Okay, I think we're ready. Sorry I slept a little later than usual this morning, so I'm a little late, but here goes:
RULES:
1. This thread is only to be used to post entries. I will start a separate thread for comments.
2. The photo's name should be put in the "Subject" of the post.
3. The winner of the contest agrees to host next month's contest (or recruit someone else to host the contest), and pick the next month's theme. Winners have traditionally sat out the next month's contest.
4. You must read the following before submitting an entry:
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Contest License: An entrant to this contest, by submitting a photograph, is giving permission for that photograph to be copied to Demopedia and/or to a linked Gallery that will display the photographs entered for this contest for the purpose of publicizing future contests and/or commemorating current and past contests. The entrant retains all other rights to the photograph being submitted. Neither Demopedia and/or a linked Gallery may use any photograph submitted for any purpose other than to display the photograph being submitted by the entrant, and neither gains any real or implied ownership rights to the photograph.
An entrant can disclaim this Contest License and retain all rights to the photograph. If an entrant wishes to disclaim the Contest License they must include the following statement in the post containing their photograph; “I disclaim the Contest License, and reserve all rights to my photograph”. Any photograph submitted by an entrant with this disclaimer statement will not be copied and displayed in Demopedia and/or any linked Gallery.
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IMAGE SIZE
Ideally photos should be 700- 900 pixels in the longest dimension and under 200KB in size. Files bigger than that are hard to view and appreciate on a typical monitor, and keeping the file size down makes it easier for dial-up users to view the photos. In my experience this is do-able, but there may be images where the photographer thinks a greater width is needed to fairly display the image, or that file compression to that size loses too much of the image.
Since some who have photos to share may not be familiar with image processing tools, when large files appear in the submissions thread, it would be helpful if people participating in this forum who have the needed skills and tools would volunteer to reduce the file size as needed (and image dimensions also only if agreed to by the photographer). A good and free image viewing program with basic editing functions is Irfanview
http://www.irfanview.com /
DISCUSSION OF ENTRIES:
From the group description: "The purpose of the Photography Group is to discuss photography as an art, skill, and means of communication, as well as share photographs."
Feel free to comment on the photos that have been submitted (in the COMMENTS thread). If you see a photo you really like, post a comment, and explain why you like it. Let's face it, everyone likes to get compliments - especially so because only one photo out of the thirty gets designated as the "winner," but the other 29 are usually superb photos deserving of recognition.
THE SCHEDULE:
We'll keep this thread open until Monday noon (Alaska time because I have a hard time thinking in EDT). At that time we'll have an intra-group vote somehow (I haven't figured that part out yet) to pick the 10 entries to take to the Lounge. Please be patient with me because I've never done a poll or anything, and I have no idea how to do any of this. :)
THE WINNER:
The photograph that gets the most votes in the Final poll will be designated the winner. In case of a tie, there will be co-winners, and they can decide among themselves who will host next month's contest. The winning photo will be posted in the Demopedia, unless the winner requests otherwise. All entries may be posted in a proposed archive gallery of past entries (unless the entrant opts out). The gallery is currently under construction.
Please remember this is a contest in name only. The main objective is to have some fun and provide a diversion from the often depressing political wars that are being waged daily around the country.
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So there you have it .... GO! (Comments on the "comment" thread, please. Make this easy for me.