ATTENTION PHOTOGRAPHERS: NEW POLL FOR NEXT MONTH'S CONTEST

[RagingInMiami]

Poll question: ATTENTION PHOTOGRAPHERS: NEW POLL FOR NEXT MONTH'S CONTEST

I created a new poll for the Fourth Monthly Democratic Underground Photography Contest after it became apparent that a few people wanted "color" as an option.

At first, I wondered whether I should add the word "color" as an option and if it wins, have you guys vote on what color you want to shoot in a second poll.

However, in honor of St. Patrick's Day next month, I've chosen "green" as option number six in the new theme poll.

This may also enable Longgrain to pursue his "spring" theme that he suggested.

Also, the wildlife/nature category has been reduced to simply wildlife.

I will keep the poll up until at least March 17th, St. Paddy's Day.

[Duncan Grant]

1. kick

:kick:

[alfredo]

2. have the entries one week before St Paddy's

then announce the winners on his day. It would be next to impossible to keep this poll kicked that long if the traffic picks up on this forum.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. Green AND landscape works for me. n/t

[Longgrain]

4. Not not eligible for this contest anyways, but...

But I'm still going with architechture...tho the color idea is intreaging...

[RagingInMiami]

5. Why wouldn't you be eligible?

Don't you think the best way to do it is to make everybody eligible except the winner, who is hosting it?
That way, everybody remains involved. It should just be a first come, first serve basis.
What does everybody else think?

[ralps]

6. Maybe the top 2 or 3 vote getters in the last contest

would have to wait until the next month, unless there aren't enough entrys.
:hi:

[RagingInMiami]

7. Perhaps

I don't think it's fair to disqualify all contestants from the previous contest.

[intheflow]

8. I like the idea that the winner can't enter,

and maybe the top three, but I don't think we can exclude anyone who entered the previous month. We're not that big a group yet. :shrug:

[Xithras]

16. I disagree.

I could see prohibiting the same photo from entering two months in a row, but why block someone from entering completely? If they have a better photo (and remember, the winner is decided by the people, not by some closed panel of judges) then why SHOULDN'T we get to weigh in on it?

[intheflow]

19. Some people are better photographers than others.

Why create a photographic elite/dynasty? If the same people entered and won every month, it might discourage participation. And the winner only has to sit out one month. I think it's very fair.

PLUS the winner organizes the next month's contest. It would be a conflict of interest to enter the contest and run it.

[Longgrain]

10. I think anyone you should be eligible it's just I think

You should give priority to those who weren't in the last contest...we usually end up with something like 15 0r 16 entries. Just my thoughts...

[TahitiNut]

20. With 12-20 entries, we could have semi-finals and finals.

:shrug: Top 3-4 from semi-finals get into finals.

[intheflow]

22. Primaries!

:silly:

[smurfygirl]

9. oh gosh I really like the green idea.

but again I chose architecture. But I really like green.

So I'll take either.

[Blue_In_AK]

11. I have a question on rules...

Is it one photo per person per contest?

[RagingInMiami]

12. It's one photo per person

[Blue_In_AK]

13. Thanks, that's what I figured. n/t

[ralps]

14. When you all think of Architecture what is meant. Anything built by

Man?
:hi:

[TahitiNut]

15. Anything built by Archie.

:silly:

[intheflow]

17. I've been wondering something similar.

Do you think people would end up voting for the composition, or because they prefer one style of architecture over another? In other words, will the contest be between buildings or between photographers?

Of course, it doesn't matter. Just something I've been wondering.

[RagingInMiami]

18. Check out these photos on this link

These are all in the architecture category on www.photo.net.

http://www.photo.net/gallery/photocritique/?rating_type=photocritique&topic_id=1481&category=Architecture

[intheflow]

21. Your link is to a registered site.

But never mind. I googled "architecture" realized it doesn't matter. Photographic style always wins. :hi:






BTW, I didn't take any of these, they're all links. Just my take on the various ways people might interpret the category.

Plus, I liked these pictures. :silly:

[RagingInMiami]

23. There should be a way to check out those photos on photo.net

without registering. But if not, it's worth registering because it's a great site. I'm actually a member so I paid 25 bucks for a year to upload as many photos as I like and have them critiqued.

[RagingInMiami]

24. Here is one I would enter if I were in the contest

[intheflow]

25. That is one slick photograph.

I'm so glad you're not eligible for this next contest if architecture wins. :hi:

[RagingInMiami]

26. Thanks

It's always convenient when you have a nice building like that 15 minutes away from your home.

[RagingInMiami]

27. In a frantic race announcer's voice

And Architecture's is in the lead, with Landscaping in second at two paces behind and the late entry Green -- who many viewed as the favorite -- keeping it close at one pace behind Landscaping.
Streelife and Wildlife are barely out of the gate and Portrait has yet to emerge.

[Richard Steele]

28. I voted for GREEN...

Because any of the other categories could be included under GREEN.

This will be my first photo contest entry, so please be kind!

