Why don't you try sorl-thumbnail . It has the exact same interface as the default ImageField django provides and it seems like it would be a lot nicer to work with than the roll-your-own support.
I had a similar problem, but in my case using sorl-thumbnail was not an option. I found that I can open an Image directly from S3BotoStorage by passing in a file descriptor instead of a path.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.