Operation Photo Rescue!

[theautochthon]

I'm sure this has been posted about previously around here, but I feel the need to spread awareness of this awesome organization. I've applied to become a volunteer; anyone with some level of photo restoration skill should lend a hand! I can't think of any greater contribution a retoucher could make to society than to restore damaged photos for victims of natural disasters.

www.operationphotorescue.org

[Horsy]

This looks like a great idea! Thanks for the link.

[TommyO]

Theautochthon,
Thanks for reminding everyone of OPR. You will find that many users on RetouchPro are also volunteers for OPR, especially those that frequent the restoration forum.

I hope you will continue to support it and enjoy it. Best to start with the easier ones; some of those harder ones can take 10-20 hours of work.

[lurch]

10-20 hours? Ha! More like 40-50 or more to do them right, depending on the nature of the damage. Let's not give the newbie OPR-er an unrealistic view of the world.

[TommyO]

Ooops, you're right. Sorry for the swag. Unfortunately, I don't like to work on those extreme ones anymore. They take so long, then I get tired of working on them and put them aside, just to have Hannie or Tess email me to hurry up. So, then I feel guilty and in a hurry. So, I will only commit to a shorter one now, unless I really really know I can put in the time for the harder ones !

[jlr]

I am a newbie (here and to OPR) and just started working on my first photo today. I agree, it's an amazing organization with a touching mission! I feel so lucky to be able to help out.

[klassylady25]

You're not kidding Lurch. I've been there since it began. Lots of work and lots of great people.

[Jack The Ripper]

I just signed up!

do they scan and email the images to you? or do they actually send you the origionals?

[vbrestorer]

Jack the Ripper -- The OPR site has a "How-To" booklet you can get to on their site for details of how to do things. As to getting an image to work on, OPR has space on a site at which they put the images that need restoring. You establish an account for yourself at that site, and will be given permission to look at OPR's space. You select an image you'd like to restore and put a comment on it like "I'll do this one". Soon an OPR coordinator will see your request, and, if it had not already been requested by someone else, the coordinator will put a copy of the image into your space. From there you download it to your computer and work on it to restore it. (I'm going from memory here so I apologize for not having specifics like site name, etc. But you should be able to glean the gist of how it works. For details, see OPR's manual.) Good luck.

Larry

[xvvvz]

Just a bump to alert new forum members that Operation Photo Rescue always needs new volunteers.

www.operationphotorescue.org

Doug

[tori803]

The galleries at Operation Photo Rescue are regularly updated, so if you volunteer and you all the photos you look at one day are too challenging, check back in a few days, especially shortly after a copy run. There are often photos that need basic repairs.

Tori

[jesterjeni]

Re: Operation Photo Rescue!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I LOVE OPR... THE PEOPLE ARE WONDERFUL...
A PHOTO IS SIMPLY A SNAPSHOT IN TIME, A MOMENT
IT CANNOT BE RE-CAPTURED
IT CAN HOWEVER BE RE-CREATED
MUNIPULATED
TWEAKED,
TONED
, DIGITALLY DRAWN......ECT
ONCE YOU JOIN, YOU WILL FIND NO REGRET!!!

[Learnin'lady]

I just signed up a week or so ago and have already restored THREE photos! Woot!
You can choose what you feel you can do. My first was way over my head, but I did have fun with it...hehe
If I can do it anyone can do it!!!
Go join now!!
www.operationphotorescue.org

[clarknj]

I signed up a few momnths ago. After tackling some easier ones I am now into the 40-50hr restore ;(

It will be rewarding once I get through it.

[Learnin'lady]

Originally Posted by clarknj

I signed up a few momnths ago. After tackling some easier ones I am now into the 40-50hr restore ;(

It will be rewarding once I get through it.

For now Im going to stay with the less controversial ones.
I have my own way of doing things and have to remember that THESE are NOT MY customers.
it is a nice thing to do and Im so sure that the people who ask for help surely appreciate it.

