Consuming a Json WebService from a C# or VB Application

using System;
using System.Net;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Runtime.Serialization.Json;

namespace Panoramio
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            //fill the combo with the availbale sizes
            cmbSize.Items.Clear();
            foreach (PhotoSize size in Enum.GetValues(typeof(PhotoSize)))
            {
                cmbSize.Items.Add(size);
            }
            cmbSize.Text = PhotoSize.thumbnail.ToString();
        }

        private void btnStart_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                string url = GetURL();
                WebRequest request = WebRequest.Create(url);
                WebResponse ws = request.GetResponse();

                DataContractJsonSerializer jsonSerializer = new DataContractJsonSerializer(typeof(PanoramioData));
                PanoramioData photos = (PanoramioData)jsonSerializer.ReadObject(ws.GetResponseStream());
                
                Form2 form2 = new Form2();
                form2.Init(photos, txtGeonamesUser.Text);
                form2.Show();
            }
            catch (WebException wex)
            {
                //exceptions from the server are communicated with a 4xx status code
                HandleWebException(wex);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString(), "BUG!");
            }
        }

        private void btnJavaScriptSerializer_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                string url = GetURL();
                WebRequest request = WebRequest.Create(url);
                WebResponse ws = request.GetResponse();

                string jsonString = string.Empty;
                using (System.IO.StreamReader sreader = new System.IO.StreamReader(ws.GetResponseStream()))
                {
                    jsonString = sreader.ReadToEnd();
                }
                System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer jsSerializer = new System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer();
                PanoramioData photos = jsSerializer.Deserialize<PanoramioData>(jsonString);

                Form2 form2 = new Form2();
                form2.Init(photos, txtGeonamesUser.Text);
                form2.Show();
            }
            catch (WebException wex)
            {
                //exceptions from the server are communicated with a 4xx status code
                HandleWebException(wex);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString(), "BUG!");
            }
        }

        private string GetURL()
        {
            //http://www.panoramio.com/map/get_panoramas.php?set=public&from=0&to=20&minx=-180&miny=-90&maxx=180&maxy=90&size=medium&mapfilter=true
            string baseURL = "http://www.panoramio.com/map/get_panoramas.php?set={8}&from={0}&to={1}&minx={2}&miny={4}&maxx={3}&maxy={5}&size={6}&mapfilter={7}";
            string settype = txtUserID.Text;
            if (rbtAll.Checked)
                settype = "full";
            else if (rbtPublic.Checked)
                settype = "public";
            string url = string.Format(baseURL, txtResultMin.Text, txtResultMax.Text, txtMinX.Text, txtMaxX.Text, txtMinY.Text, txtMaxY.Text, cmbSize.Text, chkMapFilter.Checked, settype);
            return url;
        }

        private void HandleWebException(WebException wex)
        {
            string msg = "The server did not like your request.";
            HttpWebResponse hwr = wex.Response as HttpWebResponse;
            if (hwr != null)
            {
                msg += string.Format("\r\nThe status code is {0}, the status message: {1}.", (int)hwr.StatusCode, hwr.StatusDescription);
                using (System.IO.StreamReader sreader = new System.IO.StreamReader(hwr.GetResponseStream()))
                {
                    string errorMessage = sreader.ReadToEnd();
                    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(errorMessage))
                    {
                        msg += "\r\n\r\nThe further data sent from the server are:\r\n" + errorMessage;
                    }
                }
            }
            MessageBox.Show(msg, "Bad Request!");
        }
    }
}