COMMENT THREAD for the August Photo Contest. Theme: GREEN.

[hippywife]

Comments on photos being posted here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[alfredo]

1. I've kicked it off with one of my Michler's images.

[Mira]

2. And a beautiful one it is ! We're off.

[alfredo]

3. Thanks. I hope it fills up quickly.

[Mira]

6. Why quickly - these are the lazy hazy days of summer, and I have to

find one.............?

[alfredo]

8. There could be one right outside your window, or growing in the bottom

of your fridge.

[hippywife]

4. I recognized it as soon as I saw it.

I liked that the first time you posted it.

[alfredo]

9. I liked that image too, so it doesn't matter if it wins or loses.

[hippywife]

11. That's how I felt

when I posted my turtle. LOL

[alfredo]

12. Winning isn't as important as taking part in our community.

[hippywife]

13. I really do just enjoy entering

with everyone else. And love seeing what everyone comes up with.

[alfredo]

29. I'm not sure I want to win. They make me move beyond my comfort zone

and that is enough for me.

[hippywife]

5. I keep trying to think

of what I could go out and find to snap as an entry and then it clicks...I cain't enter this one. LOL

[CC]

7. Oh good, means our evil plot

worked. You are hooked. We so love to have new victims.

It really is good since that means the odds are in favor of you entering the next months contest and then the next one and so on. I love seeing more and more people posting their photos even if I don't always comment.

[alfredo]

10. Cassandra and Blue! Excellent images.

[Cassandra]

15. Thank you.

It wouldn't have worked for summer since I shot it in the spring.

[alfredo]

27. The depth of field was perfect.

[Cassandra]

36. I would have liked...

the top curl on the right to also be in focus but the blur wouldn't have been as good.

[alfredo]

37. Perfection is boring

[Blue_In_AK]

18. Thank you, Alfredo

For a while my bed of "meadow flowers" looked more like a bed of weeds, but now that the blooms are finally appearing, my patience seems to have been rewarded.

[alfredo]

28. It's an interesting shot on many levels.

[regnaD kciN]

14. Starting submissions a little EARLY, aren't we???

It's normally common to give people a little time to shoot once the topic has been decided. Doing it this way pretty much restricts it to what people already have in their files.

[Cassandra]

16. OK, that's true, however...

at least we're not trying to rush a green shot in mid-January.
I'm ok if we want to extend the deadline a bit.

[regnaD kciN]

19. The problem isn't extending the deadline...

...the problem is the high likelihood that people will just throw in pictures from their files, and anyone seeking to shoot new material will find all the slots taken up before they can submit.

[Celebration]

20. well, people can submit one

And then change it to a new one, under the original one, right?

[Mira]

21. That's smart, BUT it could turn into even more

of a nightmare for the hostess.
(Believe me, to me making the prelims is a nightmare, I am astounded at you guys who seem to do it so easily - are you listening, RegnaD?)
What's done is done, I think we best just hurry.

[hippywife]

22. My apologies.

I guess I was more focused on the amount of time for people to have on the other end and didn't properly do my research fully.

I will send a PM to the mods and request that the submission thread be locked for the time being. And then I am going to bow out and let you run it since you were so kind as to send me a PM informing me of my mistake instead of blurting it out so impersonally in the comment thread.

Thanx so much for your experienced assistance to this noob.

[regnaD kciN]

23. Geez, I wasn't trying to make your life difficult...

I just had a reflex reaction to seeing the whole thing up so quickly.

My apologies. Keep running the contest as it is. Since I messed the thing up so thoroughly, I won't enter anything this time.

ON EDIT: By the way, I "blurted it out in the public comment section" and didn't send you a PM instead because the contest had already begun and many people had submitted. Stopping it and locking the entry thread isn't really fair to those who already entered.

Maybe we should just stop doing contests for awhile.

[Mira]

24. May I suggest both of you go and look at JeffR's entry, with his

big heart he has already given his photograph the name for the next step in this misunderstanding,
With a little co-operation, and kind discourse, this is easily salvaged.

The contests bring joy to the participants and the voters.
Considering the individual and collective problems we all have, why choke off something that is fun?

[regnaD kciN]

25. It isn't a matter of any conflict...

...It's a matter that I screwed up big-time and hurt someone who didn't deserve it. I feel awful about this.

[Mira]

26. Oh come on, you shot from the hip. Ready - Fire - Aim. Wrong Sequence.

It happens to me, too.
It actually had to be said, I would have done it, just did not catch on yet to why things were harder this time.
Your intention was not to hurt anyone. That's the bottom line.
You have subconscious competence in running contests, you spotted a flaw, that's all.

Now fix it, or I will.

