Click-a-Pic Challenge #1 "The Road Most Traveled"

[shutterspeed]

I'd like to welcome everyone to the first PC photo challenge. The weekly challenges will consist of a given theme, presented on Friday and you have a week to go out and shoot your photos, pick your best two and post them in the forum/gallery. Each week a winner will be selected for that week's theme and awarded a $1 GC to PC. So participate every week for your chance to win and rack up lots of PC gift certificates.

For our first challenge I wanted something that was a little more broad for more creative interpretation. I thought it would be fun to shoot photos depicting a road or path you travel almost every day. Is there something along that road that draws your interest, like a pretty flower, a family of squirrels, an interesting sign? Is there something you pass everyday and you've never really given it much notice but now you're starting to see it in a more artistic way?

Consider the things you see everyday that may seem mundane and try to see it with new eyes, or a new perspective. As you're taking your photos consider taking the photo from a different or unique angle that most people don't see or wouldn't notice at first. Experiment, try setting the camera on the ground, setting the auto timer, putting it on a tripod or see how shooting at different ISOs changes the photo. The sky's the limit. Photoshop is permitted, and you can use different actions to create different results.

If you have any questions please feel free to post them or email me. I'm here to help. Also, it would be helpful for participants to either number or title their submitted photos so when we go to pick the top 3 it's easier to identify photos for everyone's recognition!

You have from Friday June 26th to Thursday July 3rd to shoot your photos for this theme. Please submit only photos taken during that time frame. Below are some examples to get the creative juices flowing. Good luck and I look forward to seeing everyones photos!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2368990295_2af9b9039e.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3619/3462074539_f07abc495e.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1109/1031200856_cf2c5f993a.jpg

These were all taken down the road that leads to my house!

REMEMBER:
- You may post up to 2 photos per challenge.
- Post-processing and use of actions ARE ALLOWED.
- Photos must be taken by you during the challenge week.
- Photos must be posted in the *new* PHOTOGRAPHY gallery & in this thread.
- PLEASE SIZE PICS to no larger than 600px WIDE and/or TALL.*
- Top 3 photos will be selected and participants will vote for the winner.

Good Luck & Happy Clicking! :)

[cindys732003]

:yay:I'm so glad you are hosting this challenge Sarah! Your photography always amazes me and the challenge looks like so much fun!!

[MissMint]

Woot!!! I can't wait to try this challenge!

[mj.johnston]

Sarah, you are such an inspiration!!! Love your photos ;)

[ingridfasquelle]

OH NO ! If only i had read this thread before going outside for Arthur's walk !! I'm sure i could have taken great pics !! Too bad but anyway i have the entire weekend to try ! And Sarah, thanks for the inspiration ! This is a great 1st challenge !

[Aemilius]

Eh eh eh Ingrid, good thing that DS and I were late to go to the baker today, I was lucky enough to read that thread before going out and have spotted a few things I'd like to try photographing. Funny how you see things in a different light when you really pay attention because you "have to".

[KirstieGai]

fantastic idea, can't wait to get snapping

[shutterspeed]

Funny how you see things in a different light when you really pay attention because you "have to".

isn't it? :) i started seeing photo opportunities with everything when i first started doing photo challenges. just yesterday i saw something that pertained to a future challenge i have in mind, and went back to shoot it this morning. if anything it'll open the mind to more possibility right? :)

[joscie]

how fun! :) I can't wait! :):happydance:

[shades of bliss]

I am so doing this!! Can't wait!!

[Keela]

Okay, I'm in too...how fun! :)

[AlliJ2008]

I am soooooo glad I will be back from vacation in time to play along in the first challenge! :yes: Great inspiration photos Sarah!

[bellbird]

this is a great challenge prompt!

[nina81]

Looks like I am the first to show her pictures!

