*****September Contest Poll*****

[CC]

We have some ideas on the contest theme and I went and grabbed some that had been passed over before. A few may need more details if they are chosen. I used Houses of Worship instead of just churches. Opens it up some. Also threw in Still Life as I look at my(Blue's) Masala print waiting to be framed.

[F.Gordon]

1. All good... look like fun themes. Haven't voted yet

But it wouldn't be till' December before I could take a CC kitchen snap. Bummer.. you'll probably be all finished by then. Maybe I could install a bottle of liquid soap near the sink.
:evilgrin:

[CC]

3. December huh? Better be finished

with the kitchen by then, though we might be demo and renovating the upstairs by then. I was thinking that the first meal in a finished kitchen would be so real mexican food with margaritas. Oh and straight shots of whatever tequila got brought back from Mexico this time but they wouldn't allow it on the plane.:grr: Long gone are the days of hiding a bottle in each boot so you could bring back extra bottles.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. I think we should have a dueling home improvement

projects contest. We already have CC's kitchen, and now -- ta-da -- here's our destroyed bathroom.



Imagine how excited we were to discover, upon lifting out the toilet, that the drain pipe was corroded with holes (shades of BP) and that the fill under the slab has eroded away to somewhere - who knows where - so HullBoss had to cut out the big piece of concrete so the repair can be made. We have concrete dust about a half-inch thick all over the house. Just this morning HullBoss discovered that the old shower pan (which must go) is apparently cemented to the floor. He's SO happy. Luckily my oldest daughter's ex-husband is a plumber and will help us with the plumbing on the cheap. We had no idea this would turn into such a major deal when we set out.

[CC]

4. You house sounds way to similar to

mine, never know what major job is hidden under the one you think you are doing. :hug:

[TahitiNut]

5. I live in Royal Oak (Michigan) and there's a tree down the street

... from us that the neighborhood folks (casually) call the "Royal Oak." It's in a backyard and it's huge - and gorgeous. It poses an (almost?) insurmountable challenge for photography, however. (1) It's in the backyard of one of the homes several houses away and I've never met the homeowner(s), although their neighbor said the tree was the major reason they bought the house. (2) This is a HEAVILY-treed neighborhood, and the trees are close enough together and old enough that the squirrels could stay aloft for blocks and block without ever needing to touch ground. Thus, gaining any kind of perspective that wouldn't be cluttered with power lines, power poles, other trees, houses, garages, and whatever appears impossible. Nonetheless, the tree itself is so PERFECT, so OLD, so IMPERIAL - I think the word is "majestic" - it might be worth the effort and frustration to give it a shot if I can drag my twisted butt down the street. My SLR is still packed (and not used for over 15 years - dead battery etc.) so all I have to work with is my little 3.1MP Kodak Easyshare - a piece of junk compared to the stuff more affluent folks play with (but I like it) - so playing lens games isn't much of an option. I guess I'll see what I can see.

If I were still in California, it's be easy. The lone California Oaks on grassy hillsides and in ravines are plentiful ... and make easy shooting. They're all iconic and dramatic and the weather is so frequently perfect that it's a snapshotter's dream. Even if I didn't shoot one of them (dozens within a short drive of where I leved in Silicon Valley) I could have driven back toward Boulder Creek and found some coastal redwoods (2nd growth) that're photographed by every tourist going through. Easy pickin's. (Sigh.)

:shrug: Just musing. "Trees" -- so SUBJECT dependent. Hell, I could've driven down to the (famous) "Lone Cypress" on 17 Mile Drive in Carmel ... the kind of shot that even a klutz with a throwaway can get ... and is so impressive and photogenic it takes little skill to get a winning shot. (Blue_in_CA??? There's a winner for ya.)

[insane_cratic_gal]

6. try shooting from under it?

that might be an interesting perspective. IF it doesn't work you've only lost one shot and perhaps a few leaves in your hair

[TahitiNut]

7. Yep. That's the obvious option - if I can get permission to trespass.

Like I say ... subject-dependent and with some mundane problems. I've even thought about CLIMBING into it and getting that perspective ... but I doubt my aged, obese, twisted body would tolerate the abuse.

[Eurobabe]

8. he-heh, it's looking like TREES people!!!!

Can you see the forest through the TREES? If a TREE falls in a forest and no one is around, does it make a sound?

Speaking of trees, can I tell you how much I would like to club the people who bought our old Victorian house in 2001? We had a 120+ year old copper beech in the front side yard, it was huge and so majestic...I drove home in May this year and the fuckers (pardon my french) chopped it down. There was nothing wrong with this tree, I had such a sense of vile outrage when I saw my tree was gone, I wanted to march up to their door and pound them.

Thank god somewhere in my loose photos I have many shots of my daughter when she was about 16 climbing and loving the tree. Wrapping her body around the massive limbs. It was a tree that took your breath away. Oh it just makes me sick thinking about that tree tonight. Blech!

[Blue_In_AK]

9. I'm so sorry about your tree...

We're having a similar crisis here. The lot diagonal from our back yard has been empty and forested with big evergreens and birches ever since I moved here in 1990. We've just learned that someone has bought the parcel and is going to build a triplex on it. I'm really sad.

[Placebo]

10. Screw trees!

Having everyone use the same object would push people's creativity. Otherwise they can just snap a pretty picture of a tree, which is so...blah.

Just my opinion.

[F.Gordon]

11. Too funny

Have sumtin' against tree huggers?
:rofl:

I'm confused on all this. "Trees" and "Simple" seem sorta' kinda' like the same theme.
:shrug:

[CC]

12. I am hoping/waiting for a tie...

simple plus trees equal one tree. :rofl: Actually waiting until Tuesday night for those that got to take a vacation.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. That's a wise compromise. :-)

[Eurobabe]

15. yeah the best of both, SIMPLE, a TREE.

;)

[Ptah]

14. How long is this poll up?

When is the theme usually chosen?

Second week of the month?

[CC]

17. Because of Labor Day

I think I will leave the poll up until Tuesday night. Just in case some one away wants a chance to vote. Though I will say it is looking strongly like Tree but I am leaning heavily to wards it being tree not forest/landscape.

[regnaD kciN]

16. Here's a "simple" suggestion...

...Ocean Beaches Where You Can't See A **** Thing Because Of The Fog.

:grr:

[Mz Pip]

18. Some ideas for single object

leaf
shell
rock


I do like the trees, though.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[TahitiNut]

19. ... or tree.

:evilgrin:

[CC]

20. The polls are closed and

the contest stuff is here http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=280x19754.