Who wants to help me think of a theme for the next DU Photography contest.

[Longgrain]

But first of all I'd like to once again thank all who entered the last contest, and once more congratulate 94114_San_Francisco and GOPFighter for being co-winners. (Not to mention InTheFlow for being a close third)

So what should our next contest be about, I was thinking Love since next month is February, tho we could expand it to Love and Friendship to sort of broaden the catagory...

So anyone else got any ideas?

[intheflow]

1. Love theme

I dunno... seems kind of limited. All I can think of to submit for something like that is some of the wedding photography I did back in the day. Love and friendship is better, but I still can't think of what I'd submit to that.

Not that this has to be about me.
/ego trip

So, look, if consensus is that we should do a love theme, I'd take over the running of the contest so you could enter if you wanted.

For future topics, or if everyone hates the love theme this month, what about these categories:

texture
dogs/cats (These should probably be two separate contests)
abstract
shadow
floral

or any of the cool things people have already posted, such as dramatic skies, food, beaches, trees, portraits, etc.

Though if we did trees, dogs, cats, floral, or textures, I'd have to withdraw my offer to run the contest. Because those are my specialties, and sometimes it really is all about me! ;)

[Longgrain]

2. You loose priority any ways

Since you participated in the last contest.

And (almost) kicked ass. :hi:

[intheflow]

3. Fair enough.

So I'll post the contest if you want to enter. :hi:

[TahitiNut]

4. intheflow threw that contest.

(S)He didn't vote for (her/him)self. I'd call that taking a (mini) dive. :evilgrin:

[ralps]

5. I would rather go with a topic like the ones suggested by intheflow,

although as far as the dogs/cats suggestion I might expand it to pets. As far as texture is concerned I'm not sure exactly what is meant.
:hi:

[intheflow]

6. Pets & texture

I was thinking about saying pets, but I'm hoping this group will be around for quite some time, and the more photo contests we have, the more people will be joining. That means the competition within any given topic will get tighter and tighter since only 10 photos can be posted per contest. But if we keep the categories very specific it will allow for more participation from a wider variety of people over time. Does that make sense? This doesn't have to be dogs or cats, it could just as easily be birds or horses or wildlife or... whatever. Likewise, not landscapes but moutains, desert, or beach. Just a thought, I'm not married to it.

As for texture, I mean anything that looks like it has some texture. An example might be these rocks from a beach in Maine.

[Longgrain]

7. Thanks for the input

Maybe just "animals"?

[Samurai_Writer]

8. How about something...

Not weather related? All us southern DUers couldn't participate in the last contest -- no 'winter' in South Florida!

[randr]

9. A Love theme works

I would like to suggest the theme each month be relevant to all events occurring and related to each month.
This month could be visually depicted by themes of Valentines Day, Mardi Gras-which falls on the Buddhist Nirvana Day, Random Acts of Kindness Week, Aquarius, Groundhog Day, winter, and innumerable other examples that would reflect on the time and space as it plays out in front of us.

[TahitiNut]

10. Usually the theme counts in the judging.

It's not just the technical or aesthetic quality of the photo, it's also the degree to which it represents the chosen theme. I've seen the thematic weight as much as 50%.

While it may seem narrow, I think "Love" is a very broad theme. It could be depicted affirmatively by showing a love for nature, a love for animals, a love for parents, a love for fellow humans broadly, a love for a mate/spouse, or many other kinds of love, even Philadelphia. It could also be depeicted in its mirror image ... a sort of Yin/Yang thing. I once saw a photo of an old woman's hand which, to me, showed love. Heck, even a religious depiction of "a greater love hath no man" could depict it.

[Longgrain]

11. So intheflow suggested a few idea that seemed less broad...

How about something like Animals. Intheflow suggested dogs or cats and not everyone owns a pet or knows someone who does, but just about everyone can take a picture of some sort of animal.

[TahitiNut]

12. The question would remain ...

... on what basis would one evaluate the degree to which a photo aptly or creatively portrayed the theme?

I'm not arguing for or against any particular theme or even the particular basis for evaluating the photo. If the theme is merely binary - i.e. it sets a bar for inclusion or exclusion - and isn't an element in comparing the photos accepted, that's one thing. If it's a basis for evaluating the photo, that's another.


For example, when I evaluated the "Winter" photos, I gave more weight to the snow-covered field with idle irrigation equipment because I felt it was most thematically apt - emblematic of hibernation and frozen water (not irrigatable and the pointlessness of irrigation anyway). An industrial town is an industrial town no matter the season and the river seemed to still be flowing. Yes, composition and texture and color had an impact as well. Both were/are extraordinary photos. But the theme sets part of my basis for evaluating. I guess the question is: How much?

Hey. Maybe it's just me. I dunno. :shrug:

[Longgrain]

13. Okay hows this for an Idea

I take some of everyones suggestions, and run it as a poll question?

Good idea?

[ralps]

14. Yes, good idea Longgrain.

:hi:

[Longgrain]

15. Thanks, maybe I'll run it next weekend

Until then everyone keep those ideas coming.

Some ideas so far are...

Love
Texture
Pets (or Animals)
Abstract
Floral (though this Idea might be better during the spring)

Anything else?

[TahitiNut]

16. This month: "Love in Bloom"; Next month: "Flowers in Bloom" ???

I'd personally (just me) be more intrigued by a phrase than a single word, and some hackeneyed, trite, or famous phrase might offer some interesting interpretations.

For literary fans, "Bloom in Love" might be a novel inversion. (yes, puns and double entendres are conscious)

Judging from the echo and cricket sounds, I seem to be somewhere off the reservation on this, so ... whatever. :shrug:

[Longgrain]

17. That's an interesting Idea too

Love in Bloom sound good, maybe we'll go with that if everyone else agrees. Still just tossing Ideas around at this point.

[Touchdown]

21. For the future, or poll, how about action.

Could be the obvious race cars, football, Horses but also actors in a Shakespearian Festival, your mother kneading bread, etc.

Another is for this time of year, people are yearning to wear bikinis and stroll on the beach. It would seem a lot less beautiful and captivating in the middle of July than it does now.

As an Irishman, I must insist that March's theme be "GREEN".

[TahitiNut]

22. I must insist that March's theme be "ORANGE".

:evilgrin:

[Touchdown]

23. Protestant!

:P

[TahitiNut]

24. (grin) There are two colors I DON'T have in my wardrobe:

Green and Orange. Not a single stich of clothing in either color. Won't have 'em. :silly:

[TahitiNut]

18. "Purification"?

(February was the Roman month of purification.)

[intheflow]

19. I like the poll to determine theme.

That's democratic, and so fits the overall theme of Democratic Underground. :)

[Longgrain]

20. I agree...

But what should the nominees be Is what I'm asking...

:shrug:

[Lefty48197]

25. Animals or water

I have lots of each!

[bvar22]

26. Macro...

or up close and personal?

That's something I want to learn more about.

Is it possible for contest entrants (or posters to this forum) to add some data to their entries (or pics on display)?

Things like camera type and settings?

[RagingInMiami]

27. I don't think it should be up to the contestants to decide

because they're obviously going to pick the category in which they have the best photos. So to make it truly challenging, you need to come up with a theme that will take us all by surprise.
But please keep in mind our geographical locations. There is no way I can run out and shoot a photo of a mountain any more than I can run out and shoot a photo of a snowbank.