about 5 million people in Finland, and according to the Finns article, approximately 1 million people of Finnish descent living around the world. How many of those people outside Finland actively contribute to the Finnish encyclopaedia, or even still speak the language, I don't know. But at best you would have an extra 20% of contributions from outside Finland based on those numbers. Given that the English wikipedia has about 500-600 million people to recruit from (or possibly a lot more if you consider that many Indians speak english as a second language) and we accept that we are not able to completely counter systematic bias even when we don't limit our Featured Pictures to those taken by English speakers, I am just not convinced that Finns would be able to do so with only Finnish contributions. If you want to only feature Finnish-created images, that's a decision that you're entitled to make, but I think you would like have the following result: systematic bias in the images (as per above) and a smaller/lower quality set of images (due to the relatively small contributor base). Ðiliff «» (Talk) 08:31, 15 January 2010 (UTC)

Golden W Award

The Golden W, awarded for having content featured in every area of the main page.

The Golden W, with Laurels, awarded for having content thrice featured in every area of the main page.

The Golden W Award goes to editors who succeed in having content featured in every area of the main page: Featured Article, Did You Know, In the News, On This Day, and Featured Picture. It is currently proposed as a WikiProject. Please go to Wikipedia:WikiProject Council/Proposals/WikiProject Golden W Award if you are interested in making this WikiProject a reality. Time commitment is minimal, less than an hour a month at this point. ɳoɍɑfʈ ^Talk! 16:24, 23 January 2010 (UTC)

Proposal

Please see WP:VPP#Featured whatever. Simply south (talk) 20:20, 1 February 2010 (UTC)

Wow.

I'm appalled. How is that a vanity fair poster made it as a featured picture on Wikipedia? —Preceding unsigned comment added by LaRouxEMP (talk • contribs) 11:25, 12 March 2010 (UTC)

You know what, I take that back. How is George Clooney's picture worthy of being a featured photo on Wikipedia?? LaRouxEMP (talk) 11:26, 12 March 2010 (UTC)

Well, the most obvious question to ask is, what do you think makes something "worthy" of being a featured picture? Our main goal with the Featured Pictures project is encyclopaedic value; if it's a good illustration of a topic that we cover as part of the encyclopaedia, then it's already half way there. Are you suggesting that a clear, detailed, high-resolution, quality, free portrait of a major celebrity is not feature-able?

I think it goes without saying that if you want to object to what we feature, the best place to do that is over at the candidacies page; we rely on people with differing opinions to help us select the best, :) Maedin\^talk 11:53, 12 March 2010 (UTC)

My apologies good sir. I had no idea the picture was free. Can you check this picture out and tell me if it's worthy of being a featured picture? http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Vulva_labeled_no_tags.jpg LaRouxEMP (talk) 12:01, 12 March 2010 (UTC)

I'm not a sir, I'm a lady, and I am also at work, so will not be clicking on the link. Maedin\^talk 12:15, 12 March 2010 (UTC)

My apologies madame. I had no idea you were of the opposite gender until I visited your user page. When you do find the time however, can you please examine the photo I've presented to you as I think it is of remarkable quality? LaRouxEMP (talk) 12:28, 12 March 2010 (UTC)

It's okay, :) I'll have a look tonight and comment, although (for the future) the formal venue for such things is Wikipedia:Picture peer review. Maedin\^talk 12:46, 12 March 2010 (UTC)

For what it's worth, this user has apparently been blocked indefinitely. Makeemlighter (talk) 18:28, 12 March 2010 (UTC)

Haha. Lovely, :) I guess that means I get out of commenting! Maedin\^talk 18:48, 12 March 2010 (UTC)

Can somebody explain to me how is this not redundant to Commons Featured Pictures?

