Although Flickr does have a robust API its not easy for someone non-technical to download and backup all the images they have uploaded to the service. However there are a few solutions out there that aim to help you download and save your images locally.

One of the newer and better ones I’ve seen is Bulkr. This is an Adobe AIR tool (so you’ll need AIR installed). It has a simple interface and provides a very easy method for you to download and backup your entire photostream, individual photos or chosen sets (to local folders) via a few clicks of the mouse. You can select what size you want to download (although it would make most sense to grab the originals) and even embed the tags from Flickr into the image EXIF data.

If you’re guilty of not backing up your images, give Bulkr a go, and of course once you’ve got the images stored locally don’t forget to back those up too!

As promised in my last post, here’s a shot of the Flagcrackers – a traditional folk dance troop (think morris dancers) from North Yorkshire.

Although this type of dancing goes back a long way, the Flagcrackers were established over 20 years ago. Since then they have danced at events everywhere from Eire to Belgium and from Orkney to Kent.

The photographers on the Leeds Flickr day out lucked out as we didn’t know there was going to be a collection of these folk dancing troops in Knaresborough on the day we visited. Check out the Flickr discussion to see other’s shots from the day, including more of the Flagcrackers and some of the other folk dancing troops there.

Within the walls of Knaresborough Castle are several Ravens which are looked after by Her Majesty’s Keeper of Castle Ravens, Knaresborough! They’ve been hand reared and so aren’t afraid of humans and you could get quite close as you can see above.

We were also lucky to be there at the same time as some sort of festival of folk dance which had attracted many morris-dancing troops. However these weren’t your usual all-in-white morris dancers and many had more eclectic get up on. For example, the FlagCrackers (who I’ll post some pictures of soon) paint their faces black and dress in rags.

This is definitely the case with one Flickr user – Dippold – who has shared a template to build your own camera. A perfect little project to keep you from gorging on all those chocolate Easter eggs this holiday!

All you need is a printer, some paper, a rubber band and a couple of rolls of 35mm film and you too can make your own pin-hole camera. Even better, Dippold has even added a nifty chart providing guideline exposure times.

Follow the link below to view Dippold’s Flickr stream and get the template yourself.

Dippold: Pin-hole Camera Tutorial & Template

2.  Tell us your favourite photos on Flickr, and why you like them. First, a favourite from your photostream?
I think I’d have to say this shot of the Rialto Bridge in Venice that I took late one summer evening a couple of years ago. The bridge was all lit up and with all the cafes and restaurants on the side of the Grand Canal with their lights reflected in the water, it worked far better than I ever expected it to!

And from another Flickr member?
Now this is more tricky! Although I love the Northern Lights shots by Olgeir (over 1,000 comment on one picture!), and the wonderful post-processing of IrenaS, I think I will have to go for this shot by Bradi. Its just a great Silhouette and its so quirky and fun.

3. What’s one tip that you would share with someone who’s just picking up a camera?
Sit down and read the manual! No – seriously. The sooner you can get out of Automatic mode and start using the Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and even Manual modes the better. You’ll get better shots and be far happier with the results. Of course with digital it doesn’t matter as much if you make mistakes as you learn. But do be careful of deleting an image based on what it looks like on the camera’s LCD.

4. “Kittens, babies, sunsets or flowers? Pick one.”
Sunsets I guess.

(The last question has been changed slightly for the Leeds Group thread)

5. Which of your contacts would you like other members of the Leeds group to see?
Well I’ve already mentioned Olgeir and IrenaS as part of question 2 so as I didn’t choose one of their pictures you should all go an check out their photostreams now!

This was taken at the Nostell Priory Steam Faire earlier this year. Here’s links to a few other bloggers also doing this, and if you’ve got a blog and use Flickr why not join in!

Flickr MeMe 1 – Thomas Hawk

Flickr MeMe 2 – Melissa Acedera

Flickr MeMe 3 – Andre Maltais

Based in Montreal, Irena is a freelance photographer, which is good for her as she has a stunning eye for capturing the absolute essence of the countryside and environment around her.

She’s also incredibly well versed in post-processing and her final images have the ethereal beauty of a pastel drawing or watercolour. (In fact if you have a favourite you can also buy print through her blog!). Just check our her “Adventures in Photoshop” Flickr set to see what I mean.

Irena’s Photostream on Flickr

So first off, meet Olgeir who is a native Icelander and lives on the Reykjanes peninsular in the town of Keflavik. His photographs show the beauty of the local countryside and seascapes throughout the seasons, and he often posts great photos of the Northern lights.

I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland and Olgeir’s photos only make me want to visit more. Although without the local knowledge he possesses which allows him to discover those hidden areas off the normal tourist trail, I know that when I do finally get there, my shots will only be a pale comparison to his.

Olgeir’s Photostream on Flickr