For as much as I love the Fall, with it's weather, burning-bush colors, and such, as a contest topic it seems too...easy. Or perhaps, obvious. I voted for symmetry because it's something you'll have to search for with greater effort, it leaves (no pun intended) the contest open to all members worldwide, regardless of their current weather, and it also makes the subject more suitable to all medium, including CG and fractals.

Ok... Rob! I was going to add yet another Topic, hoping to get someone to change her/his vote. Yes! You can do that! But I will side with you and Symmetry. I can see how Reflections (as well as autumn) would easily fit into this category!! It is very important to come up with Topics that are inclusive and I think Autumn would be since all a graphics person would have to do is use the colours of Autumn... but I much prefer your idea of thoughtful rather than automatic images. AND your consideration for those living in parts of the world where the season is anything but Fall is absolutely Right-On! :o)

I chose vertical this go around, But Rob's argument has convinced me to change my vote to symmetry. Autumn hasn't quite arrived to my part of the world yet and I do love entering these contests (win or not) it's still a lot of fun to get a subject matter that makes you think.

Symmetry gets my vote as well. It's one that will include all genres & I noticed there has already been a contest in the past (a few years ago) called 'Autumn Festivities'. As much as I love the colors of autumn, I'd love to see a topic that's more of a challenge.

Go Symmetry!

I too was going to add a topic, but I shall leave that for another poll and instead cast my vote. Autumn is not yet arrived for me either, so... symmetry has it.

5/10/09 10:15
If you choose Autumn as the next theme, can you give the group of us going to Vermont for October 10the and 11th, a day or two to get our entries into the contest, please? Thank you

(*waits till next poll to suggest ... "Baked Good Morsels" *)

~looks up the word 'symmetry'~

Hmmmm, cool!!

So no one's liking my idea?? That's OK.

Mine??
Guess!!

8~O

Hey, it could (and would have to be clean of course)!!

(*waits till the next next poll ... to suggest ... "Boudoir Baked Good Morsel Photography" ... sends out the silky, diaphanous stuff to be dry cleaned in the event of ...*)

Agreed, Randy ... must be ... clean. Quite the visual buzz kill ... if not.

:oP

~sets up studio for Les~

I'm thinkin' a retro 70's leather 'n' lace thang baby!! How you lOOk in leather?? I'm sure the lace will work!!

HeheHahaHoHo!!

~click...it's a keeper~

LOL.

I voted for Vertical because that is what I wanted last time. I realize with the count on Fall and Symmetry running neck and neck it will be akin to casting a vote for Ralph Nader. Must vote my conscience however.

How about Vertical Symmetrical Autumn :)

leather and lace...??? Ohhhh, I am positively, well, downright... titillated... be still my beating heart... ;-)

Symmetry. I love symmetry. It's so... balanced.

It's my spring haha so I didn't vote for autumn. although I have a couple from last autumn I could maybe use ;)

We did the whole Autumn thing a few contests back right before 'curves' although disguised it in an American colloquialism :-)

Is it really that tough to find new inspiration without retreading the same ground over and over?

Autumn comes once a year, every year and repeating the topic doesn't trivialize it. It just happens that it is a timely subject in the Northern hemisphere right now and right now would be an appropriate time to cover the subject again. We even have different members than when the subject was done before. Should we wait and do Autumn when it is so in the Southern hemisphere? (That previous contest was Fall "Festivities").

I don't know. Some from those areas of the globe have already stated that they have images they could submit for an Autumn contest.
We can always do symmetry next.

"Autumn comes once a year, every year"
"it is a timely subject in the Northern hemisphere right now "

Those two bits are precisely why I voiced my opinion against an Autumn-themed contest. "we" aren't all in the northern hemisphere. "we" are also in the southern. also, yes, Autumn comes every year. That doesn't trivialize it. But it's kind of like shooting fish in a barrel.. walk outside, find orange/red/yellow tree, set horizon to lower third line, and shoot. repeat.

