PhotoChallenge.org

The November Challenge was a great success! It was inspiring to see all the great submissions. The November Challenge was one of the most successful challenges yet in terms of participation.

Personally, I am still using my iPhone regularly to capture interesting things I see when I don’t have my DSLR with me. Sometimes, it’s just not practical — or permissible — to have a full size camera. But the iPhone is always with me. How about you? Has the November Challenge helped you find new ways to use the camera in your mobile phone?

I was planning to pick a few submissions to feature, but there were just too many great shots to choose from. So rather than just looking a a few shots, here is a slideshow of all the photos from the 2009 November Challenge. Enjoy!

I’m four weeks late with this and for that I apologize…. but better late than never, right?

"fountain at night ii" by smile its shan

The March Challenge this year was night shooting. We challenged you to post three photos per week, and you delivered! Searching the tag marchchallenge2009 on Flickr reveals 108 photos. Not bad, considering that this challenge ran in parallel to the 2009 Challenge!

"Week 2 Photo 2 - Night Shooting" by Jer Kunz

Everybody did a great job with this challenge. Looking through the posts, it’s obvious that you put a lot of time and effort into this challenge. There was some very creative work, and some great long exposures. I’ve picked a few of the CC licensed submissions that really stood out to me for this post, but I would encourage everybody to check out all the submissions here. You’ll be glad you did!

"March Challenge - Night" by juanpg

Thanks to everybody for participating in this challenge. We’re all looking forward to seeing what you can do for the May Challenge, which is just ahead!

Last year, I participated in the 2008 Challenge. It was a great experience, and I learned quite a bit from it. I have compiled the resulting photos into a video and written up some thoughts about the experience. In summary:

1. Planning is essential
2. Don’t wait until the last minute
3. Make the project public
4. Tag the photos and make a set

Trevor has graciously permitted me to link to the entire post on my blog.

I’ve seen two types of photographs constantly represented in your submissions for this challenge.

First, I’ve seen many of you who did an amazing job of photographing your subject light fixture. You capture the fixture, and a great sample of the light it produces. There are some submissions that could easily be caught in a magazine or catalog, advertising said fixture. Wonderful job!

Second, I’ve seen many of you experimenting with the various ways to capture the light, in an artistic manner. What I mean here is that sometimes I see gorgeous light, bathing a wall, the fog, or the vicinity around the fixture. Many of you have created great works of art, whilst allowing your subject fixture paint your canvas. Wonderful job!

This challenge was fun to watch, as you all created great submissions. Below are some of my favorites, and I’m proud to have had each of you participate.

Keep a special watch here, because in the first few days of August, I’ll be announcing the September Challenge. This one will be a fun, big step for PhotoChallenge.org, you won’t want to miss it!

I think this challenge has effected me more than I thought it would. As a photographer, I’m more aware of what I’m hunting now. I see broken down and rusty things everywhere. Two of my last few submissions were taken whilst I was waiting for my carpool partners, after work. One friend said, “What are you taking a picture of?” I went on to describe to him what the cracks in the concrete represent. He either thinks I’m real weird, or really insightful. Probably weird.

Anyway, this challenge also reminded me of how many people really enjoy participating in group projects like this. I think there’s something inside of us that yearns to not only belong to a community, but to be involved in that community. We yearn to belong.

As you saw in my mid-month post, there are a whole lot of people who participated in this challenge. Nearly 700 submissions by over 40 people. That’s great!

One of the most active participants, Jeremy Brooks, took it upon himself to produce a sweet video of his work on the April Challenge. It’s embedded below. Then, below that are some of my faves.

Since I’ve already apologized, I won’t wade through my guilt again. However, I am still quite sorry that I dropped the ball and failed to actively participate in my own February Challenge. However, many of you did, and for that I am grateful.

Over 250 photographs were tagged with “februarychallenge” at Flickr and Zooomr. Way to go! Below are just a few of my favorites…

Speaking for myself, even with the few photos I submitted, I have found that even now I’m more aware of the colorful opportunities around me. I see more contrasting color while trying to compose a shot, and I think it’s making me a better photographer.

Thanks again for joining us, and check back here soon for the April Challenge announcement.