Photo Database Search Utility

How To Search the Photo Database

Search Instructions

1. In the boxes above, enter the search criteria (descriptive keywords, country, city, state, locality) describing the photos to be retrieved from the database. Multiple words may be entered by separating each word with a comma. A phrase can be entered but do not use quotes, simply enter the phrase's words without commas.
2. A box may be left blank in which case any value in the database will satisfy the search for that field (the box is essentially ignored). However, you must enter a criterion in at least one box.
3. Check the "Match whole words only" box for the keyword box, if desired. If checked, sub-parts of keywords are not matched; for example, the keyword "hot" will match "hot" but not "hotel" in the database.
4. Use the "Locality" box to enter search words for geographic-specific criteria other than country/city/state, as for example, island names (eg. "Oahu"), national parks (eg. "Grand Teton National Park"), mountain range (eg. "Uintah Mountains"), special sites (eg. "Panama Canal", "Acropolis"), etc. (For more examples, see below.)
5. Select the desired photo format: horizontal, vertical, or both.
6. Click the "Search Photo Database" button to execute the search. Search results are displayed on a new page. If a digital scan of a photo is available, a small "thumbnail" of the photo is displayed. Click this small photo to view the full-size photo (which will be displayed in a separate browser window).
7. (Optional) Click the "Clear Form" button to erase all previously entered search criteria (for example, to start a completely new search).

Search Tips

• Spell correctly! A photo match will not occur if a search criteria is mis-spelled. Use the standard English spelling for geographic names (eg. "Venice" not "Venezia", "Mexico City" not "Ciudad de Mexico", "Bangkok" not "Krung Thep"). Sometimes the English spelling is not obvious -- Pune? Poonay? -- so try various alternatives.
• It is best to select country names from the list of "Available Countries" because currently only these countries are represented in the database. Doing so also ensures proper spelling of a country which is necessary for a database match. The same is true for the "Available Cities" list and the "Available States" list.
• Use the "Match whole words only" box for keywords judiciously. It is suggested to first search with this box unchecked. If this search returns too many extraneous photos, try another search with the box checked. Note that if this box is checked, the plural form of a keyword will not be found during the search if only the singular form is given (eg. entering keyword "lake" will not also find "lakes"). Therefore, it is best to enter both the singular and plural form of keywords (eg. "lake, lakes, city, cities, mouse, mice) when the "Match whole words only" box is checked.
• Any one of several comma-separated keywords will satisfy the search for a particular box but the criteria for all non-blank boxes must be met for a photo to be retrieved (ie. comma-separated words in a box are joined with OR, criteria from different boxes are joined with AND). In other words, entering more comma-separated words in a box will broaden the search; entering criteria in more boxes will restrict the search.

Search Examples

Example 1 To search for photos from "Great Britain" or "Germany" that relate to keywords "castle" or "cathedral", enter "Great Britain, Germany" in the Country box and "castle, cathedral" in the Keywords box. Then click the "Search Photo Database" button to find photos that satisfy your search.

Example 2 To search for photos of sunsets in any national park, monument, lakeshore, etc. in the USA, enter "USA" in the Country box, "sunset" in the Keywords box, and "national" in the Locality box. Then click the "Search Photo Database" button to find photos that satisfy your search.