*** OCTOBER CONTEST THEME ANNOUNCEMENT ***

[regnaD kciN]

O.K. In the past, this has been pretty easy -- all I needed to do was check the previous month's suggested topics, pick some of the highest vote-getters, ask for a few new suggestions, run a poll, and we'd be set. There are a few problems with that this time around -- mainly because hosts have been taking advantage of their dictatorial powers ;-) and have been picking topics without any member input or voting, so there really aren't any "previous high-polling topic suggestions" this time around. Another problem is that we're very close to the end of the month (to put it mildly!), I want to give people some lead time to shoot new material, and we need to have the contest wrapped up well before the very end of next month, to avoid conflicting with the Autumn Seasonal Contest (which, of course, I'll be co-hosting as well). Therefore, I am going to have to go against my instincts, take a page from the "host-dictators" (sort of like "philosopher-kings"), and decide on a topic myself this time around.

In keeping with the spirit (or spirits) of the most prominent day in October, the contest theme this month will be:

BLACK

Note that the theme isn't "black and white." As a matter of fact, I would discourage monochrome entries (although I won't ban them outright). What I'd like to see is the most creative and evocative uses of black in a full-spectrum image.

I'm looking at starting the submission period around October 11th, so you have a couple of weekends, plus the week between them, to shoot new material. Of course, images already in your files are quite welcome.

Any questions?

[Mira]

1. ...

:)

[Mira]

2. In the absence of any comments, I can only assume

you are out there shooting black themes, or thinking about it really hard.
I'm challenged, my fellow photographers, I'm glad we have a while for coming up with submissions.

I'm warming to the idea though, shot a few even, and have one that "could have been a contender" if I had not remembered another in my files I need to find and look study anew with the theme in mind.


:)

[Celebration]

3. I have mine picked out

Just guess the subject matter ;)

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

4. uh

black?

[Celebration]

5. great guess!

It's black. :)

[Mira]

6. I would be a quack if I could guess it. :)

[Solly Mack]

9. I'll go with thinking about it really hard.

Makes me sound less intimidated. :)

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Ahhhhh! *steeples fingers* So you have joined us on the dark side in the

theme dictators club. Muwahahahahaha! No wonder your theme is "black."

:P

[HarveyDarkey]

8. I guess I'll just leave my lens cap on

or not. This is going to be a real challenge. I'm looking forward to what the photographers/artists here come up with.
I'm expecting to be totally amazed (as I usually am).

[Gamey]

10. Posturing

Great challenge! Not necessarily dark, but black?

[Callalily]

11. Very challenging theme,

at least for me. But . . . I'm thinking and observing! And hoping an idea will click! ;-)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. Well, I went looking through my files...

Since I don't have the time these days...

And aha! I found something...

I had forgotten I'd taken. I think it will work quite well...

;)

[blueraven95]

13. how do you feel about images...

...that have already appeared in the Photo group, but not in a contest?


I've got one I suspect is perfect, but I don't want to step on anyone's toes.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. It looks like Mz Pip is going to enter one she's posted before...

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Go for it!

[Mira]

15. Been here, seen that. Not a problem. n/t

[Celebration]

16. Cool!

Can't wait to see it.

[regnaD kciN]

18. No problem with them...

As a matter of fact, I was never aware that appearing in a Photo Group thread somehow meant you couldn't enter them in a contest. I'd guess that practically every entry I've submitted appeared here before.

[GentryDixon]

17. Oh darn...

This is my favorite. Too bad.