Time for the 2009 Dave's Garden photo contest!

Thanks!!

I think that's a great idea!

I also wish Dave had a secret category of his own that he could spring on us as the contest begins. Whether it's doorknobs, funny signs, clouds, reflections, "only pink" (or any color he selects), or food. It could be fun!

The picture a day idea is great. My Dad emails me a flower photo one of us in the family has taken everyday at work and it really makes the day start right! Thanks Dave.

Oooh, I love the idea of using the top 365 photos as "Photo of the Day" all year! I've only waded through 4 categories thus far, and am having a terrible time narrowing down my top choices! Sometimes my first place is clear, but selecting a second and third place is really hard!

We have some real talent on this site! I was even honest, and chose other people's photos over my own when I thought they were better. ^_^

Angie

Great show everyone! Some catagories were nearly impossible...so many awesome photos. Congratulations one and all!

WOW! Is really all I can say! Thank you again Dave and everybody who participates and judges! It's such fun! I just finished my voting and it was HARD! At 2:30am my eyes were buggy, so I figured I would just go through my faves today. And I have too many favorites! Love the picture of the Day idea!

It's really inspirational if you like taking photo's, but I also just enjoy all the various plants I didn't even know existed! Had a few Belly laughs too out of some of them, as there are some entrants here that really have a sense of humor! Love it!

Kat

Wonderful idea Grammys
Outstanding photos everyone who participated... I have voted but will give it a rest and make some changes later.
I also find the D. pet category the most difficult. They are all special and dear to our hearts.
Kat, I noticed some of those humorous photos too!

Wow, this is not easy. Six more categories to go.

Hack

Love the daily pic idea and also love the surprise category idea. Totally fun!

One of the hardest categories for me to judge was a total surprise. I thought fruits and veggies would be easy b/c I didn't enter it and I don't like veggies and it was one of the smallest categories again this year. Jeez though! Those photos were great! Almost made me want to eat my veggies.

So glad you suggested that Grammy. As I was looking and voting I kept thinking about what happens to all the rest of the entries....a Random Fun Photo would be a wonderful way for everyone to be a winner....grin

I'm going crazy!!!!! So many wonderful pictures. I am talking to my self or more like arguing with myself. I have taken a number of photo classes so even thought I can not take the perfect picture I know what makes a great picture. But part of me likes some of the not so perfect pictures so it goes something like this. "I LIKE THIS PICTURE" "No that picture has things not quite right" "BUT I LIKE THIS PICTURE" "But if they had done this or not done that it would be a better picture" "OH SHUT UP I LIKE THIS ONE" And it goes on with each picture.

One crazy person. LOL

Oh Wren...I know what you mean! This judging is just really hard .I've decided to just go with my heart as there's just some photo's that stir something within! Let's face it, not everybody has the most sophisticated camera or technique, but the composition is there that makes for such a real interesting photo. On the other hand, there's the most beautiful professionally taken photo, but it may also look a little artificial or staged! I suppose it's all up to personal preference.

One thing I would really like to see is: After this contest is over...I sincerely hope everybody would consider submitting any identifiable photo's to Daves Guides and Information - Plantfiles/Bugfiles/Birdfiles, etc.. I've learned so much just looking through all these photo's and would love to see them with others in the reference guides!

Kat

I agree, Kat.
So many wonderfully taken photos and they would be excellent in the PlantFiles. Viewing many of the past contest I have noticed some people don't have any entries in the PlantFiles.

Oh My Goodness GGK! I just clicked on your Plantfile link! WOW! Really, such an incredible amount of beautiful photo contributions! I just love Plantfiles but also love sharing pictures of anything that I can help Mother Nature with! (or that she let's survive and thrive, and let's me take photo's of!) hehe

Kat

After this contest is judged...can we set up a new thread on how pictures were taken? Camera's etc?. I am so enthralled with these black backgrounds that make the subject just jump out. Is it a black back-drop, nightshot with a flash and a macro setting, the camera, or some kind of lighting? Whatever it is, I want to know how to do it!

Kat

Have you visited the Photos forum Kat?

No I haven't Knip...but I guess I probably should! Thanks for the suggestion!

