The 2nd Monthly DU Photography Contest--The Winter Series

[Longgrain]

We tried this a month ago, and it seemed to go off pretty well, so we in the DU Photography Group thought we'd do it again.

A few changes from the first contest.

First of all most of us agreed submission's should be posted anonymously, in order to prevent this from becoming a popularity contest. I'll list the names of the participants in a separate thread when the winner is announced.

Secondly many of us also thought there should be a theme for the contest. Since it's January, the agreed upon theme was Winter/ Cold/ Ice or something along those lines (So I hope you're all someplace warm).

But before we get to the entries, several other folks summited photos but either missed the deadline or participated in the first contest. I'll be showing off those photos in another post shortly.

The winner will be announce 24 hours from now around 5 P.M. EST...
Remember this is all for fun, so if you see someone with no votes give 'em a little nudge...;-)

These are all the size they were summited, so some are larger than others. My apologies before hand to those with dial-up.

Here we go, in no particular order...

1. Burg Hornberg (Neckarzimmern, Germany)





2. Ponderosa Pine




3. Trees at Sunset



4. Winter sunset




5. Column




6. Somewhere between Fort Collins and Greeley, CO



7. IceAbstract




8. Cold Young 'Un




9. Crystal formations




10. Frozen pond




Thanks to all who participated. I'll be back shortly with a few other Honorable Mention-ables.

[UrbScotty]

1. Kick!

:kick:

[Longgrain]

3. Hey thanks for the kick ih8thegop

We gotta keep this on the front page as long as possible.:thumbsup:

[Longgrain]

2. Here are a few more I didn't forget to mention.

Rocinante summited this one of some of the outbuildings on the farm where he grew up.




The Duer known as ralps summited this winter collage.




RagingInMiami (the winner of our first contest BTW) showed us this photo of a downed cabin...




and finally, smurfygirl, summited this photo, among others, after the deadline, "Winter Stroll".



Once again thanks everyone...

[Longgrain]

4. Shameless kick in the name of the DU Photography Group.

Where is everyone one tonight...:shrug:

[TahitiNut]

5. On composition alone, # 6 edges out #1 in my view.

When I add in the extraordinary depth of field acheived in #6 in part by the mist in the air, it again edges out #1's iron-oxide flavor. Nice shots!

[Longgrain]

6. That's interesting that you should say that...

of course they are all winners in their own way, tho I do like number one for it's color and texture.

Like paintings, any reproduction of a photograph (I.E. on-line, in a book, in a newspaper) is going to look different from the original.

[TahitiNut]

8. The somber feel in #1 from the 'glowering' sky' ...

... above a 'glowering' industrial town is really excellent. The tone and texture accentuate that somber quietude forging on.

I'm perhaps also influenced by the thematic consistency of #6 - it's like hibernation. The awaiting irrigation and the awaiting plantings - it's like a yin and yang - the water is frozen, the irrigation equipment is frozen, and nothing grows. Everything sleeps awaiting the spring.

In #1, the winter isn't as symbolic of hibernation as it is about the barren aspect of industry: it never hibernates.

I don't know. Just rambling. :shrug:

[Longgrain]

9. I think I see what you mean

the barren aspect of industry tho is just that--barren...there's no fruit, no green, and factories are cold. Trust me I've taken alot of pictures of factories.

This was taken during the summer, but it looks pretty wintry to me...

[TahitiNut]

16. Exactly.

There's a difference between 'barren' and the sleep before fruitfulness. The elements of #6 are: a fertile field, sleeping plants, irrigation equipment, and frozen water. There's a "promise" in #6 - and a syncopation of man's touch with nature's rhythms.

The seasonal theme of #1 is to accentuate the barrenness of industry. It's man against nature, not in rhythm with it.


(To belabor the obvious:) That's NOT to say these differences, per se, make one photo better than the other. It's merely to note that the differing themes and their differing compositions may be what influence me when I hear that "Winter" is the competition/Judging basis.

