Messages

Great shots of lighthouses in storm
http://www.lovethesepics.com/2011/04/power-of-the-storm-44-ferocious-waves-attacking-lighthouses/

I've replied to you by e-mail. Have you got it?

Not really LHs, but very nice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmRzj3O_V8U&feature=player_embedded#!

Updates related to new functions of the site:

20 Dec 2023: 50.000 photos, 10 million views

01 Jun 2021:  mass update of all engine versions

02 feb 2019: secure version of site

15 oct 2018: update of geo-functions

1 dec 2017: 30.000 photos, 5,1 million views

30 Nov 2016: 25.000 photos, 4.3 million views

24 Nov 2016: Blog started

23 mar 2016: 1000 followers in Instagram

18 dec 2015: Web-Server upgrade

1 nov 2015: 20.000 photos 3.885.000 views

26 oct 2015: instagram account added

1 july 2015: mobile version of the site is running

20 apr 2015: improvement of e-mail features

12 may 2014: 10.000 photos and 1.1 million of page views

25 apr 2014: serious performance improvements

20 apr 2014: new version of gallery engine installation

30 oct 2013: Added Hot Pictures function

28 sept 2013: 2 years of site operation. 6400 photos, 230.000 views, 2300 twitter followers.

9 aug 2013: added geotag to single picture page, file replacer plugin and anti-duplicate plugin

27 may 2013: new html5 upload and slideshow plugins

26 may 2013: 150.000 views, 2000 followers in twitter

4 may 2013: 5000 photos

10 jan 2013: 100.000 views, 4100+ photos

28 sept 2012:  1 year of the site running. 3600+ photos, 15k visitors

25 july 2012: 50.000 views in total

1 june 2012: Change to new hosting server

14 mar 2012: 1000+ followers in twitter

8 mar 2012: Geo plugin modification. Adding of world map page.

7 feb 2012: slightly changed thumbnail preview caption

6 feb 2012: 2000 photos

29 jan 2012: Added SPAM prevention actions.

20 jan 2012: Adjust search page interface: removed unnecessary fields, changed view options.

9 jan 2012: Template modifications for single page image.

29 dec 2011: We are on the Facebook pages, Facebook groups and Twitter!

18 dec 2011: Added users ranks in gallery profiles.

18 dec 2011: Added "download" link to photo description. Available only for registered users.

7 dec 2011: added "add to favorites" button to photo panel.

6 dec 2011: 1000 photos!
Many thanks for everybody who participate in uploading: cwbash, captainpet, Hans de Graaf, mylights, VTS, trevor747, Bob Smith, allgramps, DEREK SANDS, phantom53, ichbien, DLilley, kossiopeia, stalker, b47b56, Drusha14, Coral Reef, tata, Koral, celticknight and also other many people who sent me own photos.

2 dec 2011: Added off number to thumbnail view.  Reconfiguration of the single image display page.

27 nov 2011: Adjusted File information table for single image page.

23 nov 2011: Added facebook comments at image page

17 nov 2011: Added registration via Facebook and Twitter

17 nov 2011: Added quick reply BBCode bar

17 nov 2011: Added login security (5 unsuccessful password tries lock account for 15 minutes)

17 nov 2011: Added multi-language support of forum

17 nov 2011: Added "links" chapter

17 nov 2011: Added redirection to gallery on login

15 nov 2011: Got 500 images

8 nov 2011: added 2nd level for US/Canada/Australia/Russia

7 nov 2011: added RECAPTCHA to gallery comments (for anonymous users only) to avoid SPAM.

1 nov 2011: Added BBcode panel to comment field.

29 oct 2011:
Added RSS stream in gallery: you can receive all updates by RSS now ( on the bottom of main gallery page)
Added support of embedded media (i.e. youtube) to forum pages

23 oct 2011:
Added automated sharpening of thumbnails and medium sized photos

07 oct 2011:
Added extended navigation between pictures (using keyboard and mouse)

03 oct 2011:
Added links to social networks for photos
Added Google Earth positioning of the photos

30 sept 2011:
Added forum

28 sept 2011:
Gallery started

[!]

! No longer available

To add link to the list click here.

Disclaimer added. Also i will review rules (terms and conditions) in order to make them more detailed in some aspects, just need some time.