[omytfineo1]

Anybody know if you are allowed to show these restorations in your portfolio?

[Learnin'lady]

Originally Posted by omytfineo1

Anybody know if you are allowed to show these restorations in your portfolio?

This was from one of the Gallery owners :
----
Indeed I already asked the question before when I was a volunteer as well :-).
The answer is that you can use the images on your website as long as you remove all the IPTC info, rename them so the family name is not in the name and don't use them to sell your work.
Otherwise you can use them on your website :-).
----
Of course with my site, they would be used to promote what I am capable of and this was his next reply to that:
Hm, since you're also giving a price-list on your homepage, I don't think that it'd be okay to upload OPR images.
----
So I would guess the answer would be no if you were to profit by doing so. But I also dont thing it would hurt to ask the team either.

[omytfineo1]

Thanks I had volunteered a few years ago, but never thought to ask

[Learnin'lady]

I dont know a lot about OPR as I have just joined up myself so there are many others more qualified than I. But that said I had just barely asked that question to Jonas and that was the reply, he did also offer to ask the team what they thought and I didn't push it, so it still may be an option. but I don't know.

[Der_W]

I just found this thread at the OPR forums that supports my earlier statements: http://www.operationphotorescue.org/...opic,26.0.html :-).

[Learnin'lady]

So its an I dont know? I was confused by that back and forth..

OH HI Jonas! Kate here from OPR...lol

[Der_W]

Hi Kate :-),

I recognized your website!

It's an definitive I don't know, yes ;-).
However I haven't heard anyone saying that it's a definite no-go yet, but Dave said earlier that he was okay with it.
Therefore personally I remove anything from the photos that gives a hint of the real owners and upload it.
I think there was another, more clear thread about this later, but I can't seem to find it.
If I can dig it up, I'll post the link here :-).

[Learnin'lady]

Ah yes I love a sure unsure answer.
HA didnt think of the site, guess Im blind to it..
So with that clear answer, I shall think about maybe adding one or two...hehe
Thanks Jonas, for clearing that up as its good to know.

[mHayes]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for promoting Operation Photo Rescue. Right now we are winding down with the remaining photos from the Nashville, TN run of last year. That run netted over 1,000 photos. We are hoping to start getting some photos in from Joplin, but our big copy run there will be Oct 7-8 at the Joplin Public Library 9 am to 6 pm. We are also teaming up with Lost Photos of Joplin

One question that I would like to clarify is whether you can post your restores from OPR on your portfolio. The answer is both yes and no. If it is your personal site and not a business site, especially one that is promoting photo restoration---yes, you may, but all personal embedded information on the photo has to be removed. If you have a business website where you sell your services---no, you may not. The reason for that is that is because we are a non-profit 501 (C) 3 organization and the complications with the IRS of using a charity for free advertising. You may link to OPR and to our galleries in the forum section, but not on your business website. Sorry.

I want to say thanks to all of you that have volunteered!

Margie Hayes (President)
Operation Photo Rescue Inc.
mhayes@operationphotorescue.org

[Der_W]

Thanks for joining in and clarifying things here, Margie :-)!

[mHayes]

I seriously cant figure out why anyone would want to have a restoration website that was NOT promoting their talents to find work, but comply I shall!

I don't know why they would either, but there is a difference of promoting your work on a website that you list prices for your services and you are soliciting business. Since we are a charity and governed by IRS rules, we can't do it. Most professionals volunteer their services to OPR out of compassion for others and not personal gain. We like to recognize everyone's efforts and that can be accomplished by submitting before/after of your restores on the OPR's Photo Gallery.

I’m sorry if your joining was to be able to post your work for a portfolio viewing, but we do not want to loose our non-profit standing. Because OPR operates solely on donations, we are actively seeking corporate sponsorships and I am learning that even that has IRS restrictions on how the sponsor is promoted at an event.

Thanks,

Margie Hayes (President)
Operation Photo Rescue Inc.
mhayes@operationphotorescue.org