I love this church! It´s on my way to the kindergarten and now I finally had a reason to stop by and take a few pictures! This one I like best!
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/868/kirche.jpg (http://img194.imageshack.us/i/kirche.jpg/)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1650/maisp.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/maisp.jpg/)

[moomories]

how fun and so true i travel the same way to work and its through an industraial part of town but now im forced to look for beauty lol so i can snap a photo, actualy one my favorite things to pass is a garage that has "life lessons" "quotes/sayings" on their billboard changing every few weeks perhaps that will be one of my photos, i also spend alot of time staring at my front lawn while i wait to pull out of my driveway becuase we live on a preety busy road..................we just have to see cant wait itll be fun

[MissMint]

oooh NINA!!!! Both gorgeous! I love the way you photographed the church and that grass is LUCIOUS! Great job,

If it would stop raining here FOR FIVE MINUTES I could go out and take some pics!!!

'moomories' I have to see that garage now! look fwd to your pics!

[shutterspeed]

Wow Nina great job!! :cheer:

love the framing you did with the trees with the photo of the church & the grass/plants are so very green. alas things are starting to die here because of the oppressive heat and no rain!

Moomories i find the oddest places for "beauty". looking forward to this quotes/sayings billboard photo...sounds hilarious! :teehee:

[KirstieGai]

what fantastic photos

[Missys3lilbugs]

Beautiful photos Nina. WOW!

[Aemilius]

Pub Window

http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/fenetre_w.jpg

Blue & Green

http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/grille_w.jpg

TFL !

[MissMint]

Wow those are GREAT!!! I LOVE the pub window!!
So very cool and great shots too. Love how you got down low to capture the plants

[shutterspeed]

great photos Aemilius!! :happydance:

it's so fun seeing everyone's submissions!

[Joann]

Here is my pic, This flower makes me smile :)

http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/pic-challenge.jpg (http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6347)

[AlliJ2008]

Love the church & the pub window! Now that I am home from vacation I will have to take my son out for a walk to see what I can do with my point & shoot. LOL!

[MissMint]

wow Joann - that is really something! SO VIBRANT!!

[Gabby]

Here are mine. Taken at a park near my church. It was SOOOooo hot that day! Blech. But you'd never know it, eh? ^_^

Red Hibiscus
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/clickapic1-mallonpark-redhibiscus.jpg


Swinging Benches
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/clickapic1-mallonpark-swingingbenches.jpg

[KirstieGai]

both of these are taken in my street
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/palmtree.jpg

http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/powerlines.jpg

[Scrappie Irene]

This should be THE challenge for me, but I'm so busy painting the house. It's taking days already, so I really don't have a vacation feeling right now. Four more windows to go....
So the only photos I took are from the painting work with my snap shot camera, lol.

[AlliJ2008]

Don't laugh....do I need to resize my photos & save them for web like I do my LO's? I don't know if I have posted photos in a gallery before....thanks for the help.

[shutterspeed]

Gabby & Kirstie...i left comments on your photos in the gallery! :D

Alli, i think resizing for web should be fine. i usually just change the image size to the correct size & save that version to the desktop & upload from there. but i may be a weirdo! :p lol

[MissMint]

AWESOME pics!!! Gabby I'm digging the retro feel of that swing pic!

[MissMint]

Don't laugh....do I need to resize my photos & save them for web like I do my LO's? I don't know if I have posted photos in a gallery before....thanks for the help.


Yup - exactly the same thing.

I like add a little sharpen (FILTER>SHARPEN and then EDIT>FADE SHARPEN) after downsizing because it takes away some sharpness. But that's optional.