[Celebration]

30. ah, it is just *really* easy to have misunderstandings in this medium

Some people are sensitive, and we don't know each other well, and don't know who needs tempered responses. And, some of us are just more direct than others ordinarily. And many of us might not have much in common besides liking photography and voting for Democrats.

Maybe you can offer to help her with the contest. I am sure it is overwhelming for someone who hasn't done it before.

If not her, maybe jhain, runnerup????

We could always keep the locked thread entries. I thought I had the perfect solution--people could change their entries. It makes it a bit harder, but not that much........

No suspending the "green" contest--not after my day at the DMV Friday!!

[hippywife]

31. I'm sorry.

I was raised by a very mean and critical father so I tend to have this knee-jerk response when I think someone is trying to be intimidating. It's something I've tried to stop doing and I'm usually not very successful at it.

I apologize to everyone here for my response.

If kciN (do you know how hard that is to type? LOL) will help me a little, I will repost the submission thread at the proper time and will copy over the urls of anyone who has already posted and doesn't wish to change their submission.

Deal?

[Celebration]

32. that sucks

I'm so fortunate to have had the father that I had. I am sure that he influences me every day of my life.

[Blue_In_AK]

34. Hippywife, if you need some help,

let me know. It's been a while, but I've handled a couple of these contests in the past.

[alfredo]

35. It's no problem for me. I will probably keep the same submission unless

I take a shot that blows my mind.

[regnaD kciN]

39. I'll be glad to help...

Just let me know what I can do.

[hippywife]

40. Thanx, kciN.

When do you think would be the best time to put up the submission thread again? Maybe the 15th?

[regnaD kciN]

41. I'd say have the submission thread from the 14th to the 19th...

...and, if you want 3-day polling, have the preliminaries from the 20th to the 22nd, and the finals from the 23rd to 25th. (If you want 2-day polling, make it the 21st-22nd and 23rd-24th; I always like to balance the weekday/weekend split between the prelims and finals because I've always found DU has different demographics for weekdays and weekends, and, that way, everyone has a chance to vote in both rounds.)

[hippywife]

42. Good deal.

Thanx for you help.

[dixiegrrrrl]

33. whew...I understand now.

Thank you for sharing your perspective, hippywife. I am glad you are sticking with the contest, I have been looking forward to it.
And thanks to everyone here for their caring and concern about this mix-up.
This has always felt like a safe forum which is why I poked my nose in a bit ago.

Onward and upward, shall we?

[Mira]

17. I am so dumb. I did not put together why I am having to hurry

this time.
Duh.

Good thing I am finding green (wish it were dollars)

[hippywife]

38. Seeing all of these

threads requesting help deciding which photo to enter is making me really glad I don't get to enter this one. They are all exquisite! (Trying to come up with as many alternatives to stunning as I can. )

[Celebration]

43. Just thought I would give this a kick up to the top

I'm assuming that this will remain the comment thread for the August green entries.

[hippywife]

44. Yes, thank you!

I meant to do that and forgot.

[alfredo]

45. I thought it would be full by now.

[Celebration]

46. nah, it was locked for awhile

And restarted. I'm about to change mine. My daughter insisted on a bridge picture. Not enough green for her in the bird pic, the sunflower pic, etc.

[alfredo]

53. I was thinking about changing to the water falling picture I posted a

few days ago.

[hippywife]

56. Anyone who posted in the old thread

when I started to early is welcome to change their entries while the submission file is still open.

[alfredo]

59. Thanks.

[hippywife]

47. Really great re-entry, JeffR!

That was my favorite out of the ones you were posting. I really love it! Great choice!

[JeffR]

48. Thank you!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

49. I agree!

It is a wonderful entry!

[JeffR]

52. And thank you too.

[hippywife]

97. I had my husband

look through the thread as it is so far, and yours was his favorite, in addition to HC's frog. Don't know how he's going to vote, tho. LOL

[Mira]

55. I showed them to my grandson ( a visual arts HS student at UNC School of the Arts)

We got to JeffRs and he turned full rotation on his heel and said: That's the one!
But he had other favorites, too, especially Cassandra.

[Cassandra]

65. Thank him for me!

[JeffR]

76. And thank him for me.

I'm not sure at all if he's right, but I appreciate his taste.

[alfredo]

77. That's very good. Check out Priller's

[Cassandra]

66. I agree!

I liked it even as my dial-up was slooooooooooooooooooooowly unveiling it.

[hippywife]

50. Oh, yaaaaa! Happy Cynic!

I love, love, love your froggy! LOL

[HappyCynic]

54. Frog

Thanks. I actually waffled between the frog and urban green. I eventually decided on the frog because I've been a bit stressed at work (long hours) and I think I was in the mood for something vibrant.

[hippywife]

57. It certainly is vibrant!

Sorry for the stress, sweetie. Hope it gets better soon.

