*** post your suggestions for future challenges here ***

[tsk1979]

How about one for pics taken with camera phones?

Just an idea :):

Camera phones take lousy pics, and all photographers may not have camera phones. So not such a good idea. And almost impossible to judge. What would be the subject. People with better camera phones will do better here. In case of camera 90% of the input is from the people, not the equipment, but in case of camera phones considering they types of camera phones out there, there is going to be a huge variace.
Such a challenge has no place on a photography website.

[Sandy Feet]

Sandy Feet: You mean something like this?

Humor:
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=3465

Ben


YeaH.....that would be great to have that challenge again....I missed it the last time :wink

[Aiken]

I think bizzare words make for good challenges, so...

Multifaceted

Disambiguous

onomatopoeia

oxymoron

synchronicity

synesthesia

These challenges make half the fun being learning, and interpreting the word, and then being creative enough to capture it's essence.

[tomthephotographer]

Loyality

Honor

Duty

Mortality

Sacrafice

Service

Justice

[mwgrice]

How about a challenge subject most of try to keep out of our photos?

Telephone poles.

Power lines.

Cel phone towers.

To be a little more general: obstructions.

[Bendr]

Or a challenge where the goal is to have the worst photo :rofl

Could have some interesting results...

[gus]

What were they thinking ?

[Halite]

Mwgrice's suggestion about telephone poles, power lines, cell towers made me think of "infrastructure" as a theme.

We often think of these things as ugly obstructions. But some could have interesting form and/or color. Some infrastructure, such as lighthouses, has even graduated into attractive parts of the scenery.

[anwmn1]

Some thoughts:

Harvest/ Fall
Porous/ Abrasive
Modest
Constituitional
Monochromatic
Minimalism
Juxtaposition


Aaron

[Jeff Fillmore]

How about a two shot Architecture challange. Must post a pair of shots of the same building or structure, one interior and one exterior.

I also saw an interesting thread of landscapes without the sky showing- made for some interesting compositions. Might make a good challange also.

[AfterImage]

I know some of these will be duplicates... (great minds think alike? :dunno )

Fabric
Synergy (the whole greater than the sum of the parts)
Friction
Purpose
Erosion
Fiction (could include non-fiction and science fiction)
Promise
Intensity

[jamism]

personality (a photo that shows someone's personality)
or
environmental portrait
:dunno

[scas]

The Greek Elements

[Bendr]

Or Incredible Machines!

[docwalker]

In honor of one of my favoite TV shows that is about to start a new season... Lost

as in the TV show, you decide what lost is. an emotion, a physical state, a lack of awareness...

[dugmar]

Machinery would be cool.

[Sydnie&Adison]

Waiting in line

[Beetle Images]

Heelo I am just new to this but how about the power of water

[Gouri]

Maybe you've had them in the past. How about combining 2-3 elements from the many themes suggested ?:dunno

[Jeff Fillmore]

How about Music? Take a picture representing your favorite song lyrics. Best shot that captures the escence of the song.

[mwgrice]

Lyrical.

[athos]

Out of Place

Surreal

[tsk1979]

Heelo I am just new to this but how about the power of water
Choose an element.
for example Neon, and let that be the theme.
Or nitrogen?
Or Oxygen.

[mr peas]

Do you all remember the way we thought everything was much bigger when we were kids compared to now?

How about 'Larger Than Life".

Depict images that look tremendously large in comparison to something.

:ivar:barb

[cdhames]

how about doing Autumn, since it's coming up? Or spring for you down underer's.

[RLatt]

.....something I have always wanted to try is......NEON

[eoren1]

Allowing for HDR imaging?
E

[hkdaffy]

Hi !

1.Poetry in motion
2.Just around the corner
3.In a sticky situation

The above three are common phrases that we use in our regular conversation and it will be great to have images which reflect that.

4.Numbers around you ( house numbers, bus numbers, unusual numbers, numbers formed by different shapes etc)

Most of the above topics can be interpreted quite broadly by the members.

Thanks

hkdaffy

[scas]

The Greek Elements
Fire
Air
Water
Earth
1 each for 4 weeks.

[snapstacks]

How about "Friday Night Lights"?

[sanford tullis]

How about fear and animals combined?

[Manfr3d]

My suggestions: "Weather", "Jump", "Pace"

[truth]

eyes
wet
cold
insanity
confusion
hope
up
wrong
loud (I really like this)
corner
eat
crowded
home
empty
orange
drive

[ajgauthier]

timing is essential for this challenge idea ---

jack o'lanterns! We can't have a real carving contest, what about doing it virtually through a challenge? Either carving yourself and setting up the perfect photo or photographing someone else's carving, finding a local carving competition, etc. For those who are allergic to pumpkin or seeds, there's always Funkins!

