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I've been thinking and talking about doing this for some time. I figured it's about time I got off my gluteus maximus and actually did it. So, here goes.
There are certain areas of photography in which members do work in on a cyclical basis every year: those which directly reflect the four seasons. I'm thinking of a whole variety of subjects; standard landscape, nature, and wildlife, of course, but also photos of seasonal events -- which may include "people pictures" -- as well as abstracts, impressionistic works...the list goes on and on.
Most everybody here accumulates a new body of such seasonal works every year. Until now, DUers had to shoehorn these photos into whatever monthly contest theme seemed most appropriate, or else try to get a monthly topic chosen that would fit their work. But there are enough possible monthly topics that it's downright impractical to devote one or more to the same theme year after year.
My solution: starting in November, I will be (hopefully co-)hosting quarterly contests, to be held in addition to the usual monthly contests, on the theme of Scenes of the Season. Any images will be welcome, as long as they evoke the qualities of the season in question. Entries will be collected for each season, beginning on the following dates:
Autumn - November 1
Winter - February 1
Spring - March 1
Summer - August 1
The seasonal contests will be held in the first two weeks of the month, so as not to conflict with the regular monthly contests. All of the usual rules will apply, except a) the winner is not expected to host the next contest (although they might be asked to assist), and b) the host is allowed to submit an entry of her or his own.
This will free the monthly contests from exchanges such as the following:
"We should make 'Autumn' the topic for next month."
"We already did that last year."
or
"Why can't we have a 'Winter' image contest?"
"Because that discriminates against people in warmer parts of the country."*
It would also allow monthly contests to be on more specific themes, and even "conceputal" themes like Strength or Unity, while still allowing DU photographers to submit their more picturesque images for the appropriate seasonal event. (The corollary would be that "photos of the current season" would be off-limits as a specific monthly topic while these are being run.)
I'm going to be starting this up on my own, and intend to run them for the indefinite future. However, I would like a second host and would welcome a volunteer, at least for the first contest. I would like this mainly because, since the host(s) can submit their own images, having two of them would help to guarantee impartiality. (The way I would plan it, if one or both hosts get their photos in the final, the final would be run by whichever host had the lowest number of votes in the preliminaries.) After the first run-through, we could see if anyone else wished to co-host, or might even go back to the tradition of having the last winner co-host. If no one else steps forward, I will host these on my own, but think it would be better with two hosts.
And, let me make this clear: these will be official contests, not "challenges." As far as I'm concerned, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck (unless it's another one of CC's winning bird entries ;-) ).
So, if anyone wants to help me out, please contact me. The rest of you, start thinking about your entry for Scenes of Autumn, starting on November 1.
*Actually, it doesn't -- Christmas lights on a palm tree could serve as a "winter" motif. No need for snow or ice to get the point across.
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