Hell... I'm really an idiot when it comes to this stuff. I just try to figure out why I like what I like - if only to have words to help me find more. It's a real struggle for me to wrap words around this stuff. :dunce:


FWIW, I like the B&W factory photo. There's geometry and texture. If there were something more (sun? tree?) reflected in the glass, I'd like it more - a hint of what we turn our backs on? Dunno.

Oh... and they ARE all terrific. I'm impressed. I love the color in #3. I just think #6, even though somewhat trite, is a damned near perfect example of its kind - even to the slightly brown-tone of the weeds.

[pscot]

7. What is this fixation with snow?

It's winter in Cancun too, ya know?

[Longgrain]

10. Does that mean it's also winter in Australia.

Just wondering. :P

[On the Road]

48. No, January in Australia

Meaning it's summer in Australia.

[Longgrain]

65. I was kidding

It seemed like I was being Razzed for being from a cold environment...

[greendog]

11. I picked #10

Beautiful winter color. The only thing I'd do different is crop off 1/3 of the right hand side.

[Longgrain]

13. Very abstact.

Abstraction in photography is always interesting.

[greendog]

21. Yeah...

...the S curve gives it a yin/yang flavor. I like the shapes made by the leaves on the left side.

[laura888]

12. A few are just breath-taking

#1 especially!

WOW

[Bluebear]

14. Kick! breathtaking beauty!

[eyepaddle]

15. I already voted,

I like all the photos..so I thought I'd give it a :kick:

[kittycat1164]

17. kick

they're all beautiful!

[Fleurs du Mal]

18. These are very nice

Tough decision. Thanks for sharing.

All the little flecks, the wonderfully detailed little beads of bubbles, and that frigid water lying in wait in IceAbstract is pretty fantastic!

[usedtobesick]

19. I think I've been to #6.

Most excellent!

[livinginphotographs]

20. Had to go with #6.

Although #3 and #7 were some stiff competition.

[yardwork]

22. They're all wonderful photos!

It was very hard to choose just one.

[HEyHEY]

23. Here

This isn't mine, it was takne by a friend after a mudslide...I'm not entering it (Obviously) but seeing as how many will look at this thread for cool pics - I thought they'd like this one.

[Longgrain]

24. Remember this is all for fun...

So vote for your favorite, but don't neglect those less fortunate.
:hi:

[VeniceBeat]

25. #6 Would Make a Beautiful Platinum Print

Kin I git one a those?

[roguevalley]

26. these are brilliant. I wish I knew about these ahead of time so I

could join. I am off to join the photo club.

[Longgrain]

27. I'll see you there.

We plan on holding these once a month so stick around. :hi:

[tjdee]

28. All are very, very good.

Impressed with the photographers at DU.

[Longgrain]

37. Then come down to the DU photography Group some time

or if you prefer, the DU Artist Group!

(One of these days us artist are going to kick these photo kid's butts...you'll see...)

[Bluebear]

29. By the way, LG I LOVE that you specify a theme

It's hard enough selecting from all these wonderful pieces of art, let alone if they were a mish-mosh of different subjects. The "Winter" theme frames the voting perfectly. I hope every month brings a new assignment/theme!

[Longgrain]

30. I'm thinking next month the theme should be Love

or friendship/ kinship in honor of Valentines day...

Just a thought I'm throwing out.

I'll probably post a discussion for it in the Photo Group soon.

[RagingInMiami]

31. A Raging Kick

My vote is a secret. At least for now.

[Longgrain]

32. As is mine...

For flowing, personal reasons. :)

[nuxvomica]

33. They are all wonderful

But I'm surprised there aren't more votes for #2, which looks like a Japanese painting. Regardless, they are all very worthy. My hat is off to all the photographers. :thumbsup:

[Longgrain]

34. Kick

:kick:

[intheflow]

35. Hurrah for the photo contest!

Kicking it! :kick:

[Longgrain]

36. And hurrah for intheflow

Wasn't there something I was supposed to wish you today?

Ah...Um...I forgot...

:hi:

[intheflow]

50. P'shaw!

Guy at the video rental actually sang to me as I got my free video. In...front...of...the...whole...store. Embarassing!!!