You're absolutely right, i missed this point. I think at the moment i will add to each page of gallery disclaimer which will require to contact personally with user of gallery to use this photo somewhere else. And later i will provide option you suggested, cause it requires changes in source codes of gallery (more complicated)

Thanks very much for this suggestion. In fact this gallery allows to provide several levels of categories, so we can create category US and then albums for each state. It's easy to move photos from album to album and to move  albums from category to category. You're right, than site will grow and number of lights will be increased it will be necessary to divide albums by state, so i think i will do this soon than more photos will be added, it will be easy to resort them again.

Links moved to a separate page.

Q: Why to collect such photos?
A: Last years i've visited many lighthouses due to my job, so i put it to the Internet. But looking in general i understood that many lighthouses became relict in epoch of electronic navigation. Many of them are currently being removed from operation and simply abandoned. So i think it's a good idea to take and store photos while they still exist in order to save them as legacy.

Q: Does everybody can upload own photo?
A: I reviewed many lighthouse galleries i found that all of them are based on the home page of one person who fill it and update it regularly. And if this person busy/not interesting anymore - site start to degrade very soon. There are many sites with photos, which are simply abandoned and will never updated anymore. That's the thing i'm trying to avoid. As you may be see, last years internet significally changed. Before it was based on "individuals" who created and supported own sites. Now we're living in Web2.0 times - everything now based on the communities, social networking, so users doesn't like simply read or watch, but prefer to participate in site life. That's what i tried to make - you can upload photo, add comments, speak with another users, rate another photos etc. And this is best way to keep site up-to-date - even if i'll stop to upload anything - site will be filled by another amateurs and this is great.

Q: Can i upload photo, if photos of same lighthouse of another authors are already present?
A: Yes, photos of same lighthouses, made by different authors are very welcome. We can compare which one is better

Q: Is it commercial project?
A: No. Membership is free and not expected to be paid. If project will be successfully grow, it could be added some banner advertising and voluntary donation options to get some money for extension. At the moment it is completely private project holding by only me.

Q: Is there are some limits for number of photos uploaded by user?
A: No. Technically we're limited only hosting space.

Q: Can i upload all lighthouses photos i have?
A: Yes, but please note - it should be your own photos, or photos for which you have permission to use, we don't want copyright problems.

Q: Do i transfer copyright of my photos to site owner?
A: No, you still hold all the rights for your photos and could delete them from gallery if you want.   

Q: Is it possible to get latest uploaded photos by RSS?
A: Yes add this link to your RSS-aggregator

Q: How to add my photo to Google Maps?
A: Unfortunately this function is available for Administrator only due to site engine limitations. But don't worry, it will be added by him just 1-2 days after upload.

Q: What if i don't know information about lighthouse?
A: No probs, just fill what you know, all other we'll add from our databases.

Q: What are the principles of the albums assignments?
A: Most of the countries contain of one album for all lighthouses. For the countries with extended coast line and many pictures in the gallery, their albums were split to several areas. Such splits generally don't correspond to the country administrative division, but sometimes they are inline with it. Claimed, disputed and self-declared territories often has own dedicated album. Please note, that we are far away from political disputes or territorial claims, therefore this separation of the pictures to albums is just conventional way to arrange the photos. If you feel that there is the better way to re-arrange the photos - please inform us via contact form.

[What is allowed to upload to this site:]

This site is intended to create collection of photos of lighthouses around the world. You should follow the Terms and Conditions if you want to use the site:

What is allowed to upload to this site:

• Active or deactivated lighthouses and navigational lights, their remnants or historic photos (to the countries albums or if you don't know where this object located to special album Non-Identified Lighthouses)
• Lamps, lanterns and photos of lighthouses interior (to the countries albums)
• Significant maritime coastal infrustructure objects: Port Control and Vessel Traffic Service towers, Radar control towers (to the countries albums)
• Fog horns, sirens, bells and other coastal sound signals systems (to the countries albums)
• Significant daymarks / beacons build specially for aid-to-navigation purposes but not lit (to the countries albums)
• Lightships (to the countries albums)
• Museum exhibit related to lighthouses (to the special album Museum exhibit)
• Banknotes and coins with images of lighthouses (to special album Banknotes)
• Paintings, sculptures and any other art objects with lighthouses (to special album Lighthouses in Art)
• Stamps with lighthouses images (to special album Stamps with Lighthouses)
• Any other interesting stuff related to lighthouses (to special album Stuff with Lighthouses)
• Non significant daymarks, buoys and other minor aids-to-navigation (to special album Aids-to-Navigation except lighthouses - generally this album almost not moderating)

