since I can't compete, it's really all about what everyone else wants.

But since people are traveling, how about travel.

Do you think it should be summer travel or just travel?

Anything that says travel: still life of airline tickets and traveling paraphernalia; horse and buggy; trains, plain and automobiles.

Thanks for the suggestion.

photos of the destination, but photos of travel related things?

Good clarification. Destination = scenery = same ol'! same ol'. Travel related things opens it up to more interesting stuff.

clarify. Thanks.

not necessarily for the July contest. I was thinking instead of having a composition theme, how about a technique theme? Some of the ideas were rule of thirds, shallow depth of field, long exposure, freeze action, etc.

Of course, these may have been done already.

but it's probably been so long ago that everyone has forgotten.

to do something different.

I'm leaving for Europe for the first time on Monday morning.

how exciting!

With a really quick side trip to Rotterdam to visit a college friend.

Europe can be a life changing experience, can change our perspective in so many ways!

I'm so excited I can barely contain myself.

you want it to be and that you have a great trip. I look forward to hearing about it and seeing your photos.

Keep this in mind: Travel and time change will result in first couple of days being skewed, sleep/eat/explore-wise. Give yourself time, relax when you can/however you can.

And take PICTURES!!!

We were just there in May, early June.

A few travel tips:

Most of Europe is very expensive. Be prepared!
If your hotel includes breakfast in your room expense, eat a good one!
If they charge for breakfast, do it on your own. You can always pick something
up at the grocery store. If you are traveling by train, stop at the grocery store
first and bring stuff to make your own sandwiches: a baguette, some cheese,
your own bottle of wine. You can do that for lunch, too, at a park, rather
than have restaurant lunch.

Tipping is sometimes included/sometimes not, at restaurants. Many menus will
indicate whether service is included or not--be sure to look for it.

It was quite warm--even in May--so bring a hat to keep the sun off your face
while out wandering about all day.

Carry your wallet in in your front pocket--and beware of crowds--being jostled. Pickpockets
are everywhere, especially on subways and stairs going up/down from the stations.

Be sure to call your credit card company before you leave and let them know which countries
and dates where you are going. Many credit cards impose a 3% international transaction fee,
so if you have a card that doesn't have that fee, take it, or think about paying as much as you
can in cash (check the fee to get cash at an ATM, or think about either bringing euros with you or changing $ as you go.)
You can usually get some euros from your bank before you go--you can get right off the plane and out of the airport (you'll get
better exchange rates in town than in airport money exchanges).

Have fun and take LOTS of photos!

Thanks for the tips. I wish someone at British Airways had suggested not to check my bag

I only ask because I'm one of the thousands caught up in the British Airways/Heathrow luggage fiasco, and my camera cable is in my luggage. I can photograph away, but I obviously can't download what I shoot. And I'm traveling this weekend.
First trip to Europe, and my bag, with all of my research notes, goes missing. It's now been 36 hours and no sign of my bag.

I can't work without my notes!

on July 10th and run it until the 17th or when we have 30 submissions.

Does that give you enough time do you think?

If not, I'm open. Nothing is set in stone....I'm sort of an easy breezy type of person.

I'm so sorry you have been caught up in this mess.

You don't use and download from an SD card?

because if I don't have my bags by then, I'll be in a German jail I leave for Spain on July 11, so here's hoping!!

It could be worse. I'm in Europe!! I've been here 48 hours and I love it.

My son is due to fly BA from Berlin through Heathrow connecting with AA to Raleigh
on Saturday.

What was/is the problem?

Just found this article: http://spectrum.ieee.org/riskfactor/computing/it/thousands-of-bags-miss-flights-at-british-airways-heathrow-terminal-5-again?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IeeeSpectrum+%28IEEE+Spectrum%29

Damn. I hope your stuff shows up!

Sounds like BP and there endless PR commercials--pretending that the Gulf Oil spill never happened.