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2013 Water Calendar

Is there a picture that you would like to see in a future calendar? All submitted images will be considered and will be added to the OSW Image Collection. See below for guidelines. As a thank you for your efforts, there will be a modest non-monetary award for each photographer whose work is included in the calendar.

Questions? Send them to OSWCalendar@usgs.gov.

Guidelines for Photographs

While we are interested in any water-related images (surface water, groundwater, water quality), we are particularly interested in contemporary and historic photographs illustrating one or more of the following:

• USGS water staff actively engaged in doing their job,
• Streamgaging stations, groundwater wells, water quality monitors
• Streamgaging activities (everyday and extreme event),
• Data collection activities (everyday and extreme event),
• Water conditions (floods, low flows, ice, etc…), and
• Scenic backdrops; where you say "…and they pay me to be here!"

In general, while you are taking pictures, consider the following:

• Use the highest resolution available for the camera (or scanner if scanning images).
• Turn off the option to display the date and time. Most cameras store this with the file meta data. If you cannot turn the date and time off, then compose your picture so that it can easily be cropped from the picture without negatively impacting your image.
• If you are photographing people, take several pictures where everyone is actively engaged in the task at hand (this is what we are seeking for the calendar) and several pictures where everyone is smiling into the camera (your boss will want this one for the lobby or break room and Moms will want it for the refrigerator or piano).
• Cell phones may be convenient, but the resolution is usually not sufficient to produce a sharp, full-page image for the calendar.
• Visual Identity - USGS logo on equipment and/or people is nice.
• All contemporary images MUST show adherence to all applicable safety rules.
• Don't take just one picture, try multiple compositions:
  • Try placing the point of interest in different locations in the frame.
  • Consider different vantage points, moving left, right, forward, backward, lower or higher. Sometimes moving just a few feet can make for a significantly better picture.
  • If there is action, it is usually better to have it moving into the picture rather than off the edge of the picture .

Current and Previous Calendars

Here is a great way to keep track of your active schedule and see your favorite water activities, gages, and colleagues at the same time!

2012	2011	2010
Calendar (pdf = 557M)	Calendar (pdf = 7.3M)	Calendar (pdf = 505M)
Photographs (pdf = 55M)	Photographs (pdf = 2.1M)	Photographs (pdf = 41M)

Would you like to use the calendar pictures for a screen saver or background image?

To use one of the Streamgaging Calendar images as the desktop background on Windows XP:

1. Right click on your desktop background and select Properties from the list.
2. Select the Desktop tab in the Display Properties window.
3. Click on the Browse button to navigate to the desired file and Open it.
4. The monitor image will give you an idea of what it will look like on your screen. If your image does not fill the screen, experiment with the three Position options Center, Stretch, and Tile. You may also want to set the background Color.
5. Click on Apply to change your background.

To use all of the Streamgaging Calendar images as the desktop background on Windows XP:

1. Right click on your desktop background and select Properties from the list.
2. Select the Screen Saver tab in the Display Properties window.
3. Select My Pictures Slideshow from the drop down list and then select the Settings button to identify the folder containing the calendar images and to define picture size and other options.
4. Click on Apply to set your screen saver.

To use the Streamgaging Calendar images as the desktop background and (or) screen saver on a MacBook:

1. Select the System Preferences icon.
2. In the Personal row, select Desktop & Screen Saver
3. Select Desktop to select the photo or folder you want to use as your background.
4. Select Screen Saver to select the folder containing the images you want for your screen saver.