Requirements for uploaded photos:

• Minimal resolution 640 x 480 pixels, maximum 4096 x 4096 pixels.
• Maximum file size 6 Mb
• Photo should have good quality and lighthouse should be main subject of it.
• Not allowed to upload more than 6 photos of same lighthouse made in same time.
• Photo should be aligned to horizon.
• Description fields should be filled as much as possible. Primary language is English. Local names are allowed, but if local name significantly different from English one please provide both.
• If photo doesn't contain date in EXIF (extended information added by modern digital cameras) or doesn't have visible timestamp - please provide information when this photo was made in the description.
• Photo copyright must be respected. You can upload only your own photos, photos of public domain or photos for which you have permission of the author.

Photos doesn't corresponded to this rules could be deleted by Administrators. Exceptions of these rules are possible for valuable photos and leaving at the Administrator's judgement.
Uploaded photos can be used in the social network accounts of lightphotos.net such as twitter, facebook and some others. In this case it is not always possible to keep your username associated to the photo, but link to lightphotos.net is always present in the account profile.

Usage of photos:
If you want to use any photos of another user, uploaded to this site, for any purposes, you should obtain permission of author unless otherwise stated in the photo description. You can ask this permission using personal messages of the forum.

Please note: information on this site is unofficial and could not be used in navigation.

Rules of behavior:
Site administration team can remove the content or block the user (temporary or forever) in case of violation one or several rules indicated below.

No inappropriate content:
Inappropriate content is any content which we deem is not fit to be displayed on this website. By content we mean anything that you publish on this website, for example posts, signatures, in photos or in private messages. Inappropriate content includes but is not limited to that which is:

• Vulgar or graphic
• Of pornographic nature
• Offensive to any specific group of people
• Offensive to a general audience
• Hateful
• Sexually oriented
• Threatening
• Invasive of a person's privacy

Keep things legal
We ask that you don't bring illegal topics onto this forum. While it's acceptable for such topics to be included as an element to a discussion please set boundaries and keep a distance from discussions that might be incriminating. Examples of what should not be brought into discussions here:

• Specific methods or sources of piracy
• Specific methods of committing a crime
• Public acknowledgment of potentially illegal acts committed, including piracy
• Actions that imply illegal conduct

No spamming or irrelevant advertising
Spam: Pointless posts with little relevance to the topic
Irrelevant advertising: promotion of products or services that are not related to the topic

No personal attacks or abusive behavior
Each and every member on this forum has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, any actions which contravene this will result in severe consequences. The following behavior is not acceptable:

• Personal attacks - Any insulting or abusive behavior that is directed at a specific person.
  
• Bullying (flaming) - Repeated abuse towards another member, this could be undertaken by one member or a number of members.
  
• Instigating (trolling) - Repeatedly provoking a member with the goal of getting an irrational response from them.
  

Post properly
There are a number of rules relating to posting that must be adhered to in order to keep the forum operating smoothly.
The following is not welcome:

• Bumping old threads (necroposting) without good reason
  
• Bumping more often than once per 24 hours
  
• Typing in all caps, it looks childish
  
• Post flooding or meaningless messages
• No duplicate posts or threads - Once is enough.
  
• Use non-descriptive thread subjects. You must use a subject that is relevant and informative for your threads.
  Do not use "help me," "hello," "error" or similar vague titles.
  
• Post in the incorrect (irrelevant topic) forum
• Incorrect profile fields usage (large text, referral/affiliate links, exessive signature etc) Usernames must not constitute a URL (ie. something.com). They must also not be excessively long or keep offensive words

Miscellaneous

• No duplicate accounts - duplicate accounts will be banned and you risk your main account being banned too.
  
• Respect the staff and their decisions - We are here to do a job which we do to the best of our ability. Any threads or posts questioning the decisions of staff will be removed on sight; if you have a problem with the actions of a staff member then discussing it with them via private message is the correct way to deal with it.
• Rep comments - Reputation comments must not constitute inappropriate content or a personal attack as per the definition above. Anyone abusing the reputation system will have their ability to leave reputation revoked immediately, permanently and without warning.

For other questions please see FAQ or ask administrator