[Blue_In_AK]

29. I'm going to be in trouble if architecture wins...

...because we HAVE no architecture in Anchorage. Just kidding, but this really is kind of a big-box kind of place. I do have some shots from trips Outside, but I wasn't thinking in terms of contests when I took them, so they're pretty mundane, touristy-looking stuff. If architecture takes it, I'm going to have to get REALLY creative up here. Oh, well, "artists" are supposed to be able to find beauty anywhere, right?

[RagingInMiami]

30. Do igloos exist or are they just folklore?

[Blue_In_AK]

33. Always a comedian in every group......

LOL. I'm sure igloos exist somewhere, but certainly not in Anchor Town. Here are a couple of pictures of our city ... except for the backdrop, pretty standard, as you can see. We do have a pretty nice looking library building though, so maybe I'll have to go over there and get creative.

[RagingInMiami]

34. Maybe you could come up with some type of reflective-type picture

[Blue_In_AK]

35. Yeah, I'm sure I can come up with something...

...for at least the experience of entering the contest with all you fabulous photographers.

[RagingInMiami]

36. Of course if landscaping wins, you will probably have a serious advantage

[Blue_In_AK]

37. Yep, no shortage of THOSE here... :-)

[RagingInMiami]

31. I would vote for this

Although I would have preferred the photographer to include all three structures in the photo

[noamnety]

32. Or if they couldn't get it all in the picture

because there was some unsightly thing going on to the right, they could have cropped it closer on that side, so they got the right edge of the open structure, but the photo stopped just left of the bright thing there.

It's a beautiful photo anyhow.

[RetroLounge]

38. Damn, Green caught up...

This is gonna be interesting...

RL

[RagingInMiami]

39. What if it stays that way and we have to go with green architecture?

[intheflow]

40. That would be challenging.

Would tree houses count? LOL

[RagingInMiami]

41. Treehouses and greenhouses will both count

[TahitiNut]

42. Here's a guide ...

[RagingInMiami]

43. Talk about a comeback

Green got five votes to take the lead

[RetroLounge]

44. It's winter in Milwaukee

NOTHING is green...

RL

[intheflow]

45. It's winter all over, RL!

But March is also St. Patrick's day. This could be your excuse to pop down to the pub that day! :)

[RetroLounge]

46. Nah, but I'll find something...

RL

[Samurai_Writer]

59. It's green here 12 months a year....

So you Northerners will just have to suck it up! I could not participate in the "Winter" contest in January because all there is around here is palm trees and bright green grass! So give us warm-climate people a chance to compete, OK?

[Duncan Grant]

49. 10 versions of "Garden Hose Covered In Snow".

There must be some odd and interesting green somewhere? :D

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

47. Please please don't do green

I have either architecture or streetlife shots that I want to submit!

You guys are disappointing!

[Blue_In_AK]

48. Okay, if the poll is up until March 17th...

...how much time after that do we have to submit our entries? If it comes up architecture, I want to have time to get some decent shots when the sky isn't this boring gray.

[smurfygirl]

50. shit, green is gonna be hard

everything here is brown and dead. Looks like this one will use some real creativity.

[TahitiNut]

51. Nothin' says it has to be outdoors.

:shrug:

[Blue_In_AK]

52. Another question on rules....

...do these photos have to be taken after the topic is announced, or can we use an old photo from another time? Like for instance green -- could we use a photo from a previous spring maybe?

[intheflow]

53. I don't see why not.

I used a photo from last winter in January's "winter" themed contest. Raging? What say you?

[Blue_In_AK]

56. Winter? Did you say winter?

I missed the January contest, but here's a picture of the side of a roadhouse in Talkeetna that shows what winter looks like here...

[intheflow]

57. That's a cool picture!

But how do you survive up there with all that snow? I went stir crazy every winter when I lived in Massachsuetts--I think Alaska would do me in!

[Blue_In_AK]

58. It's not that bad, really...

Our winters have been milder than New England's the past few years, less snow and warmer temperatures, at least here in Anchorage. This past year it only went below zero a couple of times, for only a few days each time. Mostly it's in the 20s, but today it was 45! What gets to people more than the snow is the darkness, at least in the dead of winter, December and January, when it doesn't get light until 10:00 or so and the sun goes down around 3:30. And even when the sun is up, it just makes a little arc across the southern sky, so it seems like it's an hour before sunset even when it's midday. Some people have a hard time with it -- there's even a name for it, seasonal affective disorder -- and they have to spend time in front of special lights every day to keep from getting really depressed. It's never bothered me much, though, and I've been here 30 years -- I guess if I was going to have a problem it would have shown up by now.

In the summer, it's opposite, light all the time. The kids are out playing at 11:00 at night and it's still broad daylight. No one feels like sleeping. It doesn't ever get completely dark, just kind of like twilight between midnight and 2 a.m. It's weird to come out of a bar or something at closing time and it's already getting light out. The die-hard fishermen love it because they can be on the rivers around the clock. :)

[RagingInMiami]

54. Of course not

The only rule is that photos must have been taken by the entrant.

