July Photo Contest!

Hello Everyone!
Here we go. Please bear with me, I’ve never done one of these before so this may be an interesting ride for us all. Sorry for the late start by the way, I’ve been on the road for the past couple of weeks but I’m finally back home and ready to begin.

I’ve been thinking a lot about contest ideas and going over some of the older ones and I think I have something we can get a lot of mileage from.

Light and darkness.

Could be literal



Could be metaphorical



Let me know what you think and if the general consensus is good I’ll post the submission and comments threads on the weekend.


Here’s a poll since I’ve never done one before!

...a few years back, but that doesn't mean we couldn't have another one.

I already got a picture picked out :-)

I only checked back a year or two.

Ah well, I leave it up to the mob!

Whatever happens I'll have something up this weekend so everyone can begin snapping shots and going through archives.

i know I've been gone for months and months, but did I miss the change of custom when a bunch of us suggested themes and the poll had several themes to do choose from? :shrug: I'm drawing a complete blank on what I could even shoot.

Like I said I'm new at this, I was thinking that I'd post the submission and comments threads and leave them open for close to 2 weeks to gather photos then do the preliminary and run off threads in general discussion.

If people want to throw out more ideas and talk about em this thread seems like a good place to do it.

I'm not married to Light and Darkness.

time and a week less to the posting period. My vague impression is that most get full or nearly so in less than 7 days, but maybe those who have hosted recently can share their experience with timelines and the results they observed.

It's good to get out of your comfort zone.

the winner got to choose the next theme along with the work of hosting the contest? lol A couple have just chosen the theme lately, some have posted polls. I kind of like the mix up. It is nice to throw out ideas and have them voted on but when the host choses a theme it allows some of those that go up for a vote and never win to be used. Not like I have been around to participate much.

As to what has been in the contest before. Might I suggest we put a time limit where they could be done again? Light and shadow was maybe two year ago. There are a lot of new posters to the photo-group and it would be great to see new takes on old themes once in a while. I would suggest a minimum time in between so we don't have the same theme every other month though.

Ad for shooting time, yes we need more time. Sometimes the submission thread can fill up in a day or two, sometimes we can't get it full. Depends on the theme and what everyone has to do in that other life of theirs.

I'd like to add one more job for the host though. Maybe post the theme and entry dates in GD and the Lounge for some of those that might want to join the contest but don't find their way here to know when to submits photos. It seems like there is at least one every month now and not everyone remembers to check the next month after they have voted.


Going to go hide in the garden now.:)

I submitted "It Came From the Bathroom Sink" for that contest, which I took at Blue's house in Alaska last summer.



I think a two-year time between themes sounds very reasonable.

*Edited to say I looked it up after I posted this (typical) and discovered the June '07 contest wasn't "Light and Shadow" but "Using Light Creatively." Still, as I recall, many submissions mirrored the themes of "Light and Shadow" and "Light in the Darkness." I'd still like to see another theme this month.

but I'm with InTheFlow, I'd like a little more time to get something together. Could you maybe wait until next weekend to post the submissions thread?

How about I post the submission thread on the Friday the 18th and leave it up a full week before closing it and posting the first general discussion threads?

and I even have something ready to go right now.

But I want to know, are you okay with a submission that has been up on DU before (not in a contest, but in one of our informal challenges)?

oh, and welcome to DU, congrats on winning last month (it was a great photo), and don't worry, these contests aren't nearly as difficult as they look.

:hi:

I'm new enough around this group that I probably wouldn't know if it's been posted before anyway.

And thanks, that's one of my favorite photos. I still cant believe I won the first contest I ever entered. That seems rude somehow :evilgrin:

it's not rude, it means you've got some talent.

Actually I'm thrilled to have won

is to remember to post the contest license in the submission thread. That's the big one that new hosts occasionally miss. Other than that, you can do just about what you want.

I will be sure to do that.

and you do get to make some of the decisions on your own with out our permission. One of the few perks of being the winner. I would suggest there be more shooting time even if it leaves less submission time. Submissions will either fill up fast (the norm) or not fill up at all. That has more to do with the theme and how much time people have to shoot that anything else that I can tell.

The important things to include are the contest theme, the more detailed the explanation the better and the contest rules. I always look for an old one and copy and past the rules,changing the dates to the current month. Oh and don't forget the links to the all important threads.

Ask for help from anyone if you need it. A PM will get answered by most (as long as they are around) and all of us are happy to help if we can.

Every photo must be of ME!
I will be standing at Market and Powell in downtown San Francisco at noon for 3.2 minutes on July 15th. I wont tell you what I'll be wearing but you may want to leave children younger than 16 at home...

:-)

I plan on copying Itchinjim's posts pretty much verbatim.

my ticket and hotel room. You do know you will have to provide the airfare and accommodations for us all, right? :rofl: Thought ought to get everyone's attention.

Go out to your mailbox and wait for the tickets. They should be there any minute now.



Not there yet? Check again. :evilgrin:

...I'll give the Snarky tour on the hour... :P

I'm SO looking forward to it!

Looks like the people have spoken. Light and Darkness it shall be.

Remember it's not just actual light and shadows.

I'll set up a post with dates and post it here, in GD and in Leisure.