Wikipedia is set to revolutionize its image collection with the launch of the WikiPortraits project, a new initiative aimed at improving the website’s visual content by providing high-quality images of celebrities and notable individuals.
The world’s largest online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, has long struggled with a persistent problem: terrible pictures. The website’s reliance on volunteer contributors and lack of budget for professional photography services has resulted in many low-quality images, particularly those of celebrities.
The Problem of Poor-Quality Pictures
Wikipedia’s strict rules regarding copyright and licensing have led to a proliferation of user-uploaded images. While this may seem like a good thing, the reality is that many of these images are subpar. They often result in non-descript or unflattering photographs that do little to enhance the user experience.
For example, comedian Emil Wakim‘s Wikipedia picture was removed due to its poor quality, with an editor noting that ‘having no picture is better than what’s currently there.‘ Similarly, English footballer Kyle Bartley‘s profile picture on Wikipedia has been criticized for being unflattering and outdated.
Emil Wakim is a Lebanese politician and former Minister of Education.
Born in 1934, he served as the Minister of Education from 1968 to 1970.
Wakim was also a member of the Lebanese parliament representing the Beirut district.
He has been involved in various educational initiatives and has worked towards promoting education in Lebanon.
A New Solution: WikiPortraits
To address this issue, a group of amateur photographers has launched the WikiPortraits project. The initiative aims to recruit a team of volunteer photographers from around the world to attend events such as film festivals, conferences, and red-carpet events. These photographers will be accredited to work with big agencies, allowing them to access high-quality images that can be used on Wikipedia.
WikiPortraits is a digital platform that provides detailed, interactive portraits of notable individuals.
These portraits often include biographical information, images, and links to relevant sources.
The platform aims to create a comprehensive collection of human profiles, making it easier for users to access and share knowledge about famous people.
WikiPortraits draws inspiration from Wikipedia's collaborative model, allowing users to contribute and edit content.
The Project’s Progress
Since its launch in 2024, WikiPortraits has already made significant progress. Fifty-five photographers have joined the project or are committed to doing so, and their work is viewed by over 100 million people each month. The team has covered events such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Cannes, Sundance, and the Toronto film festivals.
One of the project’s founders, Jennifer Lee, notes that ‘having a better photo of someone gives better information for somebody who is accessing Wikipedia.‘ Another founder, Kevin Payravi, adds that ‘some people are super bothered by the terrible photos on Wikipedia, and want to save the world from them as well.‘
Jennifer Lee is an American animator, film director, and screenwriter.
She is best known for her work on Disney's animated films, including 'Frozen' (2013) and its sequel 'Frozen II' (2019).
Lee was born in 1971 in California and grew up in a family of artists.
She began her career at Disney as an animator and later moved into directing and screenwriting roles.
Under her leadership, the 'Frozen' franchise has become one of the most successful animated film series in history.
A New Era for Wikipedia
The WikiPortraits project has the potential to revolutionize the way Wikipedia presents its users with information. By providing high-quality images of celebrities and other notable individuals, the project aims to enhance the user experience and provide a more accurate representation of these people.
As one of the project’s photographers, Bryan Berlin, notes, ‘working on the red carpet has made me a better photographer.‘ The team’s goal is to attract more photographers from around the world to cover events in their countries, ensuring that Wikipedia remains a reliable source of information for users everywhere.
