March Photo Challenge - Voting *Pick 4*

[Photo Challenge]

Voting for the March Challenge.

View the Entries here: March - "Cafe"

Rules:

1. Don't vote for yourself.
2. Don't reveal which entry you voted for.
3. Pick your 4 favourite entries.
4. Winner will be announced at the end and gets to choose this month's subject.

Good luck!

[firstlight (Tony)]

Oh, poll started!

Good luck everyone, some great interpretations.

[koputai (Jason)]

I know the rule says:

"The image doesn't necessarily have to have been taken this month but we do encourage you to go out and enjoy the challenge."

But shouldn't the comp be about putting in a bit of effort, and creating something for the comp, not just going through your back catalogue for a suitable image?

Cheers,
Jason.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Didn't know anyone felt that way about it. I'll refrain from entering any old entries in future. No time or inclination (other than landscapes) for me. Nowadays, I pick my gear up for specific reasons (weddings, portraits, and events).

H

[firstlight (Tony)]

I wouldn't sweat it Humayun, life is too short... so is time. I TRY to meet the challenge, but often the month just flies past and thereisn't time to put your ideas into pixels. The rules are that you can enter from you "back catalogue" if you have to and often you might have just the shot that fits the topic.

I for one look forward to seeing what interpretation that people apply to the topic, no matter how old the photons are

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Originally Posted by firstlight

I wouldn't sweat it Humayun, life is too short... so is time. I TRY to meet the challenge, but often the month just flies past and thereisn't time to put your ideas into pixels. The rules are that you can enter from you "back catalogue" if you have to and often you might have just the shot that fits the topic.

I for one look forward to seeing what interpretation that people apply to the topic, no matter how old the photons are

I agree if you can't find an image to take then use an old one if you have it like the month of historical bridges I had a lot of trouble finding a bridge that would look old. Took me days of driving to find something to enter I use this comp to learn to improve my images and get a lot of enjoyment from trying to hunt down the theme each month. All of the above being said it looks like the last 4 winners including this month will be entries that have been taken outside the month of the challenge all great photo's don't get me wrong and deserving of winning.

[StarStuff (Ian)]

i was under same impression Tony, figuring that the joy was in participating, not 'winning', unless of course you are Charlie Sheen...

personally i think the option to submit either is fine... the months do fly by and free time can be hard to come by...

you might also find it hard if the topic is 'Beaches' and you live in Alice Springs... unless you can submit one of your holiday pics from last years trip to Bondi...

just my 2c...

Ian...

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Originally Posted by StarStuff

i was under same impression Tony, figuring that the joy was in participating, not 'winning', unless of course you are Charlie Sheen...

personally i think the option to submit either is fine... the months do fly by and free time can be hard to come by...

you might also find it hard if the topic is 'Beaches' and you live in Alice Springs... unless you can submit one of your holiday pics from last years trip to Bondi...

just my 2c...

Ian...

As I said earlier for me the Joy is in the hunt and the improving of my skills which I think is what participating is.

[koputai (Jason)]

Originally Posted by StarStuff

you might also find it hard if the topic is 'Beaches' and you live in Alice Springs...

But that's where your creativity kicks in. You don't have to go to a beach just because the theme is 'Beaches'.

Using your example of 'Beaches', you could have someone from Alice Springs put in a fair bit of effort to make an entry shot locally, and then someone posts a holiday snap they took four years ago on the Agean and takes it out because it's an exotic shot.

No, it's not about winning, but it's nicer to compete on a level playing field.

No sweat, it's not a biggie.

Cheers,
Jason.

[firstlight (Tony)]

On the same token Jason, you might have a great shot that you are proud of, creative and interesting that fits the topic, and if you arn't able to put together an original work for that month why not use it? As you say... no biggie.

[sheeny (Al)]

You can't please everyone, Jason.

Originally Posted by koputai

No, it's not about winning, but it's nicer to compete on a level playing field.

No sweat, it's not a biggie.

Cheers,
Jason.

I agree its not about winning. For me its about participating. Its a bit of fun, not too serious, a chance to show and compare what you can do with others.

I don't see how the playing field isn't level for everyone? We all operate under the same rules.

If I could produce my best shot during the month of the challenge, I'll use it and put any others I have in the John Wests. Even if I can't produce my best shot during the month, I'll still try to put my best photo up and the current one will go in the John Wests. No biggie.

I don't see why an "exotic" photo should be voted any higher than a photo of the kitchen sink (if that's on topic). If its a good photo and on topic, it deserves the recognition. The only time an "exotic" photo should do any better is if the topic is "exotic".

I freely disclaim any images I post that I haven't taken during the month, so if people want to take that into consideration when they vote they can. I don't do that, I vote on each photo on its merits.

I use the competition as a bit of motivation to get out and try to be creative, but somethimes it just doesn't happen or the results aren't so good. Some topics are very limiting to some people based on geography, so I don't see why they shouldn't have the option of "shots they've prepared earlier".

Al.

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

I see no problem if at the end of the month you can't find a shot to take to post an old one. The rules allow for this and I don't think anyone wants the rules to change. The rules also encourage us to go out and enjoy the challenge.

The image doesn't necessarily have to have been taken this month but we do encourage you to go out and enjoy the challenge.

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Congratulations Sheeny, Nice image

[firstlight (Tony)]

Well done Al.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Congrats Al.

H

[Photo Challenge]

Congratulations Mr Sheeny !
Well done on your win.
You get to choose our next topic.

A very enjoyable round with a good selection of interesting images.

Thanks to all who participated and as always, just have fun and enjoy.

[gary]

Congratulations Al for this month's beautiful image!
Fabulous color and one very eclectic looking cafe!

And congratulations and thank you to everyone who entered and who took the
time to look at the images and vote.

It was great to see such a broad range of interpretations on the theme.

I was hoping that we might see someone enter a cup of coffee with a decorated
topping with an astronomy theme and Bart did exactly that! Thanks Bart!

Ken's (aka Nico13) luscious treatment borrowed heavily from the world of
professional commercial photography and he provided us with an image worthy
of gracing the pages of the glossiest of magazines. Wonderful!

Paddy's image brought with it a fabulous sense of humanity and can be interpreted
as a tribute to local small business owners throughout the country. If your local
shire council runs an annual photographic competition (I know ours does), you
should consider entering it.

Tony always seems to go above and beyond in filling a brief and it was sorry to
hear some illness in the family curtailed the time and energy he would normally been
able to devote. Tony, when you mentioned there were unfortunately "not enough
people milling about adding to any action" I know what you mean and had it been
busier on the night, in your infinitely capable hands, I am sure you would
have captured the winning shot. A bit of motion blur from patrons coming and going,
in the style much loved by National Geographic editors perhaps? It is still
a beautiful composition though!

Best Regards

Gary

[firstlight (Tony)]

Geez, thanks Gary. Very nice words, but I'm not in the same league as many of the class contributers here. Looking forward to the new Challenge. Cheers to everyone you contributed and voted.

Cheers

[Ric]

Well done Al

A top picture.

Cheers

[StarStuff (Ian)]

great image Al, congratulations...

Ian...