http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_hour
Blue Hour ?

I hope this topic is suitable for the graphics artists here...
for the camera people... Shooting into the sun! :o)

Edit: Blue hour... Into the Sun... or My Symbol of Life; each could interest me... if the weather clears up here! Those in the Vancouver - Seattle belt know of what I am saying! :o)

Edit: Verena... Amongst a whole bunch of different hints at 'Arizona Highways' I found this one... Sun Screen
Getting a great shot of your friends in the bright midday light is one of the toughest things to do. Although this tip runs counter to what you’ve heard all your life, have them stand with their backs to the sun. You’ll notice your faces will be evenly lit, and there will be a lot less squinting. You might have to shade your lens, but this is the right approach. They’ll love you for it. :o)

Hmmm.. Blue hour or shooting into the sun, I like the sound of both really, each are excellent subjects...

Blue hour produces some fantastic dusk/dawn shots, but shooting into the sun is more of a challenge & also gives great results when you get it right... Still can't decide LOL :))

My vote is always blue hour !!!!! Both before I go to bed [in the morning] and when I sometimes get up [dusk or the twilight zone].
Shooting into the sun is more for the fractal authors ... I have tried, but alas with small success LOL

Blue hour is lovely but if you don't have a camera that can cope with it it's not doable.
So far I quit like the idea of 'My symbol of life'.

I would love to see 'shooting into the sun' chosen. I enjoy the 'bloo' hour also of course, but taking photos into the sun is a challenge and would teach a bit more in this direction. I read the article Con mentioned and that was super interesting! So I'm hoping for that subject to win out. --Verena

I would be curous what would be taken with Urban decay??

its far too similar to recent contest subjects to be considered I would have thought

I'm hoping for urban decay - the opportunity to see some very interesting images is right there in the topic!!!

I quite liked Blue Hour until I read the link and felt that much delineation squashes most of the creative space out of the photography, it will simply be who's equipment captures the best dynamic range in the nicest setting. As an evocative topic Blue Hour seemed pretty cool, an image of a baby sleeping in the blue light of strong shade, a guitarist playing with tears in her eyes, the train leaving the station and someone left behind, lots of evocations possible. So, I'm not voting yet, gonna think about the choices more.

whats wrong with the simple stuff? i have no idea what blue hour is in this contest selection and have been stumped in many contest selections by the odd suggestions. maybe if there was a brief description of each suggestion, then it wouldnt be so daunting to vote.

Erik - it would pretty much render the same results as the recent Beauty in Decay contest so seems pointless and uninspired as a contest theme suggestion.

Your right on about Urban Decay as a subject Phil.To much like the B in D contest recently held. I like the idea of Blue Hour myself although I already have a couple of the "sun" shots ready to upload:):)

I had forgotten about the Beauty in Decay contest when I posted Urban Decay...You are right...too close together..Sorry for the inconvenience.

What about pets, it would be interesting to see the pictures of some pets.

if it coerced people into raising their game and producing really interesting pet studies then yes it would - otherwise, not so much.

good benchmarks would be:

example
example
example
example

I am afraid that I have to agree with phil (+philcUK) about the pets pictures!

The blue hour comes from a French expression, l'heure bleue, which refers to the period of twilight each morning and evening where there is neither full daylight nor complete darkness. The time is considered special because of the quality of the light at this time of day. The blue hour is considered especially flattering for people with blond hair in photography and is often also when the smell of the flowers is at its strongest during the summertime.

Nice to see so many members stepping up to this challenging subject. Congratulations to all those placed and all those who entered. J.