Let's concentrate on shooting pictures of people rather than nature or inanimate objects this month by calling for photos of human beings at work: People with outside jobs like landscapers, utility workers, police officers, professional fishermen, firefighters, construction workers, bike messengers, window washers, doormen, taxi drivers, pet walkers; and people with inside jobs like, well, just about anything.

Did you know that more babies are born per day in September in the US than in any other month?

The August contest, with the theme "Architecture," closes at midnight Monday, so be sure to get your entries in by then. We already have dozens of spectacular photos. You can see them in these galleries:

Gallery 1 | Gallery 2

Here's more information on the August theme and how to enter the contest.

Gillian Henry, aka amythyst lake, is a two-time RAW monthly contest winner: Her photo of two skiers and a lone tree, "Tis the Season ... for winter sports" finished 2nd in our December contest, and she captured 2nd place again in May with her image of daisies on Belle Isle Marsh in East Boston, "Day's Eye."

In looking over her photos in her Flickr account, I was struck by how Jill is able to capture gorgeous photos in an urban setting. (And I have to admit I was partial to her photos from the Neponset section of Dorchester, where I grew up.) So when I asked her to be a POTW, I asked her to focus on her city photography. Her pictures are proof that to make a great photo, you first have to see the great image that could be right in front of you.

By Gillian D. Henry
Revere

I have always felt the desire to capture fragments of the world around me. When I was a child, I loved to draw and paint - my father and grandfather were both talented amateur painters, and I received plenty of encouragement at home.

By Alex Burack
Editor-in-chief, Head-2-Head Reviews

Introduction: The Matchup
Canon and Olympus are both major players in the DSLR space, stocking a range of interchangeable lens cameras for photographers of all levels. The 15.1-megapixel Canon EOS 50D and the 12.3-megapixel Olympus EVOLT E-30 occupy similar positions in their respective lines, balancing automation and versatility at a low four-digit price point. Both cameras integrate a familiar collection of point-and-shoot support, though not at the expense of performance or control. Priced just beyond the $1,000 mark, these feature-laden DSLRs arguably offer the best values within their established product lines.

By Sharon E. Lowe
July contest judge

There were some excellent images in this contest and it wasn't easy picking the Top 10. Everyone in the Final 50 should be commended, and the Top 10 should be especially proud of their work.

The Top Three winners:

As many of you know, RAW isn't the only section of Boston.com that solicits photos or runs photo contests. (We just try to attract the very serious hobbyist.) Our Sports section asks for kids in Red Sox gear, for example, or our Lifestyle staff looks for pets in Halloween costumes.

Summer still has a couple of weeks to go, but soon it will be time to clean out the cottage, the trunk, and your camera's memory cards. We've all received emails from friends and relatives with a link to view a photo slideshow from a wedding or vacation. And too often, those slideshows are simply every single photo the photographer took, and we're exhausted by the time we get to Slide No. 167.

We asked Globe staff photographer Joanne Rathe for some tips on creating interesting slideshows that tell a story or capture an event succinctly. Here are her thoughts and some examples:

Folks, there are several contest photos that are not being pulled into our Voting Machine. We use Flickr's API to pull in the photos, so please check your account settings by visiting this page and making sure that ALL 3 boxes are unchecked. Then hit Save. Thanks.

Our judge, Sharon E. Lowe, has made her Final 50 choices. Here are her thoughts on your entries:

There were quite a few very nice images in this competition and I enjoyed seeing the different ways that people chose to illustrate the "Ripples" theme - landscapes, children playing in the water, abstracts, and floods, for example.

Our judge for the July "Ripples" contest, Sharon E. Lowe, first dabbled in photography when she was in high school. Several years ago, she rediscovered her passion, and now pursues her art professionally.

Our judge for the July "Ripples" contest, professional photographer Sharon E. Lowe, is on the job, sorting through your 200-plus entries to narrow the field to the Final 50. Later today I'll post her bio and links to some of her work, and tomorrow we'll post the Final 50 gallery as well as the Voting Machine.

I'm very happy to announce that we're introducing a cool new feature on RAW in this, our anniversary month: Reviews of cameras, lenses, and accessories by a local group of experienced photographers and product reviewers who have started a new website, Head-2-Head Reviews.

This is the first of regular reviews of cameras, lenses, and accessories by Head-2-Head Reviews that will be featured on RAW in the coming months. Find out more here.

By Emily Raymond

Introduction: The Matchup
The Olympus Stylus 1050 SW and Pentax Optio W60 are among a handful of waterproof and freezeproof digital cameras on the market. An ideal accessory for vacationers and outdoor adventurists, these amphibious cameras offer typical imaging specifications for a point-and-shoot model, including 10 megapixels and ISO sensitivity up to 1600, and convenient automated modes such as Face & Smile Detection, Panoramic stitch, and Underwater capture. Both cameras, priced at about $300, are relatively affordable.