[AlliJ2008]

Took the newspaper on the way to the park & the swing at the park early this morning.

http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/swingingpandaWEB.jpg (http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6368)


http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/StarTelegramWEB.jpg (http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6367)
These are not quite as artistic as some of the others but we all have to start somewhere, right? :)

[shutterspeed]

well everyone has a different perspective...i happen to like them both! :)

[glumirk]

It's been raining all week, so I haven't had a chance to take a picture without fear of my camera being murdered. However, I discovered that our covered deck is wonderful during the storms!

http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/final1.jpg (http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6392)

[glumirk]

If this is too late because I didn't post it yesterday, I totally understand. I just think it's a great picture and I love playing with my camera! There was a short break in the rain yesterday morning that I took advantage of.

http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/IMG_1445_copy.jpg (http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6397)

[shutterspeed]

it's ok to post...i goofed and typed Thursday July 3rd on the original page and meant July 2nd. So we'll let it run til tonight and then that'll be it for this one and on to the next! :D

[originalcher1]

I forgot to post my link here:
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/work.jpg (http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6396)
TFL :)

[MissMint]

WOW what fantastic pictures!!!! I was tryign to participate but couldn't find ANYTHING to take a picture of that was worth taking a picture of!!

[KirstieGai]

WOW what fantastic pictures!!!! I was tryign to participate but couldn't find ANYTHING to take a picture of that was worth taking a picture of!!

NO EXCUSE!!! DO you find power lines exciting :teehee:

[glumirk]

WOW what fantastic pictures!!!! I was tryign to participate but couldn't find ANYTHING to take a picture of that was worth taking a picture of!!

haha! With all of the rain I was tempted to take a picture of my computer mouse...that's a road often traveled. Really, I just didn't want to attempt to take a nice shot of my computer desk. :teehee:

[AlliJ2008]

WOW what fantastic pictures!!!! I was tryign to participate but couldn't find ANYTHING to take a picture of that was worth taking a picture of!!

Uh, I took a picture of a newspaper....doesn't exactly scream interesting! :teehee:

[shutterspeed]

First of all I have to say a big CONGRATS to everyone who participated in our first photo challenge! :cheer: You guys did a spectacular job and we had a great variety of photos.

Secondly, after conversing with Miss Mint, we thought, for now, that it would be more appropriate for us to pick a winner and then as more participants join us, maybe have you guys vote for the winners. We'd hate to have only 10 people voting! :teehee:

With that said it was incredibly difficult to choose because I liked everyone's photos for a variety of reasons. I wish I could pick everyone, unfortunately I can't. Everyone did such an amazing job. (I'm not just saying that!) So don't feel discouraged if your photo wasn't chosen. This is an opportunity for everyone to stretch their creativity & have fun doing it. So without any further ado please join me in congratulating:

The Winner
Gabby
Mallon Park - Swinging Benches
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/clickapic1-mallonpark-swingingbenches.jpg
as the winner of our first challenge. We liked the "retro" feel of the photo with the post processing you did and the interesting depth of the photo.

Honorable Mention:
Joann's Flower
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/pic-challenge.jpg

OrignalCher1's The Road to Work
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/work.jpg

Thanks again for making our first challenge so successful. Can't wait to see what you guys do for the next one! :yay:

[Gabby]

Ooooooo! YAY!!!

::yipee::


Thank you ladies! This was my favorite by far, and the post processing made it so much more interesting. Glad you liked it, and thank you, thank you! There were some lovely photos and there weren't that many -- I can imagine how much more difficult it will get when more of us join!

[MissMint]

I think that one was my fave too but it was hard to pick.
Great job everyone!!

Gabby I will email you your FIRST MINTY BUCK!!!
Congrats!

[KirstieGai]

congrats

[AlliJ2008]

Yay, Gabby! You had a great photo!

[Scrappie Irene]

Oh, I'm to late now. I thought this was ending today and made such a wonderful photo this morning.

But Gabby, congrats!

[shutterspeed]

Irene, each challenge will run from a Friday to the following Thursday! :) I'm sorry you missed the deadline. Challenge #2 ends this Thursday July 9th so don't miss out!! :D

[RhiG122]

Okay I know that this is way late but I went back and did a photo for each of the challenges I missed so far so here is mine...
The Road Most Traveled
my laptop screen always set with these 3 items up...Adobe Photoshop CS 3, Peppermint Creative & My Photos
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/pc-cap01-roadmosttraveled.jpg

[MissMint]

Creative idea for a photo!