User:GRuban/GIF

George's Image FAQ

Why?

Why are images for Wikipedia articles, especially about people (which is what most of the images I upload portray), so important? That was basically the question that author Rob Walker asked me when I asked him for an image for his article.

Well, they're not crucial; you can have an article without an image. But they are worth the proverbial thousand words. More importantly, most biographical articles would be incomplete without one. Imagine you are trying to learn about Jane Schmoe, notable enough for a Wikipedia article. Perhaps a friend is inviting you to see her in a game, or in a movie, or in a debate, or in a play; or you're interviewing with her company for a job. If we have a reasonable article about her without a picture, you can probably learn where and when she were born, went to school, the teams she played for, the companies she founded, the awards she won, the books she wrote, the movies she acted in, the roles she played, her notable relatives, the important events in her life. You can probably impress your friend, or even her, with this information. Except that when she comes out on the stage, or the screen, or the playing field, or the conference room ... you don't know which one she is. I'd say the article clearly left out a rather vital bit of information, don't you agree?

Which?

We can only use free images, so often have to take what images are available.

Sometimes the images are not very good ... though still better than nothing. In that case we use what we have until we get a better free image.

• 
  Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, 2008. We used this one for 9 years, until we got the next:
• 
  Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, 2017

Sometimes the images seem fine to us, but not to the article subject.

• 
  Gene Weingarten, 2010. He wrote this Washington Post article about it: "Dear Wikipedia: Please change my photo!"
• 
  Gene Weingarten, 2014. It was changed to this one, and he was apparently happy.

Sometimes the images are ... too good. Would you believe this was the same person?

• 
  Lenore Skenazy, 2015
• 
  Lenore Skenazy, 2017

Sometimes the images are great images as such, but not really depicting the person. When we have choices, we sometimes debate the issue in depth.

• 
  Zoe Quinn, 2014. Used as the article main image for several years.
• 
  Zoe Quinn, 2016. Judged "very, very unflattering for various reasons; explaining why would be rude".
• 
  Zoe Quinn, 2014. Seriously proposed as an option, twice.
• 
  Zoe Quinn, 2015. Current consensus image.

Sometimes other factors apply.

• 
  Stephanie Ruhle (left), 2016. Clearly the more recognizable, full-face photo, but, well...
• 
  Stephanie Ruhle, 2016. ... we went with the profile view.