I am sure I am missing something obvious. But since all freely licensed pictures should be moved to Commons, which has its own Featured Pictures vote, is Wikipedia Featured Pictures only for fair use images? If not (and I think it is not, from what I have seen), why duplicate what Commons FP does? Do we recognize all of Commons FP as our FP? Why or why not? Does it go in the other direction? Why or why not? Thanks for the explanation, --_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk} 16:40, 19 April 2010 (UTC)

• I don't participate in Commons FPC, so take this with a grain of salt. My understanding is that the criteria to be a Commons FP do not include the EV requirement we have here. Because of this, many Commons FPs don't pass FPC here. The point of FP here is to promote images that do a great job of enhancing the encyclopedia. Commons FP seems to be more about the highest quality pictures regardless of whether they are particularly encyclopedic. I hope that helps. Makeemlighter (talk) 21:31, 19 April 2010 (UTC)
• Makeemlighter is right, the fundamental difference between the two projects is "encyclopaedic value" (EV). At Commons, featured pictures don't have to be used in any articles, and plants and animals don't have to be identified scientifically. Here FP candidates must be used in one or more articles, illustrate the topic well, and animals and plants must have a species ID (if possible). Many pictures that pass on Commons wouldn't pass here because they don't illustrate an article topic, they're just "beautiful". Some of the duller but very encyclopaedic images that we feature here would never pass on Commons because they have no "wow". Hope between us you've got the answers you need, :) Maedin\^talk 10:39, 20 April 2010 (UTC)
• Oh, and two more things: the requirement for images to be freely licensed is the same here. Although Wikipedia allows some fair-use images, they are not eligible to be FPs. Also, from your comment I got the impression that you haven't yet seen our candidacies page. It's here: Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates. Feel free to contribute; we're always happy to welcome creators, nominators, and reviewers. Maedin\^talk 10:45, 20 April 2010 (UTC)
• Actually En Wikipedia allows some pictures that are not fair use and are not acceptable on Commons. On Commons, an image must be "free" in the US and in the country of origin; En Wikipedia only cares about free in the U.S. Rmhermen (talk) 02:16, 20 October 2010 (UTC)

Commons FPs

• I have found the following fivesix images for WP:CHICAGO that are commons FPs and not WP FPs: File:CTA Night.jpg, File:Chicago sunrise 1.jpg, File:Patti Smith performing in Finland, 2007.jpg, File:Gary Sinise on stage 1 crop.jpg, File:Chicago.jpg and File:Pulaski Skyway full view.jpg. How can I tell if any of them have been previously nominated for WP FP?--TonyTheTiger (T/C/BIO/WP:CHICAGO/WP:FOUR) 19:02, 16 May 2010 (UTC)
  • When you look at the file links on the image page, there would be a link to an FPC nomination page, something like Wikipedia:Featured Picture Candidates/something. Looks like two of them were nominated Patti Smith and Pulaski Skyway. You're welcome to re-nominate either of those or nominate any of the others. You'll want to check out the FPC criteria first, though. Makeemlighter (talk) 19:30, 16 May 2010 (UTC)
    • Would the two that have failed at FPC already have a chance at WP:VPC?
      • I think the Pulaski Skyway image would have a chance at VPC. -- bydand•talk 05:19, 2 August 2010 (UTC)

File:Delphine Chanéac cropped.jpg

Do you think I could nom it, and get it passed, maybe with some photoshopping? It's a pretty cool pic. Thanks. - Peregrine Fisher (talk) 04:52, 11 June 2010 (UTC)

• Try picture peer review. Makeemlighter (talk) 07:33, 13 June 2010 (UTC)

Why was this promoted?

It's a good image, much work went into it and I did think it should be promoted, but there were three distinct vote types at odds with each other: Gut Monk's opposition, a few votes in support only for the original and mine only for one cropped version. How is that a consensus? --I′d※<3※Ɵɲɛ (talk) 04:59, 16 July 2010 (UTC)

• I count 7 supports for the original, a few of which only support the original. Not much support, and some opposition, to the crops. Seemed like a pretty clear consensus for promotion of the original. BTW, you're better off posting at the FPC talk page: a lot more people watch it so you're more likely to get a (timely) response. Makeemlighter (talk) 05:11, 16 July 2010 (UTC)
• (edit conflict) Original had 8 supports, 1 general oppose, multiple opposes for the crops, and only 1 support for just the crops. Consensus is black & white plain as day. — raeky ^{(talk | edits)} 05:12, 16 July 2010 (UTC)

• Yes, that's a general consensus, I thought FPC aimed for unanimity, BTW this is linked to the FPC talk page. --I′d※<3※Ɵɲɛ (talk) 05:15, 16 July 2010 (UTC)
  • Oop, I meant this is on the FP talkpage. --I′d※<3※Ɵɲɛ (talk) 03:42, 18 July 2010 (UTC)