[HappyCynic]

58. Stress ebbing

Yesterday was the major deadline for the project so it should be much calmer for a while. There's still more to do but the major hurdle is passed. I actually have time this weekend (and actually have a weekend) to try out my "new" lens (I just got a used Minolta 35-105mm lens). Tonight, I'm hanging out with some friends and having creme brulee for dessert (which I'm making right now). Tomorrow, out and about to try out the lens. Hopefully, I'll have some decent shots to post.

[Mira]

60. Tekisui...I simply don't have words except

I may well be FORCED to vote for your ballet photo, seeing it made my day so much better, and it was already going really well.

[tekisui]

61. Thanks!

I was very pleased with this photo. I am glad I had a contest to enter it in. I am going to offer it to the dance department at my university. It was during a production of theirs that I took it. Long exposure and luck!

[hippywife]

71. Glad to hear it!

Sounds like your plan for tomorrow is the perfect remedy for what's been ailing you.

I just had to look at that frog again and the title is really apropos as he looks like he really is sulking.

[Cassandra]

64. Me, too. Me, too!

[HappyCynic]

51. Photo title

TahitiNut, I've used the Kermit quote you posted as a reply in my post a little while back as the title for my picture. I liked it better than mine. So, intended or not, thanks for the suggestion.

[Celebration]

62. I concede

Everyone's entries are TOO GOOD!! I'm not even sick of green any more.

[tekisui]

63. I feel like that every month.

And, then I am very happy when I get some votes. I am always amazed that someone(or a few someones) like mine enough to cast their one vote for it.

[Mira]

70. I predict really good things for you this time. I keep coming to look at your

entry.

[tekisui]

73. One contest got me to the final round.

I thought that was great. My usual approach is submit something completely different. Like in this contest, I expected most of the entries to be nature shots. I was trying to be the not-nature shot. That strategy has failed me everytime. But, I cant change the approach.

I usually enter knowing I won't win, but if I get 3 votes I am happy. I think, "Wow! Three people thought my picture earned their vote!"

I love these contests for that. The photographers in this forum are great. I have learned so much from you and them.

[HappyCynic]

80. No regrets

I'm glad there are some non-nature shots in there (yours along with Stevenmarc's and JeffR's). I almost went with my non-nature shot as well but when it came time to decide, I just went with what I preferred at the moment. If you're happy with what you submitted, regardless of how well you think you'll do, then you should have no regrets.
Mind you, your photo is so well done that I'd be shocked if the number of votes for it is as low as 3.
I definitely agree with you about this forum. It's always so enlightening seeing not just the photos but the styles of the photos and photographers. It really helps to show you what's possible with a camera and helps give inspiration for photos, with the subjects as well as all the ideas about perspective, exposure time, etc. Every picture posted here is a learning experience for me.

[alfredo]

84. Good attitude. We are students of the camera, trying to become better

photographers. This contest puts us next to other photographers. We get to see what they see. We communicate, we learn.

[Celebration]

96. tekisui

Can you resize yours to make it bigger? I think that would show off that great photo a bit better.

[tekisui]

99. I made it the next size up, but it seems too big.

Oh well, whichever one works.

[Celebration]

101. Post this one!!--pretty please

I'll keep it in my photobucket account until after the contest. It should be the correct (intermediate) size. Honestly, please change it because this picture will get a lot more votes this size than the smaller size, I predict. And the other one is too big. Just right click and get the properties, and copy and paste the url.

[tekisui]

105. I added that one,

Thanks for your help.

[HappyCynic]

67. Great entries

I know the feeling. I'm constantly amazed by the photos submitted for the monthly contest. Even if I don't make it past the preliminaries, I have to say I've already achieved my goal - having something that's actually good enough to enter. Have you decided on which bridge entry you're going to enter?

[Celebration]

68. LOL

I have to figure out how to get it the right size!! Now I wonder if it is worth the effort.

[Mira]

72. Yes it is, you KNOW that. You worked hard on this, and I suspect had great fun

scoping out and photographing the bridge and the sunflowers.
I want to see your daughter's choice, and I want you to submit it with a happy heart.

BTW - I went on a 15 mile bike ride today, around a lake in the forest. I have never seen such green...so vivid and so MUCH of it.
On coming home I downloaded my photos, knowing I would maybe be in for a change of heart about my own entry.
And I lost them all - not properly labeling them.

Even though I plan to go and do it all over again tomorrow, and take my best camera, I put in my entry just to not sweat it any more.

so, go ahead, make my day, show us which one....

[alfredo]

74. It's always worth the effort. We are testing ourselves and improving

our work. All efforts and and outcomes are good.

[Cassandra]

69. I think you'll get to the finals...

because you've got a well-shot photo and a really cute frog.

