In case you missed it, we set up a community site for Shoot! The Day and decided to have a little pre-shoot day contest. So we asked a few of our cool friends (Nikon, Lowepro and Apple) to pony up a few prizes, and just like that, we had ourselves a contest.
But why make it so competitive? Why not have a little fun and make it creative? Avatars have become iconic (literally) of the hours we spend online, so we figured that "best avatar" was as good a competition as any.
The fun thing about having a totally silly contest is that you don't need strict rules and you don't need Price Waterhouse audting your selection. Instead it's just me with no pants on IMing a few other PhotoShelter peeps about what we like. But before we announce the winners, let's talk about some trends that we saw.
You holding a camera
I don't want to be a debbie downer, but in the annals of photography creativity, this particular trend ranks near the ground. And the ground is down low. Now, now. That doesn't mean the photos are bad, I'm just saying...sometimes you have to step it up a creative notch. Here's a little pupu platter.
Who let the dogs out?
Pets (and animals) were a common theme. I guess it means you love your pet. Arf.
Mark Gilliland
Carole Lloyd
The ole' Photoshop Filter trick
But why make it so competitive? Why not have a little fun and make it creative? Avatars have become iconic (literally) of the hours we spend online, so we figured that "best avatar" was as good a competition as any.
The fun thing about having a totally silly contest is that you don't need strict rules and you don't need Price Waterhouse audting your selection. Instead it's just me with no pants on IMing a few other PhotoShelter peeps about what we like. But before we announce the winners, let's talk about some trends that we saw.
You holding a camera
I don't want to be a debbie downer, but in the annals of photography creativity, this particular trend ranks near the ground. And the ground is down low. Now, now. That doesn't mean the photos are bad, I'm just saying...sometimes you have to step it up a creative notch. Here's a little pupu platter.
Adam Scott
David Neely
Kari Husby
Sabrina Weisz
Clowns scare me
I'm fairly certain that it was Poltergeist that made me this way.
Sabrina Weisz
Clowns scare me
I'm fairly certain that it was Poltergeist that made me this way.
Diane Davis
...And so do scary Medusa heads
I'm not sure why. It wasn't a movie (although I do recall Clash of the Titans with a dapper Harry Hamlin)
...And so do scary Medusa heads
I'm not sure why. It wasn't a movie (although I do recall Clash of the Titans with a dapper Harry Hamlin)
Who let the dogs out?
Pets (and animals) were a common theme. I guess it means you love your pet. Arf.
Mark Gilliland
Carole Lloyd
L. Inli
Baby say what?
If you love your pet, you'll love your kid even more! Plus, kids are funny.
Nathan Barrett
Pam
Don Cudney (I'm assuming this is Don. Smart choice, always makes the girls go "AWWW")
I might have a dirty mind, but....
I'm sure there was no inuendo intended.
Baby say what?
If you love your pet, you'll love your kid even more! Plus, kids are funny.
Nathan Barrett
Pam
Don Cudney (I'm assuming this is Don. Smart choice, always makes the girls go "AWWW")
I might have a dirty mind, but....
I'm sure there was no inuendo intended.
Paula Roberts
Christey
Christey
The ole' Photoshop Filter trick
Brad Campbell
Nando
My hair is crazy!
Gravity-defying hair was a common theme. It's like Patti Labelle in the 80s.
Cheryl Lemanski
My hair is crazy!
Gravity-defying hair was a common theme. It's like Patti Labelle in the 80s.
Cheryl Lemanski
Christian Harberts
I wish I were a pinata
I wish I were a pinata
Ana
Most disturbing use of the "mirror" function in Apple's Photobooth
LauraMost disturbing use of the "mirror" function in Apple's Photobooth
THE WINNERS
Ultimately, we picked the avatars that we thought played well at avatars. There were a lot of photos that probably look great a little larger, but it was hard to discern detail in a small thumbnail, so here are the winners....
L. looks like a bad ass. Nicely composed and well lit, and probably reads well large as it does small.
PRIZE: Lowepro Nova 190 AW camera bag
Congratulations to all the winners! But don't despair, we'll announce the next community contest shortly...
Ultimately, we picked the avatars that we thought played well at avatars. There were a lot of photos that probably look great a little larger, but it was hard to discern detail in a small thumbnail, so here are the winners....
Joe
They say the 80s are back, and Joe proved it with his ZZ-top inspired portrait. Good contrast, good separation of foreground and background, and by golly, he just looks like a happy dude.
PRIZE: Apple Aperture 2.1
They say the 80s are back, and Joe proved it with his ZZ-top inspired portrait. Good contrast, good separation of foreground and background, and by golly, he just looks like a happy dude.
PRIZE: Apple Aperture 2.1
Kathy Stathis
Here's a fairly detailed image that we thought worked well even as an avatar. Plus it reminds us of summer.
PRIZE: Nikon Capture NX 2.0
L. DarnielleHere's a fairly detailed image that we thought worked well even as an avatar. Plus it reminds us of summer.
PRIZE: Nikon Capture NX 2.0
L. looks like a bad ass. Nicely composed and well lit, and probably reads well large as it does small.
PRIZE: Lowepro Nova 190 AW camera bag
Congratulations to all the winners! But don't despair, we'll announce the next community contest shortly...
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Oh wow! Thanks Allen, I'm honored.