Adrienne :D

[Granit]

What about CONTRAST or OPPOSITE, could be anything....Black-White, OLD-NEW, NEAR-FAR, FAST-SLOW, SMALL-BIG etc...Many possibilities.

[truth]

strong/weak
fury
risk
tube
door
earth
space
closed/open
sick
loss
joy/pain
gravity
speed
sound
disgust
ego
terminal

[cricket07]

All such wonderful and strong ideas, this post has also given me ideas on themes to shoot for my own!

[JohnDC]

You know what we really need nowadays, people being happy. If you want to make it a really hard challenge, it would be people reading the newspaper and being happy. Well, maybe just the happy part would be good enough.

[Bendr]

Illusions
Light
Dark
Friends
War
School
Emotion
Transportation
Work
Your Job
Action

[gus]

seed/s

[gus]

Whats happened here then ???

[Stan]

Silhouettes

[Brett]

Eyes would be a great challenge idea. Everyone has them...for the most part. Everyone's eyes are like fingerprints with their own different styles, colours, and looks.

I bet many interesting photos can evolve from that concept.

[Jeff Geoghan]

I like the idea of historic sites - battlefields, buildings, places, airfields, anything historic. Could be a good B/W challenge.

Also a "perspective" challenge - looking up, down, whichever way at things we might normally see but putting an original twist on the image.

[gus]

mangos

[David_S85]

Motion and stillness in the same photo

[urbanaries]

mangos

Random thought of the day: I submitted a 'select a set' that was played on the radio once...three songs titled Mango...by Phish, Bruce Cockburn and Beck respectively. All great tunes! Bet the theme would make great pictures, too!

[Manfr3d]

How about "Body Parts"? Close-ups of feet, hands, cropped faces?

though i heard someone say hooters :scratch

[Duckys54]

Emotion in general or specific like Joy, Sadness, Anger, etc.

[gus]

Play-doh

[jen_asmirian]

The Weather ex: windy = violence, calm = would be like morning dew or something..Vs. A storm that is getting ready to hit. The MOOD of the weather...
Does this make sense to u guys?? I dont know if im saying or explaining it right? But I think this would be alot of fun to have as a challenge..

[photogmomma]

Yellow

[Stan]

Play-doh

:thumbThat could be fantastic

Stan

[Porkpiehat_602]

hi guys. post 'em here. the original thread (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=1309) was a bit long in the tooth, so i'm starting a new one. feel free to re-post your ideas in this thread.

make it simple, i'm just one guy! :bash

This challenge works well with my assortment of point-n-shoot auto-everything (or nothing) cameras. How about hand-held self portraits? Or alternatively, environmental self portraits. I'm an old pro who doesn't have professional digital equipment or experience when it comes to printing photos with the lights on. I would welcome a challenge that required creativity and sideways thinking on location, with that gizmo in your pocket that eats batteries and goes along for the ride when you don't plan on taking pictures. You know, available light, in the moment, without the influence of any major stroking of the keyboard involved.

I appreciate what goes into a well rendered work of digital art, but I just can't compete, if my mastery of Photoshop (or my HP printer) is an issue.
My digital muse has dragged me into the wonderful world of video, so I may never make a perfect print again! (I'm a very good photographer, so how hard can video be, right? Oh, man!)

Anyway, I just discovered Digital Grin today so I probably don't know what I'm talking about. I'm just happy to be here.:clap

[Prezwoodz]

I was thinking it would be cool to have a theme of Thumbnails. A certain size of 100px x 100px. Who could make the best "small" picture.

[DoctorIt]

I was thinking it would be cool to have a theme of Thumbnails. A certain size of 100px x 100px. Who could make the best "small" picture.I like this idea... wonder how others would feel about it...

[I Simonius]

Can't be doing with reading the whole thread but just in case - 'The best B+W conversion' hasn't already been done?

[love]

Perhaps a dual assignment? Showing Motion vs. Stopping Motion (no PS)

[shoppix]

Portraits is good. Perhaps a few different 'portrait' challenges, since many of us do not have studio lighting setup etc.
1-studio type
2-candids - on the street, or less formal setting than a 'studiio'
3-of kids
4-of adults
5-of people at work/play
6-of military personnel

[sgbotsford]

These aren't ideas about new challenges, but ideas as to how challenges work. If they are in the wrong place, the moderator is free to move them, and slap my knuckles with a ruler as soon as he catches me. (Grin, duck and run...)