I'll re-iterate.. I love the Autumn season. I was born in it, I play in it, I work in it, and I can, for a couple of blissfull months, breathe in it.

But pleasant as it is, and as many picturesque views it may create, I'd like to see a contest where the main ingredient or ingredients aren't practically dropped in our laps. Case in point, the "negative space" contest. That took some doing, and really showed what artists are capable of when nudged (shoved? dragged?) out of their comfort zones. I for one would like to see that growth process continue.

okie doke.. that about sums it up for me.

Symetry is a good I idea, I agree but I think that we should throw a bit of a twist to it, I think it should be a drawing or some sort of illustration. (not that my bias is with drawing... hehehe) I just know how challenging it can be to draw something with symetry but it can be really cool. Just a thought.

"Autumn comes every year. That doesn't trivialize it. But it's kind of like shooting fish in a barrel.. walk outside, find orange/red/yellow tree, set horizon to lower third line, and shoot. repeat."

Now I know what I'm doing wrong...I forgot to read the instructions on the back of the bottle....LOL.
Just a small (very small) sense of humor.

(*tosses a few shiny objects around the thread ... races Paul to get them, forgetting that he had them in the first place ...*)

... ...

(*in awe of Paul's speed, coordination and dexterity where the pursuit of shiny things are concerned ... and accepting the loss this go round, decides to ease the muscle soreness of that challenge by having a hot shower ...*)

Overheard while our intrepid shiny object pursuer is in the shower ...

'Lather, rinse ... repeat ... 'k, got it now ...'

:oP

Oh! I know! I know!

Ta daahhhhh!

Presenting...Goldschlager Shampoo...with real (honest, they swear) gold filaments in every dallop. There ya go...shiny things..that you can use over and over again...and be clean.

Oughta cater to a whole host of psychological ...er.. condition(er)s

I shall never leave the shower ... never, ever ...

(*bottle of Goldschlager Shampoo slips from hand ... lands outside shower ...*)

... maybe ...

At the rate we are having contests, it seems we will cover everything more than once anyway.

possibly but that shouldn't stop people from trying to think of new challenges to promote growth as Rob suggested rather than picking something that was less than two contest back in the list.

Honestly, Phil, we didn't pick it knowing it was two contests (actually more like five contests ago in 2006) back and that one had to do with 'festivities', a totally different subject anyway. Please don't suggest that only Rob is "thinking of new challenges to promote growth". The contests are over before we even have a chance to think creatively anyway. Obviously, those who voted for symmetry already have a subject or photo in mind. I know, how about landscapes! We'll just call it something else. Jk

its true - perhaps the contests are moving too fast in order to allow people time to consider a subject matter more.

I'm hoping that we have to endure this rate only until 'caedes can feel confident that all the 'bugs' have been ironed out.
I know that when I program anything... I prefer working non-stop. Routines are easier to find/change when they are fresh in the memory banks.

And as far as images being already prepared... I have a fall image ready to go (with more to come... if I like 'em) ... I am still thinking on Symmetry... looked it up in Google... found other sites put some restrictions as to the kinds of Symmetry allowed and as to how the Symmetry is achieved... that hasn't been and hopefully won't be done here. I see the judges having more work on this one! I would 'engage' the more experienced members for the Symmetry contest if/when it is indeed selected! :o)

I chose Autumn, my favourite time of year for art.
You can be really creative for this subject, there is a lot more to offer than the usual trees/pumpkin images.

Wow, I seriously can't type. I put up "Fractals" even though I know it's a lost cause ...*shrugs*

Though I think that an abstract "representation" of something might be something to consider one of these days. Instead of actual "rain", you could show a couple of water drops falling/dripping down a window pane or something. It would force everybody to sharpen their abstract skills, photographers & abstract artists alike. Even.... fractalists !! ;o)

Though to really work effectively the artist would probably have to put in their description or title what their image is a representation of.

Just a thought.

Great idea, Lauren. Nothing like some artistic interpretation to get the grey matter working overtime. Hell, my mind is already racing through a bunch of possible shot scenarios.