Kat

LadyAshleyR: Thank-you for the tip! I had no idea that punching the Control (CNTR) key simultaneously with the + or - sign would magnify or reduce the photo size on the screen!

Thank-you

Kat

This message was edited Nov 5, 2009 1:06 AM

Wren, when you have these arguments with yourself, who wins...you... or you? :>)

Wren, I have the same arguments too because of taking a couple of photo classes, so I just had to go with my initial gut instinct and not linger too long because then I would start critiquing it, I am bad enough doing that with my own. I finished with my votes in all categories the first day, nice and quick.

I have always been a big PF suporter and cheerleader, asking folks submitting beautiful shots in threads to consider adding to the PF as well.

JoanMN LOL

took me 3 days to finish the judging-and the other me still wants to go back and look again-we will have probable have another argument about that later. LOL

You're welcome KatG!
It works on any webpage, and I've always found it extremely useful, especially when I'm trying to read tiny text!!!!

As for adding pictures to plant/bird/bug files, I always add what I can!!!
I still have lots of pictures from this year I need to go through and upload...

I love identifying moths and uploading info on them to the proper place.

OMG I'm going to be at this until Dave kicks me out! There are so many wonderful shots this year and it looks like there are many new participants too! I luv the stories that people are putting in the caption.

ARGH! Man I need at least 5 choices in some catagories. They are SO GOOD! Ok enough whining. Going back in....

I have the same problem, Dahlia. There are often more than 3 that I like equally well.

I had that problem also...I just couldn't make up my mind in a couple of catagories so I tossed a coin between 3rd and 4th!!! That's kind of sick...but I couldn't help it! hahahaha

Kat

There are some categories that we could pull enough great photos from to make many calendars.
Decisions, decisions!
Going back to the last dozen or so categories now.

I am sooooooooo glad that there are more catagorys this year. I'm loving the fungii and seed pods.

I'm done!

It wasn't fun to picking 1, 2 and 3, but I sure did enjoy all the photos.

This was my first time and I only added 2 bird pics, but now I have some ideas - and I'll be starting real soon.. Gonna create me a file called "Daves's Contest" and start adding pics to it now.

Hack

I'm still enjoying the vote. Not enough time for it, but I'm seeing one or two categories everyday. I also have the same "problem" with so many gorgeous photos...it's such a treat!
Hack, good idea with the file.
Lady Ashley, thanks for the tip, I'm going to try that too.
I don't know much about photography, but I've learned a lot from our DG photographers. Many of the pictures were posted during the year on the Photos forum.
Thank you all and congratulations!
Adina

Next year we can make it so you can cast up to 5 favorites instead of 3, if you all wish.

Gee Dave, that would be great. Of course ya gotta watch us camels, or we will be wanting six....then seven....grin

It would be helpful to have an Honorable Mention venue....perhaps those could grace the Home Page rather than calendars, or be available for seed packet labels, etc.

yes please and a few more categories

sandy

Five favorites would really help. There are so many fine photos to choose from.

Five would be wonderful, and I also vote for a few more categories if possible.

Make sure that all these suggestions get brought up next year. We always have a lengthy discussion before each contest and that's the time to make sure that all new features are asked for!

Five favorites would be terrific. Thanks, Dave.

I agree that 5 favorites would help - I've hit all the categories, and I don't think I had only 3 favorite choices in any of them!

O YES PLEASE for 5 favorites. I'll remember for next year.

I was looking through the past contests and saw that there were 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places with 2 honorable mentions; all places had the number of votes listed. That seemed like a good way to cover 5 top favorites. I do remember some people above mentioning that they thought it would be more polite to not mention the vote numbers though.

I thought the number of submissions over the years was curious as well. Being one of the people that missed the deadline (Please don't let this bring up that debate again!), I was curious as to whether or not the # of submissions was affected or not. Surprisingly, it did not.
2005 - 4245 entries
2006 - 1056 entries
2007 - 2141 entries
2008 - 1730 entries
2009 - 2814 entries

Dave, did all years have the same allotted submission time?

I wonder what factors contributed to the range of photos submitted? Why were 2006 and 2008 such low years? We are in a recession now, supposedly more people are depressed, but that didn't seem to affect the number of entries. How have the numbers of members grown each year? Just curios?