I suggest "Hidden Patterns" as a topic that should be broad enough to encompass all the kinds of artists we have here but is not simply any old topic. Patterns are both obvious, like a series of geometric patterns in a tiled floor and hidden, like the genetic patterns seen in the faces of a Father and Son. A literal interpretation of the topic leads in one direction, a metaphysical interpretation opens up other possibilities. for those of us who go out to take new photos for a contest, or create new works in our chosen medium, the element of "hidden" will prompt us to LOOK anew and perhaps to see things in the field we might previously missed. As I think contests are primarily of value in terms of pushing me out of my current status quo I think this topic has that capacity.

I suggest B/W, cause it's an undervalued kind of photography and that's why we don't see it so often here on the site, so it could be a challenge for everybody to see how creative we are in shooting B/W

:o)

Some food for thought..

Topic: "The Place Where I Live" ... contest ended 3/04/10 19:15.

Topic: "Patterns Nature Makes" ... contest ended 5/06/10 20:15.

Topic: "B&W" ... contest ended 18/09/09 9:43.


No description for two of the suggested topics in this poll.

(Thank you very much on this note, Els and Mikel, with respect to the time you gave in offering up your thoughts and clarifying your suggested topics. Sincerely.)


Question(s):

Are 'you' giving any consideration to other genres of art? Such as CGI, fractals, etc. ... when suggesting a topic?

The Place Where I Live... rings a bell! It seems to me we had this Topic not long ago. It does not appear in the Main Galleries/Contest list nor is the picture I entered in my gallery. I hope a different topic will take the lead! :o)

Edit: Way to go Les! You agree with my perception and also have added extra repeats. Thank-you! :o)
        Ah yes... I remember transforming a colour image into B&W!

(*notes additional vote given to the topic of "Place Where I Live"*).

Lol, kind of expected a petulant response.

Another job.. well done.

:oP

I just did a little googling and found that a number of the graphics images I found reminded me of eyes... a subject which hopefully could be handled by all genres. I had used Les' suggested CGI and Fractals plus my Photo in the search. Let's try to hit upon a topic that suits all genres! Please! :o)
Hidden Patterns would seem to fit all groups as well (especially if Nature is left out!)

I hope eyes have not forgotten that it was previously used! :o)

I would like to propose "Balance" ... again. Open to ALL GENRES & should produce some creativity with alot of thought put into the image in regards to composition / subject matter.

Here is a link to the topic description.

I don't see any point in repeating any topics so soon as there are others to consider ... Google is your friend & the possibilites are wide open.

What you's all think?

I proposed "Funny"....Since the holidays are over and the days are short it can get kinda depressing this time of year! I feel we all need a laugh or two. Plus it would be nice to see what everyone would come up with.

I take your point Les about the "patterns" part of my suggested topic but I think there is a fair old difference between patterns made by nature and hidden patterns, aside from anything else the adjectival element of each topic is pretty distinctive and should lead us in quite different directions. Maybe.... :)

"What you's all think?"

"Balance" ... gets my vote.


No offense intended in my above post, Mikel ... just seems like this exercise is becoming yet another hit-and-run, drive-by thing.

Would simply like to see some more aforethought given before a suggestion/topic is put up in the poll (not saying that you didn't here). Like perusing previous topics and a short description, so that everyone has some idea of the creative intent behind any suggestion.

And ... with due consideration given to all members of our community (read; 'other genres of art').

Hmm... the B/W contest of 18-09-09, forgot about it :oD

But...the 'Balance' of Sherree (Danika) is a great idea too.

Sooo....shall I change my vote or not....

I'll be back, going to do some thinking:o)

We seem to have a number of Alzheimer's patients around here ...

Black and white would be excellant.

Ahem ... you're not old enough for Alzheimer's yet!

The current top two choices have already been done in the last 16 months.

Yes, the first two choices have already been done, let's do something new.

Annnd.... thank you, Hannah for the alzheimer compliment...lol...


@Les...

Question(s):

Are 'you' giving any consideration to other genres of art? Such as CGI, fractals, etc. ... when suggesting a topic?


Answer:

Yes, I do, thought B/W could work for fractals and photography and so on...

But if I am wrong, sorry from my side and since it has already been done, than perhaps it's better to cancel the B/W suggesting or not!!

Els, B & W is always a good & interesting topic for a contest. Yes, it has been done previously, but there are different presentations of B & W.

1) B & W with high contrast - A high-contrast scene or photograph consists primarily of white and black with few or no middle gray tones.

2) B & W with low contrast - A low-contrast (flat) scene has colors or tones in which highlights and shadows have very little difference in densities. In other words, all colors or tones within the scene are very similar in appearance.

3) B & W with grain - grain or noise gives your photo a dark, gritty, and highly texturized effect. Some early B & W films produced a grainy texture & is still used to date for artistic purposes.

So lots of possibilites with B & W ... plus I don't count it out as a possible contest theme.

Instead of B & W ... I'd go with B & W, High Contrast as an example.

I also like Hidden Patterns & I get what Mikel is talking about.