1. The "No Serious Editing" contests should be the ones that use Serious Photo Software as prizes. For non NSE contests perhaps solicit filter suites and add-ons as prizes.

2. For edited pix I would like a description of what editing was done, with possibly a before as well as an after pix. Some people provide this, some don't. Encourage, not force.

3. I would love to see a few hundred words by the judge on each contest commenting on the the submissions, to the contest, and some of why he picked what he did. (Dart board, roll of dice, number of pixels with value 121,144,169, one the dog licked)

4. The time limit on pictures troubles me on a couple of counts:
A. Someone may have a fabulous pic that fits the criterion exactly, but was taken at a time that mismatches the challenge. If he's honest, we don't get to see it.
B. If he's not honest there are a tonne (That's 1000 KG, 2208 lbs for non-metric readers...) of software packages that can read and modify EXIF data. (Many of these programs also can read and write IPTC fields, which can be used to help you FIND that picture 10 years from now.)


C. There are a lot of possible challenges that are eliminated due to the subjects having different time limits in different areas. E.g: "Migrations" "First Day of Winter" "County Fair"

This brings up several ideas for modifiying the challenges.

I. Remove/Modify the time frame from some/all contests. (E.g. a challenge based on "Autumn" under the present rules creates a problem for either people in Maine or people in Georgia.)

2. Encourage people to post "Non participating photos" that met the subject of the contest but not the time frame. These are declared as such in the post, and are there for our enjoyment.

3. Ban the time limit per se, but the Judge will be asked to select a certain fraction of finalists from the stipulated time frame.

Now having variable time slots makes scheduling more of a problem. It may mean that at any given time there may be 2-4 different challenges running.

This could be a neat thing, or it could be an incredible hassle.


Anyway, a few ideas. Worth what you paid for them, at the very least.

Note: The contests, and quality of work on this site is great. I'm now using this site as a resource for my photography class.

[gus]

Spaghetti

[Andy]

These aren't ideas about new challenges, but ideas as to how challenges work. If they are in the wrong place, the moderator is free to move them, and slap my knuckles with a ruler as soon as he catches me. (Grin, duck and run...)

1. The "No Serious Editing" contests should be the ones that use Serious Photo Software as prizes. For non NSE contests perhaps solicit filter suites and add-ons as prizes.

2. For edited pix I would like a description of what editing was done, with possibly a before as well as an after pix. Some people provide this, some don't. Encourage, not force.

3. I would love to see a few hundred words by the judge on each contest commenting on the the submissions, to the contest, and some of why he picked what he did. (Dart board, roll of dice, number of pixels with value 121,144,169, one the dog licked)

4. The time limit on pictures troubles me on a couple of counts:
A. Someone may have a fabulous pic that fits the criterion exactly, but was taken at a time that mismatches the challenge. If he's honest, we don't get to see it.
B. If he's not honest there are a tonne (That's 1000 KG, 2208 lbs for non-metric readers...) of software packages that can read and modify EXIF data. (Many of these programs also can read and write IPTC fields, which can be used to help you FIND that picture 10 years from now.)


C. There are a lot of possible challenges that are eliminated due to the subjects having different time limits in different areas. E.g: "Migrations" "First Day of Winter" "County Fair"

This brings up several ideas for modifiying the challenges.

I. Remove/Modify the time frame from some/all contests. (E.g. a challenge based on "Autumn" under the present rules creates a problem for either people in Maine or people in Georgia.)

2. Encourage people to post "Non participating photos" that met the subject of the contest but not the time frame. These are declared as such in the post, and are there for our enjoyment.

3. Ban the time limit per se, but the Judge will be asked to select a certain fraction of finalists from the stipulated time frame.

Now having variable time slots makes scheduling more of a problem. It may mean that at any given time there may be 2-4 different challenges running.

This could be a neat thing, or it could be an incredible hassle.


Anyway, a few ideas. Worth what you paid for them, at the very least.

Note: The contests, and quality of work on this site is great. I'm now using this site as a resource for my photography class.Thanks for the ideas and comments and suggestions, we appreciate them very much.

[MrPeepers310]

How about "Young and Old"
"Stress"
"30 second exposure or more"
Pretty much any adjective works for a photo challenge!:rofl

[DoctorIt]

These aren't ideas about new challenges, but ideas as to how challenges work...Hi sg, welcome to dgrin and thanks for the critical thinking.

