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June contest theme: My Backyard

Print | Comments () Posted by Teresa Hanafin June 4, 2012 12:22 PM

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Pollen accentuates a spider web connected to several iris plants in a Pembroke yard.

Globe Staff Photo / John Tlumacki

Let's take advantage of the long days this month - the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, is June 20 - and rediscover beauty that's close to home.

Walk out your door and photograph something in your yard or around your house or apartment building. It can be something as sublime as a butterfly on a flower or as gritty as graffiti on a dumpster.

Your image will be judged on composition, lighting, and creativity.

Your photo must be taken this month, and it must be taken outdoors. As usual, one image per photographer.

JUNE 'MY BACKYARD' CONTEST GALLERY AND SUBMISSION PAGE

By the way, what do you think of these upcoming themes?

July: "The Need for Speed." Have you ever tried photographing a moving object? This is your chance. Take a photo of a moving car, bicycle, motorcycle, runner, animal, whatever. You can shoot the main subject as stationary with the background or foreground blurred, or you can convey speed by letting your subject(s) blur as it races past. You can start shooting this one now, or dip into your archives.

August: "Center It." Let's throw the Rule of Thirds out the window and see how our photos come out when we place the main subject smack dab in the middle of the frame. This one will have to be shot during the month of August.

Have any other suggestions?

By the way, judge Paul Marotta is working on our contest backlog right now. More later.

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11 comments so far...

I think these are great, fun ideas, but am more concerned with the timely judging of these contests. Can you let us know what your plan is for judging contests and the results for contests held July-Dec 2011 & Jan-May 2012?

Posted by victoria June 5, 12 03:29 PM

Hi victoria,

We already announced the winners of last July and August -- you can find them here:

http://www.boston.com/community/photos/raw/2011/10/grill_it_photo_contest_top_10.html

http://www.boston.com/community/photos/raw/2011/12/rule_of_thirds_photo_contest_t.html

Paul Marotta is in the process of judging the September "Outdoor Sculptures" contest, and tomorrow night, Globe assistant photo editor John Blanding is judging the October "The Color Yellow" contest.

I have inquiries out to some other professionals on the rest of the outstanding contests. I really hope to catch up soon -- thanks.

Posted by Teresa Hanafin

June 5, 12 06:44 PM

Hey Teresa-

It looks like things are cooking again. I am thrilled. I love this column and when I think I am up to snuff, occasionally compete. Thanks for getting things up and running again. Looking forward to future columns/photographs.

Posted by therese dolan June 6, 12 09:50 PM

Hey, Teresa, I know you're swamped but am wondering what's up with posting photos for the January contest? Thanks.
PK

Posted by Patrice Keegan June 6, 12 11:17 PM

Very creative ideas for July & August!

Posted by Jim June 7, 12 06:53 AM

Hi PK ... You can always view the photos that are submitted for a contest on the same page as the submission form, which is linked in the original blog entry. So you can see the January entries here:

http://www.boston.com/community/photos/raw/contests/2012/01/whats_that_gallery/

I'm leaving this gallery open for now because during the submission period, our upload tool was working sporadically. So I'm giving people whose entries showed up with no photos attached a chance to re-submit.

But your comment makes me realize that I should make the galleries more prominent, and I will. Thanks!

Posted by Teresa Hanafin

June 7, 12 10:03 AM

For this month June, Can I take photo from my neighbors' backyard?

Posted by John June 21, 12 04:25 PM

Sure.

Posted by Teresa Hanafin

June 21, 12 04:37 PM

hello! My name is Emma and I tried to submit one of my photos for the June contest twice about three weeks ago, and it never got submitted. I don't know if I did something wrong or what happened... and I tried to email the website but nobody got back to me. I just wanted to try and see what happened so I can try submitting in the future! If anyone can help, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

Posted by Emma July 9, 12 07:16 PM

Are you still posting the June contest pictures? I submitted a picture in June but it hasn't been posted. Thanks.

Posted by JD July 18, 12 05:13 PM

Emma, because our photo submit tool has been acting up, please try re-submitting your photo ... I don't see anything from you in the approval queue. Sorry for the trouble!

Posted by Teresa Hanafin

August 3, 12 03:40 PM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

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