frequently asked questions
What is So Close To Home?
So Close To Home is an on-line competition which allows users to view, upload, rate and comment on pictures. Users can select whether or not they wish their picture to be entered into the competition, where they will be in with a chance of winning some great prizes.
How do I become a member?
It's really simple. Click on 'sign up free' and follow the instructions or read the step-by-step instructions given on the 'how to get started page'.
Is So Close To Home free?
Yes - completely free! Becoming a member entitles you to upload, view, rate, add comments to, and share with friends all of the pictures on the site. Simply sign up for a free account to take advantage.
How do I know what category to put my photo?
We have split Scotland into 8 regions. If you are unsure, put your photo in the category closest to where the photo was taken. There is also a category called Nostalgia. This is for photos from days-gone-by, favourite photos from the past.
What services do I have access to as a member?
Upload pictures
View pictures
Rate and add comments on pictures
Forward pictures to friends
How can I send pictures to my friends?
Once you view a picture click on the 'share with friends' link. Insert their email address and a comment, then click 'send' to forward on to your friend. You can insert up to five email addresses at any one time, although each address must be separated with a comma.
How are my ratings calculated?
All members can give a picture a star rating out of five. An average is then calculated and displayed.
How do I win So Close To Home?
You get the option to enter when you upload each picture. The best picture will be selected by a panel of judges. There will be three prize draws in August, October and January. There will be one winner per competition.
What is a picture tag?
Tags are keywords or labels you can add to your pictures to make them easier to find later. You can search for specific tags or browse by popular tags, using them to find recordings categorised under that specific tag.
Troubleshooting
What if my photograph doesn't appear even after I have uploaded it?
So Close To Home uses the latest software to compress and convert most photo file types to ensure that these can be displayed on screen. However, depending on the file type, the length of time varies. Some users have experienced problems when trying to upload pictures and videos using older versions of Safari or Firefox browsers on their Macintosh computers. We recommend downloading the latest versions here - Safari 3, Firefox 3
If your photograph is still not displayed after 24 hours, then there may be an error with the file type. Please check your user account for messages and then email administration with your query.
I'm trying to upload a photo but it is taking a very long time to upload
Digital photographs or scans can be very large in size depending on how they were created. Check the size of your file by right clicking on it (alt clicking if using a Mac with a one button mouse) select 'Properties' ('Get Info' on the Mac) to see the file size. The file size will be displayed as Megabytes or MB. If the size is more than 4MB you may be better to open the file in a photo editing program or within your digital camera / mobile phone to reduce its size.
What photo file formats do you support?
You can upload the following file formats, JPG, GIF or PNG. If you have a file in any other format you will need to open it in a photo editing application and save it in one of the above formats before posting it.
What if my photo isn't displayed correctly?
During the compression process, the level of quality may be reduced (this may be worse if you have attempted to upload a file in excess of 4MB). If there is an error when your photo is viewed then we suggest that you re-submit your photo, and if the problem re-occurs then email administration with details of your problem.
Which browsers do you support?
Windows: Mozilla Firefox 1.0, Microsoft Internet Explorer 6. Macintosh: Safari 2.0, Mozilla Firefox 1.0. Some users have experienced problems when trying to upload pictures using older versions of Safari or Firefox browsers on their Macintosh computers. We recommend downloading the latest versions here - Safari 3, Firefox 3
How do I terminate my membership?
You can terminate your service at any time by sending an email to administration with details of your request.
There is inappropriate content on the site, what should I do?
To report offensive content, click on the 'Inappropriate' link located directly underneath the photo view box. Once marked the photo will be removed immediately and sent to the administrator to review. If the administrator decides that the photo is acceptable then the clip will be returned to the site. If someone repeatedly marks photos as inappropriate, that the administrator deems acceptable their membership will be terminated.