Creative Angles or Minimalism for me ... as it will include all genres.

I quite agree, Sherree, and would add Heat as I believe it too could be subject to abstract interpretation and alot of creativity as well...as for silhouettes, we've already done that...I would also like to say that I really hope everyone suggesting or voting on these contest themes, now and in future, would give more thought to subject matter so that all genres have some chance at participation and also that we try to come up with unique and new ideas that push the creative envelope a little more.

I like the idea of where we live. I've been thinking of doing a B&W series on my tiny little town.

I also would like to see a conceptual topic that is inclusive to all artists, not just photographers. Should topics be moderated? I would say yes.

I like the place where I live idea.

Should topics be moderated? I would say yes.

I totally agree with you Chris.

I'd like to see topic's that are much more challenging plus include all genre's ... isn't that what contest's are all about?

A little diversity?

If we want to go back to challenging and thought provoking contests, then, IMO...the contests choices should go back to the moderators.?.?. They seem to do a better job than I know I could possibly do.

I am in agreement with Paul, members should be in agreement with a contest..not the ones who pick the subject..

I always try to have all genre's in mind when suggesting a topic, and feel it's important to do so. This way everyone can be involved. My suggestion this time around was "jewelry advertisement"...which I believe would be somewhat of a challenge and would also be possible for CG and fractal artists.

I definitely like a good challenge... especially when it can include all members.

Lori ... I see it now (where all genres would be involved). Jewelry Advertisement is a wonderful contest topic & also would present itself with some creativity. Perhaps it will allow someone to try something new ... a tutorial or a new editing technique. I like that idea.

Moderators choice for me. Just to make a point, if only for next time.

I recall one of the best and hardest contests we had was the 'Draw a Frog' one, not least because it took a not inconsiderable amount of explanation as to what we meant by 'Draw a Frog'

or maybe the 'Oxymoron' contest, which had everyone searching the landscape... certainly a subject to stretch the imagination.

my vote goes to 'Moderator's choice'.

I'm going with heat because the very word is evocative and allows for prosaic shots of open fireplaces as well as the look in someone's eye or a drawing or fractal that burns at some level. I reckon a balance of process would be good. One time the topic is purely a result of this process - pure "popularity" contest, then every other time we get to make a bunch of suggestions then the senate or whatever those hard working dudes are called get to pick the topic from the selection. Popularity one time, discrimination the other. Balance, see. :) Less of this either/or thinking folks.
Mikel.

PS Just want to point out that "the place where I live" has entirely metaphorical potential, if you read it existentially the image could be pretty much anything that expressed where you live, your heart, your centre, your context, all that kind of groove.

I don’t think it would require any moderator intervention to pick an original topic if some simple precepts were observed such as:

Not country or culture specific

Not medium specific

An easily recognizable specificity. With some ambiguity also :-)

Whoever suggests the topic rationalizes it with a brief explanation of the reasoning and expectation of their idea

I concur with Phil's comments; I was about to write something quite similar - so I won't be redundant and repeat his.

I've looked at the various suggestions, but I have to agree with the fact that moderators should choose. It made it simpler, and it was always challenging. So that's where my vote goes as well. So we can hope for the best, and that the decision will be made wisely and fairly. Verena

I'd say let the moderators choose. I know their minds work better than mine!...lol...
Joanie

Hi Phil, as much as I might agree with your precepts I have to suggest that expecting other folk of diverse motivations and perspectives to voluntarily abide by those precepts is simply expecting the impossible. (Past behaviour being the best predictor of future behaviour.) My proposal expressed my desire to see the community involvement principle here at Caedes honoured AND the idea of raising the bar and challenging us also empowered. Happily repeating myself, regardless of how prosaic, generic, dull, provincial or venal a topic, for those who want to be challenged, it can be a challenge. No matter how innovative, scintillating, original or inspired a topic, those who don't enjoy those modes, won't. Ironically the more of the former a topic is the greater the challenge to overcome the topics inbuilt limitations.
Peace,
Mikel.

PS Perspective is 9/10s of our reality.

@Moderators Choice voters:
I give every one a choice when i made the "The Place Where I Live" option. If you try to think it over there are a lot of challenge in it as Mikel said earlier.
If you think you can't choose a topic, how you dare to choose a winner after the contests?
So if you want a topic by moderators, you also need a professional jury.
A topic is nothing else just some words... Free your mind please.

(Anyway. Why have you chosen the "Moderators Choice"? Why don't you let them choose? This is an oxymoron!!! LOL.)

If the topic had a narrow interpretation it would be a real challenge. For example, if you had to enter an image of where you live, i.e. your house/home/bungalow/caravan/boat/cave etc, then coming up with something creative could be difficult. Unfortunately, most topics have a very loose interpretation, and in this case people will enter a picture of something that is 'near' where they live, i.e their town, region etc. In America this could be 100 miles away, near is relative, although 100 miles around my house is pretty much my whole country.

My fear is that further loosening the topic to include metaphorical or existential concepts might help the fractalists and CGI artists in entering, which they would not be able to do in the more literal sense, but will make the competition more like a best of the new images gallery, that is, so open that anything goes.

Both options fail to meet the criteria laid down so well by Phil which is why some of us, who can and have made suggestions, mine was minimalism, feel that some form of moderator input is the best solution. I did not state that moderators should choose the topic, only that topics should be moderated, to ensure they met certain criteria, the topics would still come from the membership.

Finally, Caedes is a broad church but like jury service in the real world it works so I do not feel the need for professional juries and would not insult anyone on this site by suggesting that they are not capable of voting. However, it works better when there is clear guidance on what should be voted on. With Mikel and Oliver's comments I now feel that this is quite lost.

I don't think we need the moderators to decide which topic should be chosen for the next contest. Nevertheless I don't think it's a bad idea to have a professional jury because this way they would never favour anyone just on the basis of personal sympathy. At least I hope so. However the best solution would be to choose the topic and the winners as we do now but the contest would be anonym.

Favouritism in Caedes? What heresy is this!

I didn't mean it is intentional. It is maybe subconscious.
You can disclaim it or not, it exists everywhere.
It's hard to give a bad grade for a good friend.

"It's hard to give a bad grade for a good friend." was the shot any good or dident you like it. Hmmm he or she dont know what you are grading them.

Mikel - I long since stopped trying to fathom out peoples drives and motivations here other than the usual sweeping ones that is :-)