ERROR: Image cannot be loaded. Make sure the path is correct and image exist.

UPDATE: I found the cause of the problem above but don’t know the solution. In further updating some images, I accidentally deleted the gallery associated with “MOSTLY BIRDS” (https://www.garymak.photography/#lightbox%5Bgroup%5D/0/) No problem. I created another gallery and uploaded images to it. The images appear in the Lightbox no problem. Now, however, if you click on any of the photos, I get the error message ““Image cannot be loaded. Make sure the path is correct and image exist.”? Soooo, the problem is with the creation of new galleries. They seem to lose their connection to a single enlargement – but not the connection to all appear in the gallery…

Hope this helps narrow it down!

The problem is that the gallery images do not return an image but an HTML file when clicked – presumably the attachment page from the media file in question. The gallery is provided by the commercial theme you are using. This results in 2 problems that prevent you from getting any help at all in this forum:
a) Questions about commercial products cannot be answered here in the forum.
b) The theme you are using no longer exists. The developer has discontinued it and does not offer support for it: https://themeforest.net/item/photolux-photography-portfolio-wordpress-theme/894193?ref=pxcr

This results in 2 possible solutions for you:
a) You find someone to look at it with you personally. This person should be a developer and customize the theme so that the gallery works according to your wishes again. You can find someone like this here, for example: https://jobs.wordpress.net/
b) Look for a new theme. There are many free ones to choose from. However, you will then also have to completely reorganize your galleries, as these are obviously very much managed by the commercial theme you have been using so far.

Regardless of this, you should definitely change your hosting. PHP prior to version 7.4 has not received any security updates for years. It is questionable how long your hoster will continue to provide such old versions – and possibly only at horrendous additional costs for you. You are jeopardizing your entire project. You should currently use at least PHP 8.1.

Wow!!! Ugh! Thanks so much for responding and explaining! This is all way beyond me. I built the site on GoDaddy using WordPress since that was what they had and picked this theme from one of many available. I have basic skills, not advanced. (I run two other websites (more recent) that are simpler but way easier to adjust it seems.) I’ve updated this site over the years periodically until I reached this point. This is just a website I built to highlight work for my small business. I thought that this WordPress Forum was where I would ask those questions… I see your point, that the problem is related to my Theme (not WordPress) which is extinct…

Well, “Plan A” as you outlined above is out. Not investing any kind of money or extensive time to repair this. The “theme” isn’t that important. So, “Plan B” it is then.

A question then – and forgive me if it’s not “appropriate for this forum” (I honestly have no idea) is: is the problem of upgrading to PHP version-newest-whatever a function of WordPress or my (current) theme? It would seem from your response if I understand it correctly (which I might not) that it is related to using an obsolete “Theme”, so if I convert it to a modern, up-to-date theme, all should be well…? Yes?

Another question, do you recommend the free Themes over the “commercial” ones as you called it? (I’m assuming you are referring to paid themes as “commercial” themes…

I don’t mind having to redo all the galleries actually. Yes, a lot of work, but the reason I got into this mess was I decided the site needed a major content facelift… I guess sometimes facelifts aren’t successful… ??

Thanks so much for your response!!!!!!!! It was VERY helpful!

PHP is one of the services provided by your web host. If you want to change the PHP version, please contact them to clarify how to proceed.

However, you should clarify in advance whether the plugins and theme you are using are compatible. If there is no or not enough information on this, you can give it a try (and revert to the old PHP version in the event of a problem) or test the procedure in a staging system. Ideally, your host should also be able to help you set up such a staging system so that the issue can be clarified before the actual conversion.

However, due to the age of your project and the theme in particular, I can already see considerable problems here. The conversion will probably not be possible at all. If you have PHP converted to 8.0 or 8.1, your website will probably no longer work at all.

Of course, you always have the option of seeking professional help with your project, someone who can help you personally and not just in “anonymous” forum posts. You are sure to find someone like that here: https://jobs.wordpress.net/

Thank you so much. That was very helpful info/advice. I spent several hours last night (while hoping for your response (thanks again!)) picking out a couple of new free WordPress themes and running them in Preview mode to see how they look. I’ve narrowed down to 2 possibilities. I’ll probably look for another couple of more themes today. You provided an important piece of info for me, that it’s GoDaddy’s job to update the PHP and once done, I or “we” (GoDaddy and me) can check out whether the themes I’m thinking of are compatible…

At this point, there is no reason to try to salvage the theme I am currently using. I’m just going to start anew and do a major facelift with a new theme that is all copacetic with the latest versions of whatever stuff its supposed to be compatible with… Hopefully, things will hum along smoothly for years after this upgrade, just clicking the buttons for “update PHP” or “update whatever”.

Now, once I have things up and running, if I run into trouble, I have another option with the https://jobs.wordpress.net/ option you gave, but hopefully that won’t be necessary. But great to know!

Finally, for future reference, could you explain what this forum is for, then? WordPress is just a host platform for themes, as I understand it (and that may not be correct.) If I’m having trouble with one of the themes that I found on the WordPress website, can I not ask questions about that here? Or do I need to email the creator of the theme directly then and not ask here. I’m a bit confused…

Anyway, you’ve been a real help and I appreciate it very much. I’ll let you know how it goes…

www.ads-software.com is the central point of contact for this free-to-use CMS. This includes much more than just the themes, but also almost 60,000 plugins and a lot of teams, most of which are made up of volunteers who pull the strings in the background. This is where the further development of WordPress itself takes place. More about this: https://www.ads-software.com/about/ or just the forum: https://www.ads-software.com/support/guidelines/

If you consider your topic here to be solved, you are welcome to set the topic to solved. You are also welcome to open a new one for other questions at any time.

Thanks so much for taking the time (multiple times) to explain things. I think I have a better grasp on things now. Certainly what the issue is. It does seem much more complicated than years ago, and since it’s not my area of expertise, nor do I devote much time to it to stay abreast of developments, may have fallen behind. I guess that’s why there are sites like Wix (which I also have a website on for a volunteer organization I run) that make it easy to get up and running and keep up to date. Anyway, thanks again!