Obtaining an image for a place of interest

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

providing, for display to a first user, a representation of a place of interest and a user interface for requesting an updated image of the place of interest;

storing a number of requests made by the first user for a predetermined period of time;

receiving, from the first user, a request for a recent image of the place of interest;

verifying that the first user has not exceeded a maximum number of requests;

when the first user has not exceeded the maximum number of requests, informing a second user of the request;

receiving from the second user, in response to the informing, a new image for the place of interest; and

providing the new image to the first user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

before informing the second user, determining that the second user is in an area that includes the place of interest.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving, for one or more users, an indication and a time that the one or more users visited the area;

determining an average number of users that are present in the area for one or more periods of time;

providing, in response to receiving the request, one or more periods of time in which the average number of users in the area satisfies a predetermined threshold; and

receiving, from the first user, a selected period of time for the request,

wherein the step of informing is performed during the selected period of time.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the representation of the place of interest is provided to the first user in response to a search for subject matter related to the place of interest.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing, for the first user, a number of requests made by the first user and a number of times that the first user provided an updated image in response to a request from another user; and

verifying, on receiving the request, that a ratio between the number of requests made by the first user and the number of times that the first user provided an updated image satisfies a predetermined threshold before informing the second user of the request.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from a mobile device associated with the second user, an indication that the mobile device is in an area that includes the place of interest; and

transmitting a message to the mobile device to inform the second user of the request.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the new image is a digital photo or video file that depicts the place of interest.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the representation of the place of interest is provided for display to the first user in connection with a web page viewed by the first user, and wherein providing the new image to the first user comprises updating the representation with the new image.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein providing the new image to the first user comprises updating a current display of a current image for the place of interest.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a group of images for display to the first user;

determining one or more images of the group of images are related to a geographic location; and

displaying, in connection with one or more of the group of images, one or more respective controls, a control for initiating a request for an update of a corresponding image,

wherein the representation of the place of interest is a selected one of the images displayed in connection with a corresponding control, and the request for a recent image is initiated in response to activation of the corresponding control.

11. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to perform a method, the method comprising:

providing, for display to a first user, a representation of a place of interest and a user interface for requesting an updated image of the place of interest;

storing a number of requests made by the first user for a predetermined period of time;

receiving, from the first user, a request for a recent image of the place of interest;

verifying that the first user has not exceeded a maximum number of requests;

when the first user has not exceeded the maximum number of requests, determining a second user in an area related to the place of interest;

informing the second user of the request;

receiving from the second user, in response to the informing, a new image for the place of interest; and

providing the new image to the first user.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , the method further comprising:

receiving, for one or more users, an indication and a time that the one or more users visited the area;

determining an average number of users that are present in the area for one or more periods of time;

providing, in response to receiving the request, one or more periods of time in which the average number of users in the area satisfies a predetermined threshold; and

receiving, from the first user, a selected period of time for the request,

wherein the step of informing is performed during the selected period of time.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the representation of the place of interest is provided to the first user in response to a search for subject matter related to the place of interest.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , the method further comprising:

storing, for the first user, a number of requests made by the first user and a number of times that the first user provided an updated image in response to a request from another user; and

verifying, on receiving the request, that a ratio between the number of requests made by the first user and the number of times that the first user provided an updated image satisfies a predetermined threshold before informing the second user of the request.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , the method further comprising:

receiving, from a mobile device associated with the second user, an indication that the mobile device is in an area that includes the place of interest; and

transmitting a message to the mobile device to inform the second user of the request.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the representation of the place of interest is provided for display to the first user in response to a search query for subject matter related to the place of interest.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the representation is a digital photo or video file that depicts the place of interest, and wherein providing the new image to the first user comprises notifying the first user that the representation has been updated with the new image.

18. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

provide, for display to a first user, a representation of a place of interest and a control for requesting an updated image of the place of interest;

store a number of requests made by the first user for a predetermined period of time;

receive, from the first user, a request for a recent image of the place of interest;

verifying that the first user has not exceeded a maximum of requests;

when the first user has not exceeded the maximum number of requests, determine a second user in an area related to the place of interest;

inform the second user of the request;

receive from the second user, in response to the informing, a new image for the place of interest;

update the representation with the new image; and

provide, for display to the first user, the representation updated with the new image.