[Blue_In_AK]

55. Cool, thanks. Not much green up here yet either...

...but I have some in my archives. :)

[RagingInMiami]

60. Attention all photographers

I'm going to keep this up until March 17th and begin accepting entries on the 18th because that is what I initially said.
However, because it does seem that Green is going to win, I would recommend you guys start thinking now of what photo you're going to enter or take.
Another reason I will begin accepting entries after St. Paddy's Day is because for those of you living up north where there is currently no green, you guys will have a chance to take your photo on St. Paddy's Day at an Irish Pub or maybe out on the streets of people wearing green.
You never know what you can come up with that day/night.
Of course, architecture can call it a comeback.

[RagingInMiami]

61. kick

[alfredo]

62. I second that

:kick: :kick:

[Kolesar]

63. What is the time period for submissions?

I am going to be away for a few weeks.

[RagingInMiami]

64. I will start accepting submissions on March 18

I will put up a new thread on that date, most likely sometime in the afternoon. The submission period will end as soon as I get the first ten entries.
Any entry after that will be posted on the day of the contest on a separate thread, but will just be for viewing purposes. There will be no voting poll.

[RagingInMiami]

65. Well what do you know?

We have a tie with only one day left in the poll.

[intheflow]

66. Well, this development could really blow my chances at

submitting anything. I could do green. I could do architecture. But a green architecture shot will be virtually impossible to get since I'll be driving from Denver to Michigan over the next two days. I was going to submit from my hotel room on Thursday night.

:cry:

Well, we'll see what it really is when the deadline passes. What time do you think you'll start accepting submissions on Friday?

[RagingInMiami]

67. I rather have one or the other

If it remains a tie, we'll come up with some sort of tie-breaker.

[Blue_In_AK]

68. Boy, this is a nail-biter...

Come on, green, you can do it....

[RagingInMiami]

69. It's really been interesting

First Architecture takes a nice lead, looking like it's going to win, then Green comes from behind and surpasses Architecture by a significant number. And now they're tied.
Wouldn't it piss you off if the next few people vote for portraits? It'll be like voting for Nader.

[Blue_In_AK]

70. No kidding...

I don't have any architecture pictures that I'm really proud of, so I guess maybe today while the sun is shining (for a change), I'd better get out and take a few just to cover my bases.

[intheflow]

76. So a tie would delay submission date as we looked at a tie-breaker?

And where the heck did all these new voters come from, anyway??

This really is the most amazing turn of events. Who'd'a thunk architecture and green would turn into the Kerry/Bush race all over? My nerves can't take much more of this! :cry:

:silly:

[slutticus]

71. Question.

Can anyone vote in this poll, or only people who are submitting a photo?

:)

[ralps]

72. Any one can vote I think

:hi: :hug:

[RagingInMiami]

73. Yes, anyone can vote

There is no way to limit the vote to people only in the photography group.
Besides, it's a fun way to get the rest of DU involved, even if they're not submitting, because the vote is going to be open to everybody anyway.

[RagingInMiami]

74. kick

[Richard Steele]

75. The poll is Neck-and-Neck now....

"Photo-finish" KICK!

[RetroLounge]

77. Arrrggggghhhhhhh

Green has pulled ahead!

RL

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

78. booooo

[RagingInMiami]

79. ATTENTION ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS

The polls close tonight at midnight, eastern time. I should be here to see which category has won, if there is a winner at that time.

But I'm heading off to class now and I might have some things to do afterwards, so if any of you are hanging around tonight, please take note of what theme is ahead at midnight.

If Green and Architecture are tied again at that time, the polls will stay open until the tie is broken.

[Blue_In_AK]

80. I thought I had it made this morning...

I guess I'm going to have to go out for that architecture picture after all. Dang.

[RetroLounge]

81. Ooooh, tied again

Should we post a reminder in the lounge?

RL

[Longgrain]

82. Hey Raging, if the polls are still tied at midnight...

Why not make the theme, "Green architecture" as TahitiNut suggested...

[Blue_In_AK]

83. NO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O!!!

LongGrain, I thought you were my friend...:P Architecture BY ITSELF is giving me a headache.

[Longgrain]

84. But every one loves green Architecture

It's much better than brown or beige...:D

[TahitiNut]

85. There's an architect named Green, too.

:silly:

I really like the notion of taking the top two themes and combining them. It adds the kind of ephemeral serendipity that appeals to me. Just one small advantage (imho) would be the avoidance of the "my candidate's unelectable" syndrome we saw.

[Blue_In_AK]

86. Well, Mr. Smarty-pants, if you want green architecture...

BRING IT ON! I drove all over Anchorage tonight hunting for a green building, and guess what? I found one. I swear to God I never saw that building before, but it was green as green could be. I think Jesus must have put it there for me. It's a miracle.

On edit -- I'm referring to Mr. Smarty-pants LongGrain, not you, TahitiNut.

Anyway, I'm ready for ya.