Vote for March and April themes

Looks at March's stats.....rolls eyes.....beings to wonder how are we going to shoot green in March in New England.

Sigh....it's still winter up here in March, there's no green yet.

Oh, fesc, I hear you ... The way things are going, I don't think we're going to see the first crocuses (croci?) until June. But don't limit your thinking to nature. The reason I included green was twofold:

Lots of contests use a color as a theme from time to time to give photographers the challenge of using that color in a photo in an effective way, to lead one's eye into or through a photo, or as a highlight of one element.

And I settled on green simply because St. Patrick's Day falls in March.

But you're right that we'd get better photos if we had that theme in a month where there was some green in nature, too. Guess I can predict which theme isn't going to win this month . . .

I hear what you are saying Teresa. I guess I am not happy if Green wins because the photos will tend toward the cliche of St. Patrick's day. I just don't like cliche, I enjoy seeing photos that make me think "How did they DO that?" not, oh right place right time. I'd like to know the audience we are shooting for before we start entering our photos. We agree photography as an art is subjective, and when that happens one needs to know their audience. I did not like this months winner of "Cold" mostly because I felt I have seen that quintessential New England scene a hundred times before, in the Globe, in Country Magazine, and in stock photos. It is a great photo, it's just one I feel I have seen before and therefore doesn't excite me.

I have the feeling Green will lend itself to St. Pat's celebrations which we see every year. I think the contests should push us as amateurs to go out of our comfort zone of seeing what good shots we can get to making great photos.

Teresa - how about a theme for next time.."natural black and white"

I saw this theme somewhere and thought it was awesome - and super challanging...but then again i doubt everyone would vote it in...

Good idea, Cait -- but let's wait several months before trying that one since B&W is the theme for February, and B&W photos happened to win in both December and January.

ya i agree Teresa, maybe it can be a theme for this summer sometime, force people to get out and shoot :) - but this one should be specifically naturally black and white - in other words not a black and white photo but something that is actually black and white :)

April showers? A little hackneyed, no?

only hackneyed if you don't use your thinking cap. the theme is always open to the interpretation of the photographer so what comes off the camera may or may not be hackneyed no matter what the theme.

that (what I posted above) being said, I didn't vote for 'green' or 'april showers'

Hmm, maybe a more abstract reference to the seasons might open up a range of different interpretations ... something like "transitions" or "change" for March, or "beginnings" for April? Just a thought, for future reference maybe ...

Good suggestions, Hardly ... I think "Transitions" could work in any month.

Teresa - you give great options...here are a few more for future thought: Reflections, Perspective, Broken, Patterns, Photo tells a story, Abstract.

And here I was all excited to see pictures of cute/awesome/interesting animals. So much for fauna. :(
I guess April Showers would be fun too.......

I had posted in the wrong place about the following suggestion: "waiting"--particularly fine for the month preceeding a seasonal change. Additional suggestions: "commencement"; "Unit"; "change" "fall" and "Why not." And thanks for changing the frame back!

"Loud" and "Country"

"Window" "Squeeze" "It is live!" "Face" "Mobile" "Hot" and "Wonder"