Vancouver Playgrounds

How to take photos so that each piece of equipment can be identified by its shape and movement. Plan on 10–30 photos and 20–40 minutes per playground.

Before you start

• Photograph when nobody is there, e.g. weekday mornings or after rain. If children are playing, leave that equipment for later or another day
• Only photograph playgrounds open to the public. Do not photograph playgrounds of daycares, schools or residential buildings, including from outside
• Turn on location recording on your camera or phone. The playground’s position is taken from where the photos were taken
• Hold the camera in landscape. Do not zoom; walk closer instead

What to photograph, in order

1. The whole playground (1–2 photos): from the entrance, with the whole playground in frame. Add the park’s name sign if there is one
2. Each piece of equipment, whole (1 photo): from far enough to fit the whole piece, including the ground, so its size is clear
3. Each piece, the moving or distinctive part (1–2 photos): how the spinning rings hang, the shape of the slide, the type of swing seat — whatever tells its type apart. A second angle helps
4. Manufacturer’s plate (1 photo, if any): the plate with the maker, product name or year, close enough to read
5. Notice sign (1 photo, if any): age range or safety rules

For combination structures (slide, ladder and monkey bars joined together), take one photo of the whole structure, then step 3 for each part.

What not to photograph or use

• Photos where a person is prominent are not used. Retake them or leave them out
• People small in the background, including from behind, are blurred before the photo is published
• Avoid angles where nearby windows or licence plates are prominent
• Do not climb or move equipment to take a photo

After

• Keep photos grouped by playground, with the date and place (park name, or the nearest street if it has none)
• Photos are to be published under CC BY 4.0. Do not mix in photos taken by others, even with permission
• Before publishing, the date taken is rounded to the month (the day and time are removed). The location and camera data are kept. This way nobody can tell where the photographer was and when. The original photos are kept privately