*** SEPTEMBER PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST THEME SUGGESTIONS***

[rdking647]

nothing like diving in immediatly,its time for some suggestions for the september theme. Ive had a couple of ideas but im always open to other ideas and comments. I'd especially liek to know if any of these have been done recently since I havent been here all that long

Heros--- sine its the anniversary of 9-11 I thought this would be appropiate. heros can be anyone. your parents/a firefighter/a community leader.. anyone you consider a hero
Changes... after all the season is changing
the american worker. it is labor day soon

and a couple others...
My town... a picture of the town you live in
song title.. a picture that illustrates a song title (with the name of the song and the band)
food... pretty self explanitory

If like to have a theme set the first week of september,10-14 days or so for submissions,and then voting the rest of the month

[Mira]

1. Speedy and ambitious. That's what you seem to be.

Quite a lineup, I'm impressed.
In the three years I've been around we did
"Men and Women at Work" international, about 2 years ago.
"Based on a Song" where the photo title was the title of a song. No links. No naming of bands, about a year and a half ago.

I find all your thoughts interesting, and will vote of course when you post the suggestions.

With "Food" with the quality of our shots I think we will all gain weight, but I'm game anyway.

Question to real Old Timers:
We always say: if there is a shot of a puppy it will win without fail.
But did we ever do one just named "Pets"?
I'm thinking of getting a canary or a puppy.
:rofl:

[Richard D]

2. That would be a challenge for me

All I have now is a very shy ghost shrimp in an old tank. I haven't seen it for months and it might be dead.
:-(

Maybe I can find some kittens to borrow. Fluffy, white kittens. hahaha! Guaranteed winner!

[Behind the Aegis]

3. I like "pets."

Of course, I have 4 chihuahuas, a cat, and 6 birds (I used to have even more).

[Mira]

11. Did the cat kill the birds? When I bred canaries for sport, the most I had was 13.

I have no pets right now. I'd have to do neighbor's pets, or the aphids on the plants as I bring them in from their summer on the porch.
That would give me practice with macro photography.

On the other hand, my son is bringing his new 12 week old Shepherd puppy to meet grandma on Saturday. I think I will load the batteries of the Sony.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. The cat learned birds were not food nor toys.

He scared the first one to death by knocking over the cage. As the aviary grew (42 birds at its largest), he began to ignore them. We also have a pionus parrot; Tony got too curious and got bit on the nose. That was the last time he bothered the birds, unless they slipped out of the cage, then it was a race to catch them before he did. Of course, there are also the outdoor "pets," the three hummingbirds, the robins, the two cardinals, a squirrel, and something is burrowing up under the yard. We also had a snake wandering thru, thankfully our friend was here and she captured it and took it to her farm. In New Orleans, I had outdoor "pets" that included 27 cats, 3 families of raccoons, and a rooster! Yes, a rooster showed up in our backyard one day and lived there until we moved, he is still there and the neighbors all feed him! I named him Waldo (as in "Where's Waldo?" because he were always trying to spot him in the tree cover). This is Waldo:

[Behind the Aegis]

4. I have a few ideas.

Turmoil -- it would be a bit difficult, but when I think of 9-11, I think turmoil and shock.

September is National Hispanic History/Culture Month -- have no ideas, but thought I'd throw it out there.

DU screen names -- it wouldn't have to be your own, but perhaps someone you admire. Again, might be a tad difficult.

A face only a mother could love -- basically, things that many might find "ugly" or "unattractive" but the artist enjoys

"Say what?" -- photographic representations of phrases, colloquialisms, or slang; examples: "break a few eggs to make an omelet," "pitching a tent (heehee)," "rain on your parade," "a country mile," "fresh as a baby's bottom," "cute as a button"

I love Mira's "pets" idea. :)

Highs and Lows - pictures taken from above or below a subject.

[alfredo]

5. The shadows start to get longer this time of year, maybe

we should look for those shadows brought on by the lower angle of the sun.

[rdking647]

6. shadows were done earlier this year

according to the info I have

[alfredo]

8. I was thinking of the new light that isn't as harsh.

[rdking647]

7. another idea

since america is a melting pot...
the melting pot--- images that show the diversity of america

[Callalily]

9. Pets would be difficult

for me because I don't have any.

Hmmmmm . . . food? I may be able to scrounge up a couple hundred food pictures! ;-)

Anyone for a little prosciutto and morbier? :rofl:

[Solly Mack]

10. I like food. Have pets. Still like ordinary objects photographed in unusual ways.

Metal pops up regularly.

[Mz Pip]

12. Here's a couple we haven't done

Metal

Purple

After Dark

[Mira]

14. A couple rang my doorbell and asked for some money for food

hesitantly but not too scared because they were hungry, and because I had helped them once before.
Which brings me to a subject we've talked about but I think it never showed up in a poll: "Poverty around us"
that one would be hard to shoot, but it could be urban decay and many other easier non-people shots. It's not a warm fuzzy like "Pets", that's for sure.

