Wikipedia talk:Wikipedia Takes America/San Antonio/2012

Region
I've completed listing the region of town for all the wanted locations on the photo wanted list.

Now we need to at least decide what region we want to do. And I think that this should effect our starting location. Rolling Oaks is perfect if we decide to do the NE part of town. If we decide to do locations on the West side, for instance, I would not want to drive all the way out to Rolling Oaks just to drive back to my side of town for the actual picture taking. - TexasAndroid (talk) 12:59, 20 August 2012 (UTC)
 * I live on the NE side and Kinu would be coming from Austin if he came, so I think NE might be best this time but I'm open to anything.--v/r - TP 14:54, 9 September 2012 (UTC)
 * I found a page named Neighborhoods and districts of San Antonio that can help in planning as well as this map of sectors that generally corresponds with districts names used by most inhabitants. --Stillwaterising (talk) 03:01, 16 September 2012 (UTC)

Need More Info
Could somebody please explain what the plan is for Saturday? I'm interested in meeting other wikepedians in my area, but I need to know more clearly what's going on. - Stillwaterising (talk) 20:52, 13 September 2012 (UTC)
 * I'm going to send out an email tonight, but the plan is to meet at Noon at Rolling Oaks mall in front of Macy's. I'll have mapped out a stretch of locations along I-35 from 1604 to 281 (Northeast/central).  If anyone wants to do a different area, they are encouraged to at least meet up with us at Rolling Oaks for introductions and then split off from there.  We'll carpool as much as possible, but essentially have a convoy as we travel to different destinations.  We'll snap our shots, my wife can help explain DSLR settings for anyone interested (shes a professional) and then we'll move onto the next shot.  Plan to be over by 2pm, meetup at Hollihans on 1604/I-35 (or elsewhere) for sharing photos and talk.  Pretty simple plan.--20:40, 14 September 2012 (UTC)
 * Rolling Oaks mall is pretty far north-east. I think it would make more sense to meet at North Star or Crossroads mall? I have a vehicle, but it's rather small, and with every thing I have in it I can take 2 passengers at most. I would prefer to carpool with other people if I can. - Stillwaterising (talk) 20:51, 14 September 2012 (UTC)
 * On behalf of those of us coming from Austin, NE SA is a shorter drive for us. That being said, if it happens next Saturday, instead of tomorrow, that's even better for me.  How about a compromise, location wherever you want, but next Saturday instead of tomorrow? - Guðsþegn (talk) 21:16, 14 September 2012 (UTC)
 * I wasn't aware that Austin isn't also having its own event at this time. I live in the North Central area about 2 miles north of loop 410, however I don't mind meeting at Rolling Oaks mall. -Stillwaterising (talk)

Given the weather, might next Saturday (22nd) be better?
It will likely rain, and almost certainly be gloomy tomorrow (the planned day). Might next Saturday, the 22nd, be a better day for such an event? Any thoughts? Unrelated to anyone else, but important for me - I will be getting one of the new iPhones next Friday, which will be an upgrade in my photographic tools, which would be available to me next Saturday, of course. - Guðsþegn (talk) 20:14, 14 September 2012 (UTC)
 * Report from Weather.com --- for San Antonio, (Sat Sep 15) Isolated T-Storms, 30% chance of rain, (Sat Sep 22) Sunny, 0% chance of rain. - Guðsþegn (talk) 21:08, 14 September 2012 (UTC)
 * I'm not entirely opposed to it except that I meet with San Antonio's PhotoSA meetup group last night and told them what we had planned tomorrow. I can post on their message board if we decide to reschedule.--v/r - TP 20:37, 14 September 2012 (UTC)
 * Due to the weather ( 40% chance of rain and nearly 100% cloud cover) tomorrow is not a good day for outdoor photography. I think we should still meet make it more of planning/social event. I think we should change the rendezvous point to an indoor location. - Stillwaterising (talk) 21:13, 14 September 2012 (UTC)
 * I think you might be right. I'll send out an email letting everyone know we're changing it to next Saturday.  Weeks of sun, but when we try to get together..nothing.  On the note of a planning meeting, what about shooting some pool at Hooligans and getting some drinks?--v/r - TP 22:45, 14 September 2012 (UTC)
 * Where is Hooligan's? Time?  I might even make the trip for that. Guðsþegn (talk) 23:35, 14 September 2012 (UTC)
 * I sent an email.--v/r - TP 01:07, 15 September 2012 (UTC)

