Monthly Macro Challenge Brainstorm

[Athena]

edit: The official theme suggestion thread can be found here.

I'd like to have a Monthly Macro Challenge where we set a theme and everyone submits one image into a designated thread.

Anyone interested?

What themes would you like to see?

I'll put the list here and add ideas as they are suggested:
coins
textures
stamina
liquid drops
leaves
nuts
bark
Fabrics
stone
paint chipping
rust
bugs
spiders
flowers
household objects
metal
refractions
jewelry
wood grain
webs
cds
feathers
food
bubbles
color
DOF
bokeh
humor
tragedy
bugs in flight
bugs mating
bugs blowing bubbles
insects standing on a dewdrop with a flower refracted in it (this may be a challeng for Brian only lol)

[dougsmit]

I tend to participate in such Challenges only when the theme accidentally fits something I'm shooting anyway. I guess that is against the idea of encouraging people to take photos that might expand their limits but I'd rather see good photos showing what various people are shooting than images that did not really need to be made. I'm opposed to very narrow themes that send people out to take poor photos just to fit the theme and prefer ones that allow creative interpretation of a more general guide. For example, I'd rather have a theme of 'Ugly beauty' than one of 'Butterflies'. We also need to be aware that this is an international forum and some of us are entering winter while others are leaving it so 'Seasons' is better than 'Spring'.

Another opinion is that it is better to have one but not both of a limitation on subject or a limitation on time period. Generally we see what each other have been shooting recently but I'm slow to post a specific subject if I know I have better shots of the same thing shot last year.

[Rense]

Athena,
How about:

• coins
• textures
• stamina
• liquid drops

?

[Athena]

Rense - thank you. What do you mean by stamina?

Doug - International for sure. I split my time between two different continents and various different countries. We will do our best not to limit anyone by region or time.

[Athena]

Item one to consider:
Do we want it this be
1. a challenge that you can submit to within a limited amount of time (with karma for the best entry) or
2. a themed thread that can continue to grow without a time limit.

The timed challenge approach is working well in other areas of the site. It would remain a sticky at the top of the forum for one month and then be judged, karma-ed, and replaced with the next month's theme.

Item two to consider:
Should entries be
1. taken specifically for the challenge or
2. open to any image taken at any time during or prior to the challenge or
3. open to any image taken with in the past 12 months.

The latter two options would allow flexibility for seasonal differences.

My own opinion is that it should be a time limited (one month or less) themed challenge open to any image taken during or prior to the challenge. But I am open to all of your opinions. The macro forum belongs to all of us - tell me what you think.

[Rense]

Athena: stamina are the male organs of a flower.

[Rense]

Athena,
Timed contest. Images preferably taken during the time the contest is running.

[Athena]

Thank you Rense.

Ok lets hear what the rest of you think. I'd like to start the first one with the beginning of October.

[JDArt]

Originally Posted by Athena

I'd like to have a Monthly Macro Challenge where we set a theme and everyone submits one image into a designated thread.

Anyone interested?

What themes would you like to see?

Great idea. You can either do it on the macro board or use the gallery, where voting is possible.

[jfrancho]

Originally Posted by Rense

Athena: stamina are the male organs of a flower.

Do you mean stamen?