[rdking647]

16. thats a good suggestion

im leaning to something with meaning.. rather than a simple theme like pets or metal or food I like the idea of something with meaning..
thats why i suggested heros or the melting pot... something that shows life in america for good or for bad

[Sheepshank]

15. Ugly beautiful.

We have the most inspiring wonderful beautiful photos posted here. Wonders of life. Things that are so very very appealing to the eye and the immediately to the soul.

But sometimes there is a curiosity, an interest, and even an inner beauty when examining a photograph that doesn't immediately hit the pleasure senses....the pleasure comes later, in realizing something of beauty in the picture. A wrinkled wizened old face, a house destroyed, something that shouldn't have survived yet is doing just that, garish colors.

I remember being home sick one day and while watching TV, I happened upon that show American's Next Top Model. I don't know if anyone has seen it, but in this scene, the models wore make up and clothing that wasn't beautiful, but actually on the gauche, scary ugly side. Almost reminds me of the stuff one would have seen on The Johnny Depp remake of Willy Wonka.

Anyway, to look for the beauty in something that doesn't flaunt that beauty.

ETA. I just went back and re-read the previous suggestions and Behind the Aegis came up with a similar idea when she mentions "a face only a mother could love."

[NV Whino]

29. Along those lines...

perhaps entitle the contest Hidden Beauty. That covers a multitude of approaches.

[Mira]

17. Message to the Host: I suspect you may not know this...

You have the prerogative to NAME the theme, all by yourself. We had two (I think) done that way. One was "Wabi-Sabi" which the host explained and then set us free to shoot. And the other "American Historical Landmarks" This host gave a link to a list of all of them in all 50 states.
That one was my first ever first place win. I was really proud.

[Celebration]

18. hmmm slight correction

We voted on Wabi Sabi after being given a list of possible topics.

Yes the host can name the topic!! I couldn't bear to host a contest with a topic I didn't like so I did the same thing as Richard D (host of wabi sabi), and had a poll with some of my favorites when it was my turn to host.

I actually recommend that. Everyone wins, host and contestants...........but variety is the spice of life, so any way of choosing is fine with me.

[rdking647]

19. im planning on picking the topic but am looking for ideas

if someone suggests a good one Ill choose it over what i have in mind.. I plan on announcing it by sunday evening.

[Mira]

21. Thanks for the correction, I guess my memory is messing with me. n/t

[handmade34]

20. on the extremely rare chance that

I would ever win a contest, I have a doozy of a topic and intend to dscree it... :-) B-) :hi:

seriously... any topic is fun and can be interesting

**remember poetic license

[bluedigger]

22. I didn't realize I set a precedent.

I won the first time I entered. Haven't come close since.:rofl:

[HappyCynic]

25. You'll win when you least expect it

I actually came in 4th in my first contest. Then, over the next 2 years (and a bit), I had a handful of entries in the final round but never better than 4th... Until the July contest. When I entered, I figured I might barely make it to the finals but GD voters surprised me on that one. So, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before you win again, although the competition seems to be getting tougher and tougher with all the fantastic photographers here.

[Sheepshank]

30. I felt like I'd won the jackpot last Summer with a seasonal entry that won.

And the best part of all was shortly after I'd won, I found out that I didn't have to host a quarterly contest. My one and only 1st place.

I've placed in the top ten only a couple of times, but that also feels quite gratifying.

[bluedigger]

32. I hope I didn't sound whiny!

I'm happy whenever I make the finals. There are a lot of much better photographers than me here!:)

[HappyCynic]

33. Not at all

I'm also happy when I make the finals. It's always interesting how entries (especially your own) will surprise you in how they place. I don't think anyone can consistently predict half of the finalists. I also feel that there are a lot of much better photographers than me here so I'm always surprised when my entry does well. I suspect most of us are in the same boat in that respect.

[Mira]

27. Tabatha won first time in, and also Schema Thing. Tabatha with a

splendiferous bird rising out of the water, and Schema Thing with a bushel of Peaches.
You set the precedent with your subject matter of "Historical Landmarks" - which floored me at first - and then turned into a memorable contest to say the least.

[bluedigger]

31. I like your new sig block!

But I think they got the evolutionary sequence wrong. I think it should go "Modern Human, Fox News Fans, Teabaggers, Ditto heads, House Republicans". (I know these things, I was an anthropology major. ;-) )

[Celebration]

23. Just one suggestion

We have people who enter that don't live in the USA, so try to globalize the contest if you want everyone to feel included. We ran into that problem when someone suggested Hard Working Americans as a topic, but because of non-Americans here, that topic was changed to "World of Work" (which we did right after the economy started crashing in 2008 or so).

[tabatha]

24. A couple

fences

dancing

[KC]

28. Oh

I like the idea of fences !

[HappyCynic]

26. A few suggestions...

Power
Illusion
On the Edge
Time