[HappyCynic]

79. 1 vote

In all honesty, I'd be happy with 1 vote in the prelims (don't know if it'll sound odd but if I vote, it probably won't be for my entry). Anything beyond that is bonus in my eyes.
I actually can't wait for the submissions thread to fill up. Not because I want it closed early, but with all the great shots, I'm eager to see more.

[Celebration]

87. That frog is certainly a winner!!

It is too adorable. I see some other winners too, but lots of people are just going to HAVE to vote for the frog, I predict. And, what in the world says green more than a frog? There just aren't that many green animals.

[HappyCynic]

92. Bridge

I love the bridge entry you decided on. I think having the three "layers" of green (the "X"s of the railing in the foreground, the other side of the bridge as the mid-ground and also providing some context for the "X"s, and the trees as the background) really adds something to the photo.

[dixiegrrrrl]

75. There are too many wonderous shades of green to choose from! Waaaaaaaaaaa.

I love green.
Choosing is going to be so hard. So much imagination and detail in these pics, and I am always fond of forests and trees and outdoors.
but then, that ballet pic.What a perspective on the theme.
And the old green painted...wall? door?

this is going to be very tough.

[regnaD kciN]

78. O.K....it's all over for the rest of us...

Someone figured out how to submit a cat picture for this theme.

[hippywife]

81. ...

I was just thinking the same thing as I just scanned the entries.

There really are some spectacular entries this time, too. Just breathtaking. It's going to be another tough one for the voters and a real squeaker, I predict. Glad I don't have to come up with something this time around. Whew!

[hippywife]

82. We're up to 24 submissions!

Getting close to filling up!

[Mira]

83. You are really doing a great job here, Hippywife. You are attentive and present

and encouraging. I'm taking lessons, should I ever win again



I for one see more exquisite entries here with WIN stamped on them, than ever before in a single contest.

[hippywife]

85. Thanx, Mira.

I see so many, too. Once again, voting is going to be incredibly difficult. I'm already at odds with myself over so many lovely choices.

[Celebration]

86. I'm working on resizing my new entry

I should be able to get to it by the end of the day. I hope my bird is holding my place in line.

[hippywife]

88. Do you need some help with that?

I think you'll be okay, hope you can make it before all the submissions are in.

[hippywife]

89. And upon further reflection

I find you to be one of the most encouraging people in this forum, as well.

[Mira]

98. Awwww thanks. How could I not be, there is so much helpfulness

camaraderie and common interest, we get and we give.

[alfredo]

90. Ohhhh, we have an Amanita Muscaria entered.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s_fpRUqpuE

Never eat a mushroom or any wild food you don't know.

[Blue_In_AK]

91. Those pop up in our yard every late summer,

and this year I'm particularly concerned about them because the puppy just wants to put everything in her mouth. What could look more alluring to a playful pup than a bright red polka-dotted ball?

[alfredo]

94. It might be a good thing to harvest them, and throw them in the trash

before letting the puppy play in the yard.

[Blue_In_AK]

100. That's what I've been doing,

just strolling around the yard every evening making sure nothing has appeared. We have to keep our eyes on the puppy all the time -- mostly because she likes to take our shoes outside when we're not looking and then you find them the next day full of rainwater.

A new dog was definitely not my idea, as I said when she first arrived here, but still I've gotten sucked into feeling responsible for her.

[alfredo]

102. Just think of the nice images to come.

[tekisui]

93. Interesting approach, Robb.

Let the viewer fill in what we know to be many shades of green. I like it!

[Robb]

95. Heh. Thanks!

My idea was that it implies green. The viewer gets to infer green. But there ain't no green.

[regnaD kciN]

104. Robb, you are a dingbat...

[Mira]

103. Note to Tekisui: NOW do you believe me about making your entries larger?

I just saw that you changed the size, and what a difference it makes in the presentation of this gorgeous photo.
If it were not such a strong field in this contest I would give odds (yes, I gamble) on you being one of the top three.
But this is going to be a hard fought contest, and one that bears watching, and popping corn for.

[tekisui]

106. Something wierd happens with my pics.

On my screen they seem to be the same size as the others, but people are always saying to make them bigger. I will pay attention, now, to only the pixel count, instead of what it looks like on my screen. It is going to be a great contest, lots of quality entries.

[sandnsea]

108. You must have yours set to 800x600

If you go to your main screen and right click to properties, you can change your monitor resolution in the settings box. I have mine at 1024x720, kind of right in the middle these days. Unless you have a mac and then someone else will have to help you out.

[tekisui]

110. Thanks!!

It is amazing how long I can go without knowing something. It is like a new computer now.

[Celebration]

109. Huge difference, I agree!!

Particularly with this photo.........

[hippywife]

107. We now have all the entries we need.

I've sent a PM to one of the mods to lock the submission thread.

Thanx to everyone and good luck! It's gonna be another tight race!