But thanks for the forgetting, anyway. :toast:

[Miami Liberal]

38. They are all so beautiful

it's hard to choose just one.

[Redleg]

39. All are awesome pictures! Excellent work!

Damn, I wish I had a good eye for art when I take pictures.

[Ilsa]

40. I should be picked for this one because

we have never had snow like this, and unless we have a dramatic weather pattern change (and we could over the next twenty years), I won't have this again in south Texas in my lifetime:

[Longgrain]

46. That is good!

:thumbsup:

Hope you'll see us around the Photo group some more!

[RagingInMiami]

54. Did you use a polarizing filter?

I really like the color.

[Duncan Grant]

41. Message for Longgrain and all the photographers:

:yourock: :thumbsup:

[Longgrain]

43. Yarh...

Thanks...but I'm actually more of a painter. :)

[Donailin]

42. are these digital or traditional?

what kind of cameras/ lens? What do you prefer? Leica? Canon?

[TahitiNut]

45. That's a good question. It'd be nice to know equipment and settings.

:thumbsup:

[Lefta Dissenter]

44. I can't vote

because there's no "all of the above" choice, but I can kick this!

Beautiful! :hi:

[Placebo]

47. Somewhere between Fort Collins and Greeley, CO

Although I'm generally wary of Winter Photography because it's so easy.

[intheflow]

49. Already voted but I'm kicking this up.

It might be past Longgrain's bedtime on the east coast, or he'd probably do it himself. :)

[Longgrain]

51. And another kick

For you my dear...

[ralps]

52. Hi you all. ever since i saw #3 trees at sunset I thought it was a really

cool photo. and kick for the morning crowd.
:kick:

[Longgrain]

53. Last kick

Then it's off to bed for me...:boring:

[Skittles]

55. that "somewhere" picture

the desolation is striking :)

[Longgrain]

56. Good morning Kick

:kick:

[Kukesa]

57. Wow! These photos are terrific; what a talented group! n/t

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

58. Very hard to choose from such a beautiful selection

What a talented bunch we have at DU.

The German cityscape is breaktaking, and the Colorado field is starkly beautiful. I love all the trees...it's very hard to decide.

I'm going with Ice Abstract because of the wonderful composition.

Great work, all!

:toast:

[sundog]

59. I went with #10... It would make a good album cover... they're all amazing

thanks everyone ;)

[Longgrain]

60. Thanks for voting

(and the occasional kick) Of course this is all for fun, but we photo geeks love to see our work on display...:)

[Longgrain]

61. Another kick in the pants.

3 hours left to vote everybody.

[Schema Thing]

62. This is a very difficult poll, went with trees at sunset

But I think all three of the leaders are pretty much equally nice.

Not that it matters, but I wonder if the "ft Collins" photo is intentionally shown with the detail blown out? I like it that way, as an effect, in any case.

I'm a little surprised that "crystal formations" hasn't gotten more votes.

[Longgrain]

63. Hey AT thanks for kicking this up

We still have about two hours to go, I might have to declare a three way tie!

[yardwork]

68. Crystal Formations got my vote!

I loved all the photos. That one reminded me of winters in my childhood. Children notice tiny details that adults often overlook. Also, I liked the rust in the background.

[Longgrain]

64. One last kick in the cold

Less than an hour and a half to vote now.

[WillyT]

66. Great Work Folks !!!

Awesome!

:yourock:

[intheflow]

67. As one of the photographers, I say, "Thanks, Willy."

The picture in your post is haunting. :(

[Rhiannon12866]

69. This was really tough! They were ALL so very good!

Thanks for posting this. It was great for all to see. Whoever wins truly deserves it, but it has to be close, since all were excellent. We have a lot of talent on DU, no big surprise!:D

[Bluebear]

70. Aren't they awesome? The winners are posted I will bump for you

[Rhiannon12866]

71. Thank you so much!

I voted in the previous poll and I think my choice won. But it is so hard to choose, as it is now, since they are all so good. Thanks for the kick, which I will look for, and for posting this amazing photography. I love it.:-)