I think you'll find many of these points addressed in the many threads that have been started on this topic over the years (do a little search, you might be surprised at a few of the very heated discussions we've had). What we have now is a pretty nice compromise between quality challenges and the amount of work required by volunteer hosts and judges.

[Quitarita]

Hi,

How about:
"Capturing Creatives in Action"

* Dancers dancing
* Painters painting
* Singers singing
* Writers writing
* Musicians musician-ing...lol, ok that one didn't work but you get what I'm saying. :)

Also what about:
* Pregnancy
* Birth
* Wedding

re: Challenges - For what it is worth, I am new to dgrin and I love how the challenges have been structured. I really like the 'fresh' picture constraint and time frame (2-weeks works for me).

The challenges make me think (actually obsess!) about the topic and forces me to take pictures of things I may otherwise not. It is very educational. So please continue to keep the 'fresh' aspect going.

I like the idea of asking people to write about what adjustements they did to the photo so others can learn. Maybe the top 10 can do before and afters?

I also like the idea of asking the judges to write some words about the top 10 photos selected and why they picked them but I know you guys already volunteer so much time and I wouldn't want to ask for more. I just really appreciate that you guys even do these challenges. GRACIAS!!!

Love the forum and everyone's involvement in helping improve people's photographs too!

If there were a cheerleading squad for dgrin, I'd be on the team! :D

[DoctorIt]

I also like the idea of asking the judges to write some words about the top 10 photos selected and why they picked them but I know you guys already volunteer so much time and I wouldn't want to ask for more. I just really appreciate that you guys even do these challenges. GRACIAS!!!You're welcome, and thanks. :nod :thumb

[Justiceiro]

this would be the greatest challenge ever:

"Access all areas"


Think about it.

[smugger]

I tried to read through all of the ideas so I wouldn't post something repeated but I'm new to the game and there are already 22 pages of ideas! Ok, at the risk of repeating other ideas mine are:

1) Home

2) Surprise

3) Same, but Different

4) Manipulation - I guess this might end up being a more PS challenge, but I think it would be really interesting to take one common image the mod would choose and all of the challengers take that image to create something completely different from it and see all the variations people can come up with.

5) SmugMug! people come up with different ways to for the logo to show up in their images (i.e. drawn out, superimposed in a creative way, etc).

6) Water

7) Dreams

ok, all over the place I know, just throwing things out there. I love looking at this forum after recently discovering it!

[JenGrace]

What about past and present. Archaic and modern in one shot... Kind of like MrPeepers' young and old.

[Bendr]

Here's one for Andy!

Food! :)

[Fred W]

I would like to see a challenge for presenting "Power".

[Thwack]

Cemetaries. Lots of opportunities for patterns, flowers, somber moments (black & white can really add to the mood for these shots). My wife took a photography class at a local community college years ago and this was one of their standard assignments. I recall going with her to a veteran's cemetary where the tombstones are all the same and you get a variety of repeating pattterns (plus the sheer scale of these things really drives home how many sacrificed it all).

[truth]

traffic
cloud
sound
work
energy
wet
cold
heat
1
food
waste
greed
night
light

[lr1811]

-upside down
-earth
-rich/poor

[Bendr]

friends

[gus]

Cheese

[TheFoodTraveller]

contrast (size or colors)
doors
free falling
in the moving
feeling cold
geez!

Just some thoughts from a new comer (see, second post :ivar)

[sunita]

Reflection(s)
twist
flow
elements
geometry
numbers
eternity
the moment

[HiSPL]

Rain

[tsk1979]

Something difficult... Like
Disillusionment

[Atheana]

What about a best 'Adobe Photoshopped Photo'? Something a bit zany and creative?

[Blonde Moment]

The Human Body

[urbanaries]

stop action.

[urbanaries]

The Human Body

this is a great one!!! I second.

[LittleLisa]

How 'bout smoke or steam... or a vapor of any sort

[gus]

stuff

[sunita]

distortions
elastic
plastic
freedom

[Barefoot and Natural]

How about Scratches.....bumps.....bruises.......scars

Sorry......my kids are in a clumpsy stage right now!! :D:hurt

Heather

[gus]

paint

[urbanaries]

Change

[Lynie]

I think this is how you post ideas...I'm pretty new, if this isn't how it's done, please let me know.

How about a challenge that shows the act/art of teaching or learning?:dunno

[gus]

(rather long title but you get the idea)

" Well your elected leader gave it the rubber stamp...live with it "

[Seamus]

for the $25,000 challenge the theme should be " photos taken of the interior of my house".


























































I think that's fair:hide