Plan
Ok, let's talk about some ideas:

Thoughts?--v/r - TP 19:30, 15 September 2012 (UTC)
 * 1) Where would you all like to meet?  We have some folks coming from Austin and I think a good place to meet is on the NE side and then we can split up from there.
 * 2) Do you want to go around town as a group or split up?  If we go as a group, we can enjoy each others company.  If we split up, we can cover more ground.  Either way, we can meet up at the end to discuss our photos.
 * 3) What time do you want to meet?  Noon seems like a solid time especially for the folks travelling from Austin.  But 7am-9am or 6pm-8pm are going to offer the best Sunlight.
 * 4) Where to meet up afterwards?  I think an open Wifi should be a consideration for this one so we can upload photos and start adding them to articles.
 * Just for me personally, I'm thinking of possibly running solo on the west side of town. I live in the far west side.  Going all the way across town to the NE side to potentially just split up seems like a massive waste of time and gas.  Sorry.  Also if folks are starting from the NE, and concentrating on the NE, then it might be a good thing for me to just hit some places on my side of town.  (Note that the factors that were making me iffy last weekend should not be an issue this coming weekend. - TexasAndroid (talk) 16:08, 17 September 2012 (UTC)
 * Sure, you could do that. I posted a google map on the project page.  Would you consider meeting up with us at the end to share pictures?--v/r - TP 16:45, 17 September 2012 (UTC)

Plan for sharing and uploading images
I've been thinking about what to do with all the digital images (photos) that will be obtained. I'm fairly skilled at using WP:Commons, however it may be too daunting a task for most people. Digital images also may need cropping and enhancement. I was thinking that it would be best if most of the photographers could get together and swap SD card so images can be put on a thumbdrive then burned to disk. I think for most people, Flickr is easier to use, but also uses the Creative Commons licenses. It would also be best practice if everybody made sure their clocks are set on their cameras, then write down in a log what the subject of the photo was and approx when you started taking photos. Otherwise, sorting and identifying images could be quite difficult. - Stillwaterising (talk) 18:19, 16 September 2012 (UTC)

Target selection
I had the idea that primary schools K-12, public or private, should be left alone. I believe schools have rules that nobody is allowed on campus without permission. I don't think anybody will get in trouble, however there is the possibility of getting trespassing charges. There is also a large number of schools, so to take them off the list would simplify the list. Leaving the schools without photos also gives young wikipedian a chance to contribute regarding something they are involved with on a daily basis. As far as colleges, most of the above ideas apply also, however I doubt there will be any real security problems, at most asked to leave. Any thoughts? - Stillwaterising (talk) 03:41, 20 September 2012 (UTC)

Likely attendees

 * v/r - TP 21:02, 15 August 2012 (UTC)
 * User:Lauraprl
 * Guðsþegn (talk) 04:16, 1 September 2012 (UTC)
 * User:Loveyk
 * user:Nstout94
 * User:Stillwaterising
 * TexasAndroid (talk)

Possible attendees

 * Kinu t/c : It's possible I'll be out of town that weekend, but I'll make it if not.
 * User:Thepoodlechef - I hope I can make it.
 * User:Nstout94 - I can take south side pics.
 * User:Loveyk - The Quadrangle at Ft. Sam is closed on weekends. I can go Friday 14th. I live near the River Walk. Can start at The Pearl, and walk uptown to Blue Star. Rain is in the forecast, this may be the only time I have not wished for rain! :)

Regrets

 * Buffs (talk)