October Photo Contest - themes?

[bluedigger]

Hi, everyone! No sense letting grass grow under out tripods - let's hear some ideas for the October contest! I would like to decide on a theme this week - maybe run a poll in a few days, if needed. Then we can spend the first couple weeks of the month on the photography, with submissions beginning mid month. Celebration did a great job scheduling the September contest and I will try to emulate her.

As for themes, I don't have any preconcieved ideas, although I do have a couple poorly formed thoughts I'll throw out to open up the discussion. First, I was thinking that since this is the lead up month to the elections that we might try to politicize the contest a little this month in an effort to help GOTV (not really, probably, but it couldn't hurt, could it?). My second thought is that I'm a little bored with landscapes (mea culpa) and still lifes. How about some action photography of some sort?

So, what do you think?

[MichaelSoE]

1. 100 paces

A looking exercise. Limit your shooting area to no more than 100 paces from your residence. Too often I have heard people say, "If I could get to (Place, country, event, etc) I could get some great pictures. Sometimes we have to look at where we are and be satisfied (and aware) that there are fascinating things right in front of us.

[bluedigger]

2. Good idea!

And welcome to DU and the Photography Forum, too!

[Solly Mack]

7. I got a lot of critters in my backyard, so I love this!

[a la izquierda]

14. I love this idea.

[alfredo]

22. Good idea, and welcome to the photography forum.

[RC]

3. How about fire?

(Not a submission)

"Fireman"

MichaelSoE has a very good idea too. Many people miss what is literally right in from of them.

[bluedigger]

5. Fire - it's elemental!

While I like this, I have some reservations about using it as a theme for potential liability reasons.

[Celebration]

4. Action shots!

Been trying to suggest that for awhile. I'd love for that to fly sometime.

And thanks for starting the process early.

[MichaelSoE]

8. How about action shots of something on fire within 100 paces of you residence??

[bluedigger]

10. What could go wrong?

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. 100 paces from my home, I don't think so

now fire, I got a chockful of them in the HD though, for some strange reason.

[handmade34]

6. no ideas...

but as October is my favorite month (& my birthday)... I always think of birthdays, halloween and autumn colors





Oktoberfest in Cincinnati this weekend...

[bluedigger]

12. Orange would be good.

I love the expressions of the two "Bavarians".

[Whovian]

9. Well, it's the month of halloween so how about "costumed?"

But I will give a caveat on my suggestion as I just got back from DragonCon earlier this month but still haven't processed my pics as to my mother being in the hospital since so no idea if I have anything I would post publicly.

[bluedigger]

11. Probably better for a November contest.

That way I can enter one of my New Orleans "candids".

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. OOOHHHH COMICON

got a slew of those too

[Callalily]

13. I kinda like the

action shot(s) idea.

[Whoa_Nelly]

15. Shadows

[bluedigger]

16. Is it just me, or is everyone looking forward to Halloween?

eta: Shadows was the February 2011 theme.

[handmade34]

17. what about??

"Scenes from a Graveyard" or Cemetery... now that I can get excited about

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/saint-magnus-graveyard-richardson/

[a la izquierda]

18. I can get excited about this, too...

the cemetery in my town is 200+ years old.

[Mira]

19. How funny,

remember that you and I toured my local "God's Acre" cemetery together?
I think that would be a very fine subject for the contest.

[handmade34]

23. yes, that day was in my thoughts

and these...





all my family...

[alfredo]

21. That would be good.

[bluedigger]

24. "Action shots in a cemetery"?

All kidding aside, I like it. A good lead in for Halloween! I would have liked it a lot more when I was in New Orleans and not running the contest, of course...

[MichaelSoE]

31. Forget my suggestion for 100 paces - cemetery good

[alfredo]

20. Everybody will be looking for fall color. So "Change" might be good, or throw a curve and

make the theme black and white.

[bluedigger]

25. I'm all for free expression, but "change" is a little too abstract.

I'd also prefer not to infringe on the seasonal contest that will follow shortly.

Black & white I like a lot. Win the contest so I can enter a b&w contest in November.

[alfredo]

26. Change is rather broad.

I'll try.


I've set my camera to Monochrome and have been waiting for a good day to hit the cemetery.

[bluedigger]

27. "waiting for a good day to hit the cemetery"

hmmm...

[alfredo]

28. I guess any day you can leave is a good day.

[MichaelSoE]

32. Reminded me of a bad joke my father used to quip to us as kids as we would drive by one.

"I hear people a dieing to get into that place."

[alfredo]

33. I used to love the old family graveyards in my town. They were wonderfully spooky.

[alfredo]

34. With the fall colors being the easy route for us, Black and White would be a perfect choice.

That also separates the monthly from the seasonal contest.

[rdking647]

35. how about framed

i mean photo shot thru a natural frame like a window,a hole in the wall,etc. something where the subject is framed by something

[bluedigger]

36. That sounds interesting.

I've tried it a few times with little success, but it is a good idea!

[Speck Tater]

37. How about "Recreate a famous painting"? as inspired by this post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10369238

[bluedigger]

38. It looks like a fun exercise.

I wonder how many entries we'd get though?

I think this would be better as a challenge post for the group.

[Speck Tater]

41. I don't know. There are a lot of famous still life's

that could be set up and shot in a single evening.
And doesn't every guy's wife or girlfriend look like Mona Lisa? (Come on, you know that's what you'd tell her to get her to pose for you.)

[Whovian]

39. It might be fun to couple theme with "assignment" to request that the shots be taken this October.

But this might limit theme ideas that are available in most locales. The Fred Miranda Forums do this quite often with some great results and causes the photographer to think and act more like a photographer rather than just reviewing your old shots that might fit the theme.

[bluedigger]

40. I think we do that sometimes.

I believe that falls within the prerogative of the contest host in setting the rules. As you point out, it does need to be considered along with the theme to permit maximum participation in the contest. It's my general impression that most regular participants in the contest try to take a new photo if they can, before going to their archives.

(Very cool interpretation of the artwork, btw - looking forward to seeing more of your work. )

[JohnnyRingo]

42. Pairs.

It covers a wide range of interpretation. I don't know if it's been done.

Congratulations on your "orange" win.

[bluedigger]

44. That's interesting.

Could lead to some varied entries.

And thanks!

[Mira]

43. If I were you, Bluedigger,

I would be scratching my head after such a diversity of suggestions and thoughts.
I look forward to what you decide to do next, I bet you are making lists and checking them twice.

I hope that we are on the mend now after the half year hiatus of contests, and the submissions falling short afterwards.
I promise to submit one, no matter what.

[bluedigger]

45. I'm counting on you to make a submission, friend.

I think I'll run a quick (and non-binding ) poll, since I'm relatively open to anything. If there is a good consensus we'll go with that. I'm hoping that we are trending back to full participation in the contest. I intend to cross promote the contest, to the point of being annoying, if necessary.

[Mira]

46. Good. On all fronts.

I remember a time when the whole 30 spots were filled in a day and a half at the fastest, and in a few days at the slowest.

(I think if we made a formal request to have the voting confidential for our contests we would be back in business. But then, everybody knows I think that. )

[bluedigger]

47. That reminds me.

I forgot to check who voted for me.

[Mira]

48. Goes to show me

that acceptance is easier than the alternative.

[bluedigger]

49. Well, I did get 38 whole votes.

It's good to be the King!