Shifted my vote to Balance as it captures the same values I was after with my original suggestion and without any hint of echoing recent other topics. :) I'm pretty sure people must be voting here without reading the comments first, as the first two topics, both repeats of recent topics, have GROWN in votes SINCE it was pointed out they were repeats, or maybe people just don't care....

Twinkel just hates the fact when a .. ahem ... man is right.

And right I am. And a man.

... ...

Kidding, kidding.

... ...

... ...

Heyyyy! I heard that stuff about a 'man'!

>:o|

Go sit in the corner (*points*) and think about what you just did/say. Alllll of yous! Now!

:oP

Was Mikel saying something? I didn't read his post, can I borrow someone's notes?

:oP

Food for thought obvious my dear Watson if we have done Black & White before then how about White & Black that could be a mind bender.

Well, no matter when they where, I like patterns, not necessarily hidden though. Just patterns. I also like B & W, though I always have. *shrug* Oh & I think Balance w2ould be good too.

Has anyone considered something extremely simplistic like colors ? I think Blue or Orange would be cool....maybe. :o)

I do like the B & W suggestion, and if it becomes a horse race ... will swing my vote over to it.

Open to all genres of art, and it just might be that the last one was long enough ago. In light of newer members, and that stuff.


Having said that, I really would like to see some new topics for our contests.

Perhaps, as a suggestion ... for future reference ... think of a technique or a facet of the basics. Such as;

Creative use of design principles - Balance, Proportion, Rhythm, Emphasis, and Unity.

Creatively making use of line, shape, direction, size, texture, color, and value.

(Tip of the hat to Nathan; aka nmsmith for the above.)

(*let the ^'man'^ think he is right.....again*)

But I made up my mind....I am still going for the B/W :o)

White and Black. That is GENIUS! A scintillating twist on an old, old, OLD topic. Maybe more a sensational flip than a twist I guess. It might limit things a bit for those of us photographers who don't have cameras that will capture the white light first but it will really suit the other artists because they can apply the white first to their paintings or digital whatevers. I think that white and black implies there should be more white, depends how you say the topic. WHIIIITE andblack makes it really clear that white should be the larger percentage. Do we have some software on Caedes that can measure that stuff so the mods don't have to do it pixel by pixel for every image in the contest? (Image of a mod (Complete with horn rimmed circle glasses and bank tellers visor.) peering at computer screen putting a dot on every white pixel with a whiteboard marker. Further image of a soon to be very unhappy mod unknowingly doing the same thing with a permanent marker.) I think probably, for clarity's sake, the topic should be expanded to ensure we don't get a rash of unhelpful entries, so it would read "White and Black that isn't a test pattern or a depiction of monochrome noise or a clever image that can be a young lady or an old witch or piano keys or a police car or high contrast mountains or pandas or blackbirds on snow or white swans in a coalpit or a montage of old school newspaper headlines." OK, ripper topic, best of the bunch so far, unbeatable.

OH MAAAN, the inspired juices are torrenting now. How about "The Life Where Places I"? That might generate some existential insights, some mordant observations on the ambivalence of artistic depictions in a consumer driven milieu or maybe even the unmasking of some shadow gradients in the collective unconscious. (Also known in some parts as "the communal aftermath of too much alcohol in too short a time space if you have impaired liver function from many previous such moments.")

I still think we need a reject button for repeat repeaters... lol
Balance it is...

Gonna need some notes again from Mikel's posts.. anyone?

Kidding, kidding, Mikel.


Looks like we have another hit-and-run thing on the site. That of, contest topic selection/suggestion. (Well, for some.)

Something is in the works on this side of the fence, be patient.

Well, if we're going to go B & W, I'm really interested in the 3 definitions that Sherree explained to Els & maybe we could do one of those ? High, low or with grain ? I realize it's one more thing to debate about ( oh no ! *facepalm*) but it might be something to stretch our wings.

Well, Lauren ... could think of the current topic as an umbrella category for the sub-categories that Sherree explained in her post above.

Or, in other words ... encompassing them and therefore, more than acceptable entries. Even if, not refined this time.


Anyways, it is time to switch horses. Neck and neck, as of this writing. So..

From that of "Balance" ... to that of "B & W" for me.. this time.


And I do hope that Sherree puts up "Balance" for the next go round. It will have my vote once again, and once more ... out of the gate.

How about, literally, black and white? No grey.

Which means, for photographers, no simple hitting of the "desaturate" button. For folks on the CG and Abstract side of the house, might present some really interesting creative potential.

Well, it could also means no hopping in Photoshop for instance & hitting Negative. Just a thought.m *shrugs*

One would hope, but then, never say never.

Good luck to all ! :)

/\ Nice. :o)


Best of luck to you, StarLite, and all other participants.

Judging from the number of entries ... looks like the contest is a qualified success (shall edit that qualifier to that of 'unqualified' ... after I win! :oP).

So.. another thanks is in order..


Thanks to Twinkel for the suggested topic. :o)

Your welcome and it's a great success indeed. :o)