Shake it like a digital photo

Gone are the days of slide carousels and messy chemicals. Now, when photographers want to share the fruits of their labor, they turn to one of the many online photo sites that have sprung up as a part of the digital photography revolution.

Whether they are sharing family photos, artistic shots, or pictures from last night at ZBT, online photo sites offer Tufts students the opportunity to share their digital photos with whomever they desire.

The advantages of online photo sites include the simplicity of sharing photos with friends and family and the high quality prints available through the sites. Of course, for starving college students, the price is right. The most popular sites are free, and give members the opportunity to purchase prints of the photos they view.

Some of the most popular sites include Ofoto, Snapfish, and Club Photo. These sites all feature services to both digital and traditional film photographers. Users can register with the site at no cost. Once registered, they can either upload photos from their home computer or, for a small fee, mail in rolls of film or disposable cameras to be developed and uploaded onto the site. Users can then edit and organize uploaded photos into albums, which they can open up to public viewing and share with friends and families through e-mail links.

Senior Meg Bliss, a Club Photo patron, uses the site for both artistic photography and more candid shots, such as pictures from a trip to Cuba she took last spring. She chose the Club Photo site because it enables her to share pictures easily. "I like it because it's free, and because other people can access my pics with my e-mail address," she said. Usually I use my own webspace, but I used Club Photo because people can order prints."

The opportunity to peruse friends' pictures at your own pace also appeals to students. Junior Lauren Fein has been invited to view several albums on OFoto, and she appreciated the freedom she has to view the photos. "It's nice because I can do it while I'm IMing or taking a study break in the library."

For students studying abroad, photo websites are an easy way to share their international experiences back home.

Yet, problems sometimes arise with unreliable or slow internet access. Junior Andrew Churella, who is studying in London for the semester, hasn't been able to upload pictures yet this semester. "My pictures are on my computer, and I can't get it attached to the Internet," he said. He plans on putting his photos online once he returns to the States and a solid internet connection.

Most college students use the sites with their digital cameras, but they are convenient for film users too. Fein was happy with the service that Snapfish provided her when she mailed in her film. "It's cheap and pretty convenient if you are willing to wait for the time to get your pictures. It's only around three dollars and then they are online." Overall, Fein was very happy with the quality of the Snapfish website. "The prints were great. And I dig the fish -- it's just really cute."

In additional to online galleries and traditional prints, the photo websites offer the opportunity to have your photos reproduced on various novelty gifts. Club Photo users, for example, can order their favorite prints on coffee mugs, T-shirts, or even Rice Krispie treats.