• Nope, consensus is the key. We'd be passing much less if unanimity was required. From WP:FPC: "For promotion, if an image is listed here for nine days with four or more reviewers in support (excluding the nominator(s)) and the consensus is in its favor, it can be added to the Wikipedia:Featured pictures list. Consensus is generally regarded to be a two-third majority in support, including the nominator and/or creator of the image; however, anonymous votes are generally disregarded, as are opinions of sockpuppets. If necessary, decisions about close candidacies will be made on a case-by-case basis." Jujutacular ^T · C 05:18, 16 July 2010 (UTC)

Nomination for deletion of Template:Wallpaper

Template:Wallpaper has been nominated for deletion. You are invited to comment on the discussion at the template's entry on the Templates for discussion page. Thank you. Waltham, The Duke of 11:41, 25 August 2010 (UTC) Check this out please:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Assorted_044.JPG http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yas_Italy_Fair-Cape_Cod-Aquarium_039.JPG —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mimono1997 (talk • contribs) 01:44, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Sport

I noticed alot of sport images are under People-Entertainment instead of the Sport subcatagory. Spongie555 (talk) 03:43, 6 October 2010 (UTC)

It should be an independent category. --Extra 999 (Contact ^me + _contribs) 08:31, 1 November 2010 (UTC)

Template:FeaturedPicture update

I have made a small change to that template, adding a | parameter for "video" or "animation" as files like File:Bombing of Hamburg.ogg are not "pictures". I hope this is OK. /ƒETCHCOMMS/ 03:35, 3 December 2010 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Valued pictures MfD

Your input at Wikipedia:Miscellany for deletion/Wikipedia:Valued pictures (3d nomination) may benefit the discussion. -- Uzma Gamal (talk) 10:32, 15 December 2010 (UTC)

Images at Presidential portrait (United States)

There is a gallery of what I would say are high quality images portraits of the US presidents most of which I think would be suitable as featured images. There are a couple of low quality exceptions but for the most part I would say 90% of them meeet to the requirements for FP. Before I submit a large group for Featured image status would someone more experienced with images take a look and tell me if I am out of my depth in thinking these are high quality and Encycopedic? Here are a couple things that I noticed on a couple: A couple include the artists autograph on the portrait, a couple have what look like cracks in the painting, minor artifacts or other slight defects but again since these are paintings I am not sure what sort of changes would be appropriate to keep its historic appearance. Thanks in advance. --Kumioko (talk) 18:11, 31 December 2010 (UTC)

Main page proposals

Dear FP community, a note to make you aware of an existing proposal and a future proposal for main page inclusion.

• Featured sounds inclusion where a second featured picture is added five days of the week but two featured sounds are added at the weekend.
• Future proposed FL inclusion where one of the second featured pictures is substituted for a featured list on Wednesdays.

Overall, this would mean 7 FAs per week, 11 FPs per week, 2 FSs per week and 1 FL per week. Please head to Talk:Main page for the current FS proposal and shortly where the FL proposal will be listed. Many thanks, and all the best. The Rambling Man (talk) 23:05, 21 February 2011 (UTC)

Barnstar for iconic 20th century architecture

Just a note to let you know that as part of the National Register of Historic Places Fall 2011 Photo Contest a barnstar is offered for any FP of an iconic 20th century building on the US heritage register. As the scope of that contest is geographically limited, additionally I'm also offering the same award worldwide. --Elekhh (talk) 22:12, 18 October 2011 (UTC)

Is local "Featured Picture" template redundant to Commons "Assessments" template?

Quick question - when the description page of a Commons image uses the "Assessments" template to show that the image is a Featured Picture at en Wikipedia, is the local {{Featured picture}} template considered redundant? Kelly ^hi! 05:12, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

Sorry, this page is not watched heavily. To answer your question: No. Since the enwiki community only controls enwiki pages, we would like to keep our own records. Commons is somewhat inconsistent on keeping that template up to date. Jujutacular ^talk 00:00, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

I watch it! And I could have sworn that I responded to it. Juju is mostly right. I'll add that English FPs aren't always marked as such on Commons, and many English FPs that are marked on Commons have incorrect links to nomination pages. Makeemlighter (talk) 02:40, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Discussion on Main Page affecting April Fools Day Tradition

There is a discussion on the Main Page relative to the April Fools Day tradition that would affect this page---Balloonman ^{Poppa Balloon} 00